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  • They All Want to Be My Female Lead v2c85

    Chapter 85: Master is angry

    Another ten days passed. Yan Zhen’s physique had noticeably improved, and his cultivation had successfully reached the Seventh Star Mystic One rank, fulfilling the system’s previous mission. He received the “Special Trump Card – Jack of All Trades,” which, upon activation, “allowed him to deduce most other Mystic Techniques of the same type, rank, and lineage from a single known Mystic Technique.”

    However, he still couldn’t safely unleash the Triple Burst “Eight Extremes Explosion.” Instructor Yu Xuan, lacking Spiritual Power, couldn’t precisely control her strength to the necessary degree. Fearing she might injure him, she had to limit the intensity of her Mystic Power beatings, reducing their effectiveness.

    Knowing she was doing her best, Yan Zhen wasn’t dissatisfied. He would find another solution for the remaining hurdle.

    “Thank you for everything these past ten days, Instructor Yu Xuan. Not only did you train with me, but you also helped me with the medicinal baths.”

    “I’m your instructor, Yan Zhen. It’s my duty to train you… and the medicinal baths are part of the training.”

    In his room, Yan Zhen, his body covered in bruises, soaked in the steaming bath. Instructor Yu Xuan embraced him from behind, her soft hands trailing across his chest and stomach like a gentle serpent.

    He no longer needed assistance to move around, but she still insisted on joining him in the bath, soothing his pain with her touch and kisses. He suspected she was becoming addicted to these intimate moments.

    This both pleased and tormented him. He wasn’t completely spent after their training sessions, and his body was still very much… responsive.

    However, for the sake of tempering his physique, he couldn’t afford to lose his vital energy. He had to endure.

    He was also slightly apprehensive. Their intimacy had surpassed anything described in the script, which could potentially disrupt future plot points. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to steer things back on track.

    While he was flattered by the affections of such a beautiful and kind woman, he couldn’t understand what she saw in him. They hadn’t even reached the “heroic rescue” scene yet!

    “Instructor, is there anything you want?” he asked.

    “Anything I want? Why do you ask?”

    “Just… as a way of expressing my gratitude.”

    “I told you, you don’t need to thank me…”

    “But I’m always accepting your help without being able to do anything for you in return. So I thought I could at least give you a gift.”

    “Who says you can’t do anything for me? Just get first place in the monthly assessment tomorrow, and I’ll be happy.”

    “That doesn’t count. I would strive for first place even if you didn’t say anything.”

    “You’re so stubborn. Let me think… Hmm, how about we go out together sometime?”

    In other words, a date.

    “Is that all?”

    “Yes. You’ll have to treat me to food, watch a Star Shadow show with me… it’ll probably cost you a lot. Remember to save up.”

    “Don’t worry, Instructor. I have plenty of allowance left.”

    That wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t an “allowance.” It was an investment fund, worth over a hundred million crystal coins!

    Every time he thought about that generous gift, he wanted to give the system a big, fat kiss.

    “It’s a date then.”

    Instructor Yu Xuan smiled sweetly, nuzzling her cheek against his neck.

    Silence fell, and his attention was drawn back to the soft, warm body pressed against him. He felt both blessed and tormented.

    When will this end?

    He just wanted to play the role of an emotionless, power-hungry protagonist, but he kept facing these tests of endurance. He wasn’t some stoic sage. He might break eventually.

    Is this world deliberately trying to make things difficult for me? Trying to prevent me from growing stronger?

    …

    The second monthly assessment arrived as scheduled. Yan Zhen, after nearly half a month of silence, reappeared, claiming first place and igniting another wave of discussion.

    He tied with Xiao Mie. They both achieved perfect scores in all four assessment categories: theory, cultivation, Mystic Techniques, and practical combat.

    Normally, a tie would be resolved through a duel. However, Xiao Mie, sensing that Yan Zhen wasn’t fully prepared, declined the duel, opting for a shared victory.

    Yan Zhen wasn’t surprised. This was consistent with Xiao Mie’s actions in the script. He had his pride. However, the main reason was that Xiao Mie wanted to use Yan Zhen’s strength to help him smoothly break through to the Mystic Scholar realm!

    This was precisely why Yan Zhen felt apprehensive.

    A Ninth Star Mystic One Xiao Mie, no matter how strong, wasn’t a true threat. However, Xiao Mie would likely achieve a breakthrough during their duel.

    Mystic Scholars could form a protective Mystic Power barrier around their bodies, creating a powerful defense. Without the Triple Burst “Eight Extremes Explosion,” it would be difficult to inflict significant damage.

    Of course, even the Triple Burst wouldn’t be enough. He would need to activate another cheat.

    “Ten more days,” Xiao Mie declared. “We’ll settle this in ten days.”

    With that, he left the examination hall.

    …

    Back at the house, Yan Zhen immediately entered the Crystal Stone Space.

    His Beautiful Sect Master must have sensed the changes in his body. He had to explain himself, or the consequences could be severe.

    However, the moment he stepped onto the altar platform, a Mystic Power whip lashed out, narrowly missing him as he instinctively dodged.

    The whip, as if possessing a life of its own, suddenly changed direction, striking his backside with a resounding crack. He yelped, leaping into the air.

    A quick glance confirmed his suspicions. The whip was an extension of his Beautiful Sect Master’s power. Before he could speak, another lash struck him.

    The sound was sharper than a slap, sending him jumping again.

    “Master, please spare me! Let me explain!”

    She ignored his pleas, the whip whistling through the air, raining blows upon him until he was dizzy and disoriented.

    Just when he thought she was going to beat him to death, the whip stopped its assault. Instead, it deftly snagged his belt, pulling it loose, sending his tattered clothes falling to the floor.

    Then, the whip wrapped around his waist, roughly tossing him into a square pool filled with medicinal liquid. A formation activated, the water glowing as the medicinal properties seeped into his body, rapidly healing his wounds and further strengthening his physique.

    Realization dawned. He looked up at his Beautiful Sect Master. Her face was tight, her eyes cold and distant. She met his gaze briefly before turning away, refusing to look at him.

    “Master…”

    He felt a headache coming on. After half a month of secrecy, he had finally angered her.

    Perhaps she had known all along but had chosen not to confront him, not wanting to disrupt his training and the assessment. Now that the assessment was over, she had finally…

    He closed his eyes, focusing on absorbing the medicinal properties of the bath.

    …

    By nightfall, he had fully recovered. He climbed out of the pool, dried himself off, and hastily donned a sleeping robe before scurrying over to his Beautiful Sect Master. He knelt before her, gazing up at her stunningly beautiful face.

    “Master, I know I was wrong,” he said meekly. “I shouldn’t have kept the body tempering training with Instructor Yu Xuan a secret from you. Please don’t be angry anymore.”

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 28

    Chapter 28: Dorothy, You Villain!

    “I’m sorry I’m late, Professor.”

    The girl, her long black hair cascading down her back like silk, her pink eyes wide and apologetic, stood panting in the doorway, her arrival disrupting the quiet hum of the classroom.

    A wave of murmurs and whispers rippled through the room as the other students turned to stare, their gazes a mixture of curiosity and disdain. It wasn’t until the professor, a stern-looking man with a neatly trimmed beard, rapped his knuckles against the lectern, silencing the room, that order was restored.

    He looked at Adele, his gaze lingering for a moment, a flicker of pity in his eyes. He wasn’t oblivious to the rumors, the whispers that followed her like a shadow. But even as a professor, he was powerless to intervene. This was a matter of vampire hierarchy, a world where humans had no jurisdiction.

    Adele’s misfortune was that she possessed vampire blood. That alone made her a target.

    All he could do was accept her apology and treat her like any other student. No pity, no special treatment, just… normalcy.

    He suspected that was all she wanted.

    “Come in, Miss Adele,” he said, his voice neutral. “Take your seat and open your textbook to page fifty-eight. Today, we’re discussing the first recorded instance of cooperation between humans and vampires…”

    Most of the professors at Cromwell Academy were human Espers, individuals with extraordinary abilities. A few were ordinary humans who had stumbled into the world of the arcane, lured by the promise of a stable job, a steady income, and even government-provided housing. It wasn’t a bad deal, all things considered.

    Vampire professors, however, were rare. Vampires, especially the powerful ones, were notoriously independent, their disdain for authority evident in Dorothy’s blatant disregard for attendance rules. The idea of them willingly subjecting themselves to a nine-to-five schedule… it was almost laughable.

    Still, there were a few vampire professors at Cromwell Academy, as well as instructors who oversaw the students’ field training, their expertise in combat and survival invaluable.

    Adele, struggling to catch her breath, bowed slightly to the professor, her cheeks still flushed from her rooftop encounter. Then, ignoring the curious and mocking gazes of her classmates, she hurried to her seat, her steps small and hurried.

    She retrieved her history textbook from her desk, flipping to the designated page and pretending to read. But her mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the past hour, the warmth of Dorothy’s embrace still lingering on her skin.

    She hadn’t even realized she had been reading until the professor’s voice, droning on about some historical event, pulled her back to reality.

    But to be fair, the history of this world was… interesting.

    Surely, she wasn’t the only one who found solace in the pages of their history or language textbooks during boring classes, right? Those were the most entertaining of the approved reading materials. Anything else, like novels or magazines, risked being confiscated by vigilant teachers.

    The professor was discussing an event that wasn’t recorded in any human history books, a secret collaboration between humans and vampires. The purpose? To repel an invasion from… the Mist.

    The timing coincided with the Black Death, the devastating plague that had ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages. It had been a dark time, a time of death and despair, as the plague spread like wildfire, claiming countless lives.

    And from the Mist, creatures of darkness had emerged, preying on both humans and other supernatural beings.

    A black sun had appeared in the sky, casting an ominous shadow over the world. And every night, a blood-red moon rose, driving supernatural beings to madness.

    Even the most devout members of the Church, desperate to survive, to preserve their faith, to serve their Lord… they had been forced to set aside their differences and ally themselves with their sworn enemies, the vampires.

    The textbook provided no concrete details about the Mist, its nature shrouded in mystery. And the outcome of that unlikely alliance… well, it had only managed to delay the inevitable. It wasn’t a victory, not really. It was more like… the Mist had simply retreated after claiming its due, its hunger sated for the time being.

    Adele frowned, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall the details of the original novel. There had been no mention of the Mist, not explicitly. But there had been hints, subtle clues scattered throughout the story.

    Like the battles between werewolves and vampires, fueled by the red moon’s maddening influence, battles that had solidified their centuries-old feud.

    Yes, in this world, werewolves and vampires were still locked in their eternal struggle, a trope that readers seemed to enjoy.

    Could this be… a discarded plot point? Something the author had planned but ultimately abandoned? Adele wondered.

    Maybe… maybe the original ending had been different. Maybe Adele, the protagonist, had risen to become a leader, a savior, uniting humans, vampires, and all the other supernatural beings under her banner, setting aside their differences to face a common enemy, a powerful entity from another world.

    A happy ending.

    But then, the author, caught up in the drama, the angst, the heartbreak… had changed his mind. He had thrown out his original plan, opting for a more tragic ending.

    Adele, the Blood Empress, had destroyed her own kind, leaving only herself, a solitary figure cursed with eternal life, a life devoid of love, of meaning, of hope.

    It was a fitting punishment, a cruel twist of fate.

    But those were just idle thoughts, fleeting musings as she struggled to stay awake during a boring lecture.

    The truth about the Mist… it remained a mystery.

    Would it return one day?

    ………………

    The lecture droned on, the professor’s voice a soothing lullaby that would have lulled Adele to sleep on any other day. But today… she was wide awake. Too awake. Her mind was racing, her body buzzing with a nervous energy that had nothing to do with caffeine.

    Because Adele was experiencing the harsh realities of life.

    Starting with… a very full bladder!

    She had managed to distract herself earlier, losing herself in the pages of her history textbook. But now… the urge was overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

    The more she tried to suppress it, the more insistent it became.

    Because she had acknowledged it, had given it power by simply observing its existence.

    She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her long black hair swaying gently with every movement, her shoulders trembling slightly as she fought to maintain her composure.

    She couldn’t let the professor notice her distress. So, she buried her face in her textbook, pretending to study diligently.

    But those who were watching her, those who knew her secret… they saw the way her legs were shaking beneath her desk, the way her knees were pressed together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

    And the way she was subtly… rubbing them together.

    Soft flesh against soft flesh, leather shoes against leather shoes… her toes curled, her body betraying her desperate attempts to maintain control.

    What… What happened to her?

    Tang Linlang, watching from across the room, her eyes wide with concern, couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

    What had Dorothy done to Adele during break?

    Why had she returned to class breathless, her cheeks flushed?

    Adele: Because I had to run!

    And why was she now contorting in her seat, her expression a mixture of pain and embarrassment, as if something was slowly chipping away at her resistance, her sense of shame?

    Adele: Because I haven’t been to the restroom, that’s why! What else could it be?

    A horrifying thought crossed Linlang’s mind, a possibility so disturbing that she shuddered, her anger and sympathy for Adele battling for dominance.

    Adele: Don’t even go there!

    But Adele’s internal protests were lost on Linlang, who was now convinced that Adele had been subjected to something truly terrible, something… unspeakable.

    Maybe Dorothy hadn’t left. Maybe she was lurking somewhere outside the classroom, a wicked smile on her face, her finger poised over a pink button…

    “Mm…!” Adele, for some inexplicable reason, let out a soft moan, drawing the attention of the students around her. She immediately ducked her head, her cheeks burning with shame.

    She couldn’t let them see her face. She wanted to disappear, to bury herself in the sand like an ostrich, hoping that the attention would soon fade.

    Fortunately, the professor didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did, he chose to ignore it, his pity for Adele outweighing his duty as an educator.

    Unfortunately, Tang Linlang saw everything, her imagination running wild as she filled in the blanks, her heart aching for her friend.

    Her eyes widened, her lips trembling.

    Could it be… that my suspicions… are true?

    Dorothy, you villain!

    Her hatred for vampires, for Dorothy and her fellow Sequence Ones, intensified.

    But in reality, Adele was simply experiencing a sudden bout of stomach cramps, most likely brought on by her cold, or perhaps by her weakened state. The seafood porridge and ginger tea hadn’t been enough to replenish the blood and nutrients she had lost, leading to a painful spasm.

    Adele suspected it was the latter.

    Of all the times…

    She was already struggling to control her bladder, and now this.

    But class wouldn’t end for another twenty minutes. Twenty agonizing minutes.

    Can I hold on that long?

    But if I don’t…

    If I just… let go…

    My life as a student is over…

    She couldn’t focus on the lecture anymore. All her energy was devoted to holding on, to enduring the pain, the discomfort, the overwhelming urge to… surrender.

    Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, trickling down her temples, leaving a glistening trail that ended at the tip of her chin.

    Drip!

    One rebellious drop escaped, landing on her textbook, staining the page with a tiny, watery mark.

    Adele swayed slightly, her vision blurring, her body trembling with the effort of holding on.

    And then… a chair scraped against the floor, followed by a frantic voice, a voice filled with concern.

    “Professor! Adele isn’t feeling well…”

    “I need to take her to the infirmary!”

    The classroom erupted in a cacophony of whispers and gasps as the other students turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and thinly veiled malice.

    They were jealous of Adele, jealous of the attention she received from the Sequence Ones. But they wouldn’t dare trade places with her, not for all the blood in the world.

    And Tang Linlang… well, she was a human, an outsider who could never truly belong in their world.

    They were both at the bottom of the social hierarchy, lucky to avoid being bullied, to escape the worst of the abuse that was often inflicted on those who dared to be different.

    But they should have been bullied. It was only because of Linlang’s status as a human, and the potential consequences of harming her, that the other students had refrained from targeting her. Harming a human could lead to expulsion, a risk they weren’t willing to take.

    As for Adele… well, she was the Princess’s chosen one, a forbidden fruit that no one dared to touch. The rumors of Dorothy’s possessiveness had effectively shielded her from their cruelty.

    It was a strange twist of fate.

    Neither Adele nor Linlang had any friends in this class. They were both outcasts, targets of scorn and derision. But for different reasons, they were also… untouchable.

    Perhaps that was why Linlang had been placed in this class, among the weakest of the Sequence Fives. It wasn’t just about her abilities, but also about… protection.

    The history professor, his brow furrowed, looked at Linlang, his annoyance at the interruption evident in his gaze. But then… his gaze softened as he looked at Adele, who was still hunched over her desk, her face hidden from view.

    Adele was a pitiful creature. And Tang Linlang… well, she was a tragic figure, a descendant of the vampire hunters who had protected humanity for centuries, a family that had been destroyed, their legacy tarnished.

    He sighed, his heart heavy with sympathy.

    He clapped his hands, silencing the class. Then, he looked at Adele, his voice gentle.

    “If you’re not feeling well, Miss Adele…”

    “Then go to the infirmary.”

    “Miss Linlang, please escort her.”

    “T-Thank you, Professor!” Linlang said, her voice trembling with gratitude.

    She hurried over to Adele’s desk, reaching out to help her up.

    Adele, her expression dazed, her legs still clamped together, looked up at Linlang, her eyes unfocused.

    Where am I? What am I doing?

    I need to… preserve my dignity…

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 27

    Chapter 27: The Blood Empress

    Dong!

    Dong!

    Dong!

    Three resounding tolls of the academy bell echoed through the halls, signaling the end of break and the start of the next class. It was a call to order, a reminder for all students to return to their classrooms and prepare for another round of learning.

    On the rooftop, lost in their embrace, Adele and Dorothy finally stirred, their moment of intimacy shattered by the harsh clang of the bell.

    Adele’s cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and panic. Dorothy, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, though her cheeks were rosy, and her rose-colored eyes seemed to glow a little brighter.

    I can’t believe… I got lost in a simple hug.

    Or maybe…

    It’s because Adele has never hugged me back before.

    She said she hated being forced. So even when I held her, it wasn’t the same. It felt… empty.

    But this… this is different.

    I love it…

    I want to hold her forever.

    It’s just a hug… Why does it feel so… right?

    “Are you feeling better?” she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle.

    It was a question that would have shocked anyone who knew her, a display of concern that was completely out of character for the fearsome Princess Dorothy.

    But Adele, her mind already racing with thoughts of her impending tardiness, barely registered the significance of Dorothy’s words.

    “Y-Yes, I’m much better now,” she said, her voice laced with anxiety. “But I need to get to class.”

    “If I’m late… I’ll be severely punished! Especially as a Sequence Five!”

    “Who would dare punish you?” Dorothy’s voice turned icy.

    No! That’s not what I meant! I’m not asking you to unleash your inner tyrant! I just want to go to class! Adele screamed internally.

    She didn’t dare spend too much time with Dorothy. It was too risky, too easy to slip up. Besides, she needed to play her cards right, to maintain a certain level of mystique, to ensure that Dorothy wouldn’t lose interest.

    “It’s… it’s the academy rules,” she said, forcing a smile. “Skipping class is… frowned upon.”

    “Besides, I need to learn about those containment objects. Otherwise, I’ll just be a burden to my teammates during missions. I might even put them in danger.”

    “You have to go on missions too?” Dorothy asked, her brow furrowing.

    Adele hadn’t exactly demonstrated any exceptional abilities so far. She had no powerful familiar, no enhanced physical abilities, no affinity for the elements, and no apparent esper powers (unless you counted “having delicious blood”).

    In other words, she didn’t fit into any of the four vampire categories. And she was a half-blood, no less.

    Maybe… maybe she was more human than vampire after all.

    “Don’t underestimate me…” Adele muttered, her pride stinging.

    But her protest was weak, unconvincing. She knew, better than anyone, how weak she truly was.

    Still… she wasn’t about to admit defeat in front of Dorothy. She had her pride.

    “Anyway, Dorothy, I need to go,” she said, gently pulling away from Dorothy’s embrace. “I’m… glad we cleared up that misunderstanding. But… I’ll play with you again when I have time, okay?”

    “Play with me?” Dorothy’s eyes lit up, her excitement bubbling over.

    As a Sequence One, she could skip any class she wanted. No one would dare to question her. But Adele… she was different.

    It was moments like this that reminded Dorothy that Adele was a lowly Sequence Five, the lowest of the low.

    And yet… Dorothy couldn’t shake the feeling that Adele was… different. Special. Otherwise, why would she be so drawn to her, so captivated by her presence?

    But Adele had made her wishes clear. And Dorothy, though reluctant, knew she couldn’t force her.

    Adele had said she hated being forced.

    And the Adele standing before her now was different from the Adele she had met at the academy. This Adele was more open, more expressive, no longer hiding behind a mask of indifference.

    It was a change that pleased Dorothy.

    “Alright, go to class then,” she said, her voice softening. “But if anyone gives you trouble… Hermione and I will take care of it.”

    “And consider that hug… your reward.” She leaned in close, her warm breath tickling Adele’s ear, sending shivers down her spine.

    It was a surprisingly thoughtful gesture, a display of concern that was completely out of character for the fearsome Princess Dorothy.

    Maybe… maybe Dorothy isn’t so bad after all?

    She was just terrible at communicating, her thought process a little… unconventional. And combined with the original Adele’s stubbornness, their relationship had been doomed from the start.

    “…Thank you,” Adele whispered, her heart still racing.

    She turned and fled, practically running towards the stairs.

    “The rooftop is always open to you,” Dorothy called after her. “Come whenever you want to relax.”

    It was an invitation, an acceptance. Adele had been granted entry into Dorothy’s exclusive “Sequence One Club.” It wasn’t an official organization, but in terms of power and influence, it was easily one of the top three factions within the academy.

    The other two factions were… well, the most powerful was undoubtedly the Cromwell Academy Student Council. But it was primarily a human organization, led by the elite human students, those with abilities that rivaled even the highest-ranking vampires.

    There were a few vampires who had joined the Student Council, but they were considered traitors by their own kind. Because vampires had their own organization, the Black Feather Society.

    To choose the Student Council over the Black Feather Society… it was an act of open rebellion.

    But those who chose this path, those who defied their own kind, had their reasons. Perhaps they, like Adele, had been victims of abuse at the hands of the higher-ranking vampires, seeking refuge among the humans. Or perhaps they were simply rebels, those who rejected the rigid hierarchy of vampire society.

    The leader of the Black Feather Society, as mentioned before, was the descendant of the True Ancestor who had been nearly killed all those years ago. She might not have been as powerful as Dorothy, but unlike Dorothy, her organization wasn’t limited to Sequence Ones. She had welcomed vampires of all ranks into her fold, creating a formidable force that rivaled even the Student Council in terms of influence.

    According to the original plot, Adele would eventually join the Black Feather Society, seeking their protection, their power, as she plotted her revenge against Dorothy.

    But that decision would only serve to widen the gulf between her and Dorothy, making their conflict even more intractable.

    And the Black Feather Society wasn’t the haven she had imagined it to be. In fact, her time with them would prove to be just as traumatic, just as dehumanizing, as her experiences with Dorothy and her friends.

    A pawn was a pawn, regardless of who controlled the board.

    It was a turning point in her story, the moment she realized that her hatred wasn’t just directed at Dorothy, or even at the Sequence Ones… but at the entire vampire race.

    Without those experiences, without that pain, that betrayal… she wouldn’t have become the Blood Empress, the one who would eventually bring about the downfall of her own kind.

    ………………

    And at this moment, our future Blood Empress was sprinting through the hallways, her skirt billowing behind her, her face contorted in a mixture of panic and despair.

    Why… Why do I still have to go to class, even after transmigrating into this world?

    And I didn’t even have time to use the restroom…

    If I have to sit through this class… in this state…

    My academic career is over! (T_T)

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 20

    Come, Let Me Take You Home 20

    No. 20 Watching the Darkness, Praying for Dawn

    “This is a check for 100,000 yuan.”

    The handsome young man in the suit pushed a document towards me, his face illuminated by the bright lights.

    “Poker, blackjack, or cow-cow?”

    “I…” I hesitated and pushed the check back. “I don’t know how to play any of those.”

    “Haha, little sister, didn’t Dati tell you? We’re all friends here. You don’t have to play if you don’t want to. But this is a reward for saving Huang Yingdie. Don’t refuse it.”

    He smiled warmly. “Big Brother asked me to take care of you before he left. I feel terrible that this happened. Thankfully, it didn’t end in tragedy.”

    “Hey, don’t talk about Long Ge like he’s dead.”

    Ouyang Dati plopped down beside the young man and chugged a bottle of beer. “Yi Yao, let me introduce you. This is Luo Wei. You can call him Wei Ge, Pai Ge, or Dao Ge. Whatever you like. We’re all brothers here.”

    “Pai Ge.” I nodded politely.

    This Luo Wei, with his dyed blonde hair, was undeniably handsome. His clean-cut features, slender build, and stylish suit screamed “playboy.” His deft handling of the cards and practiced charm suggested he was a veteran of this world.

    “Luo Wei, this is Yi Yao. You’ve probably heard of her.”

    “I have, but I thought she was a boy.”

    “And now?” I asked.

    “Now? Now I realize it doesn’t really matter. Hahaha, Yi Yao, you’re the most boyish girl I’ve ever met. Most girls are terrified when they first come here, like they’ve entered a real casino.”

    Isn’t this a casino?

    “Seriously, Yi Yao, if you need money, just ask. Look at this.”

    He gestured towards the stacks of cash on the table. “This is just a fraction of the Black Dragon Society’s assets. This entire entertainment complex belongs to us. It’s only open to our members.”

    I knew he was referring to the core members, not just Hua She and his gang of middle schoolers. And now, I was one of them.

    “I’m guessing you still think we’re a gang, right?”

    “What else would we be?”

    Would a legitimate organization call itself the “Black Dragon Society”?

    “Heh, I like your straightforwardness.”

    He pulled out a document covered in official seals. “What if I told you we’re a legitimate organization? Would you believe me?”

    “The ‘Black Dragon Society’ is just a front. We want people to think we’re a bunch of delinquents. But we’re actually under government supervision. Don’t worry about that 100,000 yuan. We’ll give you an official title: ‘Outstanding Member of the Special Task Force for Violent Crimes Involving Firearms and Kidnapping.’ No one will question where you got the money.”

    “Isn’t it amazing? You earned three years’ worth of an average citizen’s salary in just one day. Have you ever seen this much money before?”

    Yes, I had. I had over six million yuan in my bank account when I died.

    To survive, you needed to eat. To eat, you needed money. It was that simple.

    But some people spent more on one meal than others earned in a lifetime.

    There was no such thing as equality in this world. The only equality was the inequality itself.

    “Alright, Luo Wei, stop teasing the poor girl. Just get to the point. I need to take her home. She’s been missing for a day and a night. Her parents must be worried sick.”

    Ouyang Dati slapped Luo Wei’s shoulder impatiently.

    “I almost forgot. Haha, Yi Yao, you’re really pretty. I bet you could pick up girls if you dressed a little more androgynously.”

    Please, I’ve heard my own voice. It wasn’t as soft and sweet as a princess’s, but it was definitely feminine.

    “Bing, come here.”

    Luo Wei beckoned to a girl sitting nearby.

    “Hmm?”

    The girl, dressed in a pale sleeveless dress, turned her head, a lollipop in her mouth.

    “You two, spar.”

    Huh? Why do I have to fight her?

    The lollipop girl walked over to me and glanced at me, her expression reluctant. “100.”

    “50.”

    “80.”

    “Deal!”

    What the hell are you two talking about?

    Luo Wei pushed her towards me. “Yi Yao, this is Lu Yibing. You can call her Bing Jie(Sister).”

    I nodded and bowed politely. “Bing Jie.”

    “Bing Bing has been training with my master in the mountains since she was a child. She just came down two months ago. I want her to assess your skills.” He smiled apologetically. “Don’t hold back. Bing Bing is one of the top ten fighters in the Black Dragon Society.”

    There’s a ranking system now?

    “Excuse me.”

    Before I could process what was happening, the lollipop girl launched a kick at me. I instinctively blocked it, our feet colliding in mid-air. “Thud!” A jolt of pain shot up my leg.

    This girl… is strong.

    That brief exchange gave me a glimpse of her abilities. Her footwork and agility were far superior to mine. What was even more terrifying was that she had delivered that powerful kick while still holding her lollipop. Her other hand remained at her side, unused.

    She had used less than 60% of her strength.

    And this monster was only ranked tenth in the Black Dragon Society? Since when did this small gang have so many skilled fighters?

    I used the momentum to jump back and assumed an offensive stance.

    Taekwondo, being a performance art, had two offensive stances. With your legs shoulder-width apart, in performance mode, your blocking hand would be raised to face level, while your attacking hand would be slightly higher. This stance prioritized head defense, as headshots scored high points in competitions. However, in a real fight, your blocking hand would be lowered to shoulder level, and your attacking hand would protect your waist.

    Just to be safe, I lowered my blocking hand slightly, focusing on dodging and blocking.

    I charged forward, lifted my leg, and launched a kick.

    Taekwondo rarely involved close combat, and I wasn’t good at grappling. So, I focused all my power on my legs, hoping to overwhelm her with speed.

    “Whoosh! Whoosh!”

    She dodged both kicks effortlessly. As I regained my balance, staring at the girl who was still calmly licking her lollipop, I realized Luo Wei wasn’t joking.

    “Thud!”

    I tried a surprise side kick, but she blocked it easily. A blur of motion flashed before my eyes. Before I could react, she was behind me, her foot raised. Her speed was incredible, leaving me no time to dodge.

    Her right foot, clad in a cute pink and white Lolita shoe, stopped inches from my waist.

    “It’s over.”

    She retracted her foot and walked back to Luo Wei. “S.”

    “That high?” Luo Wei looked surprised.

    “Yes.”

    She didn’t elaborate, just popped her lollipop back into her mouth, returned to her seat, and started playing on her phone.

    “Yi Yao, not bad. You actually have S-rank potential in Bing Bing’s eyes. Looks like I underestimated you.” Ouyang Dati chuckled, taking a swig of his beer.

    Luo Wei walked over to me, his eyes scrutinizing me from head to toe. “You’re a natural.”

    What the hell are you talking about? This isn’t a fantasy novel. We don’t have cultivation levels.

    After a minute of intense scrutiny, he picked up two cards from the table. “Yi Yao Mei(younger sister), do you know why Dati told you to call me ‘Pai Ge’?”

    I shook my head.

    “Dati.”

    “Ugh.” Ouyang Dati grabbed a bottle of beer and walked over to a stool about fifty meters away. “Why do I always have to be the target? Be careful, alright?”

    “I know.”

    Luo Wei handed me the ace of spades. “This is an ordinary playing card. Check it if you want.”

    I felt it briefly and handed it back. “It’s fine.”

    “Dati, watch out.”

    He assumed a strange stance and flicked the card towards Ouyang Dati, who was holding the beer bottle.

    The card sliced through the air, making a faint whistling sound. It passed two centimeters below the bottle cap, then continued flying, embedding itself firmly in the wall behind him.

    Was that magic? Or some kind of trick using the card’s properties?

    “Seriously, can’t you live without showing off?”

    Ouyang Dati walked back, holding the beer bottle, which now had a clean cut through the neck. He grinned at me. “So, Yi Yao, Pai Ge is the ace of the Black Dragon Society. Looks like he wants to take you as his apprentice.”

    “Indeed. I have to admit, I’m envious of your talent, Yi Yao.”

    He pulled out two short knives with razor-sharp blades and offered them to me. “Yi Yao, you’re welcome to come here anytime. We don’t have many rules in the Pai family. Just treat me like any other martial arts instructor. You have great potential. I hope you’ll stay and receive proper training. Of course, this is just my personal offer. You won’t be obligated to participate in any Black Dragon Society activities.”

    Learn how to gamble from Pai Ge?

    “Consider these knives a welcome gift. My uncle had them custom-made by a master craftsman. They’re imbued with spirit and quite elegant. I think they would suit you.”

    I took the knives and drew one out, staring at my reflection in the polished blade. “Okay,” I said, surprising even myself.

    Training here was still training. I would learn valuable skills for free. Why refuse?

    “Then spend this week familiarizing yourself with them. I have some matters to attend to.”

    He snapped his fingers and put on his top hat. “Dati, take my apprentice home. Don’t keep her father waiting.”

    …

    I stood outside my apartment door for a long time.

    The check lay heavy in my pocket, along with the knives, safely concealed.

    Those weren’t my concerns. What worried me was how my father would react to all this.

    Would he yell at me for being careless and getting kidnapped? Or would he be furious that I had skipped school for a day?

    In my past life, I would have been certain that he was anxiously awaiting my return. But in this world, I was lost.

    All those past memories, all that trust, had been shattered.

    I was afraid of the future.

    Finally, I knocked on the door.

    Hurried footsteps approached, followed by the sound of the door being flung open.

    The dark hallway was illuminated by the bright light from inside.

    A haggard, middle-aged man stood in the doorway.

    “Yi Yao…”

    Tears streamed down his face as he saw me.

    “You…”

    His voice choked with emotion, unable to speak.

    He pulled me into a hug and sank to his knees on the cold floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

    “Dad…”

    I fought back tears, wiped his cheeks, and whispered, “I’m home.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 19

    Come, Let Me Take You Home 19

    No. 19 A Forced Smile Masking Exhaustion

    The roar of a helicopter jolted me awake.

    As I opened my eyes, the heavy stench of blood sent a wave of panic through me.

    “Xiaodie?”

    Silence.

    No…

    The entrance was blocked. I scrambled over to the rock, pushed it aside, and gasped at the sight before me.

    The cave was littered with debris. Opposite where I had been sleeping, a small tiger cub was crouched beside Xiaodie, licking her pale lips. Behind her, a large pool of dried blood stained the ground a dark, rusty red. In the faint sunlight filtering through the opening, her breathing was shallow, as if she were asleep.

    Beside her lay an empty bread package.

    “Xiaodie!”

    I rushed over and grabbed her wrist.

    Her pulse was weak, but she was alive.

    I carefully turned her over and saw a bullet wound on her right shoulder. The blood had mostly clotted, but the wound itself was a gruesome sight.

    I remembered her sitting on the ground that night.

    She had been shot, and she had dragged her injured body to this corner of the cave, away from me, so the smell of blood wouldn’t wake me.

    And that tiger… I had mistaken it for a kitten…

    “Hurry! The blood trail leads this way! Search everywhere!”

    Ouyang Dati’s voice, coming from outside, was like music to my ears.

    “Dati Ge!”

    I scrambled out of the cave and spotted him, dressed in red, standing on a small mound nearby. I gathered all my strength and shouted.

    “Yi Yao!”

    He heard me and leaped over to me in a few agile bounds. “Where’s Xiaodie?”

    “Inside. She’s been shot.”

    “Is she near the entrance?”

    “No.”

    He saw the narrow opening, barely large enough for one person to pass through, and without hesitation, grabbed a boulder and smashed it against the entrance.

    “Boom!”

    Talk about brute force…

    “Hey, you two, get in there and rescue her!”

    He waved at two armed men, who rushed into the cave and emerged moments later, carrying Xiaodie, her clothes soaked in blood.

    “We made it just in time. Another hour, and she would have bled to death.”

    He examined her wound briefly, then instructed the men to place her on a stretcher.

    A helicopter landed nearby.

    “Good job, you two. You actually managed to escape from Zero.”

    He chuckled and slapped my back. “I underestimated you, Yi Yao. I thought you were just a decent fighter. Looks like we’ve found a hidden gem.”

    “Cut it out. Can’t you be a little gentler with a girl?”

    I punched him lightly in the chest and looked around. “How did you find us?”

    “We followed the blood trail from the factory.”

    He handed me a bottle of sports drink. “You’re lucky to be alive. This forest is called ‘Tiger Hill.’ Do you know why?”

    “Are there a lot of tigers here?”

    “Yes. We found two dead tigers and six bodies outside. I’m guessing they disturbed the tigers last night. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

    So that’s why they stopped chasing us…

    “Meow…”

    The tiger cub, the one that could barely walk last night, emerged from the cave, its eyes half-closed, and let out a plaintive meow.

    It must have been recently weaned. It looked more like a harmless kitten than the king of the jungle.

    “Hahaha, Yi Yao, want to keep a tiger as a pet? Its parents were killed by those men. It won’t survive out here on its own.”

    “You keep it. I can barely take care of myself.” I took a sip of the drink and started searching his pockets. “Hey, do you have any food? I’m starving.”

    …

    The helicopter quickly transported us to City Central Hospital.

    Xiaodie was rushed into the emergency room.

    After waiting anxiously for a while, a middle-aged man, escorted by several men, rushed over to us. “Where’s my daughter?”

    “She’s inside.” Ouyang Dati pointed at the emergency room. “Don’t worry, it’s just a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Nothing vital was hit. They’ll remove the bullet, and she should be fine after a couple of weeks of rest.”

    “A gunshot wound?!”

    The man’s eyes widened in horror. “Who did this?”

    “You should know better than anyone, Mr. Huang.” Ouyang Dati chuckled. “I suggest you lay low for a while. Those people are not to be trifled with.”

    The man hesitated, then covered his mouth with his hand. “I know… but… I can’t turn back now. For Xiaodie, I…”

    “Alright, alright, I’m not getting involved in your mess. I don’t know your daughter that well. This young lady here is the one who saved her life.”

    He gestured towards me.

    “You… you are…”

    The man approached me, his voice trembling.

    “I’m Yi Yao.” I smiled faintly. “We spoke on the phone earlier.”

    “Yi Yao…”

    He stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly dropped to his knees. “Thank you… thank you… If anything happened to my daughter, I…”

    “Please, get up.”

    I had never imagined a mayor kneeling before me. I quickly helped him up. “Huang Yingdie and I are friends. We help each other. It’s only natural.”

    Just then, a horde of reporters, armed with cameras and microphones, swarmed the hallway.

    “Mayor Huang, what are your thoughts on this kidnapping incident?”

    “Does the presence of armed gangs pose a threat to the safety of the Upper Capital City?”

    “Mr. Huang, we heard you disowned your daughter. Is that true?”

    Blinding flashes engulfed us.

    “Excuse me, young lady, what’s your relationship with Mayor Huang?”

    “Are you his illegitimate daughter? Or his mistress?”

    “We’d like to inquire about the recent financial irregularities in the Upper Capital City…”

    The barrage of questions overwhelmed me. I had never experienced anything like this before. In the midst of the chaos, the emergency room door opened, and Xiaodie, still hooked up to an IV drip, was wheeled out.

    “Make way! Make way!”

    The mayor pushed through the crowd, his eyes frantic, and rushed towards his daughter.

    “Xiaodie! Xiaodie… It’s all my fault…”

    He broke down, tears streaming down his face.

    The already haggard man seemed to have aged ten years in that instant.

    Xiaodie, barely conscious, ignored her father and looked at me.

    “Yi Yao… Did I… disturb you last night?”

    “No.”

    As she was about to smile, I added, “But you were being stupid.”

    “You…” She struggled to sit up, but the doctors held her down.

    “You need to rest, young lady.”

    “Just you wait, Yi Yao! I won’t let you get away with this!”

    “Yes, yes, we’ll settle this when you’re better.”

    Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me through the crowd.

    “Enough playing around. Time to go.”

    Ouyang Dati dragged me to the stairwell. “Follow me.”

    “Where are we going?”

    I didn’t want to leave just yet. I was worried about my family. This incident would be all over the news.

    I wondered if they even cared about their “useless” daughter.

    “What, you have a crush on her now?”

    He chuckled. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Her father is here. Everything’s under control. We have someone important who wants to meet you.”

    “Oh…”

    I couldn’t refuse. I followed him out of the hospital and into his car. He drove us to an entertainment complex in the city center.

    “Yi Yao, do you know who the true leader of the Black Dragon Society is?”

    He asked casually as we walked towards the elevator.

    “Isn’t it Long Fei?”

    “No. Long Fei is Long Teng’s son. They’re just using his company’s name.”

    “They?”

    I caught the implication in his words.

    “Haha, you’re a smart girl. I’m not really a member of the Black Dragon Society. Long Ge probably told you, my background is a bit complicated. I can’t get involved in these matters. Officially, I’m just here to keep those arrogant kids in check.”

    We entered the elevator, and he swiped a gold card, then pressed the button for the basement level.

    “I won’t keep you in suspense. The true leader of the Black Dragon Society is Luo Wei. He’s… how should I put it… a very interesting person.”

    Interesting?

    Wasn’t Luo Wei a male name?

    The elevator doors opened.

    We were in a spacious gambling hall.

    The floor was covered in expensive-looking tiles, and the walls were adorned with luxurious paintings. Besides gambling tables, there were also various entertainment facilities.

    But what puzzled me was the lack of people.

    Apart from two tables of teenagers playing cards, most of the equipment was unused. The place lacked the usual noise and flashing lights of a typical gambling den.

    “Luo Wei, I brought her.”

    Ouyang Dati walked over to a large table with several decks of cards, snatched a hand from a young man in a black suit and top hat, and glanced at it, feigning disappointment. “Bro, your hand is terrible.”

    “A true master doesn’t rely on good cards. He makes the best of what he has.”

    The young man in the suit tossed a card at me. I caught it reflexively.

    Queen of spades.

    “Care to gamble?”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 18

    No. 18 Piercing the Veil of Pretense

    “Wait!”

    The sound of our bodies colliding echoed through the darkness.

    “We don’t have to fight here. We can settle this when we get back…”

    I tried to reason with her as I blocked her relentless attacks.

    “Home? What home? What good is a home to me?”

    Her attacks grew fiercer, forcing me to raise my leg to defend myself.

    This wasn’t good. I had obviously triggered something in her. If this continued, we would be discovered by their reinforcements.

    “It’s funny, isn’t it? Me, wanting to be protected, wanting to hide behind someone. I’m so pathetic, right?”

    Moonlight streamed through the open doorway, bathing the concrete floor in a silvery glow.

    “It’s natural for a girl to want to be protected.”

    I blocked another attack, glancing nervously at the door.

    “Then why are you so calm? Answer me!”

    Her kicks were becoming erratic, her breathing ragged.

    “What are you so upset about?!”

    Backed against the wall, with nowhere to retreat, I finally retaliated, delivering a swift kick to her stomach. I spun around, appearing behind her, and drove my knee into her back, pinning her against the wall. I pressed my foot against her bare thigh, exposed by her short denim shorts.

    “Slap! Slap!”

    I grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, my gaze intense. “Listen, in this world, no one cares about your struggles, your pain, except your parents and the readers of a book. And readers are only interested in the main characters. Unfortunately, neither of us is the protagonist of any story. So, please, take care of yourself.”

    I understood now.

    Huang Yingdie had grown up surrounded by suffocating love and adoration. Her father was the mayor, she knew some martial arts, and she was beautiful. She was the darling of the school and the local gangs. Spoiled and pampered, she had never experienced true hardship.

    Her recent string of defeats, coupled with her fear and helplessness in this situation, had probably shattered her sense of pride.

    “What right do you have…”

    “I am the right.”

    I leaned closer, my voice low and steady. “Right now, I am the victor. Remember your place.”

    She struggled, but I held her firm.

    “Let me go!”

    “If I weren’t Yi Yao, if I weren’t a girl your age, but one of those men on the street who lust after you, would you still speak to me like that?”

    I deliberately brought my lips close to hers.

    Damn it, if she didn’t snap out of it soon, I would have to leave her behind. If their reinforcements arrived, we would both be doomed.

    “…”

    After another futile struggle, she finally stopped resisting, her face flushed.

    “Yi Yao.”

    She turned her head away, her voice barely a whisper.

    “What?”

    “Let go.”

    “Have you come to your senses?”

    “Yes.”

    I released her wrists.

    She stretched, then snorted. “I just want to get out of this hellhole. We’ll settle our score later.”

    “Yes, yes, whatever you say.”

    As if I were her boyfriend.

    I was starting to get used to her tsundere personality. I walked over to where we had been chained and picked up the bread. “Do you want some?”

    “No, thanks. Who knows what they put in it. You eat it.”

    “Fine. I’ll keep it for now.”

    I stuffed the bread into my pocket and stepped out of the factory. The sight before me was daunting: a vast expanse of overgrown grass and dense forest.

    “Which way do we go?”

    Xiaodie cautiously approached me, her eyes scanning the undergrowth. “Are there snakes in the grass?”

    “Even if there are, we have to go.”

    I took a few steps forward, searching for a path, when the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention.

    Several figures were running towards us from the other side of the factory, illuminated by the moonlight.

    So, they did have backup…

    “Let’s go.”

    I grabbed her hand and plunged into the tall grass.

    “Do you… do you even know where you’re going?”

    Her voice was shaky.

    “No, but I know we need to get out of here.”

    In this wilderness, under the cover of darkness, even if they knew the terrain, we were on equal footing.

    As long as they didn’t have guns.

    “Bang! Bang!”

    Two gunshots pierced the night.

    Something whizzed past my ear, and Xiaodie screamed.

    I stopped and turned to her. “What’s wrong? Did they hit you?”

    “I… I…”

    She clutched my arm, her body trembling. She sank to the ground, her voice weak. “I’m fine.”

    “Then what are you waiting for?”

    I was exasperated. I tried to pull her up, but she wouldn’t budge.

    “Stop!”

    The figures were less than 800 meters away.

    “Bang! Bang! Bang!”

    Three more shots. One bullet hit a branch above Xiaodie’s head, sending it crashing down with a loud crack.

    “Yi Yao… Go on without me…”

    She hung her head, her hair a tangled mess.

    She was trembling uncontrollably.

    Her fear was palpable, transmitted through her slender arm.

    “Don’t be stupid! Get up! We might not escape even if we run, but we’ll definitely die if we stay here!”

    I raised my voice, hoping to shake her out of her fear.

    “Yi Yao…” She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. “You… you’re not afraid?”

    “I am! I’m more afraid than you are! But what good is fear?” I wanted to slap her. “Will your mother’s illness magically disappear if you’re afraid to see her? Will someone come and comfort you if you’re afraid to go home? Will they show us mercy if we cower here in fear?”

    The figures were less than 500 meters away.

    “You have to fight for your happiness, your dreams! Understand? Those who rely on others will always be weaklings! Where’s that fighting spirit you showed me earlier? You weren’t afraid of a black belt instructor, but you’re scared of a few ordinary men?”

    “I…”

    She stared at me, her eyes wide with surprise. Perhaps this was the first time she had seen me so assertive.

    “Answer me! What is the spirit of Taekwondo?”

    “Courtesy… integrity…”

    “Louder!”

    “Courtesy! Integrity! Perseverance! Self-control! Indomitable spirit!”

    I pulled her up.

    More bullets whizzed past us.

    “Run!”

    I grabbed her hand and we plunged into the dense forest.

    “Don’t look down! Look ahead!”

    I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I knew we had to keep moving.

    If you didn’t work hard, you would starve. If you didn’t strive for better, you would be left behind.

    This world owed us nothing.

    After about thirty minutes of stumbling through the darkness, I stopped.

    “I think… they’re not following us.”

    The forest was eerily silent, sending a shiver down my spine. Something felt wrong.

    But I couldn’t let Xiaodie see my fear.

    If I showed weakness now, we were both doomed.

    “Come on, this way.”

    She followed me obediently.

    Since they had taken our phones, I could only navigate by the moonlight.

    Now that the immediate danger had passed, we needed to find a safe place to rest and regroup.

    A small cave, perhaps.

    “Get in.”

    The cave was tiny, barely large enough for us to squeeze through the entrance. Those men wouldn’t have shot at us if they had orders to bring us back alive. Since they hadn’t pursued us, they must have given up.

    I watched Xiaodie enter the cave, then gathered a large rock and some branches to camouflage the entrance.

    The cave was pitch black.

    “Xiaodie?”

    “I’m here.”

    “Meow…”

    What was that?

    I followed the sound and found a small kitten huddled beside Xiaodie.

    “It’s okay. It won’t bite.”

    Remembering my experience working at a pet store, I gently stroked the kitten’s face until it stopped meowing. I pulled out the bread I had taken from the factory.

    “Do you want some?”

    “I’m not hungry. Thank you.”

    Still playing the tsundere even in this situation? We hadn’t eaten since lunch. Did she think I was stupid?

    I put the kitten aside and opened the bread package.

    “If you’re worried about it being poisoned, I’ll eat half. I’ll leave the other half here. You can eat it later if you get hungry.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 17

    Come, Let Me Take You Home 17

    No. 17 Shattered Darkness

    “Click.”

    In the darkness, the handcuffs on Xiaodie’s wrists snapped open as I turned the key.

    She rubbed her sore wrists, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Where did you get the key?” she whispered.

    “The fat guy gave it to me when he brought me here.”

    I scanned our surroundings, memorizing the layout, and tucked the key into my school uniform pocket.

    “They have a mole in our ranks, and so do we. I’m guessing that fat guy is on our side.”

    He probably deliberately mentioned killing us to warn me and give us a chance to escape. I had to admit, he was quite professional.

    In the bright moonlight, I could make out the outline of a large abandoned factory. Xiaodie and I were on the ground floor, surrounded by the smell of dust and rusting metal. Four-meter-high walls enclosed us on all sides. Only two small openings, one above the main gate and another on the wall to our right, offered a glimpse of the outside world. I also spotted a staircase leading to the second floor, but I couldn’t tell if the door was locked.

    “What do we do now?”

    Xiaodie’s voice was laced with panic. “There are men outside, armed with guns. We…”

    “We can’t go through the main gate.”

    I stared at the moonlight streaming through the openings, my mind racing.

    Climb over the wall? Even if there weren’t any guards, scaling a four-meter wall without any tools would be difficult. Besides, any noise would alert the men outside.

    I had to rely on myself. Huang Yingdie was just an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. It was a miracle she wasn’t a blubbering mess. I couldn’t expect her to do anything else.

    “Hey, Number Six, why are those girls so quiet?”

    “I don’t know. I’ll go check.”

    Their conversation sent a jolt of fear through me.

    Damn it! I forgot about that!

    “Yi Yao…”

    Xiaodie grabbed my hand, her small body trembling.

    “Come with me.”

    I heard the sound of keys turning in the lock. Without hesitation, I grabbed her hand and dragged her towards a small cot nearby.

    “Click, click, click…”

    The door swung open.

    “Get in!”

    I pushed her under the cot, then squeezed in myself just as the flashlight beam swept across the room.

    “Move over. They’ll see us.”

    The cot was too small. Half of my body was sticking out. I hissed at her.

    “There’s no more space…”

    She glanced back at me. “Don’t push…”

    “Hmm?”

    A questioning voice came from where we had been standing.

    They had noticed our absence.

    “Number Three! Emergency! The girls are gone!”

    “What?!”

    Three sets of footsteps approached the cot.

    “Search everywhere! The door was locked. They must still be here!”

    Three flashlight beams danced across the walls.

    We were trapped.

    I wrapped my arms around Xiaodie and pulled her close, squeezing myself further under the cot.

    “You!”

    We were pressed chest to chest. I could feel the softness of her breasts against mine, her rapid breathing tickling my ear.

    Were her breasts smaller than Yi Yao’s? How could the mayor’s daughter be less developed? Was she malnourished?

    “Are you trying to get us killed?”

    She glared at me, her face flushed.

    “This is not the time to be picky, okay? Do you want to die?”

    Her faint fragrance and the warmth of her body against mine sent a shiver down my spine. My own body, despite being female, reacted in a way that surprised me. I quickly pushed those thoughts aside. “Listen, they’ll find us if we stay here. I’ll watch their flashlights and figure out their positions. When they spread out, I’ll make a run for it and try to take one of them down. You follow my lead.”

    She covered her mouth with her hand. “Don’t be stupid… They have guns…”

    “Do you want to just sit here and wait for them to find us?”

    I said seriously. “Our only advantage is that we’re hidden in the dark. We have to strike first and gain the upper hand. We have no other choice.”

    “But you…” She still seemed hesitant. “Are you sure you can beat them? What if they shoot you? What if they catch you?”

    “We have to try.”

    The flashlight beams outside were moving faster now.

    “You can choose to cower here and hope for the best, but I won’t. I have brothers waiting for me back in Upper Capital City. If I escape, at least I’ll be in control of my own fate.”

    Yes, even if it seemed impossible, I had to try.

    When I first graduated from university, I had no skills or experience. But I went from one interview to another, driven by desperation. If I didn’t find a job, I wouldn’t even be able to afford food. I had no family or friends to rely on. The longer I waited, the higher the interest on my debts would climb.

    What if I couldn’t answer the interview questions? What if I didn’t know how to do the tasks assigned to me?

    If one company rejected me, I would move on to the next, and the next, until someone hired me. If I didn’t know something, I would learn it. If I couldn’t do it, I would be fired.

    That was the mindset that had allowed me to start from scratch and earn my place in the world.

    Sometimes, we didn’t have the luxury of hesitation.

    Whether it was school or work, time always found a way to drag us forward, kicking and screaming.

    “I’m going. Do what you can.”

    The three men outside had spread out, each taking a corner of the factory. I released Xiaodie, rolled out from under the cot, and ran towards the nearest man, the skinny one. He seemed like the easiest target.

    To my relief, he didn’t notice me approaching. Perhaps my footsteps were too light, or perhaps he was simply oblivious.

    I jumped, spun in mid-air, and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to his head.

    “Thud!”

    He collapsed without a sound, my kick landing squarely on his temple.

    “Who’s there?!”

    The other two flashlights swung towards me.

    Adrenaline surged through my veins. I dashed behind a pile of crates, keeping an eye on the approaching flashlights.

    Wait, where was his gun?

    “Come out, little girl! You’re no match for us!”

    Two shadows stretched across the wall, flanking my hiding spot. They were closing in.

    Which one should I take down first?

    I was searching for a weapon when a shadowy figure emerged from the cot and charged towards one of the men, mimicking my earlier attack.

    However, the man was prepared. He blocked her kick effortlessly. Xiaodie stumbled, nearly falling.

    You idiot!

    I grabbed a rock and rushed out from behind the crates, running towards her. I dodged a bullet, then hurled the rock at the man’s face with all my might.

    Miss.

    He dodged it easily.

    Damn it.

    We were exposed. I helped Xiaodie up, bracing myself for the worst.

    “Haha, it’s been a while since we had some fun. These girls will make a fine snack.”

    To my surprise, they didn’t shoot. One of them even took off his shirt, flexing his muscles. “Come on, girls. Are you going to fight together, or one at a time?”

    “Um…” I asked cautiously, “You don’t have guns?”

    “Guns?”

    The muscular man looked confused. “Guns? If we could afford guns, would we be here… kidnapping you two?”

    I exchanged a bewildered glance with Xiaodie.

    “You should have said so earlier.”

    We both assumed a Taekwondo stance.

    “So, you’re going to fight together?”

    “I can handle you myself.”

    I stepped forward and delivered three swift kicks to his head. As he blocked, I spun around and landed a powerful front kick to his jaw. “Crack!” The sickening sound of bone breaking filled the air. The muscular man, all 1.8 meters of him, flew backward, landing three meters away.

    To make sure he stayed down, I stomped on his groin.

    I turned to face the other man, only to find him already lying unconscious on the ground. Xiaodie stood over him, her stance still perfect.

    “Whew… We’re alive.”

    I wiped the dust from my face, relieved.

    Xiaodie walked towards me, her expression cold and aloof.

    “What are you doing?”

    I stared at her, confused. She had been cowering in my arms just moments ago, and now she was back to her usual stoic demeanor.

    “Nothing. I just want to settle our unfinished business from this afternoon.”

    She unclenched her fists, shifting from an offensive to a defensive stance, one hand protecting her head.

    “Come on.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 16

    No. 16 Bathed in Moonlight

    “Get out!”

    After a bumpy two-hour ride, the van finally came to a stop. My hands were tied, my eyes blindfolded. Two armed men shoved Xiaodie and me out of the vehicle.

    The air was fresh, filled with the scent of earth and leaves, a stark contrast to the city. I guessed we were somewhere far out in the suburbs. Two hours was enough time to transport us to another city. Since I had been blindfolded the entire time, I couldn’t be sure of our exact location.

    All I knew was that my luck had officially run out.

    You want to kidnap the mayor’s daughter? Fine. But why drag me into this?

    “Try anything funny, and you’ll regret it.”

    Before I could even regain my balance, something cold and hard pressed against my head.

    “Number 3, you take the van back and report to the boss. We’ll handle things here.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    As they spoke, I quickly assessed the situation. There were three of them: one driver and two gunmen, one fat and two skinny. They were all masked, with no distinguishing features. Their handling of the guns suggested they were professionals. Based on Dati’s information, these men were probably trained mercenaries, veterans of countless battles. I couldn’t afford to act rashly.

    No martial art could outrun a bullet.

    To my surprise, Xiaodie, the main target of this kidnapping, hadn’t uttered a single word throughout the entire ordeal. I couldn’t tell if she was terrified or if her emotionless facade had returned.

    They pushed us along a muddy path for about half an hour. A heavy door creaked open, and I felt a powerful shove from behind, sending me sprawling onto the ground.

    “Thud!”

    Before I could react, someone grabbed me and dragged me towards a metal pole. I heard a metallic click as they handcuffed me to it.

    “Stay put, you two. We have men stationed outside. They have orders to shoot on sight. If you want to live, don’t move.”

    The heavy door slammed shut behind them.

    Seriously? At least remove the blindfold…

    I was already worried sick about Lan Zhuoyue. Now, my heart sank to the depths of despair.

    The world fell silent.

    The faint croaking of frogs filled the air.

    “Yi Yao…”

    Xiaodie’s voice, laced with panic, broke the silence.

    “Yi Yao, are you there?”

    “Yes, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

    I couldn’t see, so I just sat there, my back against the cold metal pole.

    This place was filthy. It hadn’t been cleaned in years. The air was thick with dust.

    “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

    “There’s no point in talking to unreasonable people.”

    “You…”

    She was clearly annoyed. “Are you looking for a fight?”

    “Save it. We can’t even see. How are we supposed to fight? By the way, Xiaodie, what’s your full name? Why do your friends call you ‘A-Pian’?”

    “Hmph, none of your business.”

    “Fine, fine, I won’t ask. Let’s just sit here in silence and wait for them to decide our fate.”

    “Don’t…”

    Perhaps my words had frightened her. Her voice softened, a hint of pleading in it. “I’m sorry… Yi Yao, do you think they’ll just leave us here? This place is so remote. What if snakes get in…”

    She shuffled closer, guided by my voice.

    Hearing the usually stoic girl sound so vulnerable sparked a strange sense of satisfaction within me. I couldn’t help but tease her. “I thought you weren’t afraid.”

    “Who… who said I wasn’t afraid? They have guns… and… they don’t look like good people. I…”

    She was, after all, just a teenager. Her voice trembled.

    “What if they just kill us and demand ransom from my dad? Or force us to do those…”

    “Calm down.”

    I interrupted her. “If they wanted to do anything to us, they would have done it in the van. They’re probably planning to use us as leverage against the Jiang Nan Gang and the Black Dragon Society.”

    “Leverage? What do you mean?”

    “Before we go any further, I need to ask you something. Did the Jiang Nan Gang really send those people to my father’s shop yesterday?”

    “Of course not!”

    She practically shouted. “Tianhai Ge(Brother) forbade everyone from discussing that matter. Qinghao even promised me he wouldn’t bother you again. Aren’t you the one who’s obsessed with us?”

    “That’s what I thought. Those men who caused trouble at my dad’s shop said they were hired by someone named Huang Qinghao.”

    “But Qinghao was with me last night and the night before. His phone was dead because he forgot his charger. I can vouch for him. He definitely didn’t send anyone.”

    “Which means someone is trying to instigate a conflict between us. And that someone is probably someone we both know. An inside man.”

    “Who could it be?”

    “How should I know? If Dati hadn’t called…”

    The heavy door creaked open again.

    “Well, well, well. Looks like you two are having a nice chat.”

    The blindfold was ripped off my face. Blinded by the sudden light, I saw the two masked men, one fat and one skinny, shining their flashlights at us.

    “Boss, is this her?” the fat one asked, pointing at Xiaodie.

    “Yes.” The skinny one nodded, then turned to me. “They’re probably friends or classmates. We brought them both just to be safe.”

    “Let her talk to him.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    The fat one pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

    “Hello, Mayor Huang. No… I’m not a reporter. Your daughter is with us… No, we don’t want money. We just need you to do us a small favor… I’ll inform you of the details later… Really? Fine. Your daughter is right here. We haven’t mistreated her. You can talk to her if you want.”

    He held the phone to Xiaodie’s ear.

    Even from a distance, I could hear a man’s frantic voice. “Xiaodie! Xiaodie! Say something… Xiaodie, are you alright…”

    “Dad…”

    She choked back a sob. “Dad… I want to go home…”

    “Heh heh heh…”

    Satisfied with the effect, the fat man chuckled and took the phone back. “You heard that? I suggest you don’t call the police. Otherwise…”

    “Bang!”

    He fired a shot into the air. The deafening roar echoed through the abandoned factory.

    “Here’s your dinner. If you’re worried about it being poisoned, don’t eat it.”

    He tossed a packaged loaf of bread onto the ground between us, then holstered his gun and sneered at Xiaodie. “Huang Yingdie, blame your father for being the mayor. Let me tell you something. Whether he calls the police or not, you two won’t live to see tomorrow. This time tomorrow night, you’ll be dead. Hahahaha!”

    He spat on the ground, then followed the skinny man out of the factory, slamming the door shut behind them.

    We were plunged back into darkness.

    “Keep an eye on them. If they escape, you know what will happen.”

    “Yes, sir.”

    Their conversation sent a chill down my spine.

    He was right. There were men guarding the factory.

    It was probably around 8:30 PM. We were just two sixteen-year-old girls, our hands cuffed behind our backs, with no tools or weapons.

    If what they said was true, we had to escape, no matter the cost.

    But first…

    “So, your name is Huang Yingdie?”

    I struggled to contain my laughter. “I wondered why they kept calling you ‘A-Pian.’ So, your name really is ‘A-Pian’…”

    Xiaodie, Huang Yingdie, “Huang-yellow(p*rn) Ying(video) disc,” A-Pian.

    “Hilarious, isn’t it? Go ahead, laugh.”

    In the faint moonlight, I saw her face, as red as a ripe apple, her lips pouting in annoyance. She looked so adorable, I almost wanted to pinch her cheeks.

    “No, you misunderstand. Everyone’s name is unique, just like every life. No life deserves to be ridiculed. I wouldn’t laugh at you.”

    Liar… I was barely holding it together.

    “Hey, Xiaodie, since we’re going to die tomorrow anyway, why don’t you tell me about your school?”

    “What’s there to tell? It’s just…”

    She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as I stood up, my hair a mess, my hands free from the handcuffs.

    “You!”

    I rushed over and covered her mouth before she could scream.

    “Shh… I can get us out of here, but you have to promise to do exactly as I say, no matter what.”

  • Mistaken Era 66

    Chapter 66

    If it were another time, Xiao Xiao might have admired the ceremonious nature of the celestial birds – they even performed such an elaborate dance before partaking in their grand feast.

    But right now, she only wanted to preserve her life. So when the five phoenixes attacked, Xiao Xiao wielded the Heaven’s Defiance sword to block their assault.

    In actuality, the phoenixes’ bodies were even smaller than mountain grouses, making them exceptionally agile when taking flight or evading. Suddenly, the violet and yellow phoenixes opened their beaks and spewed blazing flames towards Xiao Xiao.

    It seemed that since they could not approach her directly, they did not mind roasting her with their fire before eating her.

    Xiao Xiao had already become skilled in water techniques, so as the flames rushed towards her, she had already summoned water from the nearby stream to erect a water shield.

    The summoned water was mixed with those luminous little fish, causing the entire water shield to sparkle like crystal.

    However, the tongues of fire surged forth, instantly boiling the water and releasing the aroma of roasted fish in an instant.

    At this life-or-death moment, the slightly hungry Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but swallow some saliva upon smelling the fish. The phoenixes, unable to resist, also began pecking at the fragrant roasted fish.

    Seizing the opportunity while the phoenixes were preoccupied with eating, Xiao Xiao held her sword horizontally in front of her chest and attempted to negotiate with the celestial birds, “If you love roasted fish so much, I can buy you some carp and sea bass to roast and eat. They are deliciously fresh, much better than me!”

    Unfortunately, these phoenixes had likely been dwelling in this ravine for a long time, subsisting solely on the fish, so they must have grown weary of it. They showed no interest in Xiao Xiao’s proposal whatsoever.

    After eating a few roasted fish, the unsatisfied phoenixes resumed their graceful dance steps, forming a semicircle with piercing gazes as they closed in on Xiao Xiao.

    Although water subdues fire, the flames spewed by the phoenixes were not ordinary flames, but the vermilion flames of true fire.

    Xiao Xiao’s water shield was utterly ineffective against the surging tongues of flame. Even if erected, it would only serve to entertain the phoenixes before their grand feast.

    When she saw the violet and yellow phoenixes stretching their necks, ready to breathe fire again, Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth and took out two fire-controlling talismans…

    However, she had no confidence in them at all!

    Perhaps due to her yin constitution, she could easily control water, wind, and other such elements without obstruction. But she had always struggled to manipulate fire. And the vermilion flames of true fire breathed by these phoenixes were simply an unrealistic goal to control.

    But now, with her life hanging by a thread, Xiao Xiao could not be bothered with trivialities. Just as the two phoenixes stretched their necks to spew flames at her again, she gritted her teeth and flung out the two silver fire-controlling talismans.

    Xiao Xiao focused her spiritual energy and silently recited the incantation. But as usual, although propelled by her spiritual power, the two talismans merely fluttered in the air like leaves caught in the wind, offering no resistance before swiftly melting into pools of molten silver under the intense flames…

    Xiao Xiao had never expected them to be effective. She had only used them to divert the phoenixes’ attention.

    After throwing out the fire talismans, she leapt onto the Heaven’s Defiance sword, maneuvering the divine blade to swiftly ascend out of the narrow ravine.

    As the demon bead had said, the only way to deal with these celestial birds was to flee quickly. She could only rely on the sword’s speed to escape the phoenixes’ lair.

    Propelled by her spiritual power, the Heaven’s Defiance shot forth like an arrow loosed from its bow, bursting out of the ravine.

    But when it came to flight, who could outpace the king of birds?

    Soon, the five multicolored celestial birds unfurled their wings and long flowing tails in pursuit of the sword-riding Xiao Xiao!

    The lingering demonic aura from the snake’s possession on her body was too enticing, arousing an insatiable craving in the five phoenixes.

    When Xiao Xiao looked back, she saw that although the phoenixes were originally no larger than grouses, their bodies rapidly expanded as they gave chase with outspread wings.

    In a moment, the enlarged phoenixes were as enormous as giant eagles, extending their sharp, elongated talons to viciously swoop down on Xiao Xiao.

    Fortunately, the Heaven’s Defiance sword under Xiao Xiao’s control was too nimble, evading the phoenixes’ deadly talons several times.

    Unable to capture their prey, the phoenixes were toyed with and spun around by Xiao Xiao, seeming to grow infuriated. They circled in the air once more, letting out an earth-shaking cry, then the five phoenixes glared with blazing crimson eyes and simultaneously breathed forth five-colored flames towards Xiao Xiao.

    The overwhelming torrent of flames left Xiao Xiao with nowhere to evade. The Heaven’s Defiance sword, its primary duty to protect its master, shielded Xiao Xiao from the bulk of the blazing flames. However, Xiao Xiao’s body was still scorched, instantly enveloped in the raging inferno.

    The agony of the vermilion flames of true fire searing her flesh felt like being doused in boiling oil, with searing heat penetrating into every pore. The excruciating pain caused Xiao Xiao to cry out in anguish as she plummeted from the air.

    As she fell, the surrounding winds further fanned the flames, completely engulfing Xiao Xiao in a fireball.

    Was this the moment when she would truly burn to death? If she died, would anyone grieve and miss this orphan girl?

    In that instant, the image that flashed through Xiao Xiao’s mind was Wei Jie. He… would certainly be heartbroken and saddened if he learned of his unruly master’s such a wretched demise, right?

    Amidst the searing agony, Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth once more and silently recited the fire-controlling incantation…

    This time, perhaps due to the dire life-or-death circumstances, the previously ineffective fire-controlling incantation seemed to resonate with the surrounding heat as each syllable passed through Xiao Xiao’s lips, causing a faint trembling…

    Just as Xiao Xiao was about to lose consciousness from the pain, she suddenly felt the raging flames leave her body.

    She forced her eyes open and realized that the vermilion flames of true fire that had been scorching her were now scattered like dispersed fireworks around her. Gradually, the falling sparks were steadily controlled by the incantation, forming five floating fireballs resembling blooming fire lotuses surrounding Xiao Xiao.

    The phoenixes also seemed shocked that their true flames had been brought under control by a human. They flapped their wings again, letting out piercing cries, intending to swoop down and tear her apart with their talons.

    Seeing the five phoenixes charging once more, Xiao Xiao mustered her strength and waved her arms, guiding the five fireballs floating around her body to shoot directly towards the phoenixes.

    In an instant, their feathers ignited upon contact with the flames, causing the phoenixes to burst into a raging inferno as they let out shrill cries.

    By now, Xiao Xiao had been scorched into charred cinders by the flames, losing consciousness from the agony. She plummeted from the air, no longer able to control her injured body.

    The shrill cries of the five phoenixes circling in the sky had already awoken Tang Youshu, Yu Ling’er, and the others sleeping near the cave on the rear mountains.

    Raising their heads, they saw the previously dim sky illuminated by the multicolored flames breathed by the phoenixes, allowing them to witness Xiao Xiao being besieged by the five celestial birds.

    Yu Ling’er urgently called out to Xiao Xiao in a loud voice, hoping to pull her out of the phoenixes’ encirclement, but alas, she could not fly that high. All she could do was watch helplessly as Xiao Xiao was engulfed in flames, only to retaliate successfully by setting the five phoenixes ablaze before they all fell from the sky together.

    Without needing Yu Ling’er’s command, several physically robust male foxes immediately transformed and darted like lightning towards where Xiao Xiao had fallen.

    However, Xiao Xiao and the five burning phoenixes fell once again into the depths of the narrow ravine.

    When the foxes arrived, seeing Xiao Xiao plummet over the sheer cliff face, they prepared to leap down after her.

    But in the next moment, they were repelled by an invisible barrier!

    At that moment, a dark blur flashed past, effortlessly breaking through the unseen restraints to plunge into the ravine alongside the falling Xiao Xiao…

    Propelling himself with spiritual power, the dark blur swiftly caught up to the plummeting Xiao Xiao, scooping the charred girl into his embrace. He then erected a qi shield to strike the ground, greatly reducing the impact of their descent.

    This dark blur was none other than Wei Jie, who had rushed back after completing his delivery of the lost page.

    From down the mountain, he had witnessed the intense aerial battle and immediately hurried upwards.

    However, he had still arrived a step too late, only managing to dive into the ravine and catch the falling Xiao Xiao.

    As the two landed, Wei Jie’s handsome face was taut with tension. Not daring to jostle the charred girl, he could only call out urgently, “Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, wake up!”

    But Xiao Xiao remained unconscious, appearing lifeless!

    At that moment, something luminous seemed to be pushing its way out of Xiao Xiao’s mouth.

    With his fox demoness bloodline, Wei Jie’s sensitivity to demonic auras was keener than ordinary people’s.

    As he sensed the overwhelming demonic aura washing over him, he realized it was the demon bead that had long been parasitically possessing Xiao Xiao’s body.

    Previously, it had stubbornly refused to leave. But now that its host was hanging by a thread, unable to persist much longer, it was preparing to abandon her.

    While the demon bead’s departure was a good thing, it could not happen at this moment!

    Without the demon bead’s demonic nature, Xiao Xiao’s severely damaged body would be unable to hold on.

    Thinking this, Wei Jie grabbed the Heaven’s Defiance sword beside Xiao Xiao and pointed its tip at her luminous mouth, threatening menacingly, “If you dare come out, I swear I’ll cleave you in two with this sword!”

    As he spoke, his spiritual energy pressed against the sword’s tip, causing the demon bead to let out a pained wail. In the next moment, the light in Xiao Xiao’s mouth vanished back down her throat.

    Wei Jie knew that the demon bead had been forced back into Xiao Xiao’s body. However, if her consciousness did not awaken, she would only become the demon bead’s puppet, preserving this charred shell of a body…

    Thinking this, he unsheathed a dagger and sliced open his own wrist, dripping his rapidly healing blood into Xiao Xiao’s mouth and splashing it over her body.

    Then he sat cross-legged again, circulating his internal energy in preparation to transfer his internal pellet to Xiao Xiao.

    However, with Xiao Xiao’s severe injuries, if he gave her his internal pellet, she might immediately absorb and deplete it, leaving none for him to take back.

    For a cultivator, the complete loss of one’s internal pellet was a devastating blow. Even through further cultivation, the resulting void would cause irreparable damage, making it extremely difficult to reach the pinnacle again.

    Wei Jie could not be bothered with such concerns. He lowered his head, preparing to pry open Xiao Xiao’s jaw to transfer his internal pellet to her.

    But when he attempted to channel his internal pellet into her mouth, it would not enter – like the demon bead, an internal pellet required a living host. If the person had already perished, it was impossible to transfer it to them.

    Wei Jie stared wide-eyed, his hand trembling as he reached for Xiao Xiao’s nostrils, but could not detect even a faint breath…

    Wei Jie refused to believe it, lowering his head again to press his lips tightly against her charred mouth, desperately trying to transfer his internal pellet to her, but to no avail.

    The once lively and scolding little master now lay motionless like a lump of charcoal.

    Wei Jie clung to her lips, waiting in vain for her to open her eyes and loudly berate him as a licentious rascal for taking liberties with her.

    His eyes darkened as he sliced open his other wrist, letting the hot blood gush freely into her mouth, only for it to trickle back out from the corners of her lips. It seemed no amount of fresh blood could revive this slumbering girl.

    Wei Jie dared not jostle her forcefully, for she appeared so fragile and shattered, as if she might crumble into pieces at the slightest touch.

    In this moment, Wei Jie felt an overwhelming hatred towards himself. Why had he escorted the lost page away initially? If he had been present, he would never have allowed Xiao Xiao to face such peril alone…

    But no amount of regret could change anything now. This girl, lying with closed eyes and no breath, would never seriously console him again, telling him not to belittle himself, that even as a half-demonic child, he had the potential to become a cultivator in her eyes. She would never secretly gaze at him again, her face flushing red as she stubbornly refused to admit her feelings…

    This abrupt, unexpected parting of life and death was simply too difficult to accept.

    Wei Jie even wondered if she was deliberately punishing him? Punishing him for that previous parting when she had closed her eyes expectantly, yet he had hardened his heart and turned to leave without kissing her?

    If only she would open her eyes, he would surely tell her that the reason he did not kiss her then was not to tease her. Rather, he feared that if their lips met, he would be unable to leave her side ever again…

    Thinking this, the gloomy man who had seemed as unyielding as dark storm clouds let out a soft laugh, “Xiao Xiao, are you trying to scare me? You’re putting on quite an act. I, someone who has never known fear, am now utterly terrified… Come now, open your eyes, won’t you? I’ll do anything you ask, just don’t remain so still… Cui Xiao Xiao! Open your eyes for me!”

    By the end, Wei Jie could no longer maintain his composure, letting out an anguished roar. His purple eyes had darkened to an inky hue, and a trail of blood-tinged tears slowly slid from his eyes, dripping onto Xiao Xiao’s lips…

    The blood tears of a fox demoness are droplets of her very life essence, possessing the ability to turn decay into miracles. However, fox demonesses are heartless, rarely shedding such blood tears.

    Yet at this moment, Wei Jie’s tears were also infused with droplets of his own hot blood…

    Just as he hung his head in helpless sobs, he heard a cracking sound. Slowly raising his gaze, he saw that Xiao Xiao’s charred exterior was developing fine cracks, gradually spreading across her body…

    Seeing her undergo such changes, Wei Jie dared not touch her, for she resembled a fragile, blackened doll that might shatter into pieces at any moment.

    “Xiao Xiao!” In that instant, Wei Jie felt as if his heart had been scorched by raging flames. He could not help but call out her name once more, his voice thunderous.

    As if awakened by his voice, Xiao Xiao finally let out a faint, low moan and coughed painfully. This single cough was impactful – the fine cracks instantly shattered, the charred shell crumbling and falling away like broken porcelain shards…

    Wei Jie’s eyes widened as he stared fixatedly at the places where the charred shell fell away, revealing tender, fair skin beneath.

    As the blackened exterior shed away, Wei Jie realized that Xiao Xiao did not appear to be burned at all. In fact, her features now seemed even more exquisitely beautiful than before.

    If the previous Xiao Xiao could be described as a pure, lovely beauty, then the Xiao Xiao who now fluttered her eyes open exuded an indescribable, bewitching allure with each glance…

    However, Xiao Xiao seemed somewhat dazed as she blinked at the suddenly appeared Wei Jie, wondering: Am I…dreaming? Why am I dreaming of this bastard Wei Jie again…

    Seeing that she was unharmed, the weight on Wei Jie’s heart finally lifted, but he was still too shaken from the extreme grief to react. He only stared at her with his purple eyes, anxiously confirming that she had indeed awoken.

    Seeing his silence, Xiao Xiao thought she must be dreaming. Otherwise, why would that habitually arrogant man have tear stains of blood on his face?

    Wei Jie, cry? Of course not! So this had to be a dream!

    However, even if it was a dream, was the surnamed Wei not being too audacious? Xiao Xiao gazed at him in a daze, unable to resist asking, “Why…are you so close to me?”

    Wei Jie lowered his purple eyes obediently and replied, “I was preparing to transfer my internal pellet to you…”

    As witnessed by the heavens, he had no intentions of being coy. Every word was a sincere desire to save her life.

    However, the man was too devilishly handsome. Every gaze and innocent expression seemed like an attempt at seduction.

    Still dazed from the scorching of the vermilion flames of true fire, Xiao Xiao seemed to have misunderstood. She widened her eyes and made an unfounded accusation, “You always tease but never follow through, what kind of man are you!”

    What Xiao Xiao said was true, but it only referred to scenarios in her dreams where he would provocatively tease her yet never continue further. Recalling those instances where he would tantalize her in her dreams only to leave her hanging felt like being scorched by flames, then tossed into a cold pool – it was truly vexing!

    Wei Jie narrowed his eyes slightly, naturally recalling the regret of not kissing her during their previous parting. He seemed quite sincere as he tried to explain, “Last time, I thought that… um…”

    In the next moment, his dreamily licentious little master actually grew impatient. She hooked her slender arm around his neck, pulled him down, and brazenly captured his lips with her own…

    Since this was a dream, how dare this wretched man babble on so nonsensically? She would turn the tables on him!

    How strange, why did she taste a sweet yet bloody flavor in her mouth? This sensation of entangled lips… could this dream be too realistic?

    If Wei Jie did not know what to do next, he should stop calling himself a man!

    Soon, he took control, forcefully embracing Xiao Xiao as he fervently savored the cherry lips he had longed to kiss for so long.

    Xiao Xiao was enveloped in his warm embrace, her soft, cat-like form pressed against his muscular chest as she let out muffled moans, entangled in fervent kisses…

    However, in her muddled state, while enjoying this dreamlike beauty, Xiao Xiao also felt a nagging sense that something was amiss.

    In a daze, she seemed to hear the distant calls of phoenixes echoing from the heavens. The cries pierced through her hazy mind like a crack in a dam, causing the memories of her fierce battle with the phoenixes before being scorched unconscious to come rushing back!

    Recalling this, Xiao Xiao abruptly pushed the man away and stared at her surroundings in bewilderment. Upon confirming this was not a dream, she urgently asked him, “You… how are you here?”

    Wei Jie’s breathing was still uneven as his gaze trailed down Xiao Xiao’s bewitchingly flushed face. He replied absentmindedly, “I came back to find you after delivering the lost page…”

    Xiao Xiao felt his purple eyes darken even further, so she followed his downward gaze to examine herself…

    Previously, her battle with the five phoenixes had been so intense that she was scorched by the vermilion flames of true fire they breathed, causing her to lose consciousness from the searing agony.

    Now that she had awakened, she could see the lingering scorch marks on her body, though some of the charred shell had already cracked and fallen away, revealing her newly reborn skin beneath…

    But that was not the main issue! The vermilion flames of true fire scorched everything in their path, leaving no trace. She had been utterly charred, so how could even a shred of clothing remain?

    In the next moment, Xiao Xiao let out a shriek louder than the phoenixes’ cries!

    She frantically flailed to cover herself, but then realized her actions were still improper.

    Finally, she came to her senses and used her hands to block Wei Jie’s unblinking, roaming eyes as she ferociously demanded, “What…what are you looking at?!”

    With his eyes obstructed, Wei Jie’s mouth curved into a smile, revealing a gleaming fang as he said with lingering relish, “Nothing much, just a snowy landscape with a glimpse of jade peeking through… Mmph…”

    Before he could finish, Xiao Xiao’s flustered hand had already clamped over his audacious mouth!

    If possible, Xiao Xiao wished she had truly perished in those raging flames, rather than losing all feminine dignity only to be mocked by this rascal!

    However… she also noticed the reddened tear stains on Wei Jie’s cheeks and couldn’t help lowering her hand slightly, wrapping her arms around herself as she asked in astonished hesitation, “Wei Jie, were you…crying just now?”

    Wei Jie showed no intention of admitting it. He only embraced his regained little master once more, silently and forcefully rubbing his tear-stained cheek against her neck.

    Xiao Xiao was exceptionally intelligent. She realized that earlier, while being surrounded by the five phoenixes, she had already been scorched into charred cinders, the pain so excruciating that she lost consciousness.

    How could she have simply opened her eyes, reborn with a snow-white, tender complexion?

    Someone must have done something to revive her!

    Thinking this, she pushed Wei Jie away again and examined him closely, naturally noticing his two slashed wrists!

    Just looking at those gaping, bloody wounds on his wrists made Xiao Xiao’s heart skip a beat in alarm!

    “You madman! Don’t you know you could die from excessive blood loss?” Saying this, she fussed about, trying to find something to bind his wrists.

    However, Wei Jie only smiled and kissed her forehead, saying softly, “It’s fine, they’ll heal soon. Just don’t scare me like that again…”

    Xiao Xiao was stunned because after the five burning phoenixes had circled in the sky, consuming themselves in their own flames until nothing remained, they had inexplicably been reborn from the raging inferno. The five petite, exquisite phoenixes now landed opposite Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie.

    Wei Jie removed his long outer robe and helped Xiao Xiao put it on, then pulled her to her feet as he warily watched the phoenixes.

    However, these birds now seemed gripped by fear and frenzy. They urgently shuffled in tight circles, flapping their wings while even pressing their necks and a wing to the ground, as if kowtowing in respect!

    Xiao Xiao was perplexed. Just moments ago they had danced around her like she was to be their feast, but now that Wei Jie appeared, they were all prostrating docilely. What was going on?

    At that moment, the lead crimson phoenix let out a long call, and the others echoed in response. They then took flight again, circling above and crying out repeatedly, as if beckoning Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie to follow them deeper into the ravine…

    However, Xiao Xiao currently felt pained just looking at the birds and had no desire to follow their lead.

    Wei Jie scooped her up and leapt towards the cliff top, but some kind of barrier seemed to prevent them from breaking through, no matter how forcefully they tried.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 120 p2

    Chapter 120: Ye Lingxuan, The Second Protagonist p2

    Pills were ranked from one to nine. Above that were heaven-grade pills, beyond the capabilities of mortal cultivators. Refining a heaven-grade pill would attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao, triggering a powerful tribulation.

    Normally, one needed to be at least at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment to refine a fifth-grade pill. But he had done it at the third level…

    He remembered the admiring gazes of the female cultivators, then he looked at Ye Lingxuan, her indifference jarring. He felt a surge of insecurity.

    Yi Hao, meanwhile, had approached the disciples, offering words of encouragement, then he left the summit. Ye Lingxuan, Bai Ruoxi, and Wei Mengrou… he had to secure at least one of them as a disciple, to prepare for the next sect tournament.

    He needed to offer them something they couldn’t refuse. Perhaps a rare pill or technique… Time was of the essence. He would discuss it with his fellow peak lords and make a decision soon.

    As he departed, the disciples’ gazes shifted to Ye Lingxuan.

    A gust of wind blew, her purple dress swirling around her, the fabric clinging to her curves, revealing her developing figure.

    Lingxuan’s bosom… it’s about one-third the size of Ruoxi’s… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, discreetly observing her. But big has its advantages, and small has its own charm. Besides, she’s still growing. Her potential is unlimited. And he could help her a little.

    He couldn’t promise she would surpass Ruoxi, but he could definitely enhance her attributes.

    She seemed to sense his gaze, rolling her eyes, her voice soft and playful. “What are you looking at, Brother Mu?”

    Her tone was almost coquettish. Her playful glare was endearing, and it drew the attention of the other disciples.

    She continued to look at him, her gaze lingering on his face. During her seclusion in Ling Long’s realm, she had been alone with her thoughts, and she had finally acknowledged her feelings.

    Because of her sister, Ye Qian, she had tried to suppress her emotions.

    But now, whenever she closed her eyes, she saw his face, his gentle smile, his playful words… And she realized that she owed her current strength, her awakened Dragon Soaring Tendon, to him.

    Her gaze softened, a hint of adoration shining in her eyes.

    “What is it, Lingxuan?” he asked, confused. I know I’m handsome, but she’s usually so calm and composed. Why is she staring at me like that?

    She shook her head, smiling faintly. “It’s nothing.”

    She looked away, nodding politely to Ye Yu. “Let’s go, Brother Ye Yu.”

    She took Mu Zhi’an’s arm and led him away.

    “You must be tired after your seclusion,” he said, boldly taking her hand, looking at her, a smile playing on his lips.

    She blushed, but she maintained her composure, her gaze fixed ahead.

    “I’m not that tired. And there are people watching. Could you please let go?” she said, her voice a soft complaint.

    “So you’re saying I can hold your hand when no one’s looking?” he asked, his voice a gentle tease.

    She fell silent, her cheeks flushing even deeper.

    They walked back to the Jade Glass Palace, her hand still in his.

    Ye Yu watched them leave, the cold wind biting at his skin, but it couldn’t extinguish the fire of his jealousy.

    He had earned the admiration and favor of many with his talent as an alchemist, even attracting a few beautiful women.

    But Ye Lingxuan’s emergence had eclipsed them all.

    He remembered how she used to call him “Brother Ye Yu” with affection, and now she treated him like a stranger. His anger towards Mu Zhi’an surged, uncontrollable.

    He didn’t seem to realize that he had had plenty of opportunities to pursue her during their years in the Ye family, but he had waited for her to make the first move. And now that she had been actively pursued by someone else, whose fault was it?

    “You seem unhappy, Young Master Ye,” a cold voice said behind him.

    He turned to see Ning Long, the Third Prince, his jade-like face framed by his four-clawed python robe.

    “Third Prince?” he frowned. “What do you want?”

    He disliked Mu Zhi’an, but he didn’t have a favorable opinion of the Third Prince either. They were both wastrels, never putting in any effort, relying on their cunning and their connections…

    “You must hate Mu Zhi’an, right?” the Third Prince whispered, his voice a mental message, a smile playing on his lips as he held a folding fan.

    Ye Yu frowned, ignoring him, turning to leave.

    “Does Bai Ruoxi truly possess demonic aura?” the Third Prince asked, his voice a soft whisper.

    Ye Yu stopped, turning to look at him, his eyes narrowing.

    “How did you find out?” he asked mentally.

    The Third Prince smiled inwardly.

    So Manting was telling the truth… He had grown up in the imperial court. He knew to verify information after obtaining it from Huang Manting.

    So it was true. Bai Ruoxi possessed demonic aura. But back in Tianxuan City, he hadn’t been able to defeat the Mu family.

    But this was the Two Polarities Sect.

    He looked at the Third Prince, his thoughts racing, then a name flashed in his mind: Huang Manting.

    The Third Prince had been spending a lot of time with the young mistress of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce lately. He couldn’t understand why. Why would he pursue such a wicked woman?

    He didn’t realize that some men enjoyed being Huang Manting’s playthings… It wasn’t because they were poor or needed her help. It was simply because they enjoyed it.

    They enjoyed being controlled.

    Even in the cultivation world, there were those who would pay to be submissive… There were all kinds of fetishes in the world.

    Just like Mu Zhi’an, who was currently fantasizing about conquering Wei Mengrou, making her look at him with disgust as she stepped on him, her legs adorned with black and white stockings.

    Of course, it was just a fantasy. He didn’t actually want to be treated like that all the time.

    “What are you planning to do?” Ye Yu asked, his voice a mental message.

    The Third Prince chuckled coldly. “I’ll do what others won’t.”

    Harboring a demonic cultivator was a crime punishable by death…

    …