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  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 144p1

    Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four: Leg Massage p1

    “Buzz…”
    “Hey?”
    “Is Sister Wanzi there?”
    “…Oh, oh, is Sister Wan Zi there?”

    A slightly childish girl’s voice came over the radio, and the first thing she asked was about Wan Zi.

    There was no time to worry about whether her wording was professional or not, at least she could be heard.

    “It’s the organization that destroyed the Voodoo Cult.” Wan Zi’s voice was a little low. She pressed the intercom button and said to the intercom, “Brother Yang, adjust the frequency, I’ll be right there.”

    “Received.”

    The intercom transmitted a noisy sound, almost all static. Because of the rain, even the communication quality within the camp was very poor.

    “You guys continue to take care of the wounded, I’ll go over there.” Wan Zi instructed the people on the second floor of the administrative building, and then hurried to the other side.

    Now on the second floor of the administrative building, there were more than a dozen wounded lying down, and these wounded were all combat personnel.

    These wounded were undoubtedly adding insult to injury to the already struggling Qingzhou University Camp. Although the people of the Voodoo Cult had either left or died, the impact they left behind still existed and continued to torture their camp.

    Generally speaking, the wounded were not suitable for excessive movement, and it was better to place them on the first floor. The reason why they were carried to the second floor…

    The water accumulation on the first floor had already submerged their ankles.

    And the heavy rain still showed no sign of stopping.

    After arriving at the broadcasting station on the second floor, Wan Zi directly opened the door and walked in.

    As soon as she opened the door, she saw that the central position of the broadcasting station had been vacated, and it seemed that it had been prepared for her.

    At first, let alone the broadcasting station, even Wan Zi didn’t expect that the Voodoo radio station would call them again. Naturally, there was not much preparation. Even at the beginning, Yang Dan just let Wan Zi listen with a radio outside.

    “Hey~ hey? Can you hear me?”

    Hearing the girl’s urging voice from the radio, Wan Zi quickly sat in front of the equipment and pressed the call button.

    “Hello, I’m Wan Zi, I can hear you, over.”

    Worried that the other party could not hear clearly because of the signal, Wan Zi repeated her words twice.

    Now the heavy rain had made the camp have to make a choice, no, not a choice, there was only one way.

    That was to relocate.

    But… where to relocate?

    It was estimated that the entire Guangnan Province was in a similar situation. Taking the camp out of the province? They would face unknown and difficulties…

    But this radio call gave Wan Zi a glimmer of hope.

    Last time, the people on their side had almost said everything they could say, and there should be no “use” value. Why did the other side call her again this time?

    It couldn’t be just to say hello…

    Before Wan Zi could think too much, the reply from the radio made Wan Zi’s eyes gradually widen.

    “I heard~ Sister Wanzi, Sister Xi said thank you very much for the experience you taught last time. This time I want to let you join the reconstruction of the ash area in Kun City…”

    “We can provide safe shelter, clean water and enough seeds, and food support until you are self-sufficient. If you agree, I can go and pick you up…”

    When she heard the front, Wan Zi’s heart was still generally excited. In fact, she vaguely had a premonition that she would be “recruited”. This delay fulfilled her premonition.

    But when she heard that they would pick them up, it really made Wan Zi unable to hold back.

    “Can pick up?!” Wan Zi couldn’t help but ask directly.

    “Buzz… um? Yes~”

    “Buzz… It’s too slow for you to drive, it’s better… Huayibai.”

    The reason why she was not so excited before even being recruited was because of the travel problem.

    They didn’t have enough vehicles to hold a whole camp. Although the supplies were sufficient, if they traveled long distances, there were not enough cars, and the wounded and the old, weak, sick and disabled could not be taken with them.

    If they chose to walk there, it would take too long, and walking increased more risks.

    In case of encountering a corpse tide, the convoy might be able to shake it off, but walking basically could only wait for death, and could not survive until the arrival of daytime.

    But now, you actually told her that pick-up and drop-off were included?

    This was the apocalypse! Not some elementary school field trip. Even Survivor’s Light, when it was in its heyday, did not dare to boast that it could pick up and drop off thousands of miles away…

    What could they do?

    This was not a question, this was a real doubt that was a little unbelievable.

    If this organization could do it, it meant that their comprehensive strength must have surpassed Survivor’s Light and the Voodoo Cult.

    Then why did they choose to come out at this point in time?

    Was it because the headquarters of Kun City Camp was too damaged after the battle and was too short of people?

    Or… because of this increasingly terrifying natural disaster?

    These were no longer things she should consider. What she was thinking about now was to quickly seize this lifeline.

    “If you come to pick us up, how long will it take?” Wan Zi asked respectfully to the radio.

    She didn’t show any disrespect because the other party’s voice. She knew that although the person talking to her was just a little girl, the little girl represented the Kunzhou camp behind her.

    Now she had to ask the specific time clearly, so that she could carefully think about the specific pick-up location.

    After all, Qingzhou University Camp was estimated to be unable to hold on for a week in this heavy rain… No, it was estimated that in three or four days, cars would not be able to enter.

    If the time for that organization to come was more than three days, then they had to agree on another location.

    “Ah… Huayibai thinks about it, it will take about four hours to arrive.”

    “Oh, four days, that’s just right… what??? Can you repeat it?”

    Wan Zi stared at Yang Dan beside her in disbelief, and then repeatedly asked several times, confirming that the other party said four hours, not four days.

    Four hours to get here? Damn it, was this coming by high-speed rail?

    Even a direct flight before the apocalypse would take nearly two hours!

    This speed was almost catching up with the plane!

    When the other party confirmed that they had accepted, and even cut the radio back to playing “Good Day”, Wan Zi was still a little unbelievable.

    Although her camp was not big, it also had a few hundred people.

    Could that organization really send a passenger plane to pick them up?

    That was too… unbelievable.

    “Today is a good day~ Good things can’t be forgotten~♬”

    Listening to the festive “Good Day” on the radio, Wan Zi felt a little absurd for a while, and also felt a sense of relief.

    She was a little unbelievable that the desperate situation that had troubled her and almost made her decide to cut off a part of the camp people to preserve most of the people was solved so easily.

    It was a little unbelievable until now.

    Although some specific terms could not be discussed on the radio, now was not the time for her to negotiate conditions. It was enough that the other party was willing to accept all the old, weak, sick and disabled and give them a bite to eat.

    After calming down for a while and letting her brain completely digest this matter, she looked at Yang Dan sitting aside.

    “Brother Yang, turn on the microphone, administrative building broadcast.”

    “Okay.”

    Yang Dan also knew at this time that Wan Zi was going to announce this matter. Such a big event would definitely be explained to others.

    After connecting to the campus broadcast, under Yang Dan’s signal, Wan Zi stood up and picked up the microphone.

    “I’m Wan Zi, and now I’m going to announce something.”

    Even in the broadcasting room, Wan Zi could hear her voice coming from outside the door. I have to say that the quality of this campus broadcast was really good, and it hadn’t broken down for so many years.

    “Within four hours, except for helping the wounded deal with their wounds, please stop everything, count personal belongings and camp belongings, and stand by in the administrative building.”

    “I repeat, there are only four hours, pack up everything you can, and gather in the administrative building…”

    Soon, the broadcasting room could not only hear the echo from outside, but also bursts of cheers.

    The radio just now was left outside, and the people outside must have known about joining a large organization.

    However, most of them didn’t think as much as Wan Zi, they just felt that they could be sheltered by a large organization and could get rid of the current predicament, that’s all.

    Hearing the busy outside, Wan Zi, who was standing in the broadcasting room, also seemed to have lost her strength and sat down.

    “Brother Yang, you go and pack up too,” Wan Zi turned to look in Yang Dan’s direction and said with a smile, “I’ll sit alone for a while.”

    “Okay, you’ve worked hard these years, Wan Zi.” Yang Dan also showed a smile, picked up a wooden crutch with a patina beside him, supported his body and walked out of the broadcasting room.

    After there was only one person in the broadcasting room, Wan Zi took a deep breath and felt a sense of emptiness.

    At first, she was just a “temporary leader”, just a person who was temporarily elected, but later, temporarily, temporarily, she “temporarily” for more than four years.

    How much grievance she had suffered in the middle, how much effort and hardship it took to maintain a camp, only Wan Zi herself knew the hardships.

    But fortunately, soon, she was finally going to remove the title of “temporary leader” and go to work for a large organization together.

    In this way, everyone in Qingzhou could breathe a sigh of relief, which might be a good choice.

    After sitting quietly for a few minutes, Wan Zi stood up, put away the melancholy expression on her face, returned to the usual casual look, opened the door and walked out.

    “Sister Wanzi!”

    As soon as she opened the door, she saw a girl with a sniper rifle rushing towards her, pounced on her, and even made her turn around.

    “Okay… don’t make trouble, go pack up, and, my name is Wanzi, not Wanzi!”

    After dismissing a few girls who also wanted to pounce, Wan Zi walked towards the center of the administrative building with a smile.

    The people in the center of the administrative building were busy shuttling, and many had to go to the dormitory area to get things in groups.

    When they passed by and saw Wan Zi, they would excitedly say hello, or respectfully call her Sister Wanzi.

    Respectful, but not completely respectful.

    “I told you to call me Wan Zi!”

    After giving a brain-banger to a teenager, Wan Zi crossed the crowd and walked towards the direction of the original art room.

    The second floor of the administrative building had an art room, which was spacious enough to be used to temporarily house the wounded.

    Wan Zi gently opened the door and looked at the wounded lying inside, and the people who were taking care of the wounded.

    Originally, this should be the most depressing place, but now it was also full of laughter. They greeted Wan Zi with smiles, and Wan Zi also responded one by one.

    When Wan Zi’s gaze fell on a figure wrapped in bandages, her breathing stagnated slightly.

    She gently walked to the man, looked at the man who could only move his eyes, and stood silently in front of him, enduring the bitterness in her heart.

    This was the combatant who saved Wan Zi’s life that rainy night.

    Because Wan Zi used her awakening ability to create blood crystal glue to stick his body together in time, he did not die from excessive blood loss, but he also almost became a useless person.

    And originally lying here should have been Wan Zi.

    “It’s okay, boy,” Wan Zi knelt halfway beside the man and said in a low voice, “With me, Wan Zi, your daughter will definitely not go hungry and will not be bullied…”

    “This time we are going to that big organization. Your organs and limbs are still well preserved. You are an Awakened with physical enhancement. Maybe the organization has a way to help you recover…”

    After comforting the man for a few words, seeing the tears that began to accumulate in his eye sockets, Wan Zi also closed her mouth and stood up.

    She couldn’t continue to say it, in case his emotions were too excited, the wound would burst again.

    “Thump—”

    Suddenly, the door of the art room was rudely pushed open, and the sound attracted everyone’s attention.

    “Wan Zi!!!”

    The person at the door shouted anxiously after seeing Wan Zi.

    Looking at the anxious expression of the person at the door, Wan Zi stood up and scolded: “If you have something to say, go out and say it, what are you shouting here?”

    As expected, because of the man’s expression at the door, the laughter in the art room disappeared, and everyone’s expressions were filled with curiosity and worry.

    In order not to let this atmosphere continue to spread here, Wan Zi quickly walked towards the door, kicked the person who bumped into the door out, walked out of the art room, and closed the door.

    “What’s the matter.” Wan Zi looked at the man who was rash just now, and recognized that he was a guard.

    After the Voodoo Cult left, the guards resumed their vigilance work and had been vigilant at the school gate and surrounding directions.

    He ran over so flustered, indicating that there might be a problem around.

    “Sister Wan Zi, the walkie-talkie can’t be used, I… I… I can only run over and tell you,” the man wiped the rain on his face with his hand, and said in a trembling voice, “There are at the door…”

    Speaking of this, the man subconsciously lowered his voice, leaned his body slightly forward, and said softly: “People from the Voodoo Cult…”

    “Voodoo Cult? What are they doing here? Did you fight them?”

    “No… they said… they came to surrender,” the man swallowed and said softly, “Say… what their convoy had internal conflicts, they escaped, they didn’t have a choice before, now they want to be good people…”

    “Are they carrying weapons?”

    “They are, but they are all thrown at the school gate.”

    “Take me.”

    “Okay…”

     

  • Shion’s Notes 146

    Chapter 146: Childhood Life

    A new resident arrived at Huo Ningning’s home, a little girl about her age, perhaps slightly younger. She was adorable, with a soft, round face, captivatingly large eyes, striking blonde hair, and skin fairer than most, her only flaw being her small stature.

    Though considered pretty among her peers, often praised for inheriting her mother’s genes, Huo Ningning felt overshadowed by Yu Linna’s beauty.

    Yu Linna was truly captivating.

    Wu Siyu brought Yu Linna home with the intention of adopting her, a decision her husband fully supported. As long as his wife was happy, he was happy. Besides, with the orphanage demolished and his wife no longer working, it would be good for her to be home more. Their daughter, Ningning, constantly complained about her mother’s absence.

    “Come, Nana, there’s a spare room. I’ll clean it up for you. This is your home now.”

    Wu Siyu, holding Yu Linna’s hand, gently stroked her head, her tenderness making Huo Ningning feel a twinge of jealousy. That’s my mommy!

    Yu Linna, new to the concept of a home, having always lived in an orphanage, didn’t quite understand what it meant. But Wu Siyu’s gentle words brought a sense of comfort, a feeling of a new beginning.

    However, transitioning from communal living to a family setting would take time.

    The room Wu Siyu led her to was sparsely furnished, with only a bed and a small wardrobe, the space empty and bare. But to Yu Linna, it was luxurious, the nicest room she had ever seen.

    “Aunt Wu, can I really stay here?” she asked, tugging on Wu Siyu’s clothes, her eyes wide with disbelief. She clearly loved the room, and Wu Siyu smiled.

    “Of course! This is Nana’s room now. You’re part of our family.”

    Stroking her head, Wu Siyu’s affection was evident. She had always been fond of this child, treating her with extra care at the orphanage. Though she treated all the children equally, she couldn’t help but favor Yu Linna, giving her extra candy, sneaking her extra buns. Yu Linna, grateful for her kindness, cherished these small gestures.

    Yu Linna arrived with only two sets of clothes and a notebook. The notebook, with the words “Yu Linna” clumsily written on the cover, was her most prized possession, fiercely protected.

    She loved her new room, jumping on the bed, reveling in its softness, a feeling of pure bliss. To have such a luxurious place to call her own… she could die happy.

    Children’s desires were simple, easily satisfied, their obedience easily bought with small kindnesses.

    Huo Ningning, clutching a stuffed animal, entered the room as Wu Siyu was making the bed. Seeing her daughter, Wu Siyu put down her work and patted her head.

    “Ningning, what are you doing here? Missing Mommy?”

    “…Mommy, hug!”

    “Haha, you’re still such a cuddle monster. Come here, Ningning, up you go!”

    Wu Siyu lifted her daughter, who giggled happily. They had a close bond.

    Wu Siyu was often away, busy managing the orphanage, leaving little time for her daughter. Huo Ningning, still young, naturally missed her mother and cherished these moments of closeness.

    Yu Linna, standing by the side, sucking on her thumb, watched them, a flicker of envy in her eyes. So this is what family is like… Having never experienced it, she hadn’t understood, but seeing this mother and daughter, she finally grasped the concept.

    “Ningning, Mommy has to finish this. I’ll play with you later. Why don’t you play with Nana?”

    “Okay! Little Linna, let’s play! Come to my room!”

    Children were innocent, their acceptance unconditional. Though this new girl had appeared suddenly, Huo Ningning wasn’t wary of her.

    Yu Linna, hand in hand with Huo Ningning, followed her to her room. It was larger than Yu Linna’s, with a wardrobe, a desk, and even shelves, decorated in various shades of pink, a slightly flamboyant style that Yu Linna found surprisingly comforting.

    “Mommy brought you home, so you’ll be living here now. I’m Huo Ningning. You can call me Ningning.”

    “Okay, Ningning.”

    “Let’s play! I love playing with dolls! Let’s play together! These are my collection.”

    Girls formed bonds quickly. Within an afternoon, the two little girls became fast friends, Huo Ningning’s initial reservations replaced by affection. She taught Yu Linna how to play with dolls, how to dress them, how to create imaginary worlds.

    Though unfamiliar with these games, Yu Linna quickly caught on.

    When they weren’t playing, Yu Linna would scribble on pieces of paper, clumsily writing words like “doll” and “friend.”

    “Little Linna, you can write these words? I’m not very good at reading. How do you pronounce these?”

    Huo Ningning, always curious, peppered her with questions.

    Their friendship blossomed, their bond deepening, sharing secrets and laughter. Though Huo Ningning was still possessive of her mother, she had accepted Yu Linna’s presence.

    “Dinner’s ready, girls! Stop playing! I made a feast for you!”

    Wu Siyu, opening the door to her daughter’s room, smiled at the two girls playing together. She had initially worried they wouldn’t get along, but it seemed her concerns were unfounded. Their friendship was all that mattered.

    Huo Qiulin, reading the newspaper in the living room, put it down when dinner was ready. Seeing Huo Ningning and Yu Linna together, he was surprised by how quickly they had bonded.

    “It’s been a while since I’ve tasted your cooking. Ningning always says mine isn’t as good as yours. I can finally take a break.”

    “Not just a break, a permanent break. I’m unemployed now, so you’ll be supporting me from now on.”

    “Haha, of course. Actually, my studio is doing quite well. I’m planning to expand at the end of the year, start a small company. I’m joining the capitalist ranks!”

    “Oh, please. You’re barely middle-class, not a capitalist.”

    “Then my dear wife is… proletariat?”

    Their playful banter, their easy affection, made Yu Linna envious. So this is what family is like, what marriage is like…

    Would she ever have such a loving family?

    Sensing the little blonde girl’s gaze, Huo Qiulin coughed, ending their playful argument.

    “We have an audience. This little one is even more observant than Ningning. She’ll be very clever when she grows up.”

    “Nana, stop staring. Let’s eat.”

    Wu Siyu patted her head, lifting her onto a chair, her bowl and chopsticks already set. The table was laden with food, a variety of dishes, not extravagant, but prepared with care.

    Yu Linna, her mouth watering, eagerly picked up her chopsticks, savoring the delicious food, the flavors exploding on her tongue. Aunt Wu’s cooking was amazing.

    She ate quickly, her orphanage habit of grabbing food before it was gone still ingrained in her.

    “There’s plenty of food. No one’s going to steal it from you. Eat slowly.”

    Wu Siyu patted her head, adding more food to her bowl.

    Yu Linna ate happily, a joy she had never experienced before. Having always lived in a communal setting, she had never known such abundance, such freedom to enjoy a delicious meal.

    This was the happiest she had been in years.

    Food, fun, and a home… life was good.

    After dinner, Wu Siyu cleared the table and washed the dishes. Her husband, Huo Qiulin, was watching the news. Seeing her approach, he made space for her on the sofa.

    “This Yu Linna is quite charming, such a cute little girl. If we adopt her, I’ll be a father of two.”

    “Yes, everyone advised against it, but I couldn’t leave her alone. Honey, can we afford another child?”

    Huo Qiulin paused, silent.

    Another child would be a financial strain, especially with Wu Siyu unemployed, his income their only source of support.

    “Don’t worry, I’ll work hard. I’m indestructible. We can manage another child. As long as you’re happy, I’ll do whatever it takes. Haha, imagine how proud I’ll be when my two daughters get married!”

    “Thank you, honey. I’ll find a new job soon. And the government gave me a substantial compensation for the orphanage demolition. It should be enough for your business expenses. You’ve always wanted to start a company, haven’t you? This is your seed money.”

    “I love you, wife!”

    As the couple exchanged loving words, Yu Linna, in her new home, slept soundly…

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 76

    Chapter 76: Ancient God Qing Nü

    The warm, wet sensation on her fingertip made Li Yu freeze.

    She stared at the small, gray ball of fluff at her feet,

    Watching as it gently nibbled her finger, its mouth moving playfully.

    Watching as it tilted its head, its round eyes staring at her, its tail wagging.

    This little puppy…was a wolf?

    And it had light brown eyes…

    Li Yu felt a sudden surge of disorientation.

    Thoughts and memories collided in her mind, too fast to grasp, a chaotic jumble without direction.

    The bitterness in her mouth intensified the confusion.

    The little wolf, seeing her unresponsive, released her finger and nuzzled her hand with its fluffy head.

    “It found you in the snow half a month ago,” Weisheng Xuanzhu said.

    “Half a month ago…” Li Yu frowned. She had been unconscious for that long?

    “You were badly injured, your protective aura dissipated, but thankfully, your wounds were frozen, minimizing blood loss.”

    “…So she was quite resilient.

    “But the cold seeped into your heart meridian; it will take time to heal.”

    Cold seeping into her heart meridian?

    When Mu Tao was injured, kneeling in the snow for three days and three nights, she had also suffered from this.

    Now she had experienced it herself, even receiving medicine from the same person.

    How ironic.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It…likes you very much. Ever since I brought you back, it comes every day to…see you.”

    That slight pause was telling.

    Li Yu suspected this little wolf had been licking her for half a month.

    Li Yu: “Does it…like to lick people…?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It likes to lick you.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    She suddenly felt like a giant lollipop, being licked by this little wolf.

    Strangely, she didn’t find it repulsive.

    A strange, almost impossible thought crossed her mind.

    She blurted out, “What’s its name?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Little Wolf.”

    Li Yu: “Just Little Wolf? No name?”

    “It can’t even talk yet; we can name it after it matures and transforms.” He said. “There’s no other wolf here anyway; any name will do.”

    His tone was calm, his voice the same as she remembered, yet the overall impression was different.

    He seemed…more human, less like the cold, distant iceberg she knew, every word laced with a chilling aura.

    This was the first time she felt…comfortable talking to him.

    No, wait, she was getting distracted, back to the little wolf…

    “How old is this Little Wolf?” she asked.

    “I don’t remember exactly,” he said, “Perhaps…over three hundred years old.”

    Over three hundred years old…

    That didn’t seem right. Mu Tao had transformed at just over two hundred; how could this little wolf, over three hundred years old, still be unable to speak?

    Wait!

    He had said it wasn’t mature yet…

    System, in the world of Demon Bone, at what age do demons usually mature? Are there differences between races? And within the same race, could there be variations?

    【In the world of Demon Bone, demons are considered adults at five hundred years old, counting from the year they awaken their spiritual awareness. Most demons can only transform after reaching adulthood.】

    Five hundred years old?

    So, Mu Tao being on Mount Chao Yao for over two hundred years didn’t necessarily mean she was only that old?

    She almost forgot the question the system asked her at the entrance to the Demon Realm.

    —The Heavenly Demon died over four thousand years ago. Why did its Demon Bone appear four thousand years later, and why was it brought to Mount Chao Yao by Si Qinglan?

    The original story didn’t answer this.

    And having no clues, she had never considered it seriously.

    But now, she felt like she had found a piece of the puzzle.

    The system said demons matured at five hundred, so when Mu Tao was brought to Mount Chao Yao, she was probably around three hundred years old.

    This little wolf’s age matched Mu Tao’s.

    And four thousand years ago, the Heavenly Demon died in the North Sea, and this little wolf also lived in the North Sea.

    Could it be…Mu Tao?

    Li Yu’s gaze unfocused slightly.

    She remembered Mu Tao, who had never left the mountain before, saying she liked the sea.

    And she remembered Mu Tao’s regret at never having met Weisheng Xuanzhu…

    Were these subtle hints related to the North Sea four thousand years ago?

    If this little wolf truly was Mu Tao, why did she have the Demon Bone, and how did she appear four thousand years later?

    What happened during that time?

    Li Yu now wanted the answer to this question even more than Weisheng Xuanzhu.

    She suddenly felt dizzy.

    The physical exhaustion interrupted her thoughts.

    It felt like trying to see clearly through a thick fog, everything hazy and indistinct.

    The more she tried to grasp something, the more elusive it became.

    The flow of time within the Jinxu Gui must be different from the outside world, or perhaps there was no time within it at all, otherwise the system would have declared her mission a failure.

    If she was indeed in the correct time period, then perhaps she just needed to wait patiently, let events unfold, and she would have the answers she needed to stop Weisheng Xuanzhu.

    If so, she could allow herself to rest.

    Thinking this, she sat down, her mind foggy, and absently started petting the little wolf, trying to clear her thoughts.

    As she pushed those puzzling questions aside, the dizziness subsided.

    The bitter smell of medicine still lingered in the air, and Weisheng Xuanzhu seemed to be saying something to the little wolf.

    Li Yu returned to reality and, seeing the little wolf about to leave with Weisheng Xuanzhu, instinctively grabbed the scruff of its neck.

    “Yelp?” The little wolf froze, as if held by a spell.

    Wolves, like dogs, became docile when their scruff was grabbed, unable to move.

    It made you want to pick them up and cuddle them.

    “Wei…” Li Yu wanted to ask Weisheng Xuanzhu if the little wolf could stay with her, then she realized—she shouldn’t know his name.

    She tried to act casual, but Weisheng Xuanzhu, who had already reached the door, turned around and looked at her.

    After a brief awkward silence, Li Yu released the little wolf and asked softly, “Um…could it…stay with me for a bit?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu paused, looked at the little wolf, and said, “If it wants to stay, then…”

    Before he could finish, the little wolf had already settled comfortably at Li Yu’s feet.

    —So easily swayed.

    He sighed and said, “Let it be.”

    “Thank you!” Li Yu said, happily petting the little wolf’s ears, then asked casually, “By the way, what should I call you?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Xuanzhu.”

    Li Yu blinked. “Xuanzhu?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Mm.”

    Wasn’t that a bit too informal, just his given name?

    Li Yu: “Xuanzhu…sounds like a given name. What’s your family name?”

    He frowned, confused. “What family name? My name is Xuanzhu.”

    Was that so?

    So, the Weisheng Xuanzhu from before…was just called Xuanzhu?

    Li Yu was momentarily stunned.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “What’s wrong?”

    Li Yu quickly shook her head. “Nothing, my name is Li Yu.”

    She smiled and waved at him, as if dismissing him.

    He didn’t linger, just said, “Rest well,” and then disappeared into the wind and snow.

    As Li Yu stared at the doorway, lost in thought, a furry little head nuzzled against her ankle.

    Her ankle was injured, and even through the bandages and her robes, the touch made her skin itch.

    The sensation was uncomfortable, but she couldn’t scold the little creature, so she just bent down, picked it up by the scruff of its neck, and placed it in her lap.

    The little wolf curled up into a ball of gray fluff, its light brown eyes staring at her, incredibly docile.

    It was quite warm; holding it made her hands feel less cold.

    Li Yu couldn’t resist petting the little wolf.

    Its fluffy head, its pointy ears, its soft neck and back, its fluffy tail.

    As she petted it, it stretched languidly in her lap.

    Then, before she could react, it stretched its neck and licked her chin.

    The momentary warmth, quickly turning cold, startled her. The little wolf was now licking her neck.

    Li Yu instinctively tried to pull away, but the little tongue followed persistently.

    —Like that little glutton, once it started, it wouldn’t stop.

    “Why do you like licking me so much…?”

    The little wolf didn’t answer, just continued licking.

    Li Yu chuckled, pulled it away, and held it up in the air.

    The little gray wolf struggled, its paws and tail flailing, then, seeing it couldn’t escape, it drooped its ears, its tail still, and whimpered softly.

    Those soft whimpers melted Li Yu’s heart, and she pulled it back into her arms.

    “I wasn’t trying to scold you, just…don’t lick me so much…”

    The little wolf turned away, its pointy ears flattened against its head.

    Li Yu gently patted its head.

    Soon, it seemed to have calmed down and snuggled into her arms, its body warm like a little furnace.

    Was it you, Mu Tao…?

    It was just as clingy as Mu Tao, and just as easily appeased.

    She wanted to be certain, yet she didn’t dare.

    The wind and snow howled outside, making her heart even more restless.

    After a long moment, Li Yu stood up, carefully carrying the little wolf, and walked towards the door.

    She couldn’t keep overthinking like this.

    Perhaps she should go outside, get some fresh air, and clear her mind.

    Or perhaps she should explore and familiarize herself with this place, this North Sea, to better prepare for the unknown.

    Thinking this, she opened the door—a biting wind and swirling snow assaulted her, threatening to bury her small frame.

    The sudden cold almost stole her breath.

    She hastily conjured her protective aura, gasping for air.

    This place was much colder than Chaoxi Pond in winter…

    She suddenly didn’t feel like exploring anymore. Her legs and feet ached; wouldn’t it be better to just stay inside?

    Li Yu squinted slightly, peering outside.

    Then she froze.

    The North Sea was said to be a sea of eternal night, untouched by light.

    But she saw a moon.

    A full moon, high in the night sky.

    She had never seen such a large moon, much larger than any she could remember, yet it wasn’t oppressive.

    It wasn’t just larger; it was also brighter,

    A gentle brightness that didn’t hurt her eyes, just a soft, pure moonlight that illuminated the falling snow, bathing the world in a gentle, silvery glow.

    Li Yu stared at the moon, mesmerized.

    She seemed to hear Mu Tao’s voice.

    She had said that she quickly adapted to the Demon Realm.

    She had said that she liked the cold, the darkness, the quiet solitude, the feeling of a clean, untainted world.

    And she had said that the only thing missing in the Demon Realm was the moon.

    Cold, dark, quiet, pure, and a moon…

    So, Mu Tao…

    …was she truly from this place, four thousand years ago?

    The little wolf suddenly jumped down and ran off in a certain direction.

    Li Yu snapped out of her daze and tried to follow, but her legs ached, every step a struggle.

    The little wolf stopped, looked back at her, tilting its head.

    After a moment, it ran back, circled Li Yu twice, then, slowing down, started walking in the same direction again.

    It would take a few steps, look back to make sure Li Yu was following, then continue.

    Its small paw prints in the deep snow, like plum blossoms scattered on the ground.

    “Where are you taking me?” Li Yu asked, her voice weary.

    The little wolf barked twice, seemingly answering seriously, but she didn’t understand, so it was like receiving no answer at all.

    But even without an answer, she followed the little wolf for a long time.

    In the North Sea, there was only night, no day, and the moon seemed to hang eternally in the sky. She couldn’t tell the time, nor how far they had walked.

    Perhaps they hadn’t gone far, just…the journey felt long and arduous because of her slow pace and her injuries.

    Li Yu continued following the little wolf.

    She saw a faint light in the distance.

    As they approached, she saw, through the swirling snow, a small courtyard.

    Why was this little wolf cub taking her to someone else’s house?

    Was this Weisheng Xuanzhu’s residence…?

    Was it just taking her home?

    Having hobbled so far in the middle of the night, if it was just to knock on Weisheng Xuanzhu’s door, wouldn’t that be strange?

    Although it was always night in the North Sea, and one could only visit at night—it still felt odd!

    Li Yu hesitated, not wanting to approach, and the little wolf, seeing this, stopped as well, circling her feet.

    Then it lay down in the snow and rolled around playfully,

    As if saying it wouldn’t move until she followed.

    “Alright, alright, get up!” Li Yu relented. “I’ll go with you!”

    The little wolf jumped up, wagging its fluffy tail, and ran towards the courtyard.

    Li Yu followed slowly, her steps unsteady, her footprints uneven in the snow.

    The little wolf reached the gate, looked back at Li Yu, then barked twice at the closed door.

    Its barks, although soft, were clear in the otherwise silent world.

    The door opened.

    It wasn’t Weisheng Xuanzhu who emerged, but a woman with delicate features.

    She was dressed in black, her silver hair, like snow, adorned with simple, moon-shaped ornaments.

    Her eyes, a deep, night sky blue, gentle and warm, as if only the moonlight could match their brilliance.

    The little wolf sat at her feet, its tail wagging.

    She stroked its fur, looked up at Li Yu, smiled faintly, and said softly, “You’re finally awake.”

    Her voice was cool, yet welcoming.

    A pure white light, like snow, enveloped Li Yu.

    The pain and fatigue in her body eased slightly.

    She looked at the silver-haired woman, and although she hadn’t asked, a name appeared in her mind.

    “Little Wolf said you wanted to see me,” the woman said, petting the little wolf’s head, then glanced at the house behind her. “It’s cold and windy outside, would you like to come in?”

    “Huh?” Li Yu was stunned, unsure why she would want to see this woman.

    But confused as she was, she followed the woman inside.

    The room was warm and brightly lit.

    The silver-haired woman sat down and poured Li Yu a cup of hot tea.

    Li Yu quickly took the cup, carefully placed it on the table, sat down, and sighed in relief.

    —Her legs ached terribly.

    The silver-haired woman smiled. “Where did this little fish come from? So careless with your own body, so badly injured, yet you traveled all the way here instead of resting.”

    “I didn’t intend to come here; it brought me,” Li Yu said, pointing at the little wolf.

    The little wolf tilted its head, stared at her with wide, innocent eyes, and barked softly, as if protesting—How could you slander me like that?

    Its aggrieved expression seemed genuine.

    Li Yu explained again, “I didn’t even know who you were; how could I have told it I wanted to see you?”

    “Awoo!” The little wolf barked and hid under the table, then peeked out and nuzzled Li Yu’s leg.

    “…?”

    It barked again, as if wanting to be petted.

    Li Yu instinctively patted its head, and it quickly retreated under the table again, growling softly, seemingly sulking.

    The silver-haired woman chuckled. “Didn’t you say you wanted to see its master?”

    The little wolf under the table whined in response.

    Li Yu froze, then realized. “You…you’re its master? I thought…I thought its master was…that…”

    “Xuanzhu?”

    “Yes!”

    “He’s too…straightforward. This little creature, finally awakened its spiritual awareness, can’t be left in his care.” The woman said calmly. “It would be raised into a blockhead.”

    Li Yu couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

    Too accurate; anyone raised by that guy would become a blockhead.

    The woman: “What’s your name?”

    Li Yu replied softly, “Li Yu.”

    The woman: “Li Yu?”

    Li Yu: “Mm.”

    The woman: “A god from the West Sea, what brings you to this desolate North Sea?”

    Li Yu: “I…”

    The woman: “And those injuries, how did you get them?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Seeing that she couldn’t answer, the woman smiled faintly. “It’s fine, everyone has their secrets. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you.”

    Li Yu was relieved.

    She lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, then looked up at the woman and asked softly, “May I ask…are you…the ancient god, Qing Nü?”

    The silver-haired woman looked at the tea in her cup and replied calmly, “Mm.”

    She had been right!

    Qing Nü, who became the Heavenly Demon, had been living in the North Sea all along!

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 88

    Chapter 88

    Qin Qianrou wanted to linger in bed with Shen Yiqiu a little longer, but it was her first day back at the station, and she couldn’t be late. Such a thing wouldn’t be a big deal for others, but for Qin Qianrou, it was unprecedented.

    Shen Yiqiu had been observing Qin Qianrou since she woke up. Seeing her rosy cheeks and her energetic demeanor, she was finally certain Jiejie’s pain had subsided, although she wasn’t sure if it was thanks to the painkillers or her blood, either way, as long as Jiejie wasn’t in pain, it was good.

    “I probably won’t be home for dinner tonight, there’s something at the station.” After breakfast, Qin Qianrou emerged from her room, dressed for work, phone in hand, her tone apologetic.

    Shen Yiqiu was in a good mood, Jiejie had returned from her training program, which made her happier than anything.

    “Don’t drink tonight, or the pain will come back.”

    Qin Qianrou walked over to Shen Yiqiu, suppressing a smile as she put on a serious expression, “I definitely won’t.”

    **

    The atmosphere at the television station, tense and uncertain because of the restructuring, had gradually returned to normal after the sudden halt in the promotion process. With the approaching Chinese New Year, every department was busy, and their reactions to Qin Qianrou’s return from Hai City varied.

    The Special Projects Team, of course, was the most delighted, while the advertising department was the most disheartened. However, no one openly expressed their feelings, and after completing the necessary paperwork, Qin Qianrou returned to her team and went to greet Lin Shuangzhi.

    “Team Leader, no meetings today?”

    Lin Shuangzhi had known Qin Qianrou was coming back today, so she wasn’t surprised to see her, but she was genuinely happy.

    “Qianrou, come in and have a seat.”

    She poured Qin Qianrou a cup of tea, it had been months since they had last sat together like this in the office.

    “I’ve been running back and forth to the provincial government so frequently lately, now many of those meetings don’t require my presence, it’s a blessing in disguise.” Lin Shuangzhi’s tone was light, but also self-deprecating.

    Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, although Director Yu’s promotion had been suspended, the people at the station remained the same, nothing had fundamentally changed, what had changed, however, was their attitude towards the team leader.

    She was clearly no longer as valued as before, excluded from many important meetings.

    “I’m not worried about myself, I’m just worried that if this continues, our team will be marginalized. If the station reduces our resources, it’ll be difficult for us to function effectively.”

    Their team was a unique entity within the television station. The former station director had valued their work, and over the years, they had generated high ratings and a positive reputation for the station, but they had also offended many people, their future uncertain.

    “Since higher management is already paying attention, and with public opinion focused on Dongsheng, I don’t think they’ll dare to act too openly. At least Director Yu’s promotion is unlikely now, and the results of the investigation should be out after the New Year.”

    Qin Qianrou was referring to the evidence she and Li Wan had gathered based on the information provided by Jian Shan, there was no escape for Director Yu, forget about a promotion, he might even lose his job.

    Lin Shuangzhi smiled and said, “That’s thanks to you and Xiao Wan’s efforts, Dongsheng’s substantial advertising investment has gone down the drain, I don’t think they’ll have a very pleasant Chinese New Year.”

    Spending a fortune on television advertising wasn’t a wise choice these days. Dongsheng had thought it would pave the way for Director Yu’s promotion, who knew they would choose someone with such a shady background? They could only blame their own bad luck.

    Qin Qianrou sensed something in the team leader’s tone, it seemed her relationship with Xiao Wan was progressing well.

    “I heard the city government intends to appoint an external candidate for the station director position after the New Year, is that true?”

    “You’ve been in Hai City for training, and you even know about this?”

    “My mother mentioned it.”

    Lin Shuangzhi’s response was noncommittal, she didn’t confirm or deny it.

    After discussing a few more work-related matters, Li Wan came to find Qin Qianrou.

    “Team Leader, Qianrou just got back, can you not give her so much work?” Li Wan’s tone, although complaining, wasn’t particularly forceful.

    Lin Shuangzhi smiled at her and explained, “I was just catching up with her, don’t accuse me of being a slave driver.”

    Qin Qianrou was surprised, since when did the team leader start joking around in the office?

    Li Wan pulled Qin Qianrou’s arm, “We have dinner plans tonight, I need to talk to Qianrou.”

    Qin Qianrou was now certain that the team leader and Xiao Wan were indeed progressing, in a positive direction this time.

    **

    With the Chinese New Year approaching, the television station staff weren’t exactly relaxing, everyone had on-call duties, their phones always on, ready to be called in at any moment. The only truly free time was probably New Year’s Eve itself, when, apart from those on duty at the station, most people weren’t assigned any tasks.

    They had planned to have their reunion dinner at Qin Qianrou’s apartment, but this was the first time so many people were coming over, Qin Qianrou usually just celebrated with Li Wan, this year was different.

    “Jiejie, I can handle this myself.” Shen Yiqiu, looking at the person about to join her grocery shopping trip, was a little exasperated.

    “Many hands make light work, I’ll go with you.”

    “The weather is bad today, it’s going to rain later, just wait for me at home.” Shen Yiqiu glanced at the chicken soup simmering on the stove, then added, “Or you can stay home and watch the soup.”

    “No.”

    “I’m not just going to the supermarket today, I also need to go to the farmer’s market, the environment there isn’t very pleasant.”

    Qin Qianrou sighed, “I’m a reporter, what kind of environment haven’t I seen?”

    She thought, Does Shen Yiqiu think I’m some pampered princess?

    Shen Yiqiu shook her head, “You went to those places for work, but you’re my girlfriend now, I don’t want you going to such places.”

    Qin Qianrou couldn’t argue with that, so she simply resorted to being unreasonable.

    “Then your girlfriend wants to go grocery shopping with you right now, are you going to agree or not?”

    How could she possibly refuse Jiejie acting like this?

    But… she really wanted to kiss her first.

    Shen Yiqiu, unable to resist, took two steps forward and pecked Qin Qianrou’s lips. “As you wish, Jiejie, whatever you want.”

    Only after returning home, laden with groceries, did Qin Qianrou realize how capable her little girlfriend had become. Not only had she grown taller, always holding her hand and protectively guiding her wherever they went, she had also become increasingly adept at managing the household.

    In comparison, besides work, she hadn’t improved much in other areas.

    “With you around, my life skills will probably deteriorate.” Qin Qianrou backed the car out of the parking space, sighing softly.

    If it weren’t for Shen Yiqiu, she wouldn’t have dared to host this dinner, or she would have simply pre-ordered a New Year’s Eve feast from a restaurant.

    “With me around, Jiejie doesn’t have to worry about these things, I’ve already said I’ll take good care of you.” Shen Yiqiu was excited, having bought so many fresh ingredients, she was ready to showcase her culinary skills.

    Being able to prepare a delicious meal for the person she loved, that was her greatest joy. To others, this was her first Chinese New Year without her parents, so they were all being cautious, afraid of triggering painful memories.

    But Shen Yiqiu knew her parents had already been gone for over three years. Before her rebirth, she hadn’t dared to recall the warmth of her home, but now, Qin Qianrou’s presence not only allowed her to remember, but also to recreate that warmth.

    She had lost her parents, lost the home where she had grown up, the wound would always be there, but Qin Qianrou’s love had allowed it to heal, to stop bleeding.

    Qin Qianrou had given her another home, a home that gave her the courage to face the future.

    Li Wan and Lin Shuangzhi arrived early, ostensibly to help, although everyone knew Li Wan’s cooking skills were also quite average. They met Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu downstairs, and the four of them divided the groceries from the trunk.

    “Just seven people tonight, was it necessary to buy so much?” Li Wan looked at the numerous bags in their hands, puzzled.

    “I have no idea, you’ll have to ask Chef Shen.”

    Shen Yiqiu smiled and explained, “Some of it is for tonight’s dinner, the rest is for the holidays.”

    The farmer’s market wouldn’t be fully operational until after the Lantern Festival, and Shen Yiqiu, afraid Jiejie wouldn’t have fresh ingredients, had stocked up in advance.

    Li Wan’s teeth ached from the sweetness. “You two, your love is truly… intense.”

    Lin Shuangzhi, unlike her usual silence, asked softly, “Xiao Wan, do you also want some?”

    Li Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she controlled her emotions, saying calmly, “I was just commenting, nothing else.”

    Lin Shuangzhi understood, “nothing else” actually confirming her earlier observation.

    Shen Yiqiu went straight to the kitchen upon returning, and as she opened the door, the aroma of chicken soup filled the air, prompting three exclamations of delight from Li Wan, which made everyone chuckle.

    Qin Qianrou served tea to her guests, and Li Wan, sipping her tea, said cheerfully,

    “Qianrou, your home is truly different now, not only is it lively and welcoming, it’s also filled with… hope.”

    Such a life was truly enviable.

    She had previously worried about Qin Qianrou being all alone in Meng City, now it seemed she was the pitiful one.

    “I also enjoy my current life very much.” Qin Qianrou’s voice was calm, but unlike her previous indifference, there was a sense of contentment and stability now.

    “Life is better when shared, those days when my only focus was work were truly meaningless.”

    Qin Qianrou glanced at Lin Shuangzhi, who had just entered the kitchen, and teased Li Wan, “Spring hasn’t even arrived yet, and someone’s heart is already aflutter.”

    Li Wan insisted, “Not at all!”

    Qin Qianrou sipped her tea, knowing Li Wan’s denial was just a pretense.

    Li Wan, as if remembering something, suddenly became flustered. She took out her bag and rummaged through it, searching for something important.

    “I almost forgot, I have a present for you.”

    “What kind of present needs to be hidden so carefully?” Qin Qianrou was also curious, if it was just an ordinary gift, Li Wan wouldn’t be so secretive.

    Then, she saw Li Wan take out a small box from her expensive designer bag, the packaging unfamiliar, but she recognized the words: condoms.

    “Keep this safe, you’ll probably need it soon.” Li Wan pressed the box into Qin Qianrou’s hand, glancing towards the kitchen to make sure they weren’t being observed.

    Qin Qianrou looked down at the box, speechless.

    “Why are you giving me this?”

    Qin Qianrou hadn’t touched alcohol during the numerous dinners and social gatherings at the station lately, and she was also aware of Li Wan’s… situation. With her period almost over, and this rare holiday spent together at home, things were bound to… escalate.

    Having had her own unpleasant experience, Li Wan couldn’t bear the thought of her friend, or Shen Yiqiu, suffering, regardless of who would actually use them, they would definitely need them.

    “You’re not single anymore, you should have some at home, what if you need them and there’s nowhere to buy them?”

    These things, designed for women, were different from the ones readily available at convenience stores or pharmacies, preparing in advance was always a good idea.

    Qin Qianrou had systematically studied the websites Rong Fei had recommended, although she wasn’t particularly interested in such things, she had a promise to keep with Shen Yiqiu, and now, seeing the box in Li Wan’s hand, her imagination ran wild.

    Certain images, vivid and detailed, suddenly surfaced.

    She quickly closed her hand, hiding the box. “Did you buy these wholesale and decide to share a box with me?”

    Li Wan, who had been planning to tease Qin Qianrou, was momentarily deflated.

    “Of course not, I don’t have a partner, I don’t need them.”

    Besides, should she be the one buying these wholesale?

    Although Qin Qianrou seemed reluctant to accept the gift, she knew it was… practical. However, Li Wan’s bluntness made it difficult for her to gracefully accept it, yet outright refusal also seemed inappropriate.

    “Don’t overthink it, we’re close friends, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Li Wan, seeing through her, nudged her hand, urging her to put it away.

    Qin Qianrou looked at her intently, then stood up and returned to her room, emerging a few moments later.

    “I haven’t actually used these before, you should read the instructions first, we don’t want to hurt the little one.” Li Wan paused, then added in a lower voice, “If you do… hurt her, you can get some ointment at the pharmacy, those are easy to find.”

    Qin Qianrou looked at her, as if questioning, You seem very experienced, and Li Wan fidgeted with her hair, slightly embarrassed.

    Yes, she did have some experience with buying such ointments.

    Li Wan had initially thought Lin Shuangzhi was just being polite, offering to help in the kitchen, but she was actually still there.

    “The sun must have risen from the west today, even the team leader is enjoying cooking now.” Li Wan, recalling the spotless stovetop in Lin Shuangzhi’s kitchen, which could practically be used as a mirror, found the scene surreal.

    “Perhaps she took your words in the elevator seriously.” Qin Qianrou, as a bystander, could clearly see Lin Shuangzhi’s affection for Li Wan.

    She didn’t know what had happened during her absence, causing such a significant shift in the team leader’s attitude, but she sincerely hoped that, like herself, her friend would also find happiness in love, after all, life shouldn’t just be about work.

    Li Wan sighed softly, “She doesn’t understand, as long as it’s made by her, even instant noodles would taste delicious to me, food is delicious because of the feelings behind it, feelings are what truly matter.”

    Qin Qianrou agreed wholeheartedly, enjoying the meals Shen Yiqiu prepared at home filled her with a sense of contentment and happiness no restaurant could offer. It was Shen Yiqiu who had captured not only her stomach, but also her heart, making her increasingly attached to the feeling of coming home.

    Rong Fei arrived towards the evening, saying she had a special client, she had been busy with work and only now, just before the New Year, did she finally have some free time, a client willing to pay five times her usual fee, Rong Fei’s consultation fees were already high, this fivefold increase was like doubling her annual bonus, making everyone envious.

    “Just Wen Shao Ze and Yuan Qi left, I’ll call them and ask where they are.” Li Wan glanced at the time, it was almost 6 pm, and there was still no sign of them.

    Rong Fei took the tea Qin Qianrou offered and asked curiously, “Are they coming together today?”

    “Probably not.” Judging by Wen Shao Ze’s recent behavior, Qin Qianrou guessed things weren’t progressing smoothly. But Yuan Qi agreeing to join them for New Year’s Eve dinner was also a surprise.

    Since their encounter at the hospital, Yuan Qi hadn’t left Meng City, but he had also become more guarded, Wen Shao Ze hadn’t dared to approach him, and they had both been living in Meng City, aware of each other’s presence, yet avoiding each other.

    It was Shen Yiqiu who had called and invited her cousin to join them for dinner tonight. Hearing the joy and excitement in her voice, the pain of that car accident seemingly a distant memory, Yuan Qi couldn’t bear to refuse her.

    However, only as he was driving towards Qin Qianrou’s apartment, groceries in hand, did Yuan Qi finally realize what he was doing, he was actually going to have dinner at Qin Qianrou’s home, and he would be spending New Year’s Eve with Wen Shao Ze, he didn’t know whether to call himself foolish or crazy.

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 89

    Chapter 89: I Love Slacking Off

    Seeing Tao Ning staring at her silently, Callista couldn’t help but urge, “So, what did you find out?”

    Tao Ning, still holding the restless wrist on her knee, organized her words: “I can tell you have a very good memory and can remember many things that happen each day.”

    Callista considered this, agreeing wholeheartedly. She could indeed remember many things that happened within a day.

    She could even remember the tail color and name of each of her subjects, as well as their psychic fluctuations.

    That’s why she was able to immediately notice their disappearance and come ashore to search for them.

    Then she asked, “What else?”

    Tao Ning said, “You’re very organized and tenacious, and you always achieve victory in the end.”

    Callista thought the human method of pulse-taking was magical, that it could reveal such things. Her blue eyes sparkled as she continued to ask, “Is that all? Anything else?”

    Anything else?

    Tao Ning pondered for a moment: “You’re very intelligent and have a keen sense of smell, always able to easily find the food and things you like.”

    This sounded like praise, and Callista was pleased. She hadn’t expected such a high evaluation from Tao Ning.

    With just a few words, Callista’s lingering anger dissipated, a smile spreading across her face.

    Judging by her expression, she had probably already forgotten her lengthy accusations from yesterday.

    520 translated in its mind: [Isn’t that just saying she’s petty, holds grudges, loves to eat, and is competitive?]

    After a moment of silence, 520 decided this was the art of language.

    Some things, even if taught step-by-step, 520 couldn’t replicate.

    Tao Ning seized the opportunity: “Since you’re so smart, learning human language must be very easy for you, right?”

    Callista’s first reaction was: “Why should I learn? You understand me just fine.”

    Tao Ning: “Learning another language gives you more control and allows you to accomplish what you want faster, eliminating the trouble caused by language barriers.”

    Seeing that Callista was still unmoved, Tao Ning said, “Don’t you have anything you want to accomplish quickly?”

    Callista, about to retort, fell silent. Her thoughts had been exposed. She did have something she wanted to accomplish quickly after coming ashore.

    This was a secret no one knew, and being guessed by the other party, Callista’s first reaction was vigilance.

    Meeting the other person’s clear, guileless eyes, Callista felt an urge to avoid her gaze.

    The reason she came ashore when Gu Yuan passed by was because she had heard from other sea creatures that they had seen one of her people boarding a similarly marked ship.

    Perhaps their destinations were the same, and she wouldn’t give up any opportunity to search.

    Callista asked, “Will you teach me?”

    Tao Ning coaxed, “As long as you’re willing to learn, it won’t be difficult.”

    Callista replied decisively, “Okay.” As long as she could achieve her goal, she didn’t share the human habit of needing to know every detail.

    520 felt this wasn’t the real reason, and it was also curious: [Why do you insist on her learning human language?]

    Tao Ning: “In case there are times when I’m not around and humans try to trick her, but she can’t understand them.”

    Wasn’t that exactly what happened in the original world line? Callista couldn’t understand human language, and the humans, in their self-righteousness, broadcasted her mate selection to the entire universe.

    After a lot of miscommunication, they set a wedding date, seemingly to everyone’s satisfaction, except for Callista, who couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying.

    On the eve of the wedding, Callista finally sensed something was wrong and found her people, who informed her that she was about to get married.

    Callista, who believed she belonged to the sea, not the land, thought it was absurd and immediately wanted to leave.

    With the wedding about to begin and one of the main characters wanting to leave, it naturally caused chaos.

    Then the tragic double death occurred, with the Federation’s youngest Major General torn apart like tissue paper.

    Recalling the human language she had heard before, Callista said, “Your human pronunciation is completely different from ours.”

    Tao Ning shrugged nonchalantly: “Human language is even more difficult for Mermaids to learn. I’ve already learned your language, don’t you even have the confidence to surpass me?”

    These words had the effect of a stimulant on Callista, who declared she would definitely learn human language.

    She would learn it before any other human learned Mermaid language.

    Although swayed by Tao Ning’s words, the leader’s remaining rationality told her that learning a language as quickly as Tao Ning had was impossible.

    The small human language class began. Tao Ning didn’t bother with elaborate methods, simply finding materials for systematic instruction, starting with everyday phrases.

    Not only that, but Tao Ning, inspired by her own experience learning Mermaid language, decided that the fastest way to learn a language was through insults.

    The pronunciation of human language and Mermaid language were completely different, and correcting the pronunciation from the beginning required a lot of effort.

    After Callista mispronounced her name for the umpteenth time, Tao Ning grabbed her hand and placed it on her throat.

    Tao Ning: “It’s not like that. Feel how my throat moves when I pronounce it.”

    Her movement was so sudden that Callista hurriedly retracted her nails, afraid of scratching the fragile throat.

    Her fingertips pressed against the thin, warm skin, the residual water droplets leaving a glistening trail on Tao Ning’s neck. Callista could even feel the blood flowing beneath the skin.

    For any creature, the neck was always a fatal weakness, never to be exposed to an enemy.

    This human was truly audacious, exposing her neck to a belligerent Mermaid’s claws. Wasn’t she afraid of being hurt?

    Or was she too confident that no one could harm her?

    The hand holding her wrist tightened, and a slightly deeper voice reminded her, “Focus, the pronunciation of this word is like this.”

    Callista immediately snapped back to attention, becoming focused.

    She had figured out this person’s temper. She seemed gentle and soft-spoken, always smiling and easy to talk to, but she was actually quite strict.

    Strangely, Callista felt nervous facing that serious expression, involuntarily becoming more attentive.

    The entire afternoon was spent correcting pronunciation, and it yielded results.

    Callista went from stammering repetitions of Tao Ning’s words to fluently pronouncing her name, clear and accurate.

    However, with other words, Callista would still mispronounce them, sometimes switching back to Mermaid language in frustration to repeat the word.

    “Refuse, refuse, refuse… I can say refuse now.”

    Repeating the same word in her melodious voice, her natural talent made it sound like a chant.

    Nodding, satisfied with her learning progress, Callista noticed Tao Ning’s expression, paused, and silently switched back to human language.

    Tao Ning: “…”

    Callista’s explanation for this was: “It’s not my fault. Your human language is difficult to learn, but your name is easier to pronounce.”

    Tao Ning affirmed her reasoning: “I believe you. Human language is too difficult, it’s not your fault.”

    Callista nodded vigorously in agreement: “Exactly!”

    520: […]

    After teaching her a few words, Tao Ning noticed something from the corner of her eye, a slight smile playing on her lips. She said to Callista, “How about I teach you a longer sentence?”

    Callista: “?” A long sentence already?

    Tao Ning whispered devilishly, “You’re so smart, you’ll definitely learn it quickly, right?”

    Callista was most susceptible to provocation. She immediately clenched her claws and declared, “Of course!”

    Tao Ning: “Good.”

    “What are you looking at? Don’t you have your own work to do?”

    The observer, turning on the monitor as scheduled, heard this slightly awkward sentence: “?”

    Who? Who’s scolding us?

    Switching to a closer view of the pool, she heard a female voice say, “The pronunciation is very accurate now, say it again.”

    Callista repeated the sentence, looking at the person on the shore with anticipation.

    Tao Ning didn’t hold back on her praise: “Very good.”

    Callista’s eyes sparkled: “I knew I would learn quickly!”

    The observer silently screamed behind the monitor: “Don’t teach the Mermaid strange things!”

    The sound from behind the monitor couldn’t reach the pool, and the Research Institute could only fret. The professors, however, remained optimistic.

    They had listened to the recording of the Mermaid cursing hundreds of times and would invariably ask: Who was the genius who managed to make the aloof and taciturn Mermaid speak so much?

    Before even returning to the First Star System, Zang Yuzhu’s name had spread throughout the Research Institute, and they were eager to offer her a position.

    The Mermaid socialization training, which countless others had struggled with, had actually been achieved by Zang Yuzhu.

    Just in a slightly unorthodox way.

    Ahhh, the Mermaid can now curse in human language!

    They belatedly realized that Zang Yuzhu not only spoke Mermaid language fluently but could also teach it.

    We need this kind of talent in our Research Institute.jpg

    No matter what Callista said, regardless of her intonation, Tao Ning would respond with an abundance of compliments, showering the impatient learner with positive reinforcement.

    Then she would meticulously correct her pronunciation.

    The compliments flowed endlessly, making the Mermaid practically bubble with joy. She even gave Tao Ning a fallen scale, shimmering and beautiful.

    The observers behind the monitor were green with envy. Mermaids didn’t shed scales easily, and they would collect the fallen ones, destroying any imperfect ones.

    A scale given as a gift by a Mermaid was perfect in shape, color, and hardness.

    Tao Ning examined the scale repeatedly, deciding to make a hole in it later and wear it as a necklace.

    It was a token of affection, and she would definitely wear it.

    520: [You know, in ancient times, you would be called a flatterer.]

    Tao Ning: “You flatter me.”

    520: […] I wasn’t complimenting you.

    But on second thought, wasn’t this a form of affirmation for Tao Ning?

    Indeed, those who dared to incur large debts and be hopelessly romantic weren’t the type to overthink.

    Callista, watching her examine the scale, asked in confusion, “You’ve looked at it so many times, are you not happy with it?”

    If she dared to say she didn’t like it, Callista would never give her anything again.

    Tao Ning put the scale into her pocket, close to her heart, and asked, “This is your scale. If I wear it every day, will you be able to find me wherever I am?”

    Callista paused, seemingly not having considered this question. She blinked: “Yes, but why do you ask?”

    Tao Ning smiled at her, a gentle smile, her eyes like the sunlit sea, sparkling with warmth.

    Callista was momentarily stunned, a certain part of her softening, the feeling fading too quickly for her to grasp.

    Then she heard Tao Ning say, “Nothing, just asking. I really like the gift you gave me.”

    Callista replied with a seemingly indifferent “Oh.”

    In reality, she hadn’t yet recovered, still immersed in the moment she had just witnessed.

    Callista, with her simple mindset, didn’t understand what it meant to be moved. For their species, reproduction was simply a matter of reaching maturity and entering the mating season. As long as there was mutual attraction, and they spent the mating season together, they would become lifelong partners.

    If they were lucky, they would conceive a child, raise it, and then drive it out of their nest, continuing to live with their partner.

    At least, that’s how Callista understood it.

    Callista was born without parents, with no one to teach her anything, including survival.

    In her life, learning to survive was already a complex and difficult task, struggling every day to learn how to hunt.

    After becoming the leader, some Mermaids admired her strength and expressed their affection.

    But Callista was indifferent, throwing away the flowers placed on her food and telling them that the leader ate fruit, not flowers.

    Gradually, the tribe knew that their leader was powerful, but she was still a youngster who hadn’t reached mating season.

    She didn’t understand their admiration, mistaking it for offerings.

    Tao Ning asked again, “Can I call you Lita?”

    “Lita?” Callista repeated the name. She said, “That sounds like a name for a baby.”

    Tao Ning was puzzled and asked, “Why do you think so?”

    Callista said, “The way you say it, it sounds soft like a sponge, as if I could squeeze water out of it.”

    520, never one to miss out on the fun, said: [She’s saying you have a cutesy voice.]

    Tao Ning: “So you’re willing to let me call you that, right?”

    With a splash, Callista’s other arm, which had been submerged, emerged from the water, reaching up to hook around the back of Tao Ning’s neck.

    The gentle force bent Tao Ning’s waist, bringing her closer and closer to the figure emerging from the water.

    The platinum-haired Mermaid breathed gently against her ear, her voice laced with temptation: “Actually, I like you very much, and I like being called that name by you.”

    She said she liked her.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c40

    40. Do You Want to Win?

     

    While everyone held their breath, only one person continued cheering.

    Yes.

    Gong Yiling, apparently bored, had tied a red cloth to her chopsticks and was waving them like cheering sticks.

    “Qiu Ming, go! Xinyao, go!”

    Her lone voice echoed through the arena, making her stand out.

    Someone even questioned her, “Are you a contestant or a spectator?”

    “Contestant.”

    “Then why aren’t you fighting with them? What are you doing?”

    Gong Yiling replied confidently, “I’m helping them! Cheering for them!”

    “Cheering?” The person was dumbfounded. “That’s all you’re doing?”

    Gong Yiling smiled and countered, “What else should I be doing?”

    Her nonchalant attitude stunned everyone.

    “They can handle the general. Me joining would only hinder them.”

    Her words, although seemingly reasonable, made everyone think, *I could do that too!*

    However…

    The dust and flames were quickly dispersed by Shangguan Lingyue’s powerful aura.

    The general stood there, unscathed, her aura unchanged. The previous attacks seemed to have barely scratched her.

    “This general is truly something else.”

    Gong Yiling smiled wryly, but her eyes gleamed with confidence.

    How to stall Shangguan Lingyue to earn more points? The answer was simple.

    Qiu Shui alone could handle it, while the other two protected her.

    However, during dinner the previous night, Gong Yiling had asked them a question.

    “Do you want to advance, or do you want to win?”

    To most, there was no difference.

    Winning and advancing meant lasting longer, right?

    But Lu Xinyao understood her meaning.

    “Big Sister, do you mean… we can defeat Auntie?”

    How was that possible…?

    The two of them, plus Gong Yiling, whose true strength was unknown (actually negligible, as Miss Gong only wanted to watch from the sidelines)…

    How could they possibly defeat Shangguan Lingyue?

    “This is a sparring match, not a deathmatch. Anything is possible.” Gong Yiling poked at the fish on the table with her chopsticks. “I’ll tell you why you can win, but not how.”

    “Figure out the method yourselves.”

    So…

    From the moment they stepped onto the arena, their goal was to defeat Shangguan Lingyue, not just stall for time.

    And now…

    Gong Yiling looked at the two girls and waved her red flags. “Go! Go! Go! Go!”

    Shangguan Lingyue ignored her and focused on Qiu Shui.

    In the general’s eyes, the fire-wielding Lu Xinyao wasn’t the threat. The more versatile Qiu Shui was the one to watch.

    Before attacking, Shangguan Lingyue used a similar tactic as Shangguan Qingyun, shattering the ground around Qiu Shui with a powerful gust of wind.

    Debris flew, flames erupted, creating a chaotic scene.

    However, as she stepped forward, dispelling an illusion with a punch, she paused.

    “This is…”

    She looked around, then chuckled softly and said calmly, “I lose.”

    Her words stunned everyone.

    This was supposed to be a battle of attrition. No one expected anyone to win against such a powerful opponent.

    And Shangguan Lingyue was clearly unharmed. Why did she suddenly surrender?

    “So… you two had this in mind all along.” Shangguan Lingyue deactivated her technique, jumped onto the debris-covered arena, and praised them. “Was this the Immortal Master’s idea?”

    Then, finally, someone realized.

    The arena had boundaries!

    Although the area where Shangguan Lingyue stood was now a mess, making it difficult to distinguish from the rest of the arena, there was a clear difference in elevation.

    Shangguan Lingyue had stepped out of bounds.

    “Master told us we could defeat you this way, but Xinyao came up with the specific method.” Qiu Shui, reappearing from the dust cloud, was panting, covered in minor cuts from the debris.

    “Oh?” Shangguan Lingyue glanced at Lu Xinyao, who seemed relatively unharmed, a look of surprise in her eyes.

    How did they do it?

    As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Lu Xinyao knew Shangguan Lingyue’s abilities well.

    When Gong Yiling suggested making her fall off the arena, Lu Xinyao devised a plan.

    With their strength, they couldn’t damage the special tiles of the arena.

    These tiles had self-repairing abilities, both incredibly durable and capable of quickly recovering from any damage.

    However… that was only for them.

    If a powerful martial cultivator were to destroy the arena, creating chaos…

    Undoubtedly, that person would be Shangguan Lingyue, empowered by her Bloodthirst Aura.

    So, everything before was a setup.

    Their initial barrage of attacks was to pressure Shangguan Lingyue into activating her technique, accelerating the destruction of the arena.

    And Lu Xinyao’s subsequent attacks were meant to disorient her, making her lose track of her position.

    Finally, Qiu Shui used her illusion to lure Shangguan Lingyue to the edge.

    What a flawless plan, perfectly executed.

    “Hahahaha.” After understanding their strategy, Shangguan Lingyue laughed heartily. “This was quite entertaining. Now I’m even more eager to witness your master’s strength, but she has refused me several times.”

    “Sob…”

    “For defeating me with a perfect score, I’ll give you both 100 points.”

    “Wait!” Gong Yiling suddenly raised her hand weakly. “There’s a third person in our team.”

     

     

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 334

    Chapter 334: The Demon Queen

    Because it wasn’t a horror-themed escape room, Adele felt quite relaxed. She quickly got into character, exchanging cheesy and chuunibyou lines with Tang Linlang. After the first act ended, under Adele’s influence, Tang Linlang also successfully got into character. Now, she was the vampire waiting for an opportunity to take revenge on Adele. As for Adele, she was the vampire hunter who knew the vampire’s identity but still kept her by her side, raising her. As they said, the most skilled hunter often appeared as prey. Tang Linlang thought she was the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware that Adele, the oriole, was behind her.

    The two entered a room designed as a dilapidated church to search for information and clues. The props they found could also be used in later rooms. Overall, it was a very interesting process, like an online puzzle game, but a live-action version.

    “Linlang, let’s stand back to back!”

    “Eh…why?”

    “Haven’t you played games!? When we’re looking for something, and we lower our heads or get immersed in something,”

    “When we turn around, there’s bound to be something scary! It could be a ghost, or some other monster!”

    “This is the classic ‘jump scare’ setting, right!?” It was also a point that most audiences and players would complain about. Even though they knew what would happen, they would still be scared. Perhaps turning around and finding something or someone that wasn’t there before suddenly appearing was the most basic form of horror.

    “…” Tang Linlang was silent for a moment.

    “Is there a possibility that the biggest monster in this escape room is a vampire?”

    “And you’re a vampire.”

    “…Absolutely impossible! I’m a vampire hunter with a mithril Desert Eagle!”

    “Um, o-okay.” Tang Linlang wanted to laugh, but she still cooperated with Adele, standing back to back with her nervously. This was a famous tactic on ancient battlefields, but using it in an escape room was quite absurd. If there really was an NPC playing a villain role to scare them, wouldn’t he be stunned?

    Fortunately, the space inside the church wasn’t very large. There were just a few rows of tables, a lectern, and a huge cross behind the lectern. A figure seemed to be tied to the cross, wrapped in a bloodstained red shroud. Adele was almost certain that this person was the NPC of this escape room! Ugh, can we avoid touching it? It looks disgusting!

    NPC: …

    But as the game progressed, after Adele and Tang Linlang collected the clues in the church and read all the information they could find, the only thing left was the NPC wrapped in red cloth. At this time, Tang Linlang raised her eyebrows and tugged Adele’s sleeve, whispering, “Look, the door is behind the cross.”

    And a door meant another room behind it, the location of the second act.

    “Damn it, this setting where we have to face the NPC is too cunning…”

    “Linlang, why don’t…you go and uncover his cloth?” Adele instigated.

    Did she use up all her courage on flirting with girls…? Looking back now, Ice Queen Hermione and the last vampire princess, Dorothy, were much scarier than this ordinary staff member playing an NPC. And there was also Seraph, the angel girl representing one of the strongest combat forces. Her true form was even more terrifying. And Adele still…did things to her.

    Tang Linlang nodded, without any objection. The girl always pampered Adele. So no matter what lay ahead, she was willing to go through it for Adele. But the moment Tang Linlang took a step, a voice came from the loudspeaker in the church. A staff member reminded them that different people would receive different information by touching the “martyred saint,” and they could only receive it once. This information was very important, related to the ending of the game, and they weren’t allowed to tell each other. The implication was that the two guests had to decide who would obtain this information. And the person who obtained this information would have a higher probability of winning the game.

    That’s right, this game wasn’t about escaping together. It contained a competitive element. This could be seen from their roles. A vampire hunter and a vampire were natural enemies. Their ending together was most likely a fight to the death, not a happy ending. But it wasn’t that there was no “happy ending.” It was just that the probability of achieving it was very low.

    Now, Adele and Tang Linlang looked at each other. So it was information that needed to be competed for.

    “How about…Adele, you go,” Tang Linlang smiled slightly. She wasn’t very competitive. Enjoying the game with Adele was what she wanted.

    But Adele looked at her seriously. “It’s not like that. If the game involves ‘letting others win,’ it becomes meaningless!”

    “And if that’s the case, Linlang…do you think I would be happy?”

    Tang Linlang’s gaze trembled.

    “Besides, I’m the vampire hunter, the one with the advantage.”

    “So, let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors!” Adele’s smile was bright, and Tang Linlang’s image appeared in her cherry-colored eyes. She didn’t intend to let Linlang win. Because this was the right way to play the game.

    Looking at the girl’s sincere face, Tang Linlang immediately nodded with a smile.

    “Then…rock-paper-scissors!”

    The two extended their hands at the same time. Adele showed rock, a clenched fist, and Tang Linlang showed paper.

    “Ugh!” Tang Linlang easily won this round.

    “A-Again, best two out of three!” Adele suddenly added a rule. Cheating was also part of the game! Adele was really taking this escape room seriously.

    “Eh…oh, okay.” Although Tang Linlang felt that this was a bit different from the fair competition Adele mentioned before, she still gently accepted Adele’s proposal.

    Then the two played rock-paper-scissors again. Adele won a round, her scissors cutting through Tang Linlang’s repeated paper.

    In the final round, Adele calmed down. I choose you, rock! Adele didn’t believe that Tang Linlang would show paper three times in a row! But the result…

    “Oh, I won,” Tang Linlang said with surprise, her palm open. And Adele, clenching her small fist, was petrified on the spot. She lost, lost to a stubborn girl who didn’t know how to adapt. You go, Linlang.

    “Then, I’ll go talk to the saint?”

    “Go ahead, I’ll wait for you here.” The dejection only lasted for a moment in Adele’s mind before vanishing. The girl showed her usual gentle yet cunning smile again.

    Tang Linlang walked towards the martyred saint on the cross. As Tang Linlang approached, the “saint” NPC began to struggle and moan in pain. The red shroud changed shape, making the scene look very gruesome. The horror element had finally arrived. Adele suddenly felt glad that she hadn’t won the rigged rock-paper-scissors contest.

    But looking at Linlang, she tilted her head, seemingly only finding the scene a bit strange, without any other thoughts. Here, a moment of silence for the NPC who was trying his best… An escape room NPC who couldn’t scare people would probably be very hurt…

    It seemed that the “dead saint” was very resistant to Tang Linlang’s approach, or rather, resistant to her identity as a vampire. This was actually foreshadowing, allowing Adele to realize that the person beside her was the vampire she had killed in the first act. Although this was information already known to both Tang Linlang and Adele before the game started, she still had to praise the escape room’s attention to detail.

    Another detail was that when Tang Linlang touched the cross, she felt a slight electric shock. It should be some kind of harmless mechanism. But if Adele, the vampire hunter, touched the cross, probably nothing would happen. And the martyred saint would also appear very peaceful, telling the girl the information normally, not gruesomely like now, as if trying to escape the cross, escape the approaching vampire.

    Tang Linlang leaned closer to the saint, and the saint whispered something hoarsely in her ear. The girl’s expression changed slightly, and she looked back at Adele. Just as Adele was curious about what information Tang Linlang had received, the door behind the cross suddenly opened automatically. This meant that the search in this room was over, and they needed to enter the next scene to experience another part of the story.

    Adele came to Tang Linlang’s side and touched the cross, but there was no reaction. And the saint NPC returned to his original “playing dead” state. It seemed that they could only step into the darkness behind that door. Adele suddenly joked, “I’m really curious about what information Linlang received!”

    “Could it be my fatal weakness or something?”

    “At the end, will we have to fight to the death, fulfilling our destiny?” As a “fujoshi” who had read too many novels, sometimes, whether it was a novel or an anime, Adele could predict the plot just by guessing. This escape room, to maximize the players’ experience, would definitely create a cliché plot about destiny and life and death. Perhaps, in many cases, the ending was already determined by the roles they chose. A vampire and a vampire hunter…could they really overcome worldly prejudices and be together?

    Tang Linlang bit her lip gently, seemingly unsure of Adele’s meaning. After all, she was the one who said they should compete fairly. But she still tentatively asked, “Adele…do you want to know?” If Adele wanted to know, Tang Linlang certainly wouldn’t hide anything from her.

    And Adele was indeed just joking. She shook her head.

    “Silly! I was just teasing you.”

    “Come on, let’s go to the next scene, my vampire lady~.” Adele came to Tang Linlang’s side, raised her leg, and gently kicked the girl’s butt like she was playing cat’s cradle.

    “Eek!” Tang Linlang jumped slightly. Then, blushing, she covered her butt. When she glanced at Adele, the latter smiled mischievously and charmingly.

    “Hehe~” Only Tang Linlang had such a gentle personality. Otherwise, if it were someone else, they might kick Adele’s butt back. What was this called? This was called “bonding through butt-kicking.”

    The two entered the second escape room together. It was a cabin in the woods. Here, the relationship between the vampire hunter and the vampire took a new turn. Because it was a story-driven escape room, the real gameplay for Adele and Tang Linlang was to find clues and information to restore the outline of the story, and occasionally play the characters in the story to interact or make certain choices.

    Adele and Tang Linlang each searched around, and the pieced-together plot was roughly this: The vampire hunter was preparing to take the vampire girl back to her family. But for the vampire girl, this was no different from walking into a trap, a dead end. She was still weak and hadn’t regained her strength, so she thought her vampire identity hadn’t been discovered, and she believed that the vampire hunter wasn’t wary of her. So she secretly decided to kill the vampire hunter here, that is, Adele.

    Tang Linlang’s eyelids twitched when she saw this plot. She couldn’t imagine herself wanting to kill Adele. But the prop dagger before her reminded her that the girl in the story would use this dagger to stab the vampire hunter’s heart while she was sleeping at midnight, also the time when the vampire, bathed in moonlight, was at her strongest.

    Unconsciously, Tang Linlang seemed to experience the life of another woman and felt a great shock. The same feeling appeared in Adele’s heart. She was also curious, would the vampire…Linlang, stab her heart? If she did, what would she do?

    The escape room’s plot became increasingly captivating. The two continued to search for clues, wanting to know the final answer. Adele finally found a diary under the cabin’s bed. She opened the lock and saw what was written inside. The diary not only recorded everything that happened that night, but also the bits and pieces of their time together before that. It was the ordinary yet warm daily life of a cold female hunter and a tsundere little vampire.

    They traveled together, walked the same path, and experienced the same adventures. The vampire discovered that the hunter wasn’t as cold and heartless as she seemed, and had a gentle side that could make one blush. Similarly, the vampire hunter also developed a different view of this vampire disguised as a human girl. After all, what was the difference between her and a vampire? Weren’t they both monsters rejected by this world?

    Finally, Adele turned to the last page of the diary, the night of the assassination attempt. She even gulped nervously as she turned the page. But what appeared before Adele was a blank page. The previous page clearly showed the vampire giving herself a pep talk with determined handwriting, saying that they were mortal enemies and not to be fooled by her appearance along the way. That doesn’t belong to you, that gentleness, that care, it doesn’t belong to you, to you, a monster! She was only being kind to the human girl you pretended to be. When she discovers your vampire identity, she will without doubt shoot you in the chest with that silver Desert Eagle. So…use this dagger, which she even gave you for self-defense…to kill her! Please, kill her…

    Adele slowly closed the diary, thinking wistfully, Is the ending of that night destined to remain unknown?

    At the same time, Tang Linlang came to Adele’s side. Adele handed the diary to Linlang, watching her reaction. Tang Linlang quickly finished reading the diary, her expression clearly dazed. She either immersed herself in the vampire’s role, mistakenly thinking that she had written the diary, or something else.

    Just then, Adele suddenly hugged her from behind, a warm, firm embrace, and asked in a vulnerable voice, “That night…did you do it?”

    “No—no!”

    “I couldn’t bear to…” Tang Linlang’s heart clenched, and she subconsciously replied to Adele, or rather, to the vampire hunter.

    From Tang Linlang’s reaction, Adele was willing to believe that this was the ending of that night. And Tang Linlang, coming back to her senses, lowered her head in embarrassment.

    It was worth mentioning that while Adele found the diary, Tang Linlang also found a clue item. It was a cloth bag with a vampire symbol on it, containing heavy silver coins. But according to the description, the vampire’s current identity was a “rescued human girl.” It was impossible for her to have so much money. So the only possibility was that the vampire hunter secretly put her own money into the vampire’s bag. She seemed to know that the girl was leaving, so she chose to silently care for her in this way. And the vampire seemed to have noticed this. She didn’t choose to hurt the vampire hunter with the dagger, as there were no bloodstains on it. Nor did she choose to take the money. She just left alone, parting ways with the vampire hunter. Because she was afraid that if she stayed, she might fall…for her enemy, for the vampire hunter, developing feelings that shouldn’t exist. The vampire was afraid of herself like that. It wasn’t so much parting ways as it was escaping.

    Adele and Tang Linlang looked at each other, feeling a bit emotional about the story’s development.

    “My little girl is running away,” Adele said to Tang Linlang affectionately.

    Tang Linlang knew that she was half in character and half teasing. She immediately blushed, and after a while, murmured, “…She will come back.” Your little girl, she will come back.

    Adele smiled and nodded. Both realized that in the next room, they might have to temporarily separate. This was also necessary for the escape room game.

    As expected, when they opened another door in the room, a wooden corridor appeared before them. The corridor split into two sides, each with a symbol representing the path they should take. Adele’s was the Desert Eagle. She was still holding the pistol, but unfortunately, she hadn’t had a chance to use it, which made her a little regretful. But this time, Adele guessed that the opportunity to use it had finally arrived.

    The place Tang Linlang was going to was on the opposite side, to the right. There was also a room waiting for her there. As for what was inside, whether it was a new clue or an NPC playing a certain role, it was unknown. But if time were to rewind by ten minutes, no one would know that in the room Adele was about to enter, scarlet, twisted, indescribable magic patterns suddenly appeared on the floor and walls, like the veins formed by spreading blood. They pulsed and breathed as if alive. Finally, they slowly converged, spreading and growing like branches.

    A graceful figure, like a demon queen from hell, descended upon this world. She had jet-black horns like the Mother of Black Goats, pure white hair, and scarlet amber eyes. Her skin was snow-white, and a pair of majestic bone wings unfolded behind her. Bony spikes protruded from her elbows and knees, and her fingertips were as sharp as knives.

    Suddenly, the queen frowned and looked sharply at a certain spot on the wall. It was a security camera mechanically performing its task. But the next moment, the camera’s feed went black! All the captured images were distorted into garbled code by an indescribable force, impossible to restore.

    Only then did the queen nod in satisfaction. Then, she looked thoughtful, as if wondering…

    “Where is this?”

    “Is this still the human world I’m familiar with?”

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 299

    Chapter 299: Heal Athena Like Sylph?

    Even Athena was shocked by this power.

    She had acted purely on instinct.

    She usually used elemental magic, specializing in water and earth.

    Plague?

    Accelerated Decay?

    What were these strange powers?

    She had never heard of them, yet she had instinctively used them.

    What was happening to her?

    The strangeness of it all made her uneasy.

    Muse’s legs buckled beneath him, as if his bones had turned to dust. He collapsed to the ground.

    He couldn’t even feel the pain in his legs, his other injuries far more agonizing.

    His body began to rot rapidly, the scene so gruesome that Qin Chu wondered if he had been caught in a nuclear blast.

    The sight was horrifying.

    The power of this magic made even Qin Chu’s skin crawl.

    “Athena, what kind of magic is this?” he asked, frowning.

    Athena’s eyes darted around, her hand trembling as she gripped her staff: “I… I don’t know.”

    Qin Chu studied her. She didn’t seem to be lying, her eyes filled with genuine shock.

    If she had wanted to hide it, she could have simply used a different spell. There was no need to use it and then claim ignorance.

    Seeing her fear, he patted her head gently: “It’s alright, Athena. I’m not accusing you. But this magic is very dangerous. Use it with caution.”

    Athena nodded vigorously.

    That being said, it was quite effective against Muse.

    He had looked so disgusting with all those blisters that Qin Chu, despite wanting to torture him, hadn’t been able to bring himself to touch him.

    Now, Muse was suffering immensely, his body ravaged by fever, decay, violent coughing fits, tumors on his neck and in his abdomen…

    This strange magic seemed to induce and accelerate diseases.

    Muse had already been unwell, and Athena’s magic had amplified his illness exponentially. Qin Chu suspected it wouldn’t have been as effective against a healthy individual.

    Disease-inducing magic… how bizarre.

    In all his years in the first loop, he had never encountered anything like it.

    “Shaye, do you know this magic?” he asked mentally.

    Shaye was knowledgeable, having lived in this world far longer than him. Perhaps she knew something.

    Sensing no threat from Ireta, Shaye emerged from behind Qin Chu.

    Ireta glanced at her, nodding slightly.

    Even Athena looked at her curiously…

    Heloise and Anastasia didn’t seem to notice her.

    “Is this a disease?”

    “I’ve heard of a mysterious cult that specialized in such things.”

    “They worshipped a god of plagues and disasters, dedicating themselves to researching and spreading all manner of terrifying diseases.”

    “They hoped to one day create a plague that would infect all living things, pleasing their god.”

    “At the height of their power, they unleashed a plague that killed tens of millions in the Heavenly Continent. These twisted followers would celebrate, watching the suffering of those afflicted.”

    “Because of their depravity, they were eventually eradicated by the combined forces of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, the Holy See, the Empire, and various kingdoms and duchies.”

    A god of plagues and disasters?

    As expected of Shaye. She knew a lot.

    “What did their god look like?” Qin Chu asked curiously.

    “Who knows? But I’ve heard that when the cult was destroyed, they confiscated numerous statues, all resembling squatting toads… I can’t imagine anyone sane worshipping such a deity,” Shaye said, her voice filled with disdain.

    “And the followers, constantly exposed to diseases, became twisted, grotesque, and bloated, like Muse.”

    “Those statues were burned, every last one of them.”

    “Their books, containing records of plagues and diseases, were also burned, along with their churches.”

    “It was said that fire was the only way to stop the spread of their plagues.”

    Hearing this, Athena’s face paled.

    Qin Chu noticed her reaction: “Athena, what is it?”

    “It’s just…” Athena’s voice was dry.

    Despite her strength, she couldn’t help but feel afraid.

    “Before you arrived, Master, when I retrieved Jie Luo’s soul fragment from the chamber, I saw… a statue resembling a toad.”

    The statue had even smiled at her.

    She had thought it was a hallucination. But what if it wasn’t?

    Had she been targeted by an Evil God? Was the power she had just unleashed a gift from that deity?

    And what terrified her most… would she eventually become like Muse?

    No, absolutely not.

    For a beautiful woman, that fate was worse than death.

    Listening to her account of the chamber, Qin Chu frowned. He glanced at Muse, who lay groaning on the ground, his body rotting, but still alive. He extended his hand towards Athena.

    Athena walked over, and he placed his hand on her forehead.

    Warm, holy energy flowed into her.

    His Holy Light was deadly to the aura of Evil Gods. If Athena had been marked by one, there would be a reaction.

    But nothing happened.

    Only a slight blush colored her cheeks, as if she found the warmth of his Holy Light comforting.

    This puzzled Qin Chu. Could the mark of the god of plagues and disasters be on her soul, like Sylph’s?

    Otherwise, how could she suddenly wield such sinister power?

    Should he heal her, like he had healed Sylph?

    He assured himself that he had no ulterior motives. This was purely for healing purposes.

    “Master, my condition…”

    “I haven’t detected anything unusual with your body, but these Evil Gods often target the soul… I’ll heal you after we leave,” he said after a moment of thought. “You can talk to Sylph. She has… experience with such treatments.”

    While they talked, Muse continued to suffer.

    The agony lasted for hours.

    Finally, when not a single piece of his flesh remained intact, he died.

    Silver flames engulfed his remains, purifying the ground and even his soul.

    Qin Chu formulated his next plan.

    He was intrigued by the heart mentioned in the soul fragment. He would investigate… but he needed to prepare first.

    He took another soul fragment from his storage ring and handed it to Athena.

    Athena looked at him questioningly, tilting her head, her fingers holding the fragment delicately. She looked surprisingly cute.

    “Should I crush it?”

    She thought he was testing her loyalty.

    Qin Chu facepalmed: “No, take it back as proof of your success. Otherwise, returning empty-handed after Muse’s death would make Loseweisse suspicious, wouldn’t it?”

    “You want me to stay with Loseweisse?” Athena asked, her lips pursing slightly.

    She disliked that woman.

    “Yes, she wants me dead. I need to know what she’s planning.”

    With one soul fragment destroyed, Jie Luo’s resurrection was impossible, and the information within this fragment had already been extracted. Qin Chu didn’t care about it.

    More importantly, Loseweisse was a strange woman. He sensed a dangerous secret surrounding her.

    This fragment would ensure Athena’s continued trust.

    Athena took a deep breath and nodded: “If that is your command, Master, I will obey.”

    “Also, we’ll return to the Imperial City separately. Be careful…”

    “Loseweisse sent Airi and Eileen here as well, supposedly to assist you and Muse… but those two women are strange.”

    “Especially Airi. She might try to kill you.”

    He warned her. He preferred Ekaterina and Athena as tools, compared to the Twin Thieves.

    In fact, he hoped Airi would attack Athena.

    Then, he could get rid of both of them.

    …

    As Qin Chu had predicted, Airi and Eileen were on their way to the Snow Chain Mountains.

    The Twin Thieves were unhappy about their assignment. If not for Jie Luo, they wouldn’t bother with this.

    They walked side-by-side, their identical faces indistinguishable if not for their different hairstyles and hair colors.

    Eileen walked slightly ahead, Airi trailing behind her.

    Airi smiled, but a dark shadow flickered in her eyes as she looked at her sister’s back.

    To her, Eileen was also a rival.

    Jie Luo only needs me, right? He doesn’t need so many girls.

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c27

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 27 Um…

    Not an Ice Coffin Weapon, but better than one, even more dangerous than an ordinary Ice Coffin Weapon.

    That was Cecilia now.

    Her life was maintained by a fragile balance. Once this precarious balance was broken, what awaited her was destruction, accompanied by a Calamity.

    “Artificially creating an Ice Coffin Weapon… this cultist… how could he…”

    Chris’s chest heaved, her unvented anger building up inside, but she eventually calmed down.

    “So, I want to talk to him.” Luo Yan narrowed her eyes slightly. “Perhaps there are still many things we can discuss.”

    For example, the title “God of Hope.” Ordinary people called her the “Witch of Envy.” Only the Church of the End Gods knew Her true name.

    Although it couldn’t be expressed using the language of True Names, they extracted the most representative word from the True Name as Her title.

    “But, this Bishop is very likely a ‘Peril’ level or higher ability user, judging from the layout of this house.”

    Chris looked around and noticed that the damage to the house was slowly recovering.

    Although this technology wasn’t unfamiliar to Chris, she was still a little surprised to see it in a dilapidated residential building.

    “Of course, we won’t talk here. I’ll take him to a place that’s advantageous for me.”

    Luo Yan nodded, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.

    “Are you saying…”

    Chris blinked, suddenly feeling another flashback looming, and couldn’t help but tremble.

    Yes, the only thing that could give her this kind of dread was the Void.

    “Yes, no living being can stay in the Void for long, not even a ‘Peril’ level ability user.”

    Luo Yan’s basis was Rhine from before. He was considered one of the strongest among “Peril” level ability users.

    But after entering the Void, his performance wasn’t much different from Lin Cheng, a “Ruin” level ability user. Both of their reactions were equally severe.

    This was usually a disadvantage, making it difficult for Luo Yan to take others on Void Traversal, but occasionally, it also had its uses, such as in the current situation.

    A “Peril” level ability user was still too much for Luo Yan and Chris to handle with their current combat power.

    And this person called “Bishop”… he couldn’t possibly be an ordinary “Peril” level ability user, right?

    Therefore, the safest method was to pull him into the Void and have a heart-to-heart talk. This way, even if he didn’t want to listen, he had to.

    Of course, Luo Yan’s idea was good, but putting it into practice was a bit difficult.

    First… she had to invite him into the Void.

    “We can’t just drag him in, right? A ‘Peril’ level ability user will resist.” Chris touched her chin.

    “Should we knock him unconscious? No… if we had the ability to knock him unconscious, we wouldn’t need to go to such lengths… Miss Luo Yan, why do you keep looking at me?”

    Chris looked up and saw Luo Yan staring intently at her, almost jumping in fright.

    “No, I just want to ask what material this outfit is made of.” Luo Yan said indifferently.

    “Oh, speaking of this, I have a lot to say. This is a treasure bestowed upon me by a certain important person, possessing a series of functions such as concealing aura and hiding tracks. Even a ‘Destruction’ level ability user would have difficulty seeing through its disguise.”

    Chris put her hands on her hips and said proudly, but she didn’t reveal the matter of Shadow and the Shadow Guards.

    This was a top-secret matter and absolutely couldn’t be revealed to outsiders… especially not to Luo Yan.

    “I saw that you were wearing clothes underneath when you put it on, but after putting it on, it seemed to completely flatten everything, without a trace.” Luo Yan stared at the Shadow Guard uniform and said after a moment of thought. “Is it because it’s very elastic? Or is there another reason?”

    “This isn’t something that can be achieved with elasticity. Actually, this treasure doesn’t have a fixed form. It’s more like a specially refined material, but it can also be turned into gloves.”

    After saying that, Chris took off the Shadow Guard uniform and condensed it onto her hands.

    “Wow…”

    Luo Yan didn’t react much, but Cecilia suddenly exclaimed.

    Not only because of Chris’s magical trick, but also because… of her appearance.

    Chris had been wearing the Shadow Guard uniform since they left the Lower District, even when they entered the residential building.

    So the Chris that Cecilia saw was always like a ghost, and she was terrified, hiding behind Luo Yan.

    Only now did she see Chris hidden beneath the shadow, and she was stunned.

    “Big sister, so beautiful… more beautiful than Cecilia…”

    Cecilia felt a little inferior. The God of Hope was also very beautiful, everyone was beautiful, only Cecilia was ugly, stupid, and short…

    “You haven’t grown up yet, you’ll be more beautiful than her in the future.”

    Luo Yan sensed Cecilia’s dejection and reached out to rub her messy pink short hair.

    “Really?”

    Cecilia’s eyes lit up.

    “Really.”

    Luo Yan, who had almost no sense of aesthetics, nodded.

    “False!”

    Chris angrily put her hands on her hips.

    “I-, Is that so…”

    Cecilia shrank back again.

    “Why are you competing with a child?” Luo Yan glanced at Chris, her gaze returning to the Shadow Guard uniform. “But this outfit of yours…”

    “What do you want to do? This isn’t for sale!”

    Chris hugged her Shadow Guard uniform protectively. She suddenly noticed that Luo Yan seemed to have some bad ideas and immediately became alert.

    “I’m not planning to buy it, and besides, I don’t have any money.” Luo Yan spread her hands. “I just want to borrow it, just for a little while.”

    “…Could it be that you want to try it on?”

    Chris immediately became troubled. Although the shadow material outfit wasn’t exactly “worn,” but “covered” the body, it was… intimate apparel, after all.

    If it were Sister Qingling, it would be fine, but with Miss Luo Yan… Chris still had a mental block.

    “No, I’ll just say it directly, I want to turn this thing into a sack and put it over that Bishop’s head.”

    Luo Yan said in a flat tone, making Chris almost spit out blood.

    “Wait, no, how did you come up with such…”

    Before Chris could finish, Luo Yan continued on her own,

    “I originally thought I would have to tailor it, but since this material is so convenient, it saves me a lot of effort.”

    “Miss Luo Yan, you…”

    Chris’s voice trembled. She never expected Miss Luo Yan to have such an idea. How did her mind work?

    “What do you think?” Luo Yan’s expression was serious, not like she was joking. “A Bishop of the Church of the End Gods, I believe both Lannister and Noah would be very interested in meeting him, right?”

    Chris originally wanted to refuse outright, but when Luo Yan said the last sentence, she suddenly realized something.

    Yes, this was a Bishop of the Church of the End Gods!

    Back in the barbaric era nearly a thousand years ago, they were existences capable of confronting the Saints!

    Even though the Church of the End Gods had declined now, a Bishop-level figure was still not to be underestimated.

    In this situation, let alone using a Shadow Guard uniform to… make a sack, even if the uniform itself was sacrificed, it would be worth it!

    After all, although the Shadow Guard uniform was considered a treasure, Saint Shadow still had quite a bit of stock. It was a mass-produced treasure, its value only lay in the rarity of its material.

    The reason for its rarity was because Saint Shadow was lazy… ahem, disrespectful, disrespectful.

    “No problem!”

    Thinking of this, Chris’s attitude immediately changed. She and Luo Yan hit it off, and the two immediately began plotting the details.

    Cecilia, listening from the side, was dumbfounded, feeling that these two beautiful big sisters were discussing something bad, and kept mentioning Grandpa Bishop.

    What to do, Grandpa Bishop was a good person, he always told Cecilia stories, and he would teach Cecilia how to destroy the world… destroy civilization in the future!

    As their conversation became more and more dangerous, Cecilia finally mustered up the courage to say,

    “God of Hope, and beautiful big sister, please… please don’t do this to Grandpa Bishop! He’s very, very good to Cecilia!”

    “Hmm?” Luo Yan raised an eyebrow. “How is he good to you?”

    She was also quite curious about how this heinous cult leader usually treated Cecilia.

    Putting aside Cecilia’s current semi-out-of-control body and power, judging from the other details in this residential building, this Bishop seemed to genuinely treat Cecilia as his granddaughter.

    “Grandpa Bishop… Grandpa Bishop helps Cecilia with her illness, tells Cecilia stories, and encourages Cecilia. It’s because of Grandpa Bishop that Cecilia is determined to achieve her dream of destroying the world in the future!”

    “…Miss Luo Yan, I think your previous proposal was a bit too conservative.”

    “Ah, you just said it was too dangerous…”

    “Besides such a Calamity, what’s a little more danger?”

    Cecilia: “Eh?”

    Why did it feel like the big sisters’ resentment towards Grandpa Bishop was getting stronger…

    Of course, Cecilia’s words dispelled some of Luo Yan and Chris’s suspicions about the Bishop, completely confirming that he was a thorough antisocial element.

    Using this method to maintain Cecilia’s life, he probably only intended to use her as a weapon in the end.

    Finally, Luo Yan and Chris made their arrangements, set a trap at the top of the stairs on the second floor, and after persuading Cecilia to stay put, they began to wait for the Bishop’s return.

    They didn’t wait long. Hamid quickly rushed back with Eli and successfully fell into the trap… the sack, set by Luo Yan and Chris.

    This couldn’t really be blamed on Hamid. Who would have thought that their supposedly esteemed guest would resort to using a sack to deal with the returning homeowner?

    Moreover, the material of this sack was special. Even a “Destruction” level ability user would subconsciously overlook it if they weren’t paying attention, so Hamid hadn’t noticed anything unusual before stepping onto the second floor.

    Cecilia, looking at Hamid, who was covered by a sack, could only weakly call out “Grandpa Bishop”…

    She felt like an accomplice and felt a little guilty.

    And at this time, Luo Yan wasn’t idle either. The moment the sack was placed, a spatial rift opened behind Hamid.

    Then, just as Hamid was reacting, she pushed him in and entered the Void herself through the spatial rift—these were all part of the plan she had discussed with Chris beforehand, using the properties of the Void to control this Bishop of the Church of the End Gods.

    Thus, in just an instant, Eli watched as the Bishop disappeared before his eyes.

    And what appeared before him was a stunningly beautiful young woman, and Cecilia, with her head lowered.

    “You, how dare you—”

    He was both shocked and furious, roaring loudly.

    But before he could finish, Chris noticed him and said in surprise,

    “Oh, there’s another one who slipped through the net… Don’t worry! I’ll—”

    “Thump!”

    A crisp cracking sound rang out, and broken wood splinters flew from Eli’s forehead. Chris, holding a broken chair leg from the living room, had fiercely hit Eli on the head.

    She usually called this move “physical hypnosis,” occasionally using it when there was no need to use “Siren’s Song.”

    Before Eli could utter a complete sentence, he was hit dizzy.

    Then he tripped over the stairs and fell backwards uncontrollably.

    After a few more heart-wrenching thuds, this pitiful middle-aged man fainted on the first floor.

    “Ah, it seems to be one of those strange uncles and aunts…”

    Cecilia glanced at the unconscious Eli and retreated back into her room.

    “Oh?” Chris clapped the wood dust off her hands and turned to look at Cecilia. “You’ve seen him before?”

    “Mm… I’ve seen him. He came to the house last time with many, many people. It seems to have been last month…”

    Cecilia frowned, thought carefully, then held her head. “Cecilia is too stupid, I can’t remember!”

    “…It has nothing to do with being stupid.”

    “I-, Is that so?”

    “Because even idiots can remember.”

    “Um, pretty big sister…”

    ……

    Being put in a sack and then falling into the Void wasn’t a pleasant experience for anyone, and Hamid was no exception.

    But after the initial surprise, Hamid quickly calmed down, took off the sack from his head, glanced at it, and said,

    “So it’s this kind of thing… No wonder I didn’t notice anything.”

    “You seem quite used to it? This Bishop… Grandpa?”

    Luo Yan’s voice came from behind Hamid. Hamid smiled slightly and replied,

    “Bishop is just a title and duty for us to act conveniently in the mortal world. You don’t have to address me like that… Just call me Hamid.

    “This is the Void, right… Heh, a familiar aura. I’ve been here before, but my memory is distant, and I’ve forgotten some of it.”

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 231

    Chapter 231: Chilling Intent, Hasty Retreat

    “…”

    The room suddenly fell into a deathly silence. This pin-drop silence even froze the noise coming from the first-floor hall. No one present reacted; their faces still held expressions of bewilderment.

    What… just happened?

    The Prince… was sent flying with one punch?!

    The next moment, the guards who had accompanied Pei Yan snapped back to their senses, their faces filled with shock as they cried out, “Your Highness!”

    “Cough, cough, cough!”

    Pei Yan had crashed halfway through the wall, painfully coughing up blood.

    Seeing his miserable state, the guards, filled with rage and alarm, reached for the swords at their waists: “How dare you injure His Highness, you villain—”

    “Brandishing swords and blades in this restaurant is quite dangerous.”

    Lin Tianlu casually weighed the weapons in his hand. “I’ll confiscate these for now and return them to you later.”

    “Wha—”

    The guards’ right hands grasped at empty air. Their expressions changed drastically, and they looked at their waists in terror.

    The swords that had been at their waists had vanished without a trace, now appearing in the other man’s hands?

    When did this person take their weapons?!

    “—Damn it!”

    They gritted their teeth, channeling their Qi, and assumed fighting stances, charging forward together. Their Azure Spirit Realm cultivation was on full display.

    But as soon as they moved, their eyes bulged, their bodies stiffened as if struck by lightning, and they trembled before collapsing to the ground.

    Lin Tianlu’s eyes flickered, and he glanced sideways at Yang Chanzhen, who was still seated at the table. He could faintly see wisps of Yin energy emanating from beneath her long sleeves.

    Their gazes met briefly, and the Azure Lady of Mount Min gave a subtle nod, as if in greeting.

    Cheng Yishi, finally recovering from her shock, murmured in astonishment, “Tianlu, you…”

    “Let’s finish dealing with this trifling matter first, and then we can catch up properly later.”

    Lin Tianlu gave a gentle smile.

    Then, his gaze shifted to the left side of the restaurant, and he chuckled softly, “Since you gentlemen are so concerned, why not show yourselves?”

    “Boy, how dare you!”

    A cold, low shout suddenly rang out, and a chilling aura descended like a heavy pressure.

    But before it could reach the others present, Lin Tianlu had already taken a step forward, his hands slightly raised.

    Whoosh!

    Suddenly, his figure blurred momentarily before reappearing.

    And in his hands, he firmly gripped the shoulders of two people, landing steadily back on the ground with them.

    Looking closely, two white-haired elders had appeared beside him, both with extraordinary auras. But their faces were filled with dazed confusion, clearly not expecting to suddenly appear here. They even maintained their spell-casting postures, the condensed Yin energy reduced to mere wisps of fragmented light.

    “Gentlemen, as you age, you should learn to go out and interact with people more, enriching your later years. You can’t just stay cooped up in a corner and grow old alone.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled, patting their shoulders. “Don’t be so shy. Everyone here is very friendly and understands the importance of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young.”

    “You, you—”

    Their eyes widened, staring at the man beside them in utter terror.

    An indescribable, terrifying pressure washed over them. Although they couldn’t sense any extraordinary cultivation from this scholar, at this moment, they couldn’t muster the slightest resistance!

    “Seeing as your legs are trembling, why don’t you sit down and rest for a while?”

    Lin Tianlu’s smile was gentle and humble as he guided them to a nearby tea table. “I just happen to have a few words for your master. Just sit here and listen… However, I’ll confiscate this dangerous weapon first. It wouldn’t be good if someone got hurt accidentally.”

    As he spoke, he casually pulled an antique dagger from the sleeve of one of the elders.

    “…”

    The two elders could only stare wide-eyed, their faces covered in cold sweat, silently watching as Lin Tianlu turned and walked towards the Prince, who was struggling to extricate himself from the wall.

    “Cough, cough… who, who are you?!”

    Pei Yan clutched his swollen face, spitting out two mouthfuls of blood, his words slurred. “Why did you suddenly attack me—”

    “I just returned from a long journey and have already heard some rumors on the streets.”

    Lin Tianlu smoothed his sleeves, crouched down, propped himself up with one hand, and smiled. “It seems Your Highness has been plotting against Miss Cheng and frequently harassing her, causing her much distress.”

    “I, I would never do such a despicable thing! I simply admire Miss Cheng’s character and temperament. Everyone appreciates beauty. Is it wrong for a gentleman to seek beauty?”

    “That does sound reasonable. But do you know that Miss Cheng is already betrothed?”

    “Beauties have always belonged to those who are capable. What’s wrong with me paying her a visit!”

    The Prince instinctively retorted, about to stagger to his feet, but his pupils suddenly constricted as he stared at Lin Tianlu with suspicion, “Could you be—”

    Lin Tianlu smiled, patting his arm. “Give up your dirty thoughts. We don’t have time to play your childish games. As a prince, you should focus on matters befitting your status, and not make a fool of yourself.”

    “…”

    The Prince’s already askew face became even more distorted, a myriad of expressions flashing across it.

    Only then did he realize the true identity of the person before him.

    It was the very same Mr. Lin he had been trying to ‘befriend.’

    His thoughts raced. He surreptitiously glanced at the guards lying on the ground and the two immobilized elders. Taking a deep breath, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said, “Mr. Lin, please forgive my previous disrespectful words. There must be some misunderstanding. It’s definitely not what you think—”

    “What else do you have to say in your defense?”

    The smile on Lin Tianlu’s face gradually disappeared.

    “I…”

    Pei Yan had just opened his mouth when his face drastically changed, sweat pouring down his forehead.

    At this moment, he felt an indescribable, terrifying pressure descend upon him, making it almost impossible to stand. His soul trembled, as if it would be crushed into dust in the next instant. Even uttering a single word became incredibly difficult.

    “I’ve heard of Prince Pei’s reputation, a learned, refined, and humble gentleman.”

    Lin Tianlu glanced at his collar with an impassive expression. “But now it seems it’s just an empty title, a two-faced hypocrite. Do you think I can’t see through your schemes? Or do you think… that I would give you face because of your princely status and not expose you, politely reasoning with you?”

    Pei Yan’s face turned pale as he opened his mouth, “Not…”

    “Unfortunately, I don’t care about your princely status at all. And don’t even think about bringing your dirty tricks to Changling again. This isn’t a place where you can act recklessly.”

    Lin Tianlu narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered. “Until we meet again, Prince Pei. You don’t need to come looking for me. I’ll come find you in a few days. I hope that next time we meet, you won’t disappoint me again.”

    Thud!

    As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Yan’s knees buckled as if all strength had been drained from them. He collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling, his pupils constricted, unable to utter a word, only maintaining a posture of cupped hands.

    Lin Tianlu then retracted his chilling gaze and turned to look at the two elders, who were gradually regaining their mobility.

    “Your master seems to be suffering from a lack of strength. Why don’t you help him back to rest properly? As for this so-called banquet, let the guests disperse after they’ve had their fill. Don’t disturb the local residents any further, understood?”

    “…Understood.”

    One of the elders cautiously stood up, bowed respectfully, and quickly walked out with his companion, hurriedly helping the immobile Pei Yan flee from the private room.

    The guards who had collapsed on the ground also managed to regain consciousness, scrambling out of the room, unwilling to stay a moment longer.

    …

    It was only then that Nie Qingyuan’s slightly astonished voice broke the silence.

    “Mr. Lin, is that really you?”

    “Master Nie, if not me, then who?”

    Lin Tianlu smiled gently again, cupping his hands towards him. “It’s been a while. You look to be in even better health.”

    “You, you—”

    Nie Qingyuan stared blankly at the large hole in the wall and then at the seemingly frail Lin Tianlu. After a moment of silence, he murmured, “This is the first time I’ve seen Mr. Lin so… angry.”

    “You’ve caused a huge disaster!”

    Governor Xue also gradually came to his senses. Looking at the mess, his face turned extremely ugly. “You actually struck the Prince of Pei’s legitimate son…”

    “Xue, this person is Miss Cheng’s beloved, the Mr. Lin I mentioned earlier.”

    Nie Qingyuan quickly introduced him.

    Governor Xue’s expression froze, his face changing constantly.

    This turn of events was truly unexpected.

    How could he have known that the Prince of Pei, who had just arrived, would be thrown out like trash, and this so-called Mr. Lin would display such unimaginable methods in front of everyone.

    This, this…

    It was truly unbelievable!

    Even after many years in officialdom, he didn’t know how to handle the current situation.

    “Master Nie, and Governor Xue. I was indeed too reckless just now, disturbing everyone’s meal.” Lin Tianlu stepped forward and apologized. “If that Prince of Pei has any sense left, he wouldn’t dare to act rashly now. You can rest assured and continue your meal. If…”

    “Ah! I came here solely to smooth things over for Miss Cheng. How could I care about some banquet?”

    Nie Qingyuan waved his sleeve and smiled nonchalantly. “Now that Mr. Lin has returned and taken control of the situation, I will naturally not stay any longer and will return home to rest. As for how to handle the matter of the Prince of Pei, I presume Mr. Lin has a plan?”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled softly, “I naturally wouldn’t do anything rash or foolish.”

    Seeing that he was still as calm and composed as usual, Nie Qingyuan stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction. “It seems I was overly worried.”

    Having known him for several months, he naturally understood that although Mr. Lin was usually laid-back and carefree, he was by no means a vulgar or impulsive person. Every word and action must have been carefully considered, so there was no need for him, an old man, to worry.

    “Teacher, what should we do about this situation—”

    However, Governor Xue still looked hesitant and conflicted, his words trailing off.

    Although he had heard of Mr. Lin’s name, he didn’t have a clear understanding of him. A commoner suddenly striking a member of the imperial family couldn’t simply be ignored. Even if he truly possessed extraordinary abilities, how could this situation be handled?

    “Xue, the events that transpired today are indeed quite extraordinary.” Nie Qingyuan chuckled. “But after decades as an official, you should learn to remain calm and composed in the face of unexpected situations.”

    Governor Xue could only force a smile, glancing back at the stunned guards at the door. “Prepare some generous gifts to be sent to the Prince’s residence after the banquet. Say it’s a token of our concern. If the Prince asks about my whereabouts, say that I was frightened, my old illness relapsed, and I’m currently recuperating at a friend’s house, unable to travel.”

    “Ah… y-yes!”

    The guards finally snapped out of their daze, bowing profusely, sweat dripping from their foreheads. Exchanging glances, they were utterly shocked.

    This kind of thing…

    They had never seen anything like it in their lives!

    Nie Qingyuan’s eyes flickered, and he smiled kindly, gesturing with his hand. “Xue, let’s depart now and continue our conversation at my residence. As for this place, let’s leave it to Mr. Lin and Miss Cheng. They will naturally handle it appropriately.”

    “I understand.”

    Governor Xue reacted quickly, understanding his teacher’s subtle reminder. After formally bowing to Lin Tianlu and Cheng Yishi, he quickly followed Nie Qingyuan out of the private room.

    Upon reaching the corridor, he glanced around and was surprised to find that the banquet in the main hall was still lively, the guests seemingly unaffected, as if they hadn’t noticed the conflict on the second floor.

    Recalling the ‘magic’ he had just witnessed, Governor Xue felt a cold sweat run down his back, quickening his pace as he left.

    …

    Lin Tianlu watched them leave Ascension Immortal Restaurant before turning to look at the beautiful young woman standing silently behind him.

    Cheng Yishi smiled slightly, about to speak, when she saw Lin Tianlu raise his right hand and flick his finger towards her forehead.

    Tap!

    “Hmm?”

    The young woman quickly covered her forehead, pouting slightly. “Tianlu, you just returned after so long, and the first thing you do is flick my forehead?”

    Lin Tianlu frowned, “Why are you acting so meek and submissive again?”

    “I just wanted to have him killed—”

    Cheng Yishi paused, then sighed softly, “I made you worry, Tianlu. I didn’t protect myself well and let things escalate to this point.”

    A hint of apology and unease flickered in her eyes as she thought about how to continue explaining.

    But she soon let out a muffled sound. When she realized what was happening, she found herself tightly embraced.

    The young woman’s eyes widened slightly, momentarily bewildered, as she heard a low murmur by her ear, “No need to say anything else. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

    Cheng Yishi’s eyelashes trembled, and she chuckled softly, “Tianlu, you were quite dashing just now, appearing like a divine soldier descending from the heavens.”