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  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 61p2

    Chapter 61 p2

    It wasn’t Xin Yao’s birthday, but the original owner’s.

    And coincidentally, on that day, the police had released their official report, confirming Li Xu’s crimes.

    The internet exploded, the trending topics dominated by news of his arrest.

    The online discussions, which had quieted down slightly, erupted again, a mix of outrage, schadenfreude, and disbelief.

    Even Li Xu’s most devoted fans were now silent, their idol’s downfall a harsh reality.

    He had become the first celebrity in the entertainment industry to be arrested for such a serious crime.

    And in a quiet corner of the internet, another news report, almost overlooked amidst the Li Xu frenzy, announced the arrest of Xin Yao’s cousin and aunt for burglary and extortion.

    Initially, everyone had been focused on Li Xu.

    But by evening, the news of her relatives’ arrest had also trended online, sparking a new wave of discussions.

    [Wait, isn’t that Xin Yao’s cousin and aunt?!]

    [Yes! The ones who accused her of being ungrateful, of abandoning them after they raised her!]

    [So many people attacked her online! She’s so unlucky! Always being targeted and slandered!]

    [No wonder she tried to kill herself…]

    [I’m so angry! She’s suffered so much!]

    [I’m Xin Yao’s former neighbor. Our neighborhood has been buzzing with gossip lately!

    But honestly, Xin Yao is the real victim here.

    After her parents died, she lived with her aunt and uncle, who treated her terribly. She wore hand-me-down clothes, she was always being scolded, she never got any treats…

    She lived in a constant state of fear and neglect.

    And then her aunt accused her of not supporting them financially! It was ridiculous!

    And now we know the truth. They were trying to extort her! And when she refused to give them money, they slandered her online!]

    [I thought they were just following Li Xu’s instructions, but it was their own doing! They’re so evil!]

    [I thought it was just extortion, but they actually abused her for years! And they still had the nerve to accuse her of being ungrateful!]

    [I’m crying for Xin Yao!]

    Her uncle, a quiet, reserved man, had always remained silent.

    He had silently taken care of her after her parents’ death.

    He had silently smoked his cigarettes as his wife abused and neglected her.

    And now, with his wife and son arrested, he remained silent, a ghost in Xin Yao’s story.

    Xin Yao was aware of the online discussions, but she didn’t pay much attention to them.

    Because it was Xin Yao’s birthday, or rather, the original owner’s birthday, her official birthdate in this world.

    And Xu Jingyu, having never been told otherwise, had planned a celebration.

    They stayed in, a quiet, intimate dinner for two.

    Xin Yao had ordered a large cake, and Xu Jingyu had cooked a delicious meal.

    The atmosphere between them was slightly tense, Xu Jingyu’s possessiveness still a lingering presence, but their love was strong, their connection undeniable.

    It wasn’t a fight, just Xu Jingyu being a bit… much.

    As Xu Jingyu cooked, Xin Yao had come into the kitchen, her voice teasing.

    “Don’t make too much! There’s only two of us! We’ll never finish it all!”

    She had offered to help, but Xu Jingyu, smiling, had shooed her away, not wanting her to tire herself out.

    Xin Yao had sat on the sofa, waiting to be fed.

    And Xu Jingyu, always eager to please, had soon brought out the food, their dinner a quiet, intimate affair.

    After dinner, they had opened the cake box.

    As Xin Yao lit the candles and made a wish, then picked up her phone, ready to take a photo, a message notification popped up.

    It wasn’t an unknown number. The original owner had saved the contact.

    It was her uncle.

    The message was short and simple.

    [I’m sorry.]

    Her uncle, a simple, uneducated man, didn’t know how to read or write, let alone use a smartphone. She wondered how he had even sent the message.

    Xin Yao stared at the three words, her earlier cheerful mood fading, a wave of sadness washing over her.

    She sat down, then, after a moment’s thought, for the first time since arriving in this world, she posted a message on social media.

    The photo was of the birthday cake she had bought, its candles flickering in the soft light.

    The caption was short and simple.

    [Happy birthday, from 12 to 26. May your future be bright.]

    Since moving in with her aunt and uncle at the age of 12, the original owner had never celebrated her birthday. No one had cared, no one had remembered.

    So, when Li Xu had celebrated her birthday with her, she had been overjoyed.

    But his affection had been a lie.

    It wasn’t until she had joined Sister Wang’s company and met Chen Jia and the others that she had finally experienced a few proper birthdays.

    But she had died so young.

    If she had lived, today would have been her 26th birthday.

    But she was gone.

    So, Xin Yao had bought the cake, a silent celebration for the soul watching from the system space.

    Her wish had been similar to her message online.

    Bai Zhi, the original owner’s name.

    Pure and innocent, like a gardenia blossom. May your future be bright.

    It was Xin Yao’s first social media post since the scandal.

    Her remaining fans, the new fans who had been drawn to her story, the curious onlookers, they all flocked to her page.

    [OMG, Yaoyao posted!]

    [We missed you, Yaoyao! You’ve been through so much!]

    [How are you doing, Yaoyao?]

    [I’m a new fan! I love you!]

    [Happy birthday!]

    The notifications kept popping up, a constant stream of messages.

    Xin Yao looked at the comments, her eyes slightly sad.

    They love me, but they’re also loving you.

    See, Bai Zhi? You’re loved.

    Yaoyao hasn’t smiled in a while.

    Xu Jingyu, sitting beside her, watching as Xin Yao’s cheerful expression faded, replaced by a quiet sadness, thought.

    She’s unhappy.

    Xu Jingyu had made a silent vow to punish anyone who made Xin Yao unhappy.

    And she had.

    Li Xu, who had betrayed and hurt her, the Mo family, who had humiliated her, even the netizens who had slandered her online, she had dealt with them all.

    She wanted Xin Yao to be happy, to smile every day.

    But now…

    The person who was making Xin Yao unhappy was Xu Jingyu herself.

    Xin Yao was naturally cheerful and outgoing, her laughter infectious, her warmth a magnet for others.

    Unlike Xu Jingyu, who was quiet and reserved, Xin Yao craved freedom, loved being surrounded by people, her spirit thriving in the warmth of human connection.

    And Xu Jingyu had caged her, confined her to her apartment, isolating her from the world.

    She had clipped the wings of a free bird, keeping it captive in her gilded cage.

    And the once vibrant bird had lost its song.

    So, Yaoyao was unhappy now, wasn’t she?

    Why else would she look so sad on her birthday?

    She had promised she would never make Xin Yao unhappy.

    And yet, she was the source of her pain.

    Because she loved her too much, she had been afraid of losing her, and she had tried to keep her safe, to protect her from the world.

    But in doing so, she had dimmed her light.

    Xu Jingyu looked at Xin Yao, her own eyes slightly sad.

    “Have I hurt you too?”

    “Huh?”

    Xin Yao, still lost in thought, her heart aching for the original owner, looked up at Xu Jingyu, her confusion growing.

    Then, she realized what Xu Jingyu was thinking.

    She was about to say something, a mix of amusement and exasperation at Xu Jingyu’s misplaced guilt, when Xu Jingyu pulled her into a gentle embrace.

    “I won’t let you be unhappy.”

    So, if you’re not happy, I, your monster, will let you go.

    But only a little.

    You can’t leave me.

    After that day, they seemed to have reconciled.

    Li Xu was a distant memory, the issue of Pei Yu seemingly resolved, their relationship returning to its usual comfortable rhythm.

    And Xu Jingyu’s actions, her possessiveness and her jealousy, had inadvertently helped Xin Yao move on from the emotional intensity of the film, her thoughts now focused on her girlfriend, on how to appease her, to reassure her.

    But she was still an actress.

    And thanks to the recent scandals, her popularity had soared, endorsements and offers pouring in.

    She had to work, not just to fulfill her promise to Bai Zhi, to show her that she could succeed in this world, but also to earn enough points to stay.

    Several months had passed since the filming of “Unseen Spring” wrapped, their days filled with laughter and passion, winter giving way to spring.

    Xin Yao had accepted a major endorsement deal, requiring her to travel abroad for a fashion show.

    Unfortunately, Xu Jingyu had work commitments in China and couldn’t accompany her.

    Normally, Xu Jingyu would have cancelled everything to be with Xin Yao.

    But this time, she hadn’t.

    As if wanting to prove that she had changed, that she wouldn’t be so possessive and controlling anymore, she hadn’t insisted on going with Xin Yao.

    Xin Yao had been surprised, even checking her forehead for a fever.

    “Is this really Xu Jingyu? Are you possessed? I’ll be gone for two days! Can you handle it?”

    Xu Jingyu, smiling, had pulled her into a hug.

    “I don’t want you to be unhappy. Don’t worry. It’s just two days. I’ll be fine.”

    It was a lie.

    She wouldn’t be fine.

    On the day Xin Yao left for her trip, six hours after their separation…

    At the fashion show, Xin Yao sat perched precariously on a stool above a pool of water, watching the models strutting their stuff.

    Yes, above a pool of water.

    The fashion show was being held in a large swimming pool, the water slowly rising as the guests took their seats.

    The runway was partially submerged, the audience seated on tall stools, their legs dangling above the water, no armrests, no safety net.

    The designer, apparently, wanted to convey the theme of “water as a dangerous element.”

    Xin Yao, however, lacking in artistic appreciation, simply thought: If I move even slightly, I’ll fall into the pool! Isn’t that dangerous enough?!

    But the show itself was quite interesting, the designer’s creativity and vision evident in every garment. Xin Yao gradually became engrossed in the spectacle.

    But a minor mishap had delayed the show, making it run over an hour longer than scheduled.

    As the show neared its end, Chen Jia, her assistant, approached Xin Yao, her voice a hushed whisper.

    “Jiejie Yaoyao, Ms. Xu called.”

    Xin Yao, sitting near the edge of the pool, her feet dangling above the water, couldn’t easily leave her seat.

    She reached for her phone.

    “Just give me the phone. I’ll send her a message.”

    Chen Jia nodded and handed her the phone.

    But they had both underestimated the distance, and as they reached for each other, their hands fumbled, and the phone slipped from their grasp.

    “Splash!”

    Xin Yao’s phone, to their horror, landed in the pool.

    Back in China, at 8 pm…

    Xu Jingyu, sitting in her apartment, was making her fifteenth call to Xin Yao, each unanswered call fueling her anxiety.

    As the call went to voicemail again, her eyes darkened.

    They had agreed to talk at 7 pm, after the fashion show, and then video call later that evening, after Xin Yao returned to her hotel.

    But it was already 8 pm, and Xin Yao hadn’t answered any of her calls.

    Xu Jingyu’s mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of worry.

    Did Yaoyao not want to talk to her? Was she annoyed with her? Or had something happened?

    She wanted to call Chen Jia, Xin Yao’s assistant, but she didn’t have her number. Just as she was about to ask someone to find it for her, she heard Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing’s excited chatter from the living room.

    They were watching a popular historical drama, its plot revolving around forced love and possessive alpha males.

    Xu Jingyu, her brow furrowed, was about to tell them to leave when she heard the male lead’s booming voice.

    “I will have her!”

    “She’s mine, in life and in death! Even if I have to force her, I’ll keep her by my side, my captive bird!”

    The female lead, furious, had slapped him.

    “You beast!”

    Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing had cheered.

    “He’s such a jerk!”

    “Did they get a happy ending?”

    “I think so. She secretly loved him too.”

    Xu Jingyu, who hadn’t been able to reach Xin Yao for over an hour, was suddenly silent.

    Because she had done the same thing, keeping Xin Yao practically prisoner in her apartment.

    She had asked, her voice a soft murmur, “What if… she didn’t love him? What if he forced her to stay with him, against her will?”

    Meng Wanqing, always quick with a witty retort, had replied, “That’s even worse! She would hate him!”

    Hate.

    The word made Xu Jingyu pause, then she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, “What if… they were in love? And he wanted to change, to let her go, to give her her freedom?”

    “Would there still be hope?”

    “But what if, after giving her her freedom, he couldn’t contact her?”

    Meng Wanqing had clapped her hands together. “Then it’s obvious! She ran away! She dumped him!”

    Dumped him!

    The words, so simple yet so devastating, shattered the last vestiges of Xu Jingyu’s control, her eyes widening in panic, her body trembling, her fingers clutching her phone.

    She stood up abruptly and walked towards the door, her movements swift and determined.

    As the door slammed shut behind her, Xue Ning and Meng Wanqing exchanged glances.

    Meanwhile, Xin Yao was still busy.

    After her phone had met its watery demise, her assistant’s bag, containing her own phone, had also fallen into the pool.

    So, as the fashion show ended, Xin Yao, eager to call Xu Jingyu, had been intercepted by the designer, who, impressed by her appearance, had enthusiastically invited her to model for them.

    Unable to refuse, she had politely chatted with the designer, the conversation lasting much longer than she had anticipated.

    By the time she returned to her hotel, it was late, and after finally managing to turn on her waterlogged phone, she saw the missed calls from Xu Jingyu.

    She immediately called back, but the call went straight to voicemail.

    She frowned, calling again.

    And again.

    On the fifth attempt, as the call went to voicemail again, the doorbell rang.

    Who would be visiting her at this hour, especially in a foreign country? Was it Chen Jia?

    Without thinking, she opened the door.

    The hallway light illuminated the figure standing outside, and Xin Yao’s eyes widened in surprise, her body instinctively stepping forward.

    It was Xu Jingyu, dressed in black, a black baseball cap pulled low over her eyes.

    Her expression was impassive, her appearance seemingly calm, but her trembling fingers and her rapid breathing betrayed her anxiety.

    And as she saw Xin Yao, her eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill.

    Xin Yao, startled by her sudden appearance, her unexpected vulnerability, was about to ask what she was doing here when Xu Jingyu, stepping closer, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on Xin Yao’s face, said, “I don’t want to break up.”

    Xin Yao blinked, confused. “Huh?”

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with emotion.

    “Yaoyao, I don’t want to break up.”

    “As long as we’re together, I’ll do anything.”

    “I’ll change. I’ll fix my flaws. Even if… even if you like someone else, even if I’m just a substitute, it’s okay. Just don’t… don’t break up with me.”

    Xin Yao didn’t understand.

    Why had she suddenly flown all the way here? Why was she so distraught? What had happened?

    But she knew that this wasn’t the time for questions. What Xu Jingyu needed now was reassurance, a firm and unwavering declaration of love.

    Xin Yao stepped forward and embraced her, her face buried in Xu Jingyu’s shoulder, her voice a soft murmur.

    “Let’s get married, Xu Jingyu.”

    “I’ve only ever loved you. And I’ll never leave you.”

    “You don’t have to believe me now. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c46

    46. It’s Ghost Lord Nine!? 

     

    Of course, the matter of the Yan family wasn’t Emperor Shangguan Long’s main concern.

    So, he quickly changed the subject to what he truly wanted to discuss. “If my daughter is still alive, I will entrust her with the command of the Southern Eleven States. She will receive everything Qingyun currently has.”

    “Is that so?” Gong Yiling smiled noncommittally.

    Inwardly, however, she had already accepted this offer on Ziyuan’s behalf.

    One couldn’t become a fat cat overnight. It had to be done gradually.

    The Emperor’s words clearly indicated he was grooming Ziyuan as his heir.

    This could be considered the first stage of the system’s quest.

    As for what came next, it depended on how well Shangguan Long could set his trap.

    Back in the present, Gong Yiling didn’t know the extent of the Emperor’s preparations, but it didn’t matter.

    She held the most important trump card.

    Instead of relying on the Emperor, Miss Gong trusted herself more.

    So, while Shangguan Long oversaw the drawing of lots, Gong Yiling quietly approached one of the twin sisters, the one Qiu Shui had defeated, and pressed a dagger against her waist.

    “You…?”

    “I know what you are. No need for pretense.” Gong Yiling whispered in the puppet’s ear, “I know you’re not with the Myriad Demons Palace, but tell me, what is your purpose here?”

    The controller hadn’t anticipated this.

    But he was clearly not an ordinary person. Even now, his tone remained arrogant.

    “Who are you?” he spoke through the girl’s mouth. “Why should I tell you?”

    “If I expose this girl’s identity, you won’t have another chance to speak to me.”

    Gong Yiling said calmly, “So, think carefully before you answer. What is your purpose?”

    “You’re also from a demonic sect. We don’t interfere with each other. Why do you need to know?”

    This special technique was a rare secret among the demonic sects.

    Since she exposed it so easily, could she also be a demonic cultivator?

    “We, the Myriad Souls Hall, have our own mission.” Gong Yiling said.

    She was almost certain this person wasn’t from the Myriad Demons Palace. The relationship between the Five Demonic Abysses was terrible. They rarely cooperated, often even sabotaging each other.

    So, she decided to impersonate a member of the Myriad Demons Palace…

    —No, wait!

    That was ridiculous!

    What did she mean “impersonate”? She *was* a member of a demonic sect, just not the Myriad Demons Palace.

    “You’re from the Myriad Souls Hall?” The controller seemed surprised. “Do you have the secret code as proof?”

    “Heaven did not create my soul, eternity is like a long night.”

    It was real!

    This person also knew there were multiple demonic factions in Yanlie City, but they were also from the Five Demonic Abysses. This was interesting.

    “To ensure our mission isn’t interrupted, we must confirm your identity, even if you’re from a demonic sect.”

    Hearing this, the controller initially didn’t want to reveal his identity.

    But they had to identify themselves to each other, as fellow members of the Five Demonic Abysses.

    So, he said, “Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, Ghost Lord Nine.”

    Gong Yiling: “………”

    ???

    Wait a minute.

    Who did he just say he was?

    Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace… Ghost Lord Nine!?

    What the fuck!?

    Why would he leave his precious little apples and come to Yanlie City?

    What a coincidence!

    Of course, Miss Gong didn’t realize this wasn’t the biggest coincidence yet. There was more to come.

    “Why are you here, Ghost Lord Nine?” Gong Yiling couldn’t help but ask.

    “Why should I tell you?” Ghost Lord Nine, annoyed at having his identity exposed, retorted, “Shouldn’t you tell me your purpose first?”

    This…

    Gong Yiling’s eyes flickered, and she had a brilliant idea. “We’ve heard about the Great One Engineering Sect and the Cloud Rainbow Sect, so we infiltrated this place to assassinate their members.”

    “What!?” Ghost Lord Nine was shocked.

    Good heavens!

    Why was he here? Wasn’t it because of the Hehuan Sect leader’s orders, to eliminate anyone related to the Great One Engineering Sect and the Cloud Rainbow Sect?

    They had… the same goal as the Myriad Souls Hall?

    “You also want to target them?” Ghost Lord Nine asked for confirmation.

    This made Gong Yiling realize something.

    Was this why her reputation and affection level with her own sect had plummeted? They had even sent someone to kill her.

    This was a huge misunderstanding!

    Uncle Nine, Mom! It’s me!

    This was like friendly fire!

    Although Gong Yiling wanted to complain about this ridiculous situation, she said seriously, “It seems the Blood Orchid Palace has received the same intel as us.”

    “However, based on our assessment, the Great One Engineering Sect and the Cloud Rainbow Sect have close ties with the Heartflame Empire’s royal family.”

    Ghost Lord Nine nodded. “I’ve heard about that. It’s said that Immortal Master even cured the Grand Elder’s chronic illness.”

    “Not just that,” Gong Yiling continued, “according to our sources, they’re building connections with the Shangguan family, and some members of the royal family have already started practicing the Cloud Rainbow Sect’s techniques, as part of a deal to help them re-establish their sect.”

    “Is that so?”

    Although Ghost Lord Nine felt something was amiss, he couldn’t pinpoint it.

    And he thought…

    He was alone here with two puppets. Although he had his own information network, it couldn’t compare to the Five Demonic Abysses’ resources.

    “However, it seems Emperor Shangguan Long is unaware of this. The one involved should be his eldest son.”

    “Shangguan Qingyun.”

    What a masterful storyteller!

     

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 146

    Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Six: Blood Crystal “Farm”

    “In the future, if you encounter strangers who attack you first, you should fight back directly without asking me, understand?” Lin Jiayao gently rubbed the back of Huayibai’s head with Goldie’s tentacles and explained softly, “This is called self-defense.”

    “Um… yes…” Huayibai, in Lin Jiayao’s arms, narrowed her eyes slightly, and the giant hand of mycelium behind her pressed down sharply, then slowly dragged back, leaving only a pool of thick blood on the ground.

    Lin Jiayao didn’t care about this kind of killing, and she wasn’t interested in investigating whether these people were “good” or “evil”. She came here with her own mission and goals. Anyone who stood in her way would be regarded as an obstacle and directly eliminated.

    It wasn’t that she was cold-blooded, but because the other party had hurt Huayibai, and now Lin Jiayao regarded Huayibai as family.

    She naturally wouldn’t be soft-hearted towards those who hurt her family.

    However, just as Lin Jiayao spread the green flying insects, she saw another convoy in the distance.

    Were they together?

    “Crack—”

    Lin Jiayao’s pupils rotated, and several golden lights shot out from her eyeballs, and instantly stopped in front of the convoy.

    “Whoosh—”

    Several flying insects with a golden metallic sheen made loud, noisy, even screeching sounds and hovered in front of them, which caused panic in the convoy, the accelerator was stepped on, and the harsh sound of burning tires sounded.

    But soon, the convoy seemed to be calmed down by someone, and a woman with her hands raised high came down from the passenger seat of the leading car.

    “We have no malice, please don’t hurt us!” The blond woman said with her hands raised high, “It wasn’t us who attacked you just now, our team didn’t do anything, and we don’t know the people in the team in front!”

    This wasn’t that they wanted to be “fake teammates”, but they had to say it for self-preservation, and they really didn’t join the battle.

    Lin Jiayao, who was controlling the golden flying insects to hover in front of the convoy and had already propped up her body with tentacles, leaned over and looked at Huayibai and asked:

    “Did they hit you?”

    Before, in the training ground, in order to conquer the human-headed Hive Queen, Lin Jiayao didn’t know how many times she had controlled Goldie to die, so her control of various skills of Goldie naturally improved.

    Like the golden flying insects that she couldn’t control completely before, now Lin Jiayao could speed them up while controlling their turns and emergency stops.

    This was simply irresistible for those below B-rank who didn’t have strong blood crystal defenses. Unless they were in a tank, they would be “one-insect-headed” when they met.

    “No.” Huayibai, who was holding the tentacle next to her, raised her head and looked at Lin Jiayao, shaking her head.

    Huayibai was still very honest. If she was hit, she was hit, if she wasn’t, she wasn’t, she wouldn’t fabricate facts.

    “Yes.” Lin Jiayao nodded, and those golden flying insects vibrated their wings and flew back behind Lin Jiayao, hanging on her blonde hair and standing by, like golden headdresses.

    She did not intend to continue to waste time, because she also recognized that this team seemed to be the team that provided her with information last time. If they were sensible, they would not continue to disturb her.

    Lin Jiayao held Huayibai’s small hand with her tentacles, looked around, compared the Hive Zombie occupation map in her mind, chose an Extraction Point with the most Hive Zombies around, and was ready to let Huayibai carry her there.

    This time, the extraction time was only two hours. Lin Jiayao had to harvest as many Hive Zombie blood crystals as possible within these two hours.

    “Ch—”

    With Lin Jiayao’s instructions, the blood-red mycelium blanket under Huayibai slowly contracted and condensed into a giant cocoon, and the things inside the cocoon were quickly taking shape.

    Soon, the mycelium cocoon collapsed inward and was completely absorbed.

    And the giant insect inside the cocoon also revealed its hideous appearance.

    Lin Jiayao wriggled her tentacles, held Huayibai’s hand with her tentacles, and drilled into the empty abdomen from the open armor plates of the giant insect. Then, this black-winged giant insect, like a flapping-wing machine, vibrated its huge wings and lifted its huge body into the air.

    Those green flying insects that had been summoned tightly clung to the giant insect, adding green fluorescent bumps to the giant insect, making it look even more terrifying.

    The human team below seemed to be shouting something, but Lin Jiayao ignored it and directly let Huayibai control the flying insect and fly towards the next Hive Zombie occupation point.

    “Buzz—”

    Even inside the giant insect, she could hear the loud noise, but this “model” of flying insect was the fastest kind. In this regard, Lin Jiayao still pursued efficiency.

    This kind of flight consumed a lot of Huayibai’s energy. Fortunately, this was Wisconsin. As long as there was a way to kill Hive Zombies, there were enough blood crystals.

    Soon, Huayibai carried Lin Jiayao and arrived at the Hive Zombie occupation point closest to the Extraction Point route.

    “Buzz—”
    “Boom—”

    This time, Lin Jiayao did not carefully probe outside, but directly let Huayibai control the flying insect and crash into the center of the Hive Zombie territory.

    Such a violent noise immediately disturbed the “Hive Queen” in the territory.

    With a loud wail, countless zombies poured out from the buildings, facing the rising sun, and rushed towards Lin Jiayao.

    Now with Huayibai here, it was obvious that Lin Jiayao didn’t need to do anything about cleaning up the zombies.

    After getting Lin Jiayao’s approval, Huayibai’s original giant insect shell instantly turned into a pool of “blood”, “sprinkled” on the ground.

    These things that looked like fluid were actually wriggling mycelium. The mycelium quickly spread a layer of mycelium blanket on the ground and continued to expand outwards.

    Every time a zombie was dragged into the mycelium blanket, the zombie would be “sink” like falling into a swamp, wrapped by the mycelium blanket, becoming nutrients for the mycelium blanket to expand faster.

    “Boom—”

    Soon, this wanton sweep angered the “Hive Queen” in the territory. After it smashed through a wall blocking the alley, it rushed directly to the main road.

    It was a “Hive Queen” about the same height as Green Fatty, but unlike Green Fatty, it did not have translucent gelatinous skin and a bloated figure. On the contrary, its body was as slender as a Hunter, wrapped in a black hard shell.

    The biggest difference between it and the Hunter was that it did not have giant claws that could be used to tear open prey, nor did it have anti-joint legs that were good at running and jumping.

    The biggest difference was that its spine, like a real bee, grew a huge oval “abdomen” connected to the back of the body, and even the color scheme was similar.

    The translucent gelatinous skin wrapped the light yellow pus and the snow-white brain connected by the red blood crystal threads inside, a circle of black hive, a circle of translucent gelatinous and brain.

    It looked like it was carrying a huge oval cake with layers of cream and chocolate.

    Oh, there was also a little strawberry jam in it as a connection and embellishment.

    At the moment she saw the zombie, whether it was because of A4’s influence or something, Lin Jiayao subconsciously imagined its taste…

    “Huh…”

    Lin Jiayao took a slow breath and let herself stop thinking about these things.

    Besides, although these Hive Zombies had similar abilities, their forms were different, and they were all ugly in their own way.

    They looked very random.

    There was a feeling that since they didn’t rely on their bodies to attack, they just grew randomly.

    Fortunately, Goldie had evolved Crystal-absorbing Tentacles, and could differentiate into tentacles to store blood crystals, which looked at least not so disgusting.

    That Hive Zombie obviously had some low intelligence because it had devoured a large number of brains, probably similar to a two- or three-year-old human child.

    After rushing out and seeing the mycelium that almost covered the entire street and the surrounding buildings, it froze in a very human manner.

    Although it didn’t have any expressions, its stagnant movements clearly showed that its limited brain capacity couldn’t think about what the scene in front of it was.

    So, it simply gave up thinking and began to directly shake the huge “hive” behind it. Several layers of the hive shook out hundreds of pale golden and pale green flying insects.

    But before those shaken insects could vibrate their wings, the “Hive Queen”, along with the surrounding insects, were all covered by shadows.

    A giant net woven from mycelium fell from between the tall buildings, covering it from above as easily as paper.

    It was like magic. After the blood cloth composed of mycelium fell, it directly and gently landed without any hindrance, as if it had not touched anything, and there were no creatures inside.

    The blood cloth covering the ground turned into a new mycelium blanket and began to spread further.

    And between the mycelium blankets, some “transportation pipelines” almost as thick as an arm gradually began to form, constantly extracting energy back.

    Some flesh and blood had precipitated blood crystals in the transport pipes. These slightly glowing blood crystals were transported in the transport pipes, and the blood crystals below could even be seen through the thin skin of the transport pipes.

    And Lin Jiayao, who was located in the center of the mycelium blanket, was looking at the front where these transport pipes converged, constantly spitting out small pieces of blood crystals.

    Good guy, the efficiency was directly maxed out.

    With Lin Jiayao as a “spiritual barrier” to protect Huayibai, facing these Hive Zombies that relied on “sea of corpses” and “sea of insects” tactics was simply a one-sided slaughter.

    This was the terror of “invasive species”.

    While watching the blood crystals pile up into a small pile in front of her, Lin Jiayao gently scratched Huayibai’s chin with her tentacles.

    The feeling of watching the blood crystals continuously gather in front of her… was really stress-relieving.

    Relying on Huayibai’s extremely high efficiency, Lin Jiayao quickly harvested the zombies in this area.

    It was a pity that Huayibai’s mycelium spread and her own blood crystal capacity had a limit. Whether it was forming a line or a surface, the total amount of mycelium was basically fixed.

    When she was surrounding an area of Chongyu City before, Huayibai just used mycelium threads to surround the area, and could not form a surface covering the entire area.

    Lin Jiayao had also asked Huayibai. For her, this kind of body division was not unlimited.

    Every time she divided, it was equivalent to Huayibai giving birth to herself once, but these mycelia all shared the same consciousness. Every time she divided, the spirit of a single individual would become weaker.

    This was why Huayibai was almost controlled by the human-headed Hive Queen in the system’s training ground simulation.

    Unfortunately, Lin Jiayao did not have a way to help others increase their mental power now. If there was, she could assign a Huayibai to each of her zombies.

    It was equivalent to no matter where she went, as long as she brought nearly fifty blood crystals, she would have an absolutely obedient B-rank combat power.

    But thinking about how to improve Huayibai was for later. Lin Jiayao didn’t continue to dwell on this matter, and began to direct Huayibai to constantly change locations, eroding the Hive Queen’s territory around the Extraction Point.

    Because there was no existence like the human-headed Hive Queen, even after harvesting nearly five Hive Queen territories, Lin Jiayao only harvested about fifty blood crystals.

    Seeing that there were only 10 minutes left before extraction, Lin Jiayao could only resist the urge to continue, and let Huayibai carry her to the Extraction Point.

    Wisconsin was like a huge “farmland”, and there was still nearly half of the “land” waiting for Lin Jiayao to harvest.

    She just didn’t know if there were any other cities with unique zombie structures like Milwaukee. Maybe she could go to nearby cities to have a look. Maybe there were also Hive Queen strongholds in the cities of Wisconsin.

    She had already started to consider whether to put Hive Zombies in other uninhabited cities, let them gather zombies for a period of time, and then go up to harvest, to achieve sustainable blood crystal acquisition.

    If Lin Jiayao remembered correctly, below Milwaukee was Chicago, which was also a big city before the apocalypse. After hesitating for a while, Lin Jiayao still decided to avoid the area below.

    In densely populated cities, the probability of high-level zombies appearing was also high, and similarly, the probability of high-level Awakened appearing was also high.

    In order to avoid possible trouble, Lin Jiayao still decided to sweep the other places in Wisconsin first.

    What Lin Jiayao didn’t know was that her slightly cautious decision really helped her avoid some trouble that wasn’t big or small.

    【Extracting: 7.3】

    Carrying a large number of blood crystals harvested by Huayibai, Lin Jiayao contentedly extracted from Milwaukee.

    After slowly opening her eyes, Lin Jiayao saw Huayibai, who was also lying next to her.

    But she didn’t see her sister’s figure immediately.

    When she turned her eyes and looked next to the library, she saw her sister hanging on the vines on the roof in a strange posture.

    Her sister’s hands were grabbing the vines on the left and right sides, clenching them alternately, and supporting her body horizontally.

    From the sweat on her body, it could be seen that she seemed to have been secretly exercising for a long time.

    Seemingly noticing that her sister was awake, Lin Xiwan quickly shook her legs and pulled the vines to swing.

    After swinging for a while, it seemed that she couldn’t resist her sister’s suspicious eyes. Lin Xiwan directly let go of her hands and jumped down, and said with an embarrassed smile:

    “Ah ha ha, Yao, you’re awake, I was playing on the swing… Do you want to play?”

    Usually, her sister would sleep for at least three hours. Lin Xiwan didn’t expect her to wake up so early this time. Just when she was about to end her exercise and erase the traces, she was caught red-handed.

    Looking at her sister who was already squatting in front of her, with dodging eyes and looking a little aggrieved, Lin Jiayao couldn’t bear to say anything more, but just sighed softly.

    “I just don’t want you to overwork yourself…” Lin Jiayao said, not disliking the sweat on her sister’s face, and reached out to wipe the sweat from her sister’s forehead.

    “If I don’t work hard… how can I stand in front of you and protect you with confidence?” Lin Xiwan grabbed her sister’s hand and kissed it gently, “Don’t worry, Yao, I know my body.”

    Just as Lin Jiayao was about to say something, she suddenly looked at Huayibai’s position.

    At this time, Huayibai, who was lying down, had opened her eyes at some point, and was staring at her.

    Without Huayibai’s reminder, just by using the green flying insects distributed at the border, Lin Jiayao also noticed.

    The first batch of people from Qingzhou University Camp who took off were about to land.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 337

    Chapter 337:

    Even though the angel Seraph felt humiliated, she had to admit that if she acted rashly and became enemies with Jormungandr now, the only possible outcome would be death. But at this moment, she was extremely confused. Facing “death,” no angel in the past would be afraid, especially Seraph. Instead, they considered it the best ending to fight for the “Lord,” bringing great glory to Valhalla. But now, Seraph was afraid of death, and she couldn’t tell why. Was it because the “Lord” hadn’t returned yet, and dying for no reason was inglorious? Or was it simpler and purer, just the fear of being separated from Adele?

    Seraph was in a daze. Suddenly, one of her tail feathers turned completely black. The prelude to her fall had begun. Just because in the face of a powerful enemy, at this moment of life and death, Seraph, because of the girl, chose to live.

    Jormungandr suddenly raised her eyebrows. She looked at the petite Seraph, but her gaze clearly saw the phantom behind her, a monster with countless eyes and six wings. That was Seraph’s true form. She saw the feather in Seraph’s phantom body that had turned black because of her fall and smiled contemptuously.

    “Interesting.” The next moment, she vanished before Seraph’s eyes. Jormungandr teleported to the last escape room Adele entered, the place where the final chapter of the vampire and vampire hunter story unfolded.

    “Linlang! I’m here to save you!” The final chapter took place in an escape room designed as an execution ground. The vampire hunter Adele arrived, holding a silver Desert Eagle. There was no need to explore any new plot at this point.

    Tang Linlang was tied to a chair, blindfolded, and looked nervous. This meant that she had received the bad ending in the escape room she experienced alone, being captured by vampire hunters as a vampire and brought here. Hearing Adele’s shout, she replied, “Adele! I’m okay!”

    Tang Linlang was certainly okay, but the “Tang Linlang” in the story was in trouble. If Adele failed this level, the “vampire” in the story would be executed. To save her, Adele needed to solve a series of puzzles in the room within a short time to obtain the fragments of the key that unlocked Tang Linlang’s shackles. Finally, by piecing them together, she could unlock the shackles binding the girl and win the game, achieving the first ending.

    “Linlang, we finally escaped from there.”

    “We’re free.” If the challenge failed, Linlang would be hit by a mithril alchemical bullet the moment the countdown ended, signifying the failure of the escape room and the end of the game. This was undoubtedly a bad ending, an ending Adele absolutely didn’t want.

    So she sped up her puzzle-solving process. There were three puzzles in total: Sudoku, a Chinese Rings puzzle, and a Go life-and-death problem. Solving each one would reward her with a key fragment, and then she could get the complete key from the NPC guarding Tang Linlang.

    But, who the hell knows how to do these! Although the rules were written on the side, if someone without experience tried them, they would be driven by nervousness and unable to calmly solve the puzzles within the limited time. Adele was the same, but she tried her best to calm down, even using magic.

    There were only ten minutes. Adele spent three minutes solving the Sudoku and another four minutes solving the Chinese Rings. As for the Go life-and-death problem, can’t it be Gomoku instead!? Adele didn’t know how to play Go. Just reading the rules took her more than a minute. It was too much to ask her to solve the problem in the remaining two minutes.

    So the girl could only hear the ticking of the clock. At the last second, the moment the alchemical bullet was about to be fired and hit Tang Linlang, Adele threw the problem aside.

    Screw it! I’m not doing this anymore!

    Under everyone’s surprised gazes, Adele rushed towards Tang Linlang and, ignoring the NPC’s attempts to stop her, shielded Tang Linlang with her own body. The bullet was fired automatically. The paintball exploded on Adele’s stomach.

    “Ugh…” It actually hurt a little. For Adele, who was afraid of pain, this wasn’t a pleasant experience. And according to the game rules, this was equivalent to Adele dying for Tang Linlang. It was unknown if there was such an ending, or if Adele had created a non-existent third ending. But in any case, if the vampire hunter died and only the vampire Tang Linlang survived, it would still be a tragic story. It was just that in the story, someone was willing to sacrifice for love, making the tragedy touching.

    Jormungandr, hidden in the shadows, saw this scene, and for some reason, tears welled up in her eyes.

    Adele, now completely immersed in her role, pretended to be fatally wounded by the bullet and fell into Tang Linlang’s arms. Tang Linlang’s tears instantly flowed. She easily broke free from the rope that was supposed to “bind” her and hugged Adele tightly.

    “Silly, why are you crying…” Adele trembled and raised her hand. Even though her life was about to end, she still used all her strength to force a smile, comforting the one who would soon be alone in the human world. Sometimes, the living suffered more than the dead. If possible, they would rather die in the dead’s place.

    “You look beautiful even when you cry, Linlang, but I still prefer to see you smile.”

    “I’m sorry, I promised to be with you forever…but I couldn’t keep my promise.”

    “If only there was a next life.”

    “In the next life, I’ll be the vampire, and you’ll be the vampire hunter.”

    “I’m very clumsy, you’ll easily catch me.”

    “At that time, let’s escape to a place where no one can find us and spend the rest of our lives together…” After these words, Adele’s eyes flickered with a bright light, as if she saw that happy scene. Then, the light went out. The girl’s hand, caressing Tang Linlang, fell limply. Adele closed her eyes, her head tilting to the side, and met her end in Tang Linlang’s arms. But her expression was peaceful, a faint smile on her lips. Perhaps because dying in her lover’s arms was also a happy ending for her.

    “N-No!” Tang Linlang cried out with all her might, tears streaming down her face. A world without Adele was so cold and lonely. Linlang could have endured this loneliness until she met the light. Is this the fate of a vampire…? Tang Linlang vaguely understood the sorrow of being a vampire, possessing a long lifespan, but only able to watch her loved ones leave her side one after another, unable to stop it.

    But perhaps the cruel reality couldn’t be changed. A fictional story, however, had a chance for a happy ending. Tang Linlang suddenly remembered the information she received from the martyred saint on the cross. He told her that a vampire had one chance to resurrect. But perhaps no one would have thought that Tang Linlang would be willing to give this chance to the vampire hunter Adele before her.

    Tears falling, the girl used all her strength and softly uttered, “Don’t die.” If someone was willing to exchange a quarter of their life for this power, then Tang Linlang was willing to exchange her entire lifespan for it to happen once.

    This was the third ending created by Adele and Tang Linlang together. Adele took the bullet for Tang Linlang, and Tang Linlang used the “one-time immortality” power to resurrect Adele. The two gained hope from despair, welcoming a grand happy ending together!

    At this moment, all the staff members came out, applauding and expressing their deep respect for the two. According to them, such an ending only existed in theory before. There had been almost a hundred couples who had experienced this escape room, and the best they achieved was either the first ending, solving the three puzzles and unlocking the lock with the key, or the second tragic ending.

    But actually, the tragic ending was also a good ending, because Tang Linlang had the power of one-time immortality. So even if she was hit by the bullet, it wasn’t considered a loss. She could be resurrected and leave with her lover, equivalent to the first good ending. This was actually a clever trick by the designers. Making the participants think they had failed and feel dejected, then pulling this off. After all, the purpose of an escape room was to make customers happy. There was no reason to make them leave disappointed.

    Hearing this, Adele and Tang Linlang blushed, but their hands held each other even tighter. Adele playfully asked, “Since we achieved an ending that no one has ever achieved before, can we get a reward~?”

    “Of course there’s a reward.” After all, it was the customer’s request, and the owner of this place was very good at business. And so, Adele got a cute vampire doll for free. Except for the white hair, which was different from Adele, the other features, like the pink eyes and the slightly cunning expression, were quite similar to Adele. But Adele actually wanted that silver Desert Eagle. Because it was really cool, meow! However, this doll seemed to be quite to Linlang’s liking, so Adele gave it to her.

    After the escape room, both Adele and Tang Linlang were starving after the mental and physical exertion. But they didn’t plan to eat at a restaurant outside. Instead, they returned to where Tang Linlang’s driver was waiting. The two girls got into the car and headed towards Linlang’s home.

    “Then I’ll look forward to Linlang’s cooking!”

    “And of course, also looking forward to Linlang’s…taste~”. Adele’s words had a double meaning.

    Tang Linlang blushed and looked out the window. After a while, she softly replied, “…Mm.”

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 225p2

    Chapter 225: Sorrowful Saintess is Lian Xing’s Wife? p2

    Sea Soul World Divine Ruins, Water Soul World.

    During the forced teleportation, Lian Xing sensed something amiss. She tried to speak, but it was too late.

    The moment she arrived in the Water Soul World, her entire lineup was blocked.

    An overwhelming pressure enveloped her, forcing all her Pet Beasts into a temporary slumber.

    Even the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s resistance was futile.

    Then…

    Lian Xing’s consciousness entered a long wait.

    She lost track of time, perhaps four or five days.

    Though her life signs were stagnant, she vaguely felt her thoughts freezing, unable to break free.

    Finally, after a week, she regained sensation.

    It was cold…

    As if her entire body was frozen solid.

    With great effort, she opened her eyes, finding herself encased in an ice coffin.

    What was going on…?

    Outside the coffin, within a dark, cold cave, a beautiful woman with blue, mermaid-like twin tails and eight teardrops on her cheeks smiled at her, her eyes like those of someone examining a new toy.

    Sorrowful Saintess had spent a week traveling from the Ice Soul World back to the Water Soul World, capturing Lian Xing upon her arrival.

    Under the Sea Soul World’s system corruption, Lian Xing couldn’t even sense her Pet Beasts, let alone resist.

    She felt like an ordinary person, no longer a Beast Tamer…

    Was this the system suppression of a different True Spirit World…?

    Lian Xing shivered, feeling utterly helpless.

    Seconds later, the ice coffin began to melt.

    Lian Xing, like melting butter, collapsed onto the ground, soaked and disheveled, her pale skin tinged with an unhealthy white from the cold.

    In this weakened state, even a High-Tier Pet Beast could impregnate her seven or eight times over, let alone Monarch or Emperor-Tier enemies.

    The blue-haired, teardrop-eyed woman crouched before the helpless, golden-haired beauty, cupping her own face in her hands and gazing curiously into Lian Xing’s starry eyes.

    Then, her first words sent a chill down Lian Xing’s spine.

    “What’s the difference between the physical structure of a Moon Soul World being and ours?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “M-M-Moon Soul World? What’s that? I don’t know!!!” Lian Xing’s eyes widened, feigning confusion and innocence.

    Inwardly, she cursed the Twelve Moons.

    How could they send her to the Sea Soul World to die?

    Why did even a Beast Tamer from a subordinate Soul World know her identity? She was doomed…

    She wouldn’t mind dying in battle, but she couldn’t even summon her Pet Beasts now. To be tortured and killed like this would be too unjust!

    “I am the Sorrowful Saintess of the Water Soul World, Gong Lian Yue. And how should I address this little beauty from the Moon Soul World?”

    “Your Sorrowful Saintess-ness, you misunderstand. I’m not a Beast Tamer from the Moon Soul World. I stumbled here from the Rain Soul World. I encountered powerful enemies, and my Pet Beasts were all killed. They’re still in their resurrection cooldown period.”

    Lian Xing lied effortlessly, her fabrication skills honed to perfection. Her words, without a shred of hesitation, sounded incredibly genuine.

    However…

    Sorrowful Saintess waved her hand, and pure blue water Pet Essence formed an image of Lian Xing crossing the finish line in the first round of the Lunar Divine Festival.

    Lian Xing’s face turned ashen.

    Why could a Beast Tamer from the Water Soul World see images from the Moon Soul World!?

    She would haunt the Twelve Moons for selling her out like this!

    Sorrowful Saintess chuckled.

    “Now, let me think… how should I torment you~~~”

    “Your Pet Essence is billions of times denser than a normal person’s. How interesting. It seems anyone who touches you would make your mind and body a mess~~~”

    “Could it be… you’re the type anyone can have?”

    “I’m not…!!!”

    “I’m a married woman, experienced in battle. Such things don’t affect me.”

    Lian Xing continued to feign resistance.

    Sorrowful Saintess pressed a soft, fleshy mermaid tail against Lian Xing’s abdomen, gently squeezing.

    The golden-haired girl shuddered as if electrocuted, her breathing ragged, her face flushed, her eyes unfocused, and her breath hot.

    This was something only a Married Pet Beast could do…

    Lian Xing lowered her head, feeling utterly humiliated.

    Seeing her reaction, Sorrowful Saintess laughed, a classic villain’s cackle. Usually, she was the one being ravaged by her Married Pet Beast. Finding a toy she could bully was like discovering a precious treasure.

    She wouldn’t let this woman go easily.

    “Still resisting?”

    “N-No… I give up…” Lian Xing whimpered.

    She was utterly helpless.

    With her abdomen being pressed, she was like a Saiyan grabbed by the tail, a Devil Fruit user encountering Seastone, a Jinchuriki stripped of their tailed beast, an Ultraman without light – utterly hopeless.

    If she weren’t a Shining Species Beast Tamer, she wouldn’t be so spineless.

    “Anyway, tell me about the Moon Soul World. Your punishment depends on your honesty~~~”

    “By the way, there are ten levels of punishment for lying. The first is a billion vibrations per second, the second is a baptism of your Pet Essence with holy water, the third is…”

    “The sixth is… oh right, since you already lied, we’ll start with the fifth level.”

    Sorrowful Saintess, Gong Lian Yue, stopped mid-sentence.

    Her teardrop eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she stared at the golden-bunned girl.

    Those who understood, understood…

    Wait…

    Just verbal threats were enough to reduce her to this state? How pathetic!!!

    This… this was too much fun!!!!

    Sorrowful Saintess excitedly swished her fleshy mermaid tails, splashing water as she said with a sweet smile, “Alright, start from your birth. We have three weeks. I’ll take good care of you~~~”

    “…”

    “…”

    It took Lian Xing several minutes to recover.

    Her starry eyes, unfocused, had lost all hope. She said listlessly, “I was born in a small village in the Moon Soul World…”

    “Good, another lie. Sixth level punishment~~~” Sorrowful Saintess interrupted without hesitation.

    “Why!?” Lian Xing protested weakly.

    “Let’s start with how you transmigrated to the Moon Soul World~~~”

    Lian Xing fell silent.

    She felt like this woman had seen through all her secrets.

    Strange…

    This woman’s strength and realm were undetectable, yet she exuded an unfathomable aura.

    Lian Xing had truly messed up this time…

    Resigned to her fate, she abandoned all hope of escape and began recounting her story.

    Wearing white stockings at five, watching adult videos at six, starting a harem at seven… she glossed over these embarrassing details, focusing on the Beast Taming Evolution Duel online game.

    Sorrowful Saintess listened intently, her eyes occasionally gleaming with intrigue.

    As a fellow transmigrator from a shattered world, she was familiar with computers and online games, knowing Lian Xing had no reason to lie about this.

    However…

    Just as Lian Xing reached the exciting part of her story, where she dominated the first game league with a single Moonlight Rabbit, their conversation was interrupted by a cold aura.

    A snow woman in pure white mourning clothes entered the cave.

    Lian Xing instantly recognized her as the one who had encased her in ice for a week.

    This snow woman was strangely powerful…

    Though seemingly just a Monarch-Tier Elemental, she possessed energy purer than a Myriad-Level Emperor, carefully concealed, leaking only a fraction of her true aura.

    The Snow Monarch, leader of the Supreme Seven Concubines of the Water Soul World…

    Lian Xing sensed the snow woman’s status and prestige in this world.

    However, Sorrowful Saintess’s expression was even more rigid than Lian Xing’s.

    “Honey, why are you here?”

    “Didn’t I say I’d be finished soon…?”

    [Returning after over a decade without even seeing your own daughters.]

    [Your body carries the marks of so many Cloud Soul World Pet Beasts.]

    [How many wild delicacies have you enjoyed in these past years?]

    The Snow Monarch’s voice was icy.

    Sorrowful Saintess began to sweat, stammering excuses.

    “No, honey, listen to me. I just returned from the Cloud Soul World, and…”

    [Kneel.]

    [Strip.]

    “Thud!”

    As a deep-seated fear overwhelmed her, the previously imposing Sorrowful Saintess collapsed to her knees, her face pale and her body trembling, obediently removing her bathrobe.

    Lian Xing nearly choked on her own saliva.

    This Gong Lian Yue had just been gloating over her, and now her true colors were revealed.

    Another unfortunate soul controlled by her Married Pet Beast…

    However…

    Facing her impending doom and seeing the captive golden-haired woman’s amusement, Sorrowful Saintess was displeased.

    Even if she were to die, she would drag this mocking woman down with her.

    She summoned a group of water-type Pet Beasts.

    “Eternal Holy Water, Unforgettable Autumn Water, Ice-Forged Ten Severing, Frozen Stone Flow Slaughter, Sea Breath Cradle, Water Marsh Nether Ring, Extreme Cold Domain, Nine Waterfalls Plunging Abyss, Cold Star Sinking Iron, Nether Winter Snow Soul, please attend to this beauty~~~”

    Droplets and dewdrops, exuding auras similar to the seventy-two Legends, materialized in the air.

    Hmm?

    Reincarnated bodies…?

    This Sorrowful Saintess had too many Pet Beasts!

    And they were all incredibly rare support types!!!

    Before Lian Xing could react, the ten water-formed Pet Beasts surged into her skin.

    Billions of Pet Essence particles within Lian Xing were engulfed by flowing water, various currents coursing through her blood and flesh.

    This peculiar sensation was beyond words.

    In short, those who understood, understood.

    [One hundred million words omitted here.]

    —

    While Lian Xing suffered, Sorrowful Saintess wasn’t faring much better.

    The Snow Monarch, ignoring the insignificant prisoner from the Moon Soul World, began fulfilling her duties as a Married Pet Beast in public.

    Seeing Sorrowful Saintess’s agony, Lian Xing felt slightly better.

    Heh, who was she to talk about high Pet Essence density?

    This 100% water elemental had no right to judge.

    However…

    Amidst her suffering, Lian Xing discovered that the ten holy waters were helping her adapt to the Sea Soul World’s system corruption.

    Though she still couldn’t summon her Pet Beasts, the Eleventh Zodiac’s True Spirit aura within her was being cleansed, gradually restoring her lifespan.

    She stopped struggling, enduring the purifying pain.

    The sacred water flowed through her Pet Essence, cleansing all impurities, even clarifying her thoughts.

    Then, before the Snow Monarch finished, more Pet Beasts arrived, seemingly Sorrowful Saintess’s past lovers.

    Supreme Seven Concubines, Dark Night Concubine.

    Supreme Seven Concubines, Peach Love Concubine.

    Supreme Seven Concubines, Ice Antelope Grand Concubine.

    Even without prior knowledge, Lian Xing instinctively recognized their titles.

    She also discovered a secret: these Supreme Seven Concubines, while terrifyingly strong among Monarch-Tier, were still within that realm.

    Only the Snow Monarch was different…

    This snow woman wasn’t Monarch-Tier at all. Even a fraction of her aura was on par with the other Supreme Seven Concubines.

    Lian Xing had initially assumed all the Supreme Seven Concubines were this powerful, but it turned out only the Snow Monarch was special.

    Lian Xing suspected she was on par with the six Guardians of the Moon Soul World.

    While Sorrowful Saintess was occupied with her amorous reunions, Lian Xing, having regained some clarity amidst the ten holy waters, focused her attention on the entire Water Soul World.

    As expected, she discovered another being as powerful as the Snow Monarch.

    And it was another Moonlight Rabbit…

    Supreme Seven Concubines, White Moon Monarch.

    This was the Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit she had seen during her invasion, a counterpart to her Ancient Moonlight Rabbit.

    So that was why she had failed so miserably! Two inhumanly powerful beings were hidden here!

    Though Lian Xing could sense the flow of Pet Essence again, she felt troubled.

    The Water Soul World hid two top Guardian-level combatants.

    Even if she accumulated her Pet Essence until the last day, unleashed her full power, and summoned the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit, victory wasn’t guaranteed.

    Though she wanted to repay Sorrowful Saintess for the holy water, she rationally decided against a desperate gamble, maintaining her harmless, weakened facade.

    Ten peaceful days passed. Then, without warning, something happened.

    While Sorrowful Saintess was being “interrogated” by her former lovers, a Pet Beast emerged from her body.

    Lian Xing froze upon seeing this familiar figure.

    It was a beautiful deer woman with snow-white hair and icy antlers. Her mature figure and appearance reminded Lian Xing of her wife, Moonwalker, whom she might never see again.

    A wave of emotion washed over her.

    However…

    The cave fell silent as the white-haired deer woman appeared.

    The four concubines stopped their “reunion” with Sorrowful Saintess.

    In the ensuing silence, Sorrowful Saintess looked up, asking in bewilderment, “Cold Deer King, why are you here!?”

    This deer-shaped Pet Beast was the most unique in Sorrowful Saintess’s lineup.

    Like the reincarnation trait of the seventy-two Legends of the Moon Soul World, she was reborn after each death, resulting in three distinct personalities sharing her consciousness.

    The first was Sorrowful Saintess’s primary wife, a petite, innocent deer girl, White Flower Moon-Treading Deer’s third incarnation.

    The second was a gentle, accommodating woman, the former Supreme Seven Concubines’ Illusion Sea Concubine, discovered by Sorrowful Saintess during her travels in the Cloud Soul World, who never refused any of Sorrowful Saintess’s requests or peculiar desires.

    However, the personality that had appeared now was White Flower Moon-Treading Deer’s first incarnation, the Cold Deer King from tens of thousands of years ago, a terrifyingly domineering and violent being.

    Lian Xing sensed an aura similar to a Fallen Species from this Pet Beast.

    If not for the Water Soul World’s Divine Ruins suppression, she would likely have become a Fallen Species!!!

    Strangely, Lian Xing noticed Sorrowful Saintess seemed unfamiliar with this Pet Beast.

    During Sorrowful Saintess’s time in the Cloud Soul World, the Cold Deer King personality had appeared once, instantly killing a Mythical-Tier Pet Beast that had nearly killed her other Pet Beasts, then forcing herself upon Sorrowful Saintess.

    Their relationship consisted of that single encounter, so their interactions were somewhat awkward.

    Sorrowful Saintess hadn’t expected the Cold Deer King to appear now.

    Had returning to the Water Soul World triggered something within her?

    However…

    The white-haired, antlered woman turned to the golden-bunned girl cowering in the corner, still being “baptized” by the ten holy waters.

    “Are you from the Moon Soul World?”

    “Yes…” Lian Xing nodded obediently, her body weak and powerless.

    She had no resistance to the three-meter-long icy antlers, as if Moonwalker herself stood before her.

    If she angered this Pet Beast, she might not die, but she would be crippled.

    “Do you know the Fourth Guardian of the Moon Soul World, Moonwalker?”

    “Moonwalker is the Third Guardian…”

    “Hmm, it seems you do know. I was just testing you.”

    The Cold Deer King seemed satisfied with Lian Xing’s answer.

    Then, she asked, “Have you heard… if that Moonwalker has any descendants?”

    “Uh, I think she has one…”

    “I don’t know Moonwalker personally. I just heard rumors. I’m not sure.”

    “Little one, I’ll give you another chance.”

    “Forgive me, Moonwalker is my external Married Pet Beast, and Little Moonwalker is my goddaughter.”

    Under the Cold Deer King’s fierce glare, Lian Xing confessed everything.

    She had intended to gauge the deer woman’s intentions, but her physical weakness betrayed her courage. She knew her limits.

    After confessing, Lian Xing closed her eyes, bracing for the consequences.

    However…

    The Cold Deer King remained silent for a long while.

    Several minutes later, she turned to Sorrowful Saintess with a complex expression, opening and closing her mouth, hesitant to speak.

    Finally, after another agonizing silence, she said, “Release her…”

    “Huh? Why!?”

    “This woman is your wife’s past life’s past life’s past life’s wife’s wife. In Pet Beast terms – she is your wife.”

    “…”

    “…”

    Sorrowful Saintess: ?

    Lian Xing: ???

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 302

    Chapter 302: Airi, You Wouldn’t Want Me to Crush Jie Luo’s Soul Fragment, Would You?

    A deadly sneak attack.

    Throat and heart.

    The twins’ attack was swift and merciless, leaving no time to react.

    Airi smiled, anticipating the sight of Athena’s blood splattering across the snow. But a yellowish light suddenly enveloped Athena.

    Screech…

    The sharp daggers met resistance, a sound like scraping metal, sparks flying.

    Rock Armor!

    An earth-based defensive spell had materialized at the last moment, blocking the daggers.

    Beautiful. As expected of Athena.

    Qin Chu, hidden in the trees, praised her silently.

    Her timing had been perfect. A fraction of a second later, and the daggers would have pierced her throat.

    Rogues were a mage’s natural enemy.

    Mages possessed immense destructive power, especially in large-scale battles, acting as mobile artillery, raining down spells upon their enemies.

    But their offensive power was offset by their physical frailty.

    A rogue’s sneak attack or an archer’s arrow could easily prove fatal, especially a coordinated attack by two rogues of equal strength.

    However, despite blocking the attack, Athena’s situation was still precarious.

    And Qin Chu had no intention of intervening.

    The force of the impact sent the twins stumbling back. They quickly regained their footing, flanking Athena, their faces grim.

    They hadn’t expected her to react so quickly… it could only mean one thing: she had been anticipating their attack.

    What a treacherous bitch.

    Not even trusting her own comrades.

    Airi cursed inwardly, oblivious to her own hypocrisy.

    After all, in her self-centered mind, her actions were always justified, while any action that inconvenienced her was wrong.

    Athena frowned, glancing at the two small figures.

    Airi clapped her hands lightly: “Impressive, Athena. You actually dodged that.”

    “You knew we were going to attack?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    She was annoyed. She had thought she had hidden her intentions well.

    “I contacted Sylph earlier…” Athena said calmly. “She said you two were planning to use Lomond to eliminate her… I didn’t believe you would betray a comrade… but it seems a little caution was warranted.”

    Tsk!

    Airi clicked her tongue. That damned Sylph.

    Such a blabbermouth. I’ll cut her tongue out when I get back.

    Athena asked: “Why?”

    “Why what?” Airi tilted her head, feigning confusion, circling Athena slowly, as if taking a stroll. Suddenly, she clapped her hands cutely: “Oh, you mean attacking you? Why wouldn’t we? Don’t you think there are too many girls around Jie Luo?”

    “I don’t want him to be surrounded by so many girls when he’s resurrected… just me… and maybe sister, is enough.”

    “Shameless, big-breasted woman like you, using your body to seduce him… you don’t deserve to be near him!”

    Airi glared at Athena’s figure. Tch, what’s so great about big breasts? It’s just more fat.

    “Athena, you don’t think you can fight both of us, do you?”

    “If you hand over Jie Luo’s soul fragment, I might let you die quickly.”

    Athena’s lips twitched: “Do you think that’s possible?”

    The twins didn’t notice the faint green mist slowly spreading across the ground.

    The power of Plague!

    While Athena wasn’t eager to use this sinister power, she had to admit it was effective.

    Especially in this situation. The plague spread silently, undetectable even to skilled rogues.

    She was stalling, waiting for the plague to spread, to weaken the twins.

    Eileen sighed: “It seems negotiations have failed.”

    As her voice faded, she vanished.

    Airi smiled, continuing to circle Athena, seemingly relaxed, but her movements kept Athena’s attention divided, preventing her from sensing Eileen’s hidden presence.

    Eileen, lurking in the shadows, could strike at any moment.

    The uncertainty made Athena’s skin crawl… one in the open, one hidden, she was forced to divide her attention, constantly on guard.

    The twins’ coordination was perfect. They used their advantage effectively, applying psychological pressure even without attacking.

    Athena’s hand, gripping her staff, was slick with sweat.

    The pressure intensified with each passing second. The tense atmosphere was more terrifying than actual combat.

    Normally, she wouldn’t fear the twins. While she might not be able to defeat them, she could escape. But her mental strength was depleted from probing the soul fragment, a sharp pain occasionally piercing her head. She hadn’t had time to recover.

    She couldn’t hold out much longer.

    Qin Chu, hidden in the trees, watched with curiosity, wondering how Athena would escape this predicament.

    She wasn’t one to accept defeat easily.

    “Aren’t you going to help? She might actually die. You’ll lose a useful tool…” Shaye asked, perched on his shoulder.

    Qin Chu shrugged: “Don’t worry, she won’t die…”

    He glanced at Ireta: “With the Acting Death God here, even if she dies, opening a backdoor shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

    Ireta rolled her eyes. Was her authority over death meant for opening backdoors?

    Suddenly, Athena took a deep breath, her left hand opening to reveal the soul fragment.

    Huh? Is she surrendering?

    Qin Chu frowned. This wasn’t like her.

    The twins’ gazes were drawn to the fragment, even Eileen emerging from the shadows.

    Their eyes gleamed with excitement.

    “Athena, you’re smarter than I thought. Should have done this earlier.”

    Airi’s voice was slightly breathless: “Give me Jie Luo’s soul fragment. I’ll give you a quick death. You won’t feel a thing…”

    Liar…

    She would torture any woman with a better figure than her own. Killing them quickly would be a waste.

    But to their surprise, Athena smiled coldly, the soul fragment rolling between her fingers: “Give it to you? In your dreams.”

    Huh?

    Airi didn’t understand.

    If she wasn’t giving it to them, why show it?

    Athena took a deep breath:

    “Airi… you wouldn’t want me to crush Jie Luo’s soul fragment, would you?”

    Qin Chu almost choked, suppressing a laugh. Fortunately, the three women were too focused to notice.

    He had anticipated several possible escape routes for Athena, but he hadn’t expected this.

    You’ve fallen.

    Athena, you’ve fallen.

    You weren’t like this before. Who taught you this?

    He lamented her descent into depravity.

    The twins were stunned, their movements freezing, their eyes wide with disbelief.

    “Athena, what are you talking about? If you crush the soul fragment, then Jie Luo…”

    “I’m about to die. What do I care?” Athena interrupted coldly. She didn’t add that one fragment had already been destroyed, making Jie Luo’s resurrection impossible regardless.

    Airi’s lips trembled, her innocent smile faltering: “Haha, no, Athena, you wouldn’t do that…”

    “Want to bet?” Athena raised an eyebrow.

    She tightened her grip on the fragment.

    The twins frowned, their eyes filled with anger and resentment. After a long moment, they retreated, vanishing into the forest.

    The soul fragment’s integrity was crucial for Jie Luo’s resurrection. They couldn’t risk it.

    Even after they were gone, Athena remained tense, her grip on the soul fragment tight.

    After a long while, she finally started walking, her senses alert, ready to react if the twins reappeared.

    But after only a few steps, a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She looked down to see a deep gash, her tights and the skin beneath sliced open.

    A thin metal wire was embedded in the ground.

    Just as Athena had subtly released the plague, Airi, while seemingly strolling around her, had been setting traps.

    Her ankle nearly severed, Athena’s face paled.

    Then, another wire sprang from the ground, snatching the soul fragment from her hand.

    Athena, you’re still too inexperienced.

    Qin Chu smirked inwardly. If it were him, he wouldn’t have given them a chance…

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c30

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 30 Shadow, Lin Qingying

    The familiar venomous tongue, the same tone as in his memory, even after hundreds of years, Hamid hadn’t forgotten.

    It was unforgettable.

    “You’ve come.”

    Hamid didn’t turn around, just said softly.

    This woman had brought him the most painful defeat of his life, a defeat that Hamid still couldn’t let go of even after betraying humanity and embracing the Gods.

    “Lin Qingying, or… Shadow.”

    Lin Qingying, the current Eleventh Saint, due to the nature of her ability, had completely inherited the legacy of the previous Saint “Shadow,” and also inherited the name “Shadow.”

    “Yo, you still remember. It’s been so long since anyone called me by my name, even I almost forgot.”

    Shadow shrugged. Her impression of Hamid was no less profound than his impression of her, after all, Hamid had almost killed all her classmates.

    As for resentment… it couldn’t be said to be that. Shadow had already passed the age of hatred. Time hadn’t left any marks on her appearance, but it had brought the most profound change to her.

    Now, to Shadow, Hamid was just a cultist, an enemy of humanity and civilization, nothing more.

    Hamid sighed. He had anticipated that Noah might send a Saint, but he hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly.

    Even the Church of the End Gods didn’t know about the existence of Shadow Guards. They could only vaguely guess that there were informants from the Noah Holy Church in Lannister, but they didn’t expect an entire ancient noble family of Noah to be her informants.

    Hamid slowly turned around, only to see a dark figure, and couldn’t help but chuckle self-deprecatingly,

    “So it’s a shadow avatar, no wonder you could arrive in Lannister in just a few hours…”

    In their planned scheme, no matter how fast Noah acted, it would take at least half a day for a Saint to arrive in Lannister.

    Not to mention that most Saints were currently slumbering, and mobilizing a Saint required extra caution, they couldn’t use the large-scale Teleportation Array.

    Moreover, Hamid had also controlled the severity of the situation, making it difficult for Noah to decide whether it was worth mobilizing a Saint.

    Obtaining the oracle during this period of delay, and then destroying Lannister, was the Church of the End Gods’ plan.

    Unexpectedly… this carefully arranged plan was completely ruined by Lin Qingying’s appearance.

    “However, Lin Qingying, you’re still as arrogant as ever, just a mere shadow avatar… is no match for me.” Hamid said indifferently. “Errants who are completely ignorant of the truth, ignorance has blinded you.

    “If you had seen the truth, you would make the same choice as me, everything is to save the world.”

    “You old man are so nagging, just as long-winded as you were back then.” Shadow crossed her arms. Her expression couldn’t be seen in the darkness, but a hint of disdain was evident. “The so-called truth, isn’t it just the false starry sky and the secrets behind it? It’s not like I haven’t seen it.”

    Hearing this, Hamid was truly stunned. He widened his eyes and said tremblingly,

    “You, you’ve seen it too?”

    “Every Saint has seen it; this was an arrangement left by the Saint herself.” Shadow sneered and twirled a strand of hair between her fingers boredly. “You cultists, thinking yourselves the only ones awakened in the world, are so immersed in the Malice of All Worlds and the lies you’ve fabricated that you can’t extricate yourselves.

    “Shouting about destroying civilization to save the world every day, do you think you’re great? Wrong, completely wrong. You, like the Malice of All Worlds, are just escaping.”

    “No, impossible!” Hamid almost screamed, nearly losing his mind. “After seeing the truth, how can you be so indifferent! Why do you still choose to go against the Gods!”

    After seeing the truth hidden within the false starry sky, Hamid had always believed this: everyone who saw the truth would be like him, making the most correct choice.

    This belief had lasted for hundreds of years and had become like an absolute truth to him.

    But Luo Yan was the first exception. After seeing the Gods, she didn’t choose to side with them, and even brought the news that broke Hamid’s defenses: the God of Hope (Witch of Envy) was dead.

    Under multiple blows, Hamid was on the verge of madness, although in the eyes of the world, he had been mad for hundreds of years.

    Cecilia, looking at the suddenly unfamiliar Grandpa Bishop, felt distressed and afraid. She wanted to approach him, but was stopped by Luo Yan.

    Luo Yan shook her head slightly at Cecilia, then steadily retreated, preparing to leave.

    She sensed Hamid’s unstable emotions. Staying here would only become more dangerous. Her previous judgment seemed to be a mistake; this Bishop was definitely not just “Peril” level, otherwise he wouldn’t have said that a Saint’s shadow avatar with thirty percent of their power wasn’t his match.

    Actually, from some details, Luo Yan also noticed Hamid’s complex emotions towards Cecilia. On the one hand, he loved and cherished this little girl he had raised, and on the other hand, he doubted the motives behind his own actions.

    Whether it was out of human emotion or a plan for destruction, Hamid had been hesitant, until he met Luo Yan and finally let go of this confusion and decision, leaving all the choices to her.

    A flicker of excitement flashed through Chris’s eyes when she saw Shadow appear, but she didn’t show anything. Her identity as a Shadow Guard was top secret and couldn’t be easily revealed.

    Shadow immediately recognized Chris, after all, she looked very much like Tina, her mother, but she didn’t say anything.

    As for Luo Yan, Shadow just glanced at her and then ignored her. Luo Yan wasn’t important on this trip; the interaction with Luo Yan would be left to Illusion.

    Shadow only had a sharp tongue; she actually listened to Illusion very much. Whatever Illusion said, she did.

    “Words are useless, it’s time to send you on your way, old classmate.”

    Shadow raised her hand slightly, and darkness spread from beneath her feet. A gentle force pushed Luo Yan and the others away.

    In a battle above “Destruction” level, ability users below that level didn’t even have the right to watch.

    Like Granny Zoya, Shadow chose to isolate the battle space. The difference was that Granny Zoya faced an entire sea of enemies, while Shadow faced Hamid, who was going all out, even disregarding everything due to his madness.

    “Er-! Rants!” Hamid roared heart-wrenchingly. “You villains who have shamed the Gods, you are the culprits behind the destruction of the world!”

    “Heh, drown in your baseless delusions, Hamid.”

    Shadow sneered disdainfully, but her eyes were still grim and serious.

    Although she had been mocking Hamid, after all, what stood here was just a shadow avatar with thirty percent of her strength. To deal with Hamid, who was considered a strong figure even among “Destruction” level ability users, she still had to go all out.

    The spreading black barrier expanded, eventually forming a silent domain that couldn’t be entered, completely isolated from Lannister.

    The battle inside couldn’t be seen from the outside, and it wouldn’t affect the outside world until the barrier was broken.

    “Grandpa Bishop, wuwuwu… why is this happening…”

    Finally, Cecilia couldn’t help but sob.

    She didn’t know why Grandpa Bishop, who had been so good to her, had become like this today…

    These complicated matters were beyond Cecilia’s little head to understand.

    Luo Yan and Chris sighed at the same time. Although what happened today was directly caused by them, Cecilia’s fate was only a matter of time.

    Even without Luo Yan and Chris, Hamid wouldn’t be able to maintain their peaceful life any longer. It would erupt eventually.

    “Hmm? Chris, Miss Luo Yan, why are you all here?”

    Just then, a cold voice sounded.

    Luo Yan and Chris turned their heads and saw a tall woman in a suit dress walking towards them, frowning.

    “Madam Tina,” Luo Yan bowed slightly, a hint of surprise in her expression. “Why are you here too?”

    “Mo-, Mother…”

    Chris averted her gaze. Logically, she should be attending the banquet now, not involved in this matter.

    Moreover, she had been scolded not long ago for secretly contacting Luo Yan. Now, being caught red-handed taking Luo Yan around Lannister…

    Thinking of this, Chris shrank her head again.

    But unexpectedly, Tina just nodded to Chris and looked at Luo Yan,

    “Miss Luo Yan, have you already contacted Hamid?”

    She couldn’t help but size up Luo Yan. At the banquet, Tina had only seen Luo Yan in her black-haired young man form, not her current appearance.

    It had to be said that Tina considered herself a beauty. To put it shamelessly, when she was young, the people pursuing her could line up three times around Noah.

    Even though the Lequista family only accepted men marrying into the family, there were still countless noble children vying to join.

    But even so, standing in front of the unadorned Luo Yan, Tina still felt a sense of inferiority.

    What was even more rare was that this silver-haired girl’s stunning beauty wasn’t aggressive. Just standing there quietly gave people a very pleasing and comfortable feeling, and an indescribable sense of security.

    But thinking of Luo Yan’s identity, Tina suddenly felt uneasy.

    “I have. He even asked me for an oracle.” Luo Yan replied indifferently. “He just wanted to know what the Witch of Envy said when she contacted me.”

    “I see,” Tina secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed there wouldn’t be any problems. “Miss Luo Yan, you didn’t give it to him, right?”

    “I did.”

    “That’s good… Ah?”

    Tina immediately looked at Chris, her eyes seemingly saying “Why didn’t you stop her?”

    Chris felt her hair stand on end from being stared at. She knew what her mother meant, but she felt wronged too.

    Stop her? With what?!

    She didn’t even understand what the oracle said; divine language wasn’t something ordinary humans could understand.

    “You… just gave it to him like that?”

    Tina’s nervous expression mirrored Chris’s.

    “Yes, but after hearing it, Hamid almost collapsed, and then Saint Shadow appeared.” Luo Yan spread her hands. “And after hearing what Saint Shadow said, he seemed to have gone mad.”

    “…Why do I suddenly feel that this is even more dangerous?”

    A single sentence could drive a “Destruction” level ability user mad, what kind of divine being was Miss Luo Yan?

    Did the so-called oracle possess such power?

    “How about I tell you?”

    Luo Yan blinked, her face full of innocence.

    “No!”

    Tina and Chris both shouted in unison, stopping her.

    As expected of mother and daughter, their thought processes were surprisingly similar, although they looked more like sisters of similar age in terms of appearance.

    After calming down a bit, Tina cleared her throat, her expression becoming more serious, and said in a low voice,

    “Anyway, Saint Shadow being here means that this matter has been resolved. Miss Luo Yan, I will take you back to Restricted Zone Seven. Please don’t leave until the other Saint arrives, alright?”

    “No problem, but I want to take her with me.”

    Luo Yan pointed at Cecilia beside her. Hamid had given her all the information about Cecilia.

    Actually, after losing the balance provided by the old residential building, Cecilia’s situation was already precarious. Her amber eyes were glowing faintly, and her body was trembling slightly.

    If she weren’t next to Luo Yan, Cecilia might have already lost control.

    “A God’s Chosen?” Tina recognized Cecilia’s situation at a glance, frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then hesitantly nodded. “Alright, but if that’s the case, Chris, you stay with Miss Luo Yan for now.”

    “Ah? Mother…”

    Chris, who had been suddenly addressed, was startled and showed a troubled expression.

    Although Miss Luo Yan hadn’t shown any signs of danger along the way, her actions were truly…

    Uttering oracles, traversing the Void… and so on. Each one made Chris break out in a cold sweat.

    She had thought that after meeting her mother, she could put down this burden, but unexpectedly, it was back in her hands.

    “Hmm?”

    Tina stared at Chris, her eyes sharp, her tone eight degrees higher.

    “Understood, Mother.”

    Chris felt aggrieved.

    Just then, Luo Yan suddenly felt a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she saw that Cecilia’s eyes were starting to lose focus,

    “God of Hope… Big Sister… Cecilia’s head feels dizzy, it hurts…”

    Luo Yan immediately placed her hand on Cecilia’s head, using her aura to suppress the demonic power’s erosion of Cecilia,

    “Don’t be afraid, Cecilia, I’ll save you soon.”

    After saying that, Luo Yan looked up at Tina and said,

    “Madam Tina, I need to resolve Cecilia’s problem quickly, otherwise…”

    Tina naturally knew the consequences of a God’s Chosen losing control, so she nodded seriously,

    “No problem, Miss Luo Yan, just go back directly. Chris, follow her.”

    “Okay…”

    Chris had just responded when a hand suddenly grabbed her, and a bad premonition arose in her heart.

    “The situation is urgent, this is the only way, Miss Chris.”

    Luo Yan’s demonic whisper sounded in Chris’s ear, and then a spatial rift opened, the aura of the Void rushing towards them.

    “No…”

    Amidst Tina’s bewilderment and Chris’s terror, several figures plunged into the spatial rift and disappeared.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 235

    Chapter 235: Fusion of Skin and Soul, Crumbling at a Touch

    As wisps of green smoke drifted away, Pei Yan’s body was revealed, lying on his back. His eyes were wide open, black blood trickling from the corners, filled with terror as if he had witnessed something horrifying.

    Similarly, his breathing had ceased.

    Life had been completely extinguished in boundless fear.

    “…”

    Lin Tianlu silently glanced at his gruesome corpse, his heart unmoved.

    Although this person held a high position, he had committed countless insidious acts in secret. For such a wicked person to meet such an end was only fitting; karma had come full circle. The innocent commoners he had harmed could finally rest in peace.

    Sighing slightly, he turned to look at the beautiful woman standing behind him.

    Yang Chanzhen released the hand seals, dispersing the faint Yin energy that had enveloped her. Her face was calm and serene.

    “Miss Yang, the technique you used is quite ingenious.”

    “It was just a small trick.”

    Yang Chanzhen shook her head calmly. “Mount Min holds records of many rare and unique techniques. This Soul Tracing method happened to be suitable for this person.”

    The ghosts that appeared just now were not mere illusions.

    Under the Soul Tracing method, they were given form, no different from ordinary ghosts. If Pei Yan truly had blood on his hands, these resentful spirits would naturally not let him off easily.

    The final result was enough to prove that this so-called Prince Pei…

    Was a beast in human form, deserving of death.

    To be killed by the vengeful spirits of those he had harmed was a fitting end.

    Lin Tianlu’s expression softened slightly. “Thank you for your help, Miss Yang.”

    “It’s nothing. It wasn’t difficult to lend you a hand.”

    Hearing her calm words, Lin Tianlu felt deeply grateful.

    After all, this young lady had indeed contributed greatly during this period. Not only did she protect the Cheng residence and secretly resolve many plots, but she also followed Cheng Yishi’s instructions, using her techniques to gather a large amount of intelligence. It could be said that most of the tragic cases buried years, even decades ago, were unearthed by Yang Chanzhen’s secret techniques.

    Otherwise, how could these cases, buried in the dust of history, be so easily found in just over ten days?

    No wonder Pei Yan and the others were so shocked when they heard about these cases.

    After all, all traces of many of these cases had been erased, leaving no witnesses or physical evidence. Even a renowned detective would be helpless.

    This showed how sophisticated and profound Miss Yang’s techniques were, definitely not as simple and casual as she claimed.

    “Miss Cheng and you are deeply connected. You will surely be a happy couple in the future. Helping her avoid danger is naturally what I should do.”

    “You’re so considerate, but why—”

    “You have shown me kindness.”

    She nodded slightly. “Besides, being with you two is not unpleasant.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled helplessly. “This answer is truly in Miss Yang’s style.”

    As they talked, Yang Chanzhen’s gaze shifted, glancing at Bi Junheng, who was covered in cold sweat in the corner of the hall. “Now, there’s this one left.”

    “!”

    Bi Junheng’s expression changed slightly.

    Although the smile on his handsome face remained, his heart was in turmoil.

    It was… unbelievable!

    Only now did he realize the true identity of this mysterious woman who had suddenly appeared.

    —The Azure Lady of Mount Min!

    This secluded sect, shrouded in mystery, was said to produce extraordinarily cultivated women every few decades, each mastering incredibly strange and powerful secret techniques. To be their enemy was an unimaginable disaster.

    Because of this, no one in the world of demons and ghosts dared to provoke the Azure Lady of Mount Min.

    And the Azure Lady herself was detached from worldly affairs, rarely interfering in mundane matters.

    But why would she take the initiative to help a man now?

    “I am a member of the Zhaoxiao Courtyard. I hope you two can be understanding.” Bi Junheng forced a smile and cupped his hands. “That Prince Pei was blind and foolish to provoke you two great powers. His miserable death is his own fault. Although I’ve known him for a while, our relationship is shallow, and we don’t have much—”

    “Now you’re trying to distance yourself from Pei Yan?”

    Lin Tianlu smiled, interrupting him. “I should have told you earlier, I heard everything you and Pei Yan said, including your disgusting and vulgar remarks.”

    Bi Junheng’s eyes flickered, sweat dripping down his forehead.

    “I-I just misspoke and accidentally said something that offended Mr. Lin.”

    “Haven’t you noticed yet?”

    Lin Tianlu walked towards him step by step, his voice growing calmer. “Your excuses are almost identical to what Pei Yan said just now. And you’ve already seen his fate.”

    “…”

    The corners of Bi Junheng’s mouth twitched as he glanced at Pei Yan’s body lying on the ground.

    His gruesome death filled him with terror!

    Those rumors…

    None of them could be trusted!

    This Lin Tianlu was not the gentle, approachable, kind scholar everyone thought he was. He was clearly a ruthless executioner, deciding life and death with just a few words, no different from the King of Hell!

    “Mr. Lin, I don’t think I’ve committed any major crimes—”

    “Do you want to gamble?” Lin Tianlu grinned. “Gamble that we can’t see the crimes you’ve committed and the people you’ve killed?”

    Bi Junheng took a few steps back, his smile stiffening. “Mr. Lin, you took action against Pei Yan because you had already gathered evidence of his crimes. But this is the first time I’ve met you and Miss Yang. I think… you two aren’t omniscient enough to have foreseen my arrival, are you?”

    “Indeed.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded in agreement. “Both Miss Yang and I are meeting such a sinister and vile person as yourself for the first time.”

    Bi Junheng’s eyes turned cold, but the awkward smile on his face remained unchanged. “T-Then I hope Mr. Lin can be forgiving. Even if you imprison me and await my judgment, I’ve only said a few words. Surely that’s not enough for Mr. Lin to resort to violence?”

    “Unfortunately.”

    Lin Tianlu pointed to his own eyes. “Do you know why I held such animosity towards Pei Yan from our first meeting, to the point where I completely disregarded all his pretense? It’s because I can see through your thoughts, and I can also see… how many people you’ve killed.”

    “…”

    Bi Junheng’s eyes widened in shock.

    See… whether someone has killed?

    “Now, do you have anything else to say in your defense?”

    “I—”

    Bi Junheng watched Lin Tianlu approach, his throat bobbing, his eyes flickering in the shadows.

    The next moment, he smiled faintly, cupping his hands. “Naturally, I have nothing more to say.”

    Whoosh

    A chilling wind suddenly swept through the hall.

    Bi Junheng, who had been standing before them, began to dissipate like sand, transforming into a chilling wind that swirled around the room, countless flickering afterimages appearing and disappearing.

    But most importantly…

    “Since Mr. Lin is unwilling to reconcile, I have no choice but to cross swords with you.”

    A voluptuous woman in revealing clothing slowly emerged from the mist, stroking her hair, a seductive smile on her beautiful face. “At least, I can’t let you look down on me.”

    Lin Tianlu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You… are Bi Junheng?”

    “Naturally.” The beautiful woman smiled, stroking her ample bosom, a red glint flashing in her eyes.

    In an instant, a silver light flashed through the hall like a phantom. Walls, pillars, even the stone walls outside the hall were sliced in two, creating a deadly ring of vacuum.

    The beautiful woman’s smile faded slightly as she looked at Lin Tianlu with a serious expression…

    Lin Tianlu had raised his right hand, blocking the sudden attack unharmed. The invisible blade that should have cleaved through metal and stone couldn’t even leave a mark on his palm, as if it were just a gentle breeze.

    “Upon closer inspection, this body of yours is quite ingenious.”

    “As expected of Mr. Lin, you saw through it at a glance?”

    The beautiful woman smiled seductively again, lifting her revealing top to expose her fair skin. “This body is naturally not my own, but one of my female slaves.”

    “This person’s technique is quite strange.”

    Yang Chanzhen quietly appeared beside him, her eyes flickering. She murmured, “I can faintly sense the fluctuations of two souls within him. But upon closer inspection, they’re intertwined, and I can’t distinguish between them. It’s difficult to tell whether it’s male or female, real or fake.”

    “Miss Yang is right~”

    The beautiful woman licked her lips and smiled seductively. “Since Mr. Lin heard my conversation with Pei Yan, you should know what I usually do.”

    “Many women have suffered unimaginable torment at your hands.”

    “That’s right.”

    She threw back her head and laughed. “There are all sorts of people in this world, and countless foolish women. Those captured and delivered to me are usually those who request discipline and training… Naturally, there are also those who want these ignorant women to taste pain and despair.”

    Lin Tianlu’s expression darkened. “So, you—”

    “I completely transformed their bodies and souls.” The beautiful woman smiled sinisterly, raising a finger and poking it into her abdomen, casually stirring it around. “Their consciousness and souls still remain within this body, able to perceive everything around them and hear everything we say. And I wear their skin and flesh, woven from their souls, as my disguise.”

    As soon as she finished speaking, Yang Chanzhen suddenly waved her hand.

    A gust of Azure Spirit wind swept across Bi Junheng’s body.

    But a mocking smile appeared on her face. “Azure Lady of Mount Min, you are indeed quite capable. But my Skin and Soul Fusion technique is not something you can break with a few simple tricks. Otherwise, how do you think I’ve been able to roam freely under the name of Zhaoxiao Courtyard for so many years? There aren’t many people in this world who can stop me.”

    Yang Chanzhen frowned slightly, clearly finding this person’s secret technique troublesome.

    Although Mount Min had many secret techniques, it was too much to ask to find a weakness in such a short time.

    Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious as he slowly raised his right hand.

    But Bi Junheng suddenly shouted, “Mr. Lin, do you really dare to attack? My soul is now completely fused with this innocent woman’s, inseparable. The technique I used just now is one of her secret skills. If you kill me now, this poor woman you haven’t even met will die with me!”

    Lin Tianlu’s eyes flickered. “Are you trying to threaten me?”

    “No, no, no, I wouldn’t dare to make any unreasonable demands of Mr. Lin.”

    Bi Junheng quickly put on a seductive smile again. “I just want both sides to take a step back. Mr. Lin, spare my life today, and I will no longer commit such heinous acts. I will release all those women and will no longer be so cruel to them… What do you think? Of course, I can also discuss Pei Yan’s plans with you. The stakes are quite high.”

    But at this moment, Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle.

    Bi Junheng’s expression froze. “What do you mean?”

    “I just think that if you had simply run away, you might have had a better chance of escaping.”

    “What are you—”

    Lin Tianlu pointed with a cold expression. “Get out of that body.”

    Hum!

    Suddenly, a wave of spiritual light rippled through the body.

    Bi Junheng’s pupils constricted to their limit, his body trembling violently. “H-How… how is this possible…”

    Before he could finish speaking, he felt an unimaginable repulsive force from all parts of his body, his soul being forcibly torn apart.

    With a scream, he was sent flying by this strange impact!

    “!”

    Bi Junheng felt a surge of terror as he watched the beautiful skin fall limply to the ground.

    At the same time, the scene before him changed, and Lin Tianlu’s figure appeared right in front of him!

    “Die!” Bi Junheng roared furiously, his hands moving, black mist swirling around him. Instantly, he possessed another female body. Black hair scattered, her robe fluttering, he struck out with his palm.

    Slap!

    But just then, a finger pressed against her forehead.

    Bi Junheng’s movements froze, stopping mid-strike.

    Lin Tianlu looked down at the ‘monster’ before him with cold indifference. “Reveal all the skins you’ve collected, and then you, vile creature, will die.”

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 55

    Chapter 55: Loss of Control

    The manager at the end of the corridor, sensing something was wrong, immediately walked towards the room with the service staff.

    Lan Lubai glanced sideways and gave the manager a meaningful look. The experienced manager understood and stopped, not approaching further.

    The atmosphere in the room was tense. The woman in the light purple dress stood up. Although she didn’t understand what was happening, she recognized the founder of Dejade, especially since two prominent figures—the Chief Judge and Executive Officer of the Independent State of Yi Meng, known to everyone—were standing outside the door.

    She smiled at Xue Xun: “Then you two talk, I have something to do, so I’ll leave first.”

    Xue Xun ignored her.

    Walking to the door, her smile brightened, her gaze sweeping over Zhu Yiqiao and Lan Lubai.

    “Chief Judge Zhu, Executive Lan, goodbye.”

    Zhu Yiqiao had no impression of this person, but Lan Lubai, whose family had been in business for generations, knew that she was the daughter of the Pei family. A few days ago, news of the Pei family’s intention to arrange a marriage for their daughter had caused a stir, and almost all the families in Xi He City had expressed their interest to the Pei family.

    Therefore, Lan Lubai guessed that the Pei family daughter and this business newcomer were probably discussing this matter.

    After only the two of them remained in the room, Xu Zhou, who had been expressionless, finally showed a hint of emotion.

    “Who are you?”

    Xue Xun’s face was cold, not backing down. She seemed to laugh out of anger, her long red curly hair swaying with her movements.

    “You’re asking me who I am?”

    Xu Zhou’s gaze was cold, her black hair and black eyes like an unsheathed black blade.

    “Shouldn’t I ask?”

    Being treated so coldly by the lover who had once been so reluctant to part with her, so caring and doting, Xue Xun’s eyes grew redder and redder.

    She said, “Before I answer your question, you answer mine first. Are you planning to marry Miss Pei?”

    Lan Lubai, standing at the door, was extremely surprised.

    This was the first time she had seen Xue Xun like this since she knew her—angry, disappointed, sad, lonely, and helpless, yet holding back her tears.

    Zhu Yiqiao was also silent.

    Lan Lubai asked softly, “Yiqiao, should we leave first? Let them talk.”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “Mm.”

    Just as she finished speaking, Xu Zhou retorted coldly,

    “What does it have to do with a stranger like you?”

    “Stranger?” Xue Xun’s lips twitched, the smile not reaching her eyes. “What if I said it does?”

    The door closed from the inside, blocking all gazes and sounds from the outside. Lan Lubai frowned, puzzled, and turned to ask her friend, who had entered the closing command.

    “Yiqiao, what’s the relationship between them?”

    Suddenly remembering something, Lan Lubai’s eyes widened: “Could she be Xue Xun’s…”

    Zhu Yiqiao didn’t answer, looking sideways at Ming Fei.

    “What’s wrong?”

    Ming Zaozao, who was holding her hand, also looked up and asked, “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

    Being asked by both mother and daughter, Ming Fei explained softly, “I’m fine, just didn’t expect them to know each other. I just met Xu Zhou at school yesterday.”

    Lan Lubai said meaningfully, “Whether they know each other or not is hard to say.”

    The identical birthmark made Ming Fei’s thoughts chaotic. She didn’t quite understand Lan Lubai’s answer, her mind frequently wandering back to the petal-shaped birthmark.

    There were no two identical leaves in the world.

    But due to various factors… perhaps identical birthmarks could exist.

    So, it wasn’t that strange. Ming Fei thought to herself.

    Because they were worried about Xue Xun, they didn’t leave Dejade, waiting for her in another room on the same floor. Lan Lubai asked the service staff to keep an eye on the room where Xue Xun was and inform her immediately if anyone came out.

    The wait wasn’t very long.

    After watching cartoons for half an hour, Ming Zaozao fell asleep. Just five minutes after she fell asleep, Xu Zhou left the room. Xue Xun followed a few steps behind, but didn’t follow Xu Zhou, instead going directly to the room where her friends were.

    As soon as she entered, she seemed to be holding back a lot of anger, her flamboyant red hair almost bristling. Seeing Ming Zaozao sleeping on the lounge bed, she lowered her voice.

    “Xu Zhou is an idiot!”

    She walked towards the three of them, sat down by the window on the right, and finished the tea Lan Lubai poured for her.

    Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Xu Zhou is her?”

    Xue Xun didn’t hesitate: “Mm.”

    Lan Lubai’s voice was laced with a smile: “That’s great, you finally found her.”

    Xue Xun looked out the window: “But she doesn’t remember me.”

    “It’s normal that she doesn’t remember, otherwise, why would she look at you like a stranger? If she remembered you, she would definitely hug you the moment she saw you, like in the movies, overjoyed at finding you again.” Lan Lubai marveled at her own words. “Right, Yiqiao?”

    Chief Judge Zhu, cold and aloof in everyone’s eyes, hummed in agreement, as if to comfort the dejected person in front of her.

    “Mm.”

    Lan Lubai continued, “Don’t worry, and don’t be sad, she will definitely remember you.”

    From beginning to end, Ming Fei was completely confused. She could only deduce from these fragmented words that Xue Xun and Xu Zhou did know each other, and that Xue Xun had been looking for Xu Zhou, but Xu Zhou didn’t remember her.

    The lingering fragrance of tea calmed Xue Xun’s heart slightly.

    She rested her chin on one hand, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly: “I’ve been looking for her for so long, from the moment I transmigrated eight years ago until today, and I never gave up. But she, not only did she forget me, she’s also… on a blind date with someone else!”

    These words cleared the fog, and the speculation in Ming Fei’s heart finally dissipated.

    She thought, having transmigrated eight years ago meant that Xu Zhou also came from the apocalypse, a transmigrator like them. The universe was vast and full of wonders, an identical birthmark… should just be a small probability event that happened by chance.

    And, an identical birthmark didn’t mean anything.

    The four of them chatted for a while longer, mostly Xue Xun and Lan Lubai talking, while Ming Fei quietly acted as a qualified listener, and Zhu Yiqiao went to the side to deal with work matters halfway through.

    After Xue Xun’s mood improved, Lan Lubai asked her,

    “You two were in there for so long, didn’t you tell Xu Zhou your identity?”

    “No.”

    “Huh?”

    “She wouldn’t believe it, I’ll take it slow.”

    Xue Xun suddenly changed the subject: “Speaking of which, I have to thank Xiao Fei. I saw your group photo on your public account and realized that she was in the Independent State of Yi Meng.”

    Her tone was light and cheerful, but when she actually saw the group photo this morning after waking up, her hands trembled, her vision blurred, and as tears fell, her phone slipped from her hand.

    The search that had lasted for nearly three thousand days and nights had finally come to an end.

    Ming Fei said sincerely, “You’re welcome, it’s fate between you two.”

    These words made Xue Xun laugh, her smile as flamboyant and bright as usual.

    “Mm, fate.”

    Suddenly, heavy snow covered the entire city of Xi He. By the time Zhu Yiqiao finished her work, Ming Zaozao had also woken up. The five of them had lunch together. During the meal, the sky was dark and gloomy, like spilled ink.

    It was already two o’clock in the afternoon when they returned to the villa.

    Perhaps because she had been drunk last night, Ming Fei was drowsy. She started feeling sleepy and weak as soon as they returned to the villa, and her head was also a little dizzy. She didn’t linger, told Ming Zaozao, and went upstairs for a nap.

    Ming Zaozao was full of energy, playing happily in the living room with 008 and 0619.

    When Zhu Yiqiao came downstairs, she saw Ming Zaozao holding the apple-green camera. After the intelligent prompt sounded, she took a picture of the gift Ming Fei had recently bought for her.

    “Wow~” Ming Zaozao said crisply, “Auntie, look at the picture Baby took.”

    Zhu Yiqiao sat next to her: “Okay.”

    After Ming Zaozao shared the recent photos of her gifts, Zhu Yiqiao looked into her grape-like eyes and pinched her chubby cheeks.

    “Are there any other photos?”

    “Yes!” Ming Zaozao said proudly. “Pictures of Mommy, taken by Baby!”

    “Can I see them?”

    Ming Zaozao nodded repeatedly: “Of course!”

    After saying that, she generously handed the apple-green camera to Zhu Yiqiao. As Zhu Yiqiao looked through the photos, Ming Zaozao explained in a childish voice,

    “This is Mommy reading~”

    “Mommy caught a big fish, so amazing!”

    “Mommy is playing chess, Baby is protecting her.”

    …

    “This is… Mommy smiling at Baby.” Ming Zaozao also smiled. “Mommy is happy, so Baby is happy too.”

    After carefully looking at every photo taken by the camera, Zhu Yiqiao asked something Ming Zaozao didn’t understand.

    “Zaozao, can you send me a copy of these photos?”

    “Why does Auntie want them?”

    Why indeed?

    When she first saw this camera in Hui Fu Garden, she knew it was for Ming Zaozao to take pictures of Ming Fei. At that time, she hadn’t been in the mood to look at the photos, and had only glanced at the camera briefly.

    But now, she took the initiative to look, to ask for them, to take them to heart.

    After some thought, she replied, “Because I like them.”

    Ming Zaozao said happily, “Baby likes them too!”

    “Then is Zaozao willing to send me a copy?”

    Ming Zaozao tugged on her pigtails, seemingly struggling. It wasn’t until 008 reminded her that a new cartoon was about to start that she finally nodded resolutely.

    “Okay, only for Auntie. Because Baby likes Auntie too, and Mommy likes Auntie too.”

    “Can Auntie do it herself?”

    Ming Zaozao stood up, still shorter than the newly transplanted potted plant in the garden: “Baby doesn’t know how to do it, Baby is going to watch cartoons.”

    “Okay.” Zhu Yiqiao patted her little head. “Go ahead, Zaozao.”

    “Mm-hmm!”

    Ming Zaozao, like a gust of wind, quickly ran to the sofa and started watching her favorite cartoon intently, occasionally clapping her hands at the exciting scenes.

    Zhu Yiqiao uploaded some of the photos from the camera to her terminal.

    All the photos in this camera were related to Ming Fei. There were two albums, named by Ming Zaozao as [My Most Beloved Mommy] and [Zaozao the Great’s Treasure Trove], each name followed by cute emojis.

    [Zaozao the Great’s Treasure Trove] contained photos of gifts, all given by Ming Fei. The other album was full of photos of Ming Fei, each one beautifully taken.

    Throughout the transfer process, Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze remained fixed on the first photo. In the moment captured by the camera, Ming Fei was standing under a tree full of hibiscus flowers, her almond eyes curved like crescents, a smile on her lips, and her dimple deep on her right cheek.

    It was very much like the scene she had witnessed not long ago.

    At that time, she had been standing outside the window, watching Ming Fei with tiger whiskers painted on her face and the character “king” written on her forehead, smiling brightly as Ming Zaozao pounced on her. Snowflakes brushed against her shoulder, cold, yet her heart raced.

    Thump, thump, thump.

    Each beat faster than the last.

    Therefore, after entering the living room, she hadn’t avoided Ming Fei. When Ming Fei, wearing a blindfold and playing hide-and-seek, approached and hugged her, she had pretended to be unaware and let Ming Fei hold her.

    After the last photo was transferred, Zhu Yiqiao returned the camera to Ming Zaozao. Before leaving the living room, she washed a plate of fresh strawberries that had been delivered this morning and placed it on the coffee table, then replaced the cold water in Ming Zaozao’s cup with warm water.

    However, when she reached the second floor, she stopped.

    Because—

    She sensed the overflowing pear scent.

    Unlike the usual sweetness, the pear scent now was mostly the sourness of unripe fruit, the little sweetness completely suppressed.

    Zhu Yiqiao quickly turned towards Ming Fei’s room.

    She knocked on the door and waited for twenty seconds, but there was no response from inside.

    The pear scent became increasingly strange, the sourness mixed with bitterness. Zhu Yiqiao knocked again, and after ten seconds, still no response.

    Seeing this, she used her highest authority in the villa to open the security door without hesitation.

    As she took her first step into the master bedroom, an overwhelming pear scent surged towards her. The pear trees were all bearing sour and bitter pears, not a single sweet one.

    And Ming Fei, constantly releasing pheromones, was sitting on the carpet, her face as pale as paper, her eyelashes wet, her furrowed brows as if enduring immense pain.

    The familiar pain was returning.

    This was the pain Ming Fei had suffered after her gland was injured, and she remembered the time when her gland was injured.

    Every agonizing wave of pain would silently bring tears to her eyes, making her bury herself under the covers, curling up, trembling, making her feel like she was walking alone on a tightrope over a cliff, one wrong step away from falling and shattering.

    But this time, someone caught her.

    Just as the pain was about to wash over her, and she wanted to hide again, Zhu Yiqiao suddenly grabbed her hand tightly.

  • On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 219

    Chapter 219: What If…?

    As night fell, Chen Yin found Nan Xiaoxiang in the hut she used as a clinic.

    The entrance was crowded with villagers lying on straw mats, their bodies bandaged and wounded.

    Nan Xiaoxiang was tending a fire beneath a medicinal cauldron, her face etched with concentration, her usually pristine white robes now stained with soot and dust.

    The miasma of the Wu Xuan Cave made it difficult to keep the fire going, and she struggled to fan the flames, her brow furrowed with effort.

    “Let me do it.”

    She looked up, and Chen Yin, with a wave of his hand, adjusted the flames to the perfect temperature.

    “You… know how to control the fire for medicinal herbs?” Nan Xiaoxiang asked, surprised.

    “I’ve watched you do it enough times.”

    Chen Yin glanced at her face and couldn’t help but smile.

    Nan Xiaoxiang, realizing she probably had soot on her face, blushed and turned away.

    “Don’t laugh at me!”

    Chen Yin took out a handkerchief, gently lifted her chin, and wiped the sweat and soot from her face, his gaze meeting hers.

    She wasn’t used to his gentle touch.

    “It’s fine…” she mumbled, “I can do it myself—”

    “Your hands are meant for healing.”

    Chen Yin said seriously, “I can handle these small tasks.”

    Nan Xiaoxiang paused, then couldn’t help but say, “Learning new ways to flatter women, Young Master Chen?”

    “I’ll stop if you don’t like it.”

    She didn’t reply.

    Because she liked it. She enjoyed his compliments, although she couldn’t explain why.

    Chen Yin glanced at the injured villagers, their numbers overflowing the small hut. “You don’t have to work so hard. I can heal them with my spiritual energy.”

    Nan Xiaoxiang shook her head.

    “You know that using spiritual energy to heal mortals is dangerous. It requires channeling it directly into their meridians. And that can be harmful to those without the aptitude for cultivation. Besides, I’ve already treated their wounds. The rest is up to their bodies to heal.”

    Chen Yin thought for a moment. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

    Nan Xiaoxiang hesitated, then blushed and said softly,

    “I… would like to take a bath.”

    “But I can’t boil that much water. Could you help me?”

    She looked at him with pleading eyes.

    Chen Yin nodded without hesitation.

    That evening, in Nan Xiaoxiang’s room…

    Steam rose from behind a screen.

    Chen Yin sat by the hearth, tending the fire, keeping the water hot for her bath.

    Nan Xiaoxiang needed someone to constantly replenish the hot water.

    Chen Yin didn’t mind.

    After all, the image of a beautiful woman bathing, even just the sound of splashing water, was enough to fuel his imagination.

    He listened to the soft sounds coming from behind the screen and, whenever the water was ready, he would place the bucket by the screen.

    A slender arm would reach out, take the bucket, and disappear behind the screen.

    The room was quiet.

    As if to break the awkward silence, Nan Xiaoxiang’s voice suddenly came from behind the screen:

    “Young Master Chen… are you done with your business?”

    “Yes,” Chen Yin nodded. “We’ll return to Mount Yu with the Grand Witch in two days and cure Ye Ling’er. Then we’ll just wait for the Triennial Day.”

    “The Triennial Day…”

    Nan Xiaoxiang sighed softly. “What will happen on that day?”

    Chen Yin was silent for a moment.

    “I don’t know.”

    “But for a mortal like me,” she chuckled wryly, “if there’s truly a disaster, all I can do is wait for death, right?”

    “Are you afraid of dying, Miss Nan?”

    “I’m not afraid of death,” she said softly, “but I still have so much I want to do. My medical skills are still lacking. There’s so much I haven’t learned yet. I don’t want to die meaninglessly.”

    Chen Yin looked at the screen and shook his head gently.

    “Don’t worry.”

    “I won’t let any of you die.”

    “…No matter what happens.”

    The splashing sounds behind the screen stopped.

    After a long silence, Nan Xiaoxiang’s voice came again, a hint of hesitation in her tone:

    “Young Master Chen, we’ll be returning to Mount Yu tomorrow.”

    “If you’re free… could you accompany me somewhere?”

    Chen Yin blinked.

    “Where?”

    “…Just a place.” Her voice was filled with a quiet melancholy. “After all these years, it’s probably just ruins now. The name doesn’t matter anymore.”

    Chen Yin nodded slowly. “Alright.”

    A moment later, the sound of splashing water resumed, and Nan Xiaoxiang emerged from behind the screen, her body wrapped in a thin white cloth, water droplets clinging to her skin, her hair piled up on her head, revealing her delicate neck and shoulders.

    Her eyes were clear and bright as she looked at him, one hand clutching the cloth to prevent it from falling.

    “I haven’t had such a relaxing bath in a long time.”

    “Thank you, Young Master Chen.” She bowed her head slightly.

    Chen Yin’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, captivated by her beauty.

    Nan Xiaoxiang suddenly smiled. “Do I look good, Young Master Chen?”

    “Uh… do you want the truth, or a lie?”

    “The truth, of course.”

    “You look beautiful,” Chen Yin said seriously. “Alluring and elegant.”

    He had thought she was being sarcastic, but she just sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea, her voice casual.

    “When we first met, you almost saw me like this.”

    Chen Yin remembered kidnapping her and chuckled awkwardly.

    “I was just trying to save a life. And I did wait for you to finish your bath.”

    “But at the time, I really thought you would barge in and carry me away.”

    Nan Xiaoxiang’s lips curved into a playful smile. “You surprised me, Young Master Chen. You’re a true gentleman.”

    “I’ve always been a gentleman.”

    Although he said that, Chen Yin felt a little flustered.

    …Nan Xiaoxiang was sitting there, just a thin cloth draped over her body, her skin still damp and warm from the bath, her hand gracefully holding a teacup.

    He had never seen her like this before.

    She was usually so reserved and modest, her demeanor always proper and elegant.

    Now, she was practically naked before him, showing no hint of shyness.

    Did she really trust him that much?

    And he had to admit, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

    Her unique blend of mortal and ethereal beauty, her flawless features, were enough to make any man lose his mind.

    Under her intense gaze, Chen Yin couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious.

    “If you like what you see, Young Master Chen, feel free to admire the view.”

    She said with a playful smile, “You might not get another chance.”

    Although tempted, Chen Yin reluctantly looked away and scoffed.

    “Don’t worry. I’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the full version.”

    “Are you that confident? Are you still planning on making me fall for you, Young Master Chen?”

    “Don’t you believe me?”

    Nan Xiaoxiang suddenly giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, her expression playful and teasing.

    “If I said I didn’t believe you, wouldn’t that only fuel your desire to conquer me?”

    “So don’t play with fire.”

    Chen Yin grinned mischievously. “What if I accidentally set myself on fire?”

    Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t answer.

    She just smiled faintly, her eyes downcast.

    “Yes, what if…”

    “What if I really do get burned?”

    “…What then?” She looked out the window, her voice light and carefree, making Chen Yin wonder if she was joking or serious.

    “It’s getting late, Young Master Chen. You should go back and rest.”

    “It’s already so late,” Chen Yin said with a pitiful expression, “won’t you take me in for the night, Miss Nan?”

    Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t get angry, just smiled at him playfully.

    “The bed in this room is quite big.”

    “But… are you sure you want to stay here?”

    “Isn’t there someone waiting for you in your room?”

    Chen Yin’s face fell, and he chuckled awkwardly.

    …She was right.

    A certain foolish girl who had just fought a life-or-death battle was probably still asleep in his room.

    He had to take care of her. He didn’t have time for Nan Xiaoxiang’s games.

    And she had seen right through his playful teasing.

    He sighed and said, “Then wake me up tomorrow morning before you leave.”

    “I’ll go now.”

    After he left, Nan Xiaoxiang smiled softly.

    Under the cool moonlight, she removed the thin cloth, revealing her bare back and shoulders, and walked towards the bed.

    She blinked, the moonlight reflected in her eyes.