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  • Friend(GL) 113

    Chapter 113: Shi Ran

    You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui fell asleep in each other’s arms. They hadn’t expected to sleep, but they drifted off while chatting. Zhou Tianzui, sensing the stillness beside her, turned and saw You Ruxu sleeping peacefully, she must be exhausted. Even when Zhou Tianzui gently brushed her hair away from her face, she didn’t wake.

    Zhou Tianzui carefully adjusted You Ruxu’s position, making her lie flat on her back, then placed You Ruxu’s leg on her own, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible, giving her as much space as she could. When she woke up in the morning, You Ruxu was curled up, occupying only a small portion of the bed, while Zhou Tianzui had moved closer to her.

    You Ruxu, hearing the alarm, quickly turned it off and waited quietly for the nurse’s morning rounds. She sat up. Zhou Tianzui also opened her eyes. You Ruxu said, “Go back to sleep, it’s still early.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “What time is it?”

    You Ruxu said, “6:30.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “Why are you up so early?”

    You Ruxu said, “I have to go to the station.”

    Zhou Tianzui was silent, her hand resting on her forehead. Seeing You Ruxu get out of bed, carefully putting weight on one leg, hopping towards the wheelchair, then sitting down, she asked, “When can you remove the cast?”

    “After I’m discharged.” You Ruxu said, “Another week.”

    Zhou Tianzui watched as she went into the bathroom, her movements still efficient despite being in a wheelchair. You Ruxu helped Zhou Tianzui wash up, ordered them breakfast, and said, “Auntie will be here soon, you can eat together.”

    “Okay.” Zhou Tianzui asked, “Aren’t you eating?”

    You Ruxu said, “I’ll eat at the station.”

    Zhou Tianzui nodded, watching as You Ruxu quickly got ready and called Wu Xiulian to come pick her up. Before leaving the ward, she heard Zhou Tianzui ask, “Coming for lunch?”

    You Ruxu said, “Not sure yet, I might be busy, you eat first.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.”

    You Ruxu left the ward. Wu Xiulian was waiting for her outside. Seeing her, she asked, “Should I take you to the TV station?”

    “Aunt,” You Ruxu said, “I want to go somewhere first.”

    Wu Xiulian helped her into the car, sitting in the passenger seat. When they neared the cemetery, You Ruxu asked Wu Xiulian to buy her some flowers, which she held in her arms after getting out of the car. Wu Xiulian wheeled her to the tombstone.

    You Ruxu said, “This is Reporter Zhou.”

    The man in the photo on the tombstone looked young, a gentle smile on his face. Wu Xiulian crouched down and placed the flowers in front of the tombstone. They didn’t speak, the cold wind whipping You Ruxu’s hair around her face. She sat up straight and silently apologized to the tombstone countless times. Then she took out her phone, about to dial a number, when it rang, she looked at the caller ID, it was Yu Qiao.

    You Ruxu paused, “Hello.”

    “Are you free?” Yu Qiao asked. “Come over for dinner.”

    You Ruxu glanced at the time, “I’m free.”

    When they reached Yu Qiao’s apartment complex, Wu Xiulian wanted to go with her, but You Ruxu said, “Aunt, just wait for me here.”

    Wu Xiulian, looking at her worriedly, watched as You Ruxu entered the elevator and went upstairs. When You Ruxu arrived, the door to Yu Qiao’s apartment was slightly ajar. She could smell the aroma of food, chicken soup, and a few home-cooked dishes, the timing strange, too late for breakfast, too early for lunch. Yu Qiao, hearing her enter, looked over and said, “I made the soup last night, wanted you and Xiao Tian to have something nourishing, come sit down.”

    Her tone was calm and even. You Ruxu’s expression was also calm.

    They sat at the dining table. Yu Qiao was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, her hair looking grayer, the wrinkles on her face more pronounced, her complexion sallow, a look of exhaustion. She served You Ruxu a bowl of rice, “When did you and Xiao Tian meet?”

    You Ruxu took the bowl, sat opposite her, and said, “When she transferred to the Affiliated Hospital.”

    “It’s been a few years, hasn’t it?” Yu Qiao had asked Zhou Tianzui the same question, but she wanted to hear it from You Ruxu, “Do you like her?”

    You Ruxu’s throat tightened. She gripped her spoon and nodded: “Yes.”

    “What do you like about her?” Yu Qiao said, “Is she easy to talk to? Easy to deceive? Or easy to manipulate?”

    You Ruxu looked up, “Auntie…”

    “Do you deserve to call me Auntie?” Yu Qiao looked at You Ruxu, her calm demeanor a mask for the turbulent emotions beneath, her jaw clenched. She had tossed and turned all night, wanting to confront You Ruxu, only managing to calm down this morning, preparing this meal. She said, “You Ruxu, such a beautiful name, but I prefer calling you Shi Ran.”

    You Ruxu’s face paled, her heart pierced by those words, the pain rendering her speechless.

    Yu Qiao continued, “Shi Ran, is that you?”

    You Ruxu said, “Yes.”

    Yu Qiao took a deep breath, “You had the journal all along?”

    You Ruxu was silent.

    Yu Qiao said, “Should I thank you? Thank you for finally bringing it out, for clearing Zhou Qiming’s name?”

    You Ruxu said, “Auntie…”

    “Shut up!” Yu Qiao yelled, then seeing You Ruxu’s reaction, calmed herself down, “Xiao Tian is foolish, I don’t know what you said to her, but she still wants to be with you?” Yu Qiao looked up slightly, her eyes red, “She truly is her father’s daughter.”

    Yu Qiao gritted her teeth, “She’s so filial!”

    You Ruxu said, “Auntie, don’t blame her.”

    “Blame her?” Yu Qiao said, “Of course I won’t blame her, she’s my daughter, if she makes a mistake, I’ll correct her. What about you? I heard you have adoptive parents? What? Didn’t they teach you how to be a decent human being?”

    You Ruxu’s expression froze.

    Yu Qiao continued, “How could you do this, after all these years, having a mother who gave birth to you, but not a mother who raised you?”

    You Ruxu’s face paled. The spoon slipped from her hand and clattered onto the table. Yu Qiao said, “This meal, it’s for you.”

    “You have a respectable job, a good family, if you hadn’t come forward, no one would have known it was you. This meal, it’s to thank you, to thank you on behalf of Zhou Qiming.” Yu Qiao said, “I should have realized it sooner.”

    She had been foolish.

    She should have known, seeing You Ruxu standing alone before Zhou Qiming’s grave, seeing Zhou Tianzui’s reluctance to talk about her relationship in front of his tombstone, she should have known, the connection between You Ruxu and her family.

    Yu Qiao asked, “Shi Ran, don’t you feel any guilt? Being with Zhou Tianzui, how could you live with yourself? Haven’t you harmed her enough? Do you want to ruin her entire life?”

    You Ruxu’s voice was soft: “Auntie, I didn’t want to harm her.”

    “It’s not about what you want.” Yu Qiao said, “She finally moved on from her father’s incident, and now, being with you, if people find out, if her colleagues find out, how can she face them? She’s already been ridiculed and judged, for so many years, just let her go!”

    You Ruxu said, “We’re together…”

    “You’re not together!” Yu Qiao’s voice rose sharply, interrupting her, “You’re not, you were never together, you’re just friends, ordinary friends!”

    You Ruxu’s words were caught in her throat.

    Yu Qiao stood up: “Do you know how much I’ve hated you all these years? I wanted to die just seeing you!” Her body trembled, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly, supporting her weight, “Yet, despite hating you so much, I still cooked for you, bought you things, cared for you, these past few years, Shi Ran, have you ever met anyone as pathetic as me?”

    You Ruxu’s eyes instantly filled with tears, “I’m sorry, Auntie, it’s my fault.”

    “Of course it’s your fault!” Yu Qiao said, “It wasn’t enough that you ruined our lives when you were young, and now you’re seducing Zhou Tianzui, what are you trying to do? What does our family owe you? Tell me! Do we owe you our lives? I’ll give you my life, just let Xiao Tian go!”

    She stormed into the kitchen, her demeanor frantic. You Ruxu, ignoring the pain in her leg, hopped towards Yu Qiao. Yu Qiao grabbed a kitchen knife. You Ruxu called out, “Auntie!”

    Yu Qiao seemed not to hear, “Whatever we owe you, I’ll repay it…”

    You Ruxu, enduring the sharp pain in her leg, her face ashen, her lips bloodless, trembling slightly, hugged Yu Qiao, “Auntie, please calm down, Auntie…”

    Yu Qiao pushed her away violently. You Ruxu, afraid she would hurt herself with the knife, reached out to grab the blade. Yu Qiao struggled, and as they wrestled, the knife slipped, cutting You Ruxu’s hand, blood welling up instantly. You Ruxu swayed, the pain making her dizzy. Yu Qiao, seeing the blood, froze, and You Ruxu took advantage of the moment to grab the knife, but her body, unable to support her weight, she stumbled, hitting the glass kitchen door, the glass rattling ominously.

    Yu Qiao looked down at You Ruxu, who was sitting on the floor, holding the knife, her hand bleeding profusely, the blood staining her clothes, a shockingly bright red.

    A sudden silence.

    You Ruxu said, “Auntie, I know you hate me, that you despise me, you can hit me, yell at me, vent your anger on me.” She looked up slightly, tears streaming down her face. “Just don’t hurt yourself, okay?”

    Suddenly, Yu Qiao thought of Zhou Tianzui.

    “Mom, if you’re hurting, just hit me, it won’t hurt me, but don’t hurt yourself, please?”

    Yu Qiao’s voice was choked with emotion, “What are you trying to do?”

    “Playing the good person now?” Yu Qiao said, “It’s too late!”

    You Ruxu, enduring the excruciating pain in her hand and leg, her face ashen, her lips bloodless, trembling slightly, her phone suddenly rang, breaking the tense silence, once, twice, three times.

    Her hand trembling, she answered the call.

    It was Chen Xiang, telling her they were waiting for her at the station.

    She said, “I’ll be there soon.”

    After hanging up, she struggled to stand up, placed the knife on the counter, and hopping on one leg, stood in front of Yu Qiao, “Auntie, if you want, I won’t do the interview anonymously.”

    Yu Qiao didn’t reply.

    You Ruxu took her silence as agreement.

    She slowly made her way to the wheelchair and just as she sat down, Yu Qiao said, “You will do the interview anonymously.”

    You Ruxu looked at her.

    Yu Qiao said, “If you do it openly, you’ll be attacked, and Xiao Tian will feel sorry for you. Do you think I’ll give her another chance to care about you? No, Shi Ran, I want you to carry the shame of your actions for the rest of your life! Live in guilt forever!!!”

    You Ruxu’s body tensed, the blood flowing freely from her hand, staining her clothes and the armrest of the wheelchair, dripping onto the white tiles.

    A bright, shocking red.

    A stark contrast.

    You Ruxu pursed her lips.

    She looked at Yu Qiao and said again, “I’m sorry.”

    Then she turned and wheeled herself out of the kitchen. Just as she reached the doorway, Yu Qiao called out, “Shi Ran.”

    She turned around, and Yu Qiao, holding a bowl of chicken soup, threw it at her, like dumping garbage.

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 287

    Chapter 287: Goddess of Holy Light or Evil Goddess?

    Just as Qin Chu believed both Mavis and the creature were dead, a loud cry pierced the night.

    Mavis, her body and soul nearly consumed by the holy fire, her face charred and blackened, suddenly lifted her head.

    Waaaa, waaa, waaa!

    The cries from within her belly echoed like a nightmare.

    Her nearly lifeless body convulsed, crimson tears flowing from her scorched eyes.

    She didn’t care what the creature within her was.

    She only knew it was her child. Were they going to take this one too?

    No… no!

    Suddenly, Mavis extended her charred hands.

    Her fingers, like knives, plunged into her abdomen.

    Her body, both a protection and a prison for the creature, was torn open.

    A bloody mass fell to the ground, writhing. Mavis collapsed backwards, a twisted smile on her charred face.

    She tried to reach for the creature, to see her child… but her eyes wouldn’t open, her arms lacked the strength.

    The monstrous fetus.

    Finally born.

    Prematurely released by its dying mother.

    Qin Chu’s face darkened. He hadn’t anticipated Mavis’s sheer willpower.

    The bloody mass lifted its head, five wounds still visible on its body, one from Anthea, four from Qin Chu.

    Viscous fluid oozed from the wounds.

    Thump… thump…

    Its heart beat steadily.

    Its emaciated body, bathed in moonlight, was grotesque yet strangely elegant, exuding a sinister allure that drew the eye.

    The offspring of the Lord of Pleasure, the god of desire, nobility, and elegance, had been born into this world.

    It crawled towards Mavis, its limbs moving awkwardly.

    It wasn’t fully developed, a deep emptiness within it. It craved souls and flesh to sustain itself. And here, it had the perfect sustenance.

    A fissure opened on its head, revealing rows of sharp teeth. It latched onto Mavis’s unburnt foot, the only part of her body spared by the holy fire.

    The sound of its chewing and swallowing was chilling.

    But Mavis seemed oblivious to the pain, a twisted smile on her charred face.

    This couldn’t continue.

    Qin Chu took a deep breath, his hands outstretched. The holy fire burning on Mavis’s body, as if under his command, flowed towards the creature, engulfing it.

    Mavis struggled, but she was powerless.

    Qin Chu tried to incinerate the creature with holy fire.

    But the creature, now born into this world, was growing stronger with each passing second, an immense power within it.

    The holy fire caused it pain, but it wouldn’t be enough to kill it quickly.

    Suddenly, the creature lifted its head, its crimson eyes locking onto Qin Chu.

    An invisible force slammed into his chest, caving it inwards.

    He felt his ribs shatter, piercing his heart.

    He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

    Holy Healing mended his injuries, but he gasped for breath, wiping the blood from his lips. Some of the blood touched the Goddess’s Hair.

    The threads instantly absorbed it.

    As if a switch had been flipped, a silver flame ignited on his wrist.

    Qin Chu looked at the Goddess’s Hair in surprise, wondering what was happening.

    The temperature intensified, his wrist feeling as if it were being roasted.

    Then, the Goddess’s Hair detached itself from his wrist, floating in the air.

    The creature sensed its presence. Despite being a single strand of hair, it filled the creature with primal fear.

    It stopped advancing, slowly retreating.

    Its sinister eyes narrowed.

    If it had been born in its complete form, it wouldn’t have feared the power within the hair. But now, it was vulnerable.

    It wanted to escape.

    And it did.

    Before Qin Chu’s eyes, the creature transformed into a shadow and shot away with incredible speed.

    It was about to disappear into the darkness.

    If it escaped, given enough time, it could become the most powerful being in the Heavenly Continent.

    The Goddess’s Hair swayed.

    It began to divide, one becoming ten, ten becoming a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand…

    The strands lengthened.

    A silver ocean filled the air.

    Like a river of light, it flowed through the night sky, dispelling the darkness.

    The creature was fast, but the Goddess’s Hair was faster.

    Qin Chu felt his arm growing numb… the damned hair was drawing power from his blood.

    Was this truly the Goddess of Holy Light? Or some kind of Evil Goddess?

    He cursed inwardly, feeling as if a pump was draining his blood, his head spinning.

    But Holy Healing replenished his blood, preventing him from bleeding out.

    He watched intently.

    The creature, sensing the approaching power, increased its speed, but the Goddess’s Hair had already enveloped the area like a net.

    The silver threads wrapped around the creature.

    The Goddess’s Hair, upon contact with the creature’s blasphemous fluids, sizzled, releasing plumes of white smoke.

    The creature screamed in pain, struggling against the binding threads, snapping some of them.

    Suddenly, Qin Chu felt a surge within him, an emptiness in his chest.

    An emerald leaf had detached itself from his body.

    The sapling that had been residing within him…

    This was the first time it had left his body.

    It floated towards the creature, its three leaves swaying.

    Before Qin Chu’s astonished eyes, it rapidly grew into a towering tree.

    Its roots spread downwards, enveloping the creature in a cocoon, some even piercing its flesh.

    The creature, now completely immobilized, could no longer struggle.

    The towering tree’s trunk contracted, as if taking a deep breath…

    Then, energy flowed through its roots, into the sapling.

    The greedy little thing was devouring the creature’s power.

    Qin Chu’s lips twitched. Don’t eat everything you see! You’ll get a stomachache.

    Even he wouldn’t dare absorb the power of Mavis and the creature, fearing the corrupting influence of their wills.

    But the sapling seemed to have no such qualms, treating the creature as a mere supplement.

    Gulp… gulp…

    Faint, strange sounds echoed through the night, mingled with the creature’s cries.

    …

    Meanwhile, on a nearby hilltop, a figure stood against the wind.

    His bearded face was turned towards the towering tree.

    His bloodshot eyes were narrowed, his thoughts unreadable.

    It was Wadsworth.

    The Emperor of the Auville Empire.

    Nikles’s Information Magic, though interrupted, had conveyed a few crucial words: abandoned Church of the Earth Mother Godd…

    Enough for Wadsworth to deduce Mavis’s location.

    But he hadn’t expected the Hero to be there already.

    He had intended to join the fight, but he stopped.

    He wanted to observe the Hero’s true strength.

    The outcome of the battle stunned him. Mavis’s power had clearly reached, perhaps even surpassed, level 90… He felt a pang of regret. If he had treated her better, would she have remained loyal?

    Then, the Empire would have two level 90+ experts, securing their dominance in the Heavenly Continent.

    Neither the Holy See nor the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess would pose a threat.

    Too late for regrets now.

    The Hero was the more pressing concern.

    Despite having four companions, Qin Chu’s ability to suppress Mavis proved his strength was even greater than anticipated, far exceeding his performance during the duel with the First Prince.

    And who was that strange woman with the chains? He had never seen her before.

    And what was that silver river of light?

    And the sudden appearance of the giant tree?

    The Hero was shrouded in mystery, making Wadsworth increasingly wary.

    This man could become his greatest obstacle.

    A flicker of killing intent crossed his eyes…

    Mavis was finished.

    Having confirmed the outcome, Wadsworth turned and left, returning to his palace.

    He waved his hand, and the floor opened, revealing a dark passage leading underground.

    Within lay the Imperial family’s darkest secrets.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 219

    Chapter 219: Chaos in Anshi, A Sinister Ambush

    The constables were surprisingly polite and respectful, not resorting to violence or intimidation.

    Of course, they weren’t blind.

    They had witnessed Hua Shuya’s extraordinary martial arts skills, her cultivation clearly surpassing theirs. If a fight broke out, they would be the ones suffering, and they weren’t willing to risk their lives.

    Lin Tianlu smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, officers. I don’t hold this against you. It’s understandable to use necessary measures when apprehending a suspect.”

    His words calmed the constables, who were relieved to avoid a conflict.

    Hua Shuya sheathed her sword and stood silently beside Lin Tianlu.

    The middle-aged constable looked at the scene, surprised by the dynamics between this man and woman, then said cautiously, “Since you understand, Sir, and Madam, perhaps you could hand over that demoness behind you…”

    “May I ask why you’re arresting this young lady?”

    Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious. “And it seems you’ve been chasing her for a while. You call her a demoness, so you must know what she’s done.”

    Hu Siqi, hiding behind Lin Tianlu, clenched her fists, her expression complex.

    The middle-aged constable’s face darkened. “It seems you’ve just arrived in Anshi County, Sir, and Madam. You don’t know about the tragic events that have been plaguing our town.”

    “Please enlighten us.”

    “About a month ago, a series of mysterious murders began occurring in Anshi County.”

    The constable’s voice was low and grim as he recounted the events. “At first, it was just in the surrounding villages and towns. People would report that their family members had been attacked and killed. The causes of death varied, but they were all gruesome. And according to the coroner, the wounds weren’t caused by ordinary weapons or even fists and feet. They were…

    …something we couldn’t explain or understand. It wasn’t something ordinary bandits or criminals could do.”

    The constables’ faces were filled with disgust and revulsion.

    “Magistrate Hua suspected something was amiss. He had just gotten married, but he immediately returned to take charge of the investigation, increasing patrols and gathering evidence, hoping to find the culprit behind these murders.”

    Lin Tianlu frowned. “I overheard something about Magistrate Hua at the restaurant earlier…”

    “Yes. He was assassinated. His death was equally gruesome.”

    The middle-aged constable lowered his head and sighed. “We don’t know what happened. The constables who were with him were also killed, their bodies left exposed in the wilderness. If it weren’t for a farmer who reported it, we wouldn’t have even found his body.”

    So the rumors were true.

    For them to even target a government official… these criminals were truly audacious.

    Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then asked, “What happened next?”

    “Chaos descended upon Anshi County. Aside from the elderly and incompetent county governor, Magistrate Hua was the only capable official. With him gone, everything fell apart.”

    The constable sighed, as if recalling a painful memory. “The people were terrified, and the murders continued. Even we, the constables and guards, were afraid to patrol the streets, fearing we would be next. If this had continued, the entire county would have collapsed.”

    Even his brief account revealed the fear and desperation that had gripped the town.

    It was impossible for ordinary people to live peacefully in such an environment.

    “Then why are you arresting this young lady now?”

    “A new magistrate arrived, surnamed Ma. Although he’s not as kind and gentle as Magistrate Hua, he’s decisive and efficient. Under his leadership, we’ve started to regain control, recruiting new officers and even enlisting the help of skilled martial artists.”

    The constable’s face lit up with admiration. “In just half a month, we’ve not only captured many criminals, but we’ve even encountered… unclean things!”

    “Unclean things?”

    Lin Tianlu and Hua Shuya’s expressions changed. “You know about demons and ghosts?”

    “Yes. Magistrate Ma informed us and even taught us some techniques. Under his guidance, we’ve been able to fight against them, even eliminate some.”

    The constable pointed at Hu Siqi. “This woman possesses unnatural powers, connected to those demons and ghosts. She’s even suspected of being involved in Magistrate Hua’s assassination. We’re taking her back to the county office for questioning, on Magistrate Ma’s orders.”

    “I-I didn’t!”

    Hu Siqi’s face paled, and she shook her head frantically. “I don’t know anything about Magistrate Hua! I have nothing to do with it!”

    “Don’t lie!”

    The constable glared at her menacingly. “You’re going with us! Or we’ll kill you right here!”

    “N-no! I… I might have stolen a few things, but I’ve never harmed anyone! I don’t know anything about the magistrate’s death!”

    “Enough with your lies! We’ll break your limbs, so you can’t run away!”

    “Wait.”

    Lin Tianlu stepped forward, a smile on his face. “Your courage is admirable, officer. You must have faced many dangers these past few weeks. But it’s best to gather evidence before arresting someone. There might be a misunderstanding.”

    The constable’s voice turned serious. “Don’t be fooled, Sir! This demoness is trying to deceive you! Many demons and ghosts use such tactics to gain sympathy. If you believe her lies, you’ll—”

    “I understand.”

    Lin Tianlu bowed slightly. “But this young lady isn’t guilty of such a crime. Her hands aren’t stained with blood. Breaking her limbs is too cruel.”

    “You…”

    Hu Siqi stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

    She bit her lip, a pang of guilt and regret stabbing at her heart.

    Just moments ago, she had been gloating, thinking about how she would exploit this gullible scholar.

    But now, she was…

    …indebted to him.

    “What guarantee do you have, Sir?” The constable’s voice broke the silence.

    Lin Tianlu smiled gently. “I don’t have any guarantees. But I’m willing to accompany this young lady to the county office, to verify her identity. And I’d also like to meet this ‘Magistrate Ma’ you mentioned.

    To be able to restore order to this town, to even teach you how to fight against demons and ghosts… I admire such a capable official.”

    “This…”

    The constable was taken aback.

    He hadn’t expected this scholar to make such a request.

    Most people would avoid contact with officials, but this man actually wanted to meet the magistrate?

    He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

    “I’m sorry, Sir, but Magistrate Ma is very busy. He doesn’t have time to meet with outsiders. And he prefers to avoid unnecessary social interactions. Your request is impossible.”

    “I understand.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded slightly.

    It was normal for government officials to refuse to meet with ordinary citizens.

    But…

    “Your actions have been noticed by those criminals. I thought I should warn you.”

    “What do you mean?”

    The constable was confused.

    Their actions had been noticed?

    What did that even mean?

    But in the next moment, he understood.

    “Hehehe…”

    A low, sinister chuckle echoed through the hallway, a chilling wind blowing through the room, like a winter draft. “You have sharp senses, scholar, to have noticed the anomaly in this inn.”

    The constable’s face paled, and he drew his sword, looking around nervously. “There’s a demon here! Everyone, be on guard!”

    The other constables also drew their swords, their expressions tense.

    “A-a demon?!” Hu Siqi, who had been feeling guilty, now cowered behind Lin Tianlu, her body trembling uncontrollably.

    This sudden surge of terrifying energy was overwhelming, far more powerful than anything she had felt from the constables.

    “I just wanted to lure you here, using this girl as bait. But I didn’t expect… to attract such capable individuals as well.”

    A faint mist appeared in the hallway, obscuring the moonlight streaming through the window, the air growing colder.

    “Why don’t I just eliminate you all now, to avoid future trouble?”

    The androgynous voice, raspy and chilling, echoed through the room, invading their minds, making the constables’ faces pale, their hands gripping their swords tightly.

    “Show yourself, coward!”

    The middle-aged constable roared, his aura surging, his body and sword radiating Pure Yang energy.

    “Why should I listen to you?”

    The mocking laughter echoed again. “And the lives of dozens of guests in this inn are in my hands. Do you truly dare to act recklessly? With a single thought, I can drain their life force, turning them into withered husks… Do you have the courage to risk so many lives, constables?”

    A shadowy figure, its features indistinct, materialized in the hallway outside.

    He raised his hand, his voice cold and menacing. “You’ll all die here tonight.”

    Bang!

    The door slammed shut, and a thick black mist seeped through the cracks.

    Hu Siqi whimpered, her body trembling as she huddled behind Lin Tianlu.

    The constables’ faces paled, and they rushed towards the door, trying to break it down.

    But their kicks were met with an unyielding resistance, as if the door was made of solid iron. Their legs went numb.

    “Damn it! This demon has trapped us! We can’t break through!”

    The middle-aged constable’s expression changed, and he turned to Hua Shuya. “Madam, can you help us—”

    Clang!

    A flash of silver light, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow. The closed door was split in two, wood splintering and flying through the air, revealing the demon standing outside, his face filled with shock.

    Clang!

    Another flash of silver, and the demon’s body was cleaved in two before he could even react, the force of the attack splitting the wall behind him, almost cutting the entire inn in half.

    “…”

    The constables and Hu Siqi stared at the scene, their mouths agape, their minds reeling.

    They hadn’t expected such power from a mere human…

    Was this truly possible with just a sword?

    Hua Shuya calmly sheathed her sword and watched as the demon’s body dissolved into black mist.

    “Incredible! Such power… and a hint of Yin energy? You’re not an ordinary mortal!”

    The demon’s voice, filled with shock and disbelief, echoed through the air.

    “Dispel this Yin technique, and I’ll spare your life.”

    Hua Shuya’s voice was cold and calm, her sword gleaming with a faint, ethereal light.

    “Spare my life?”

    The demon’s voice faltered.

    Then he burst out laughing. “Ridiculous! Even with your strength, you’re trapped! This entire inn is enveloped in my formation. Even a Crimson Demon couldn’t escape so easily. I have plenty of time to kill everyone inside. Do you dare to challenge me again?!”

    “And—”

    The demon’s voice turned sinister. “I found something interesting in the next room. A glowing fox. Perhaps you know her?”

    A giant hand, formed from black mist, reached towards Yun Yue’s room.

    Hua Shuya’s eyes narrowed, and she was about to give chase.

    But she stopped.

    A slender hand emerged from behind the door of the next room, its fingers tracing a pattern in the air. A ripple of moonlight spread outwards, instantly dispelling the black mist.

    “Wh-what—”

    The demon stumbled out of the shadows, his back against the wall, his face filled with shock and confusion. “What happened?!”

    “It means you’re surrounded.”

    A hand landed on his shoulder, and the male demon jumped in fright, turning to see…

    Lin Tianlu’s gentle smile, his thumb raised playfully. “I believe I heard you say something about no one escaping this inn.”

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c40

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 40: Negative Luck Value

    Luo Yuxi looked at the vast forest. Although they had successfully escaped Apal, taking Xia directly to the Holy War might get them both arrested as traitors.

    “We should go to the Witch Kingdom. I don’t know if Little Yu and Little Yun are worried, but if we join forces, I’ll have more protection…”

    Luo Yuxi pondered, then looked at the sign pointing towards the Witch Kingdom and hesitated. What if they triggered some game event and were attacked by monsters?

    “I have to protect my precious daughter. If we’re attacked, it better be by witches…”

    Luo Yuxi glanced at Xia, her beauty and alluring figure undeniable. As long as they didn’t encounter the Blood Spider Queen, they should be fine. And Xia was a 4th Order now.

    “Let’s go this way, to the Witch Kingdom!”

    “Okay…”

    “Don’t you want to ask why we’re going there?”

    “If you say so, I’ll follow…”

    Xia’s unquestioning trust made Luo Yuxi blush. She hadn’t expected Xia to trust her so easily after just meeting her. She was even more determined to protect her.

    “I actually enjoyed watching those CGs of you being violated? I’m such a scumbag…”

    Luo Yuxi mentally berated herself. Xia, seeing her sudden remorse, simply followed, silently scanning their surroundings. Luo Yuxi nudged her. This was a forest near the Church, there shouldn’t be any danger.

    “In the game, the encounter rate in forests near major cities is low, there’s no need to be so vigilant~”

    “Game? What’s that…?”

    “Well…”

    Luo Yuxi was about to explain when she pushed aside some bushes and saw a swamp filled with writhing, green tentacles, covered in slime. She felt a cold sweat.

    “Why are there tentacles here? Shouldn’t those be in the Dark Forest?”

    “That’s disgusting, I don’t want to go there…”

    Even Xia, usually agreeable, looked disgusted. Luo Yuxi knew the slime was an ingredient for aphrodisiacs, and she had often gathered it while playing the game, but seeing it in real life was different.

    “You’re right, it’s disgusting. Let’s go around…”

    Luo Yuxi turned towards a nearby stream, thinking, Following the river should be safer. But after a few steps, she saw more tentacles with suckers.

    [Mutated Octopus]

    [Powerful suckers can grab anything bulging. Each tentacle has independent thought. A favorite pet of tentacle enthusiasts.]

    “What the—?! First a tentacle swamp, now an octopus? Aren’t those supposed to be in the sea?!”

    Luo Yuxi couldn’t believe it. She had just encountered two impossible creatures in a row. As she was about to turn back, the tentacles in the river stirred, as if sensing something.

    “Not good! Xia, run!”

    Luo Yuxi sighed. As expected of the protagonist, triggering lewd events everywhere. It must be her constitution that attracted these things.

    “The protagonist’s charm is too dangerous. If she stays away, I should be—”

    Before Luo Yuxi could finish her thought, a tentacle wrapped around her waist.

    “Eh?”

    Luo Yuxi was pulled towards the river. So the octopus wasn’t after Xia, but her. She panicked and struggled, the wet, slimy tentacles and their suckers disgusting her.

    “This isn’t right! Why me?!”

    [Divine Art: Dust to Dust]

    A bright light shone on the octopus, and its tentacles crumbled into dust, sinking into the river.

    “Eh? What happened?”

    Luo Yuxi, who had been lifted into the air, fell towards the river, but a familiar figure caught her.

    “That thing was disgusting, I got rid of it…”

    “I almost forgot how strong you are…”

    Luo Yuxi, held in Xia’s arms, felt embarrassed. She had been talking about protecting Xia, but she was the one being rescued.

    “My luck is terrible. Encountering monsters and traps every few steps. If I reach the Witch Kingdom…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at her panel, her luck at -10. She knew why, but she hadn’t expected such a drastic effect.

    “Seriously? It’s just -10, why is my luck so bad?!”

    [Because your previous luck stat was only 8.]

    [Current Luck: -2]

    “???”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the negative number, realizing why her luck was so bad. Breaking that chain had cost her more than she could afford. Not only was her luck completely gone, but she was also in debt.

    “Damn it, if I want to reach the Witch Kingdom safely, I need to get my luck back into the positives…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the panel, afraid to even move, in case she triggered another trap.

    “How can I increase my luck if I don’t move…?”

    Luo Yuxi racked her brain, then looked up and saw Xia, bathed in a golden light, her figure seemingly larger than life.

    “I have an idea…”

    [Child of Destiny, Blessed by the Gods, Luck 999, Protagonist…]

    Luo Yuxi looked at Xia, her stats maxed out, and a sinister plan formed in her mind.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 119

    Chapter 119: Rol Game Coins

    A person dressed in black stood before each team, their open palms revealing five silver coins.

    Mi Hongdou took the coins. They were about the size of a one-yuan coin, with a large, raised “10” on one side and “ROL Game Coin” engraved on the other.

    Jiang Lingling snatched two coins from Mi Hongdou, clinked them together, blew on them, then held them to her ear. “Are these silver?”

    The director’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker. “Now, each team has received the same amount of pocket money. In the twelve-day world of Reality Online, ROL game coins will be essential for your survival. For example, you’ve all received your team uniforms. Plain and simple, as celebrities, wearing the same outfit for twelve days must be boring. You can use your ROL game coins to purchase more outfits. And at the beginning of the show, we have a special offer, a demonstration of how the coins work. If you’re not satisfied with the color of your uniform, we have black, dark blue, light gray, navy, lavender, beige, and other colors available. For just ten coins, you can change the color of all eight sets of clothes for your team – four uniforms and four sets of pajamas. Once we officially start Reality Online, ten coins will only be enough to change the color of one set. This is a limited-time offer, don’t miss out! Raise your hand if you’re interested~ This offer won’t be repeated~”

    Who would use their coins when they know nothing about the game? Mi Hongdou thought, when Zhang Zijing suddenly raised his hand. “We want to change!”

    Mi Hongdou glanced at his bundle. Well, as a man, making him wear light pink for twelve days was indeed… haha.

    Zhang Zijing happily traded ten coins for a bundle of light gray uniforms.

    Seeing this, everyone understood. The crew had prepared uniforms in different colors and sizes beforehand.

    “Those fifty coins are shared by each team. How you use them, whether you discuss it or one person decides, we don’t interfere. Jiang Duo, are you satisfied with your uniform color? You can still change it, ten coins, just ten coins!” After Zhang Zijing’s transaction, the director resumed his sales pitch.

    “So, if I change the color now, it’s free?” Jiang Duo asked.

    “Of course… not! It’s ten coins every time!” the director said, his voice exaggeratedly shocked. “Are you planning to try every color?”

    “…” Jiang Duo glanced at Zhang Zijing’s new uniform. “Actually, light gray is quite nice.”

    “Anyone else? This is your last chance!”

    “If I only want to change the color of my own two sets, is it half price, five coins?” Bao Yueqiao suddenly asked.

    Ji Junxin stared at her, surprised.

    “Of course, half price for half the set, we have five-coin denominations for change.” The director sounded delighted.

    A crew member quickly appeared, offering Bao Yueqiao a brass five-coin piece.

    Bao Yueqiao, startled, took a step back. “I… I was just asking… I just thought, wearing the same clothes all the time… wouldn’t it be… inappropriate…” She glanced at Ji Junxin.

    Although she didn’t know Bao Yueqiao very well, Ji Junxin had heard things from Qiao Rubai. This girl, although kind, often overthought things, always trying to be considerate of others. Like now, a casual observer might think that Bao Yueqiao wanted to change her uniform color because she didn’t want to match with Ji Junxin. But Ji Junxin guessed that Bao Yueqiao was worried about her feelings.

    “It’s fine,” Ji Junxin reassured her.

    “Then… I won’t change.” Bao Yueqiao put the silver coin she had been playing with back into Ji Junxin’s hand and then gestured to the crew member. “No money, no change.”

    “…” The crew member looked at the director, then quickly retreated.

    Bao Yueqiao, relieved, looked at Ji Junxin. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

    Ji Junxin shook her head. After you messed up the teams, who cares about the uniform color!

    “It seems the five-coin piece is made of brass,” Jiang Lingling whispered to Mi Hongdou. “Look, when they said half price for half the set, Jiang Duo’s face fell, she must have liked the pink. All girls have a princess dream.”

    Do you even know what live streaming is! Is it okay to be so blatant with your comments! Although that was her thought, Mi Hongdou couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Duo. Yes, her expression was terrible, haha.

    Mi Hongdou suppressed her laughter.

    Jiang Duo was indeed incredibly frustrated. She hadn’t expected Zhang Zijing to spend their coins without even consulting her. Normally, she wouldn’t have minded, but her family’s debt had made her incredibly sensitive about money. With the situation still unclear, and Zhang Zijing spending a fifth of their money so easily, it was…

    After a few more unsuccessful attempts at selling uniform changes, the director moved on. Team One: white. Team Two: light yellow. Team Three: light green. Team Four: light gray… Everyone was satisfied, except for Jiang Duo.

    “You’ve all seen how the game coins work for ‘clothing.’ Now, let’s talk about ‘food.’ First, the breakfast earlier was provided by the show, but for the next twelve days, you have to cook for yourselves. Each team can only eat their own food, no sharing or helping each other. Besides your own cooking, you can also choose to eat the free crew meals, which consist of plain rice, pickled cucumbers, and some vitamins and nutritional supplements. Now, let’s draw lots for today’s lunch ingredients. One person from each team.”

    A covered box was brought in.

    “Don’t tell me we have to eat whatever we draw!” Bao Yueqiao said, horrified. Before joining the show, she had watched some foreign reality shows. This segment looked familiar, eat a snake if you draw a snake, eat a frog if you draw a frog, she didn’t want to do it!

    Jiang Lingling, however, was interested in the box. “Don’t worry, I’ll draw for our team. If it’s a snake, I’ll just strangle it, and you can make snake soup.”

    Mi Hongdou: “…” I don’t even want to comment on the live streaming anymore, but are you really okay with your superhuman strength being broadcast? Strangling a snake with your bare hands, why not just tear it apart!

    But their worries were unfounded. The box contained lottery sticks.

    Jiang Lingling returned after drawing, looking slightly disappointed. “Just lottery sticks? Drawing snakes or frogs would have been much more entertaining. This show is boring.”

    Fortunately, it’s not snakes or frogs! The lottery started with Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao’s team. The contents of the box weren’t revealed beforehand. Mi Hongdou watched as Ji Junxin’s face paled while drawing a stick, thankfully it was just a stick! Being teamed up with Bao Yueqiao is really putting Ji Junxin at a disadvantage. If she were on my team, I wouldn’t have let her do it! Mi Hongdou felt both sympathy for Ji Junxin and regret for not noticing her arrival earlier, she could have volunteered to draw.

    “We got chicken! What should we make? If it’s a hen, I want chicken soup, if it’s a rooster, five-spice chicken!” Jiang Lingling, no longer dwelling on the missing snake, said excitedly. “I wonder if they have all the seasonings, if not, braised chicken is also fine.”

    Mi Hongdou: “You’re cooking?”

    Jiang Lingling looked at her, horrified. “I risked losing fans by teaming up with you for good food, and you’re not cooking?”

    Mi Hongdou: …Is it my fault?

    Unbeknownst to Jiang Lingling, she hadn’t lost any fans, on the contrary, her live stream was incredibly popular. The comments were filled with suggestions for how to divide a chicken into multiple parts for Mi Hongdou to cook: braised chicken head, braised chicken neck, steamed chicken breast with corn, chicken noodle soup, fried chicken wings, honey-glazed chicken wings, five-spice chicken legs, curry chicken legs, pickled pepper chicken feet, black bean sauce chicken feet… They had meticulously planned an entire chicken feast. Fortunately, Jiang Lingling couldn’t see the comments, or she might actually suggest it to Mi Hongdou.

    Even knowing that the reality show wouldn’t be easy, chicken, as an ingredient, wasn’t a challenge for Mi Hongdou. The real question was…

    “Um… do you think the other teams can cook?” She asked tactfully, facing the camera.

    Jiang Lingling, always attuned to Mi Hongdou’s thoughts, said, “Judging by Bao Yueqiao, she probably knows how to eat.”

    With the cameras rolling, can you not be so blatant! Mi Hongdou waited, but Jiang Lingling didn’t elaborate, so she continued, “What about the other two teams?”

    “Them? What do they have to do with us?” Jiang Lingling looked at Mi Hongdou as if she had asked a strange question.

    Okay… I won’t ask… Mi Hongdou gave up, it was difficult to be friends with this person!

    “By the way, I saw they drew ‘fish’ earlier,” Jiang Lingling said.

    Okay, we can still be friends.

    “Fish? Making fish soup is easy. And the program provides rice, so that’s a meal.” Mi Hongdou, thinking of Ji Junxin, figured that although they couldn’t share food, she could teach Ji Junxin how to make a simple fish soup, it wouldn’t be too bad.

    Mi Hongdou’s optimism was quickly shattered by what the crew brought next.

    It was chicken and fish… she recognized them. But… they were alive!

    This wasn’t good.

    As expected, the director announced, “The ingredients have arrived! Slaughtering service available for twenty coins. Special offer, limited time only, don’t miss out!”

    “Twenty?!” Jiang Lingling couldn’t help but exclaim. “It only costs two yuan to have a chicken slaughtered at the market, three yuan if you want it chopped, are you hiring professional butchers here? Licensed ones? That’s highway robbery!”

    “Professional butchering service, twenty coins, you deserve it~ Jiang Lingling, interested?” The director, ignoring the real-world market price, continued his sales pitch.

    “No…” Jiang Lingling waved her hand dismissively. “A twenty-coin chicken, can it fly after being eaten?… I’ll do it for nineteen.”

    The director: “…” Stealing my job and undercutting my price, how annoying.

    “Twenty coins, anyone? This is your last chance!” He ignored Jiang Lingling and continued his sales pitch.

    A chicken clucked in front of Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling, trying to peck at the goose in front of Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao. Two medium-sized crucian carp swam in a basin in front of Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao. And in front of Jiang Duo and Zhang Zijing was a basket of croaking bullfrogs, which made Bao Yueqiao retreat in horror. Accompanied by the director’s sales pitch, it wasn’t a reality show, it was a livestock market, with exorbitant slaughtering fees!

    The online viewers were going crazy, they had seen reality shows with assigned ingredients, but not live ones! Celebrities cared about their image, who would kill them themselves? That twenty coins, they would have to spend it!

    Oh, except for Jiang Lingling, haha! She’s so funny, she needs a dedicated camera, no, two!

    After the director’s prompting, besides Jiang Lingling, Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao also refused the exorbitant fee. Only Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao, and Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo, were still hesitating.

    Two girls, and a basket of terrifying bullfrogs, the online viewers were certain that the forty coins were as good as gone.

    And they weren’t far off. After a brief discussion, Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao declined, while Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo paid the twenty coins.

    Viewers without access to the individual live streams asked those with multiple computers or fast switching skills what Ji Junxin had said.

    “She said that although it was a demonstration of how to use the coins, it seemed like the show really wanted them to spend the coins. So, she thought it was better to wait.” And Bao Yueqiao had agreed.

    So, in the end, only Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo paid for the slaughtering service, and the crew took away the basket of bullfrogs.

    This outcome clearly didn’t satisfy the show, because the director then yelled, “Serve!”

    Four crew members, carrying trays, approached the teams and revealed their contents.

    The aroma of butter, black pepper, and grilled meat wafted towards them. It had been over two hours since breakfast, and the smell made them hungry.

    On each tray, a steak, larger than the usual restaurant steak, sizzled on a hot iron plate, coated in black pepper sauce, which also covered the fried egg next to it. Two scoops of mashed potatoes completed the dish.

    “Just twenty coins for this steak, your lunch! Twenty coins, the best price! This offer won’t be repeated!” The director’s voice was tempting. “Nice and hot, these are just samples, we’ll make them fresh, anytime before this afternoon.”

    Mi Hongdou heard Jiang Lingling gulp beside her.

    “…” Mi Hongdou touched the five silver coins in her hand. “If we have the chance later, I’ll make you pan-fried chicken steak,” she whispered.

    The gulping sound stopped.

    Having dealt with Jiang Lingling, Mi Hongdou leaned forward to look at Ji Junxin. She didn’t think either Ji Junxin or Bao Yueqiao would have the courage to kill the fish, and even if they did, scaling and removing the gallbladder were tricky… she was worried, but with so many cameras, she couldn’t offer any advice. And this steak, also twenty coins, was a much better deal than the slaughtering service. Such a large steak, it should be enough for two… well, with rice, it would be a filling meal.

    Mi Hongdou desperately tried to convey her thoughts with her gaze, but Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao were busy discussing, and she couldn’t catch their eyes. This team setup is the worst!

    In the end, Ji Junxin didn’t buy the steak.

    Zhang Zijing wanted to, but after paying for the butchering service, the remaining two coins had been taken by Jiang Duo, who didn’t seem inclined to spend them on steak. Why wasn’t the steak offered before the butchering service! Who knew how to cook bullfrogs!

    If the order were reversed, it wouldn’t be a reality show.

    But the show’s efforts weren’t completely in vain, one steak was sold. Yu Naihao looked eager to try it, so Lu Changhuai bought it for him. When Yu Naihao offered to buy one for him too, Lu Changhuai refused.

    Mi Hongdou watched, incredibly jealous! Also a CP from a popular film, why were they so harmonious, while she wanted to buy everything for Ji Junxin!

    After the steak was taken away, the director finally stopped his sales pitch and officially announced the rules of the reality show.

    “Welcome to the world of Reality Online, a twelve-day gaming experience. First, some basic rules and a brief introduction. See that village in the distance with the smoke? That’s Dengjia Village, where you’ll be living for the next twelve days. Here, you’ll enter a new world. We’ll provide basic necessities: shelter, the previously mentioned plain rice with pickled cucumbers and nutritional supplements, uniforms and pajamas. Regardless of how much luggage you brought, you can only bring your personal belongings into the village…”

    The director paused, and everyone waited.

    “Besides personal belongings, what else?” Yu Naihao, impatient, asked. “Can’t we even bring offline game consoles?”

    “I said, only personal belongings,” the director replied, his tone mischievous.

    Everyone, both on set and online, was in an uproar.

    So, this was how a reality show was supposed to be, torturing the celebrities!

    “Heh…” Jiang Lingling, amused by the rules, easily found the nearest camera. “Dad, I know you’re watching, don’t worry, I’m used to this kind of life.”

    Dong Yuannan, surrounded by three computer screens, one showing four different angles of Jiang Lingling, felt like crying. Qiong Yu, Qiao Rubai, don’t leave after work, let’s talk!

    Mi Hongdou had expected some restrictions, which was why she had only packed necessities. But this… Qiao Rubai, aren’t you being too harsh! Ji Junxin is also here, you’re torturing her too!

    Qiao Rubai, also watching the live stream on multiple screens, had been sneezing for a while. But she felt she was being unfairly blamed. Qiong Yu was only responsible for the production, the rules, the game elements, those were all Pan Xiang’s creations, Pan Xiang should be the one sneezing. But there was one thing she had to take responsibility for…

    At the “Divorce, So Be It 2” wrap-up party, she had told Mi Hongdou about Ji Junxin’s past relationship with Jiang Duo. And when Mi Hongdou asked if Ji Junxin’s reaction to her death meant that she had feelings for her, Qiao Rubai had wanted to hint that Ji Junxin probably had feelings for her in this life too.

    But before she could say it, Mi Hongdou, while sobbing, had asked how she knew about her rebirth.

    So, Qiao Rubai had revealed Mi Hongdou’s slip-up with the scallions, ginger, and garlic.

    And then Mi Hongdou, after staring at her for a long moment, had said, “Did you really conclude that I’m also reborn just because of how I handle seasonings? Or maybe I just learned about Ji Junxin’s preferences after living with her for a while?”

    Mi Hongdou’s words were like a slap in the face, and Qiao Rubai felt… a little foolish.

    Feeling a little embarrassed, she had lost her desire to give Mi Hongdou any hints. Hmph, if you’re so capable, then pursue Ji Junxin yourself!

    She hadn’t told Mi Hongdou about Ji Junxin’s feelings, thinking it would be a good test. “Reality Online,” with its focus on teamwork and survival, was perfect for building relationships. But Qiao Rubai hadn’t expected… Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin to be on different teams…

    It… wasn’t her fault!

    Regardless of the uproar caused by the “only personal belongings” rule, the director continued, “Besides the basic necessities and your personal belongings, everything else you need or want, from tools and seasonings to houses and furniture, can be exchanged for ROL game coins. There will be a detailed list of available items and their prices in the village. And don’t worry, you’ll see that the initial prices are discounted. And with enough coins, you can even request items not on the list, even specific brands, our staff will assess the price. As for the coins, besides the initial fifty coins each team receives, you’ll have to earn the rest. There are many ways to earn coins: daily team challenges, helping the villagers, many opportunities await you. Simply put, if you don’t participate, it’s fine, we’ll provide basic shelter and plain rice, you can just sleep for twelve days, and our cameramen won’t have to work too hard. But we do hope you’ll actively participate, after all, even if you don’t eat, your teammates still have to! And with enough coins, you can live in a big house and enjoy roasted lamb legs!”

    “Hearing that last sentence, I have a bad feeling about this…” Ji Junxin said, leaning closer to Mi Hongdou. Why am I on the same team as Bao Yueqiao? Why not Mi Hongdou?

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 505

    Chapter 505: Thanks For That

    The [Original Demon], as the first and oldest faction of the Old Demon faction, devoted significant effort to the Demonic Refining Ritual, aiming to create the Seventh and evolve Demon Lords into a new Demon King.

    Only through continuous Demonic Refining Rituals, producing countless Demonized Beings as sacrifices and nourishment for the Demon Lord Larvae, could the Seventh be successfully born.

    To achieve this, the quantity and quality of the demons and monsters used in the ritual had to be guaranteed.

    Under such circumstances, it was only natural for the [Original Demon] to target the Tegor Forest, the largest monster forest.

    Therefore…

    “A thousand years ago, after the war ended and the Old Demon Faction [Original Demon] was born, the Tegor Forest has been frequently used as the site for the Demonic Refining Ritual.”

    Lid explained this secret to Shien.

    “At first, no one noticed this, because the Tegor Forest is vast and secluded. As long as they hid within, no one could discover the anomaly. There were many successful cases of the Demonic Refining Ritual here.”

    Those successful cases all turned into powerful Demon Lord Larvae, becoming part of the Seventh created by the [Original Demon].

    It could be said that the Seventh within the [Original Demon] was born and originated from here.

    “Later, because of the Goddess of Nature’s power and the vigilance of the elves living here, the Demonic Refining Ritual was finally discovered.”

    Lid said calmly.

    “It was then that we discovered the existence of the [Original Demon], the existence of the Old Demon Faction, and their foolish plan.”

    Neither the Divine Race, the Demon Race, nor the human race could ignore this.

    “The three races all sent many people, intending to completely annihilate the [Original Demon] in the Tegor Forest and destroy their plan.”

    Unfortunately, the Old Demon Faction was well-prepared.

    They had anticipated that the ritual would be discovered and had prepared an escape plan.

    “As a result, that time, we only managed to stop the Demonic Refining Ritual, but we couldn’t effectively damage the [Original Demon].” Lid snorted coldly. “The most infuriating thing is that those rats became very cautious afterward. For a thousand years, they haven’t shown themselves.”

    Airi had also said before, in the Atlus Gorge, that the [Original Demon] never revealed themselves easily, but would give Demon Lord Larvae to those Old Demon Faction branches or human forces who were trying to do something, using them to perform the ritual and gather sacrifices to achieve their own goals.

    Because of this, this oldest branch of the Old Demon Faction also became the most mysterious, never revealing themselves, making it extremely difficult to effectively harm them.

    “And when we left the Tegor Forest, those bastards would return at the right time, continuing to use the forest for the Demonic Refining Ritual to create Demon Lord Larvae and complete the Seventh. Once we received news and came here, they would immediately retreat. For a thousand years, the three races have been played by this [Original Demon].”

    Lid’s voice was filled with anger, and even Millu looked furious, a terrifying killing intent emanating from her.

    Shien could imagine how frustrated the three races were, being played by the [Original Demon].

    “Even Nadue, the Goddess of Nature, intervened several times, using her power to monitor the world, and Lildas, the Goddess of Fate, also used her power many times, trying to find them, but they seemed to have anticipated everything, constantly shifting their base between the human world and the Demon Realm, using various methods to evade the Divine Race’s power. In the end, even the Divine Race couldn’t do anything to them.”

    Lid sighed.

    “Helplessly, we could only use some crude methods, setting up sentries and defenses in the places they often targeted, especially this Tegor Forest, a ritual site they couldn’t abandon.”

    Therefore, although the Tegor Forest seemed dangerous, and no one would normally come here, not only was the [Original Demon] active here from time to time, but even the sentries and spies of the various races would frequently come and go.

    This was the reason why Lid and Millu were here.

    “In the Demon Race, Millu and I are closest in nature to monsters, and the territories under our jurisdiction mostly have various monsters. Moreover, since it’s difficult for us to act alone due to our special circumstances, we often team up and operate in the Tegor Forest.”

    Lid finally revealed the reason for her presence here.

    “This time is the same. Because my subordinates reported a new Demonic Refining Ritual, Millu and I came to the human world, to the Tegor Forest.”

    They also knew about the habitat of the Elven Race, that the Elven Homeland was nearby.

    Therefore, while they were here, they would occasionally visit the Elven Homeland, firstly to relax, secondly because of Millu’s curiosity and playfulness, and thirdly, to use it as a supply station, sometimes finding some human food to eat, sometimes finding a place to bathe.

    At least, that’s what they did whenever a Demonic Refining Ritual occurred in the Tegor Forest and they needed to deal with it.

    This time was the same.

    “I didn’t expect to encounter you.” Lid looked at Shien. “This is an unexpected harvest.”

    “Yes, yes!” Millu nodded repeatedly.

    Clearly, these two had long known about Shien’s existence, and about his relationship with Airi.

    This time, when Shien came to the Elven Homeland and unintentionally mentioned Airi’s name, they appeared and immediately guessed his identity, just like Shien guessed theirs.

    “I originally thought that girl must have gone crazy. A dignified Dragon Demon, one of the Six Demon Lords, actually messing around with a human brat. If I didn’t know her personality, I would have suspected that she had slept too much and her brain had turned to mush.”

    Lid’s words were quite vicious.

    “Yes, yes!”

    Millu nodded repeatedly, making it difficult for Shien to retort.

    Of course, that was their initial thought.

    Now…

    “Although I still don’t quite understand what’s wrong with that girl’s mind, since Big Sister has acknowledged you and doesn’t intend to pursue the matter between you two, and you seem quite capable, so young yet possessing at least legendary-level strength, and most importantly, not afraid of us and daring to face us, you’re considered passable for now.”

    Lid’s evaluation was quite harsh.

    But overall, Shien had met their standards.

    Otherwise, they might have really attacked him.

    As Lid said, if he wanted to be involved with Airi, he had to bear this risk.

    Otherwise, did he really think he could easily gain the favor and protection of a Demon Lord, the pinnacle of the Demon Race, despite the difference in status and strength?

    Perhaps Airi herself didn’t mind, but she was still one of the leaders of the Demon Race, her every move could influence the entire race, and even the world. Even if she didn’t want to, others would still act because of her. This was the influence of a high-ranking figure.

    Shien naturally understood this.

    But he never took it to heart.

    With his special identity, he would eventually enter the sights of those at the top of this world. He was already mentally prepared.

    Although his strength wasn’t to the point where he could act recklessly, he at least had some confidence now, which was why he wasn’t afraid and dared to follow Millu and Lid out of the Elven Homeland.

    Thanks to this, if it were any other time, facing Lid’s arrogant evaluation, he would definitely retort.

    But now, he was more concerned about something else.

    “So, the Demonic Refining Ritual is still being held in the Tegor Forest?” Shien asked, “Did you find anyone from the [Original Demon]?”

    Lid answered directly,

    “No.” Lid replied, “If they were that easy to find, this oldest branch of the Old Demon Faction wouldn’t have survived for a thousand years. They would have been eliminated long ago.”

    “Yes!” Millu also nodded vigorously, as if agreeing, and even made a punching gesture. Her small fist created a surprisingly strong gust of wind, scattering the surrounding flames, a terrifying display of power.

    Shien fell silent and sighed.

    “What?” Lid asked, “Do you have a grudge against the [Original Demon]?”

    Seeing how much Shien cared about the [Original Demon] and the Demonic Refining Ritual, Lid was a bit curious.

    “A grudge?” Shien curled his lip. “If I have to say, it’s not that I don’t.”

    Although the Garibaldi family was the main culprit in the Atlus Gorge incident, the [Original Demon], as the mastermind behind it, Shien hadn’t forgotten about them.

    Coupled with his conflict with the Old Demon Faction, Shien naturally considered this most mysterious and oldest branch of the Old Demon Faction his enemy.

    Of course, the main reason Shien was concerned about the [Original Demon] was still the matter of the Seventh and the creation of a new Demon King.

    He was summoned to this world as the Hero. According to Nien, it was because she wanted Shien to resolve a hidden crisis.

    And this hidden crisis was very likely the [Original Demon]’s actions of creating a new Demon Lord and a new Demon King.

    Since that was the case, how could Shien not confront the [Original Demon]?

    “Anyway, I’m not on good terms with the Old Demon Faction. You just need to know that.” Shien said to Lid, “If possible, I will definitely wipe them all out from this world.”

    How ruthless.

    However, Millu and Lid’s eyes lit up because of Shien’s words.

    “I agree!”

    Millu raised her hand energetically.

    “Indeed, those bastards should be completely eradicated from this world.”

    Lid also nodded repeatedly.

    Clearly, these two, like Airi, loathed the Old Demon Faction.

    It should be said that all Demon Lords and demons loathed the Old Demon Faction.

    Especially the [Original Demon], who wanted to create a new Demon Lord and a new Demon King. This was trampling on the way of existence of Demon Lords and the Demon King’s authority.

    Moreover, for their own purposes, they not only used monsters as sacrifices, but also targeted demons, harming their own kind. Every member of the Demon Race wanted to annihilate them.

    Shien’s words resonated with Millu and Lid.

    This also made them look at Shien more favorably.

    “It seems that girl Airi has some good judgment.”

    Lid even said this, showing how much she hated the Old Demon Faction.

    Shien wouldn’t have thought that he, who was being scrutinized by these two big shots before, would now gain their favor because of a single sentence of shared hatred.

    Shien only wanted to know one thing.

    “Since you didn’t catch anyone, can you at least stop the Demonic Refining Ritual?” Shien frowned. “I didn’t sense the evil and dark magic power of the ritual. Could it be that the ritual site isn’t here?”

    “No, the ritual site is nearby.” Lid shook her head. “However, the ritual has already been disrupted by Millu and me.”

    “The ritual has been disrupted?” Shien was taken aback.

    “That’s right.” Lid waved her paw. “Millu and I both took action. Do you think the ritual could still continue?”

    Indeed, the identities of these two weren’t simple. Since they had come here and taken action, they couldn’t have gone to the Elven Homeland to relax without any results.

    “Although the ritual was disrupted by us, we haven’t found the culprit yet, and some of the Demonized Beings formed during the ritual escaped and are now wandering in the forest.” Lid said, “These Demonized Beings might be recovered by the [Original Demon] and used to feed other Demon Lord larvae, so we need to eliminate the remaining Demonized Beings as much as possible.”

    “Eliminate! Eliminate!” Millu cheered, seemingly full of energy.

    Shien then understood.

    “You’re not planning to use me as muscle, are you?”

    Shien was stunned.

    Lid smiled “kindly.”

    “We just want to see your strength.” Lid said teasingly, “How about it? Isn’t it exciting? A truly invigorating activity, right? Makes you sweat a lot, doesn’t it?”

    Thanks for that.

    As Shien rolled his eyes at this, Nadue, who had been watching, narrowed her eyes.

    “The [Original Demon] again?”

    A cold glint flashed in Nadue’s eyes.

    “It seems I need to keep an eye on this forest.”

  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 53p1

    Chapter 53 p1

    Xu Jingyu hated the sea.

    Not a fear, not the indifference she felt towards most things, but a distinct, visceral dislike. Instinctively, she felt she should like the sea, but her body, her very being, rejected it.

    So, she never went to the beach.

    Despite owning numerous beachfront properties, they were just assets, managed by others, rarely visited by her.

    But if Xin Yao wanted to go, then her own preferences were irrelevant.

    Xu Jingyu was a cold, aloof person, her presence intimidating, her gaze chilling.

    She didn’t care what others thought of her, her indifference a shield against the world.

    But Xin Yao was different.

    All her tenderness, all her affection, all her passion, were reserved for Xin Yao.

    Although, at this moment, Xin Yao wasn’t feeling particularly cherished.

    She lay on the bed, Xu Jingyu’s weight pinning her down, her head tilted back, her slender neck exposed, a vision of vulnerable beauty.

    Her eyes, gazing at the sunlight streaming through the window, were unfocused, her lips slightly parted, a thin sheen of sweat on her collarbone.

    Below that, she couldn’t see.

    Her white swimsuit, its ties undone, lay discarded somewhere.

    A head of dark hair was buried between her legs, its owner occasionally lifting her head, her profile illuminated by the sunlight, her tongue tracing Xin Yao’s skin.

    Soft moans echoed through the room.

    The sounds were so intimate, so arousing, that Xin Yao bit her lip, suppressing her own moans, her cheeks burning with shame.

    Finally, unable to bear it any longer, her teeth leaving a faint mark on her lower lip, she pushed against Xu Jingyu’s shoulder.

    “Are you a dog? Why are you biting me?”

    Xu Jingyu loved her resistance, yet she wouldn’t allow it.

    Whenever Xin Yao protested, Xu Jingyu would…

    If Xin Yao had to describe it, she would say that Xu Jingyu became strangely aroused by her resistance, her possessiveness intensifying, her grip tightening, forcing Xin Yao to meet her gaze, refusing to let her look away.

    Like now.

    As Xin Yao pushed against her, Xu Jingyu lifted her head, her dark eyes intense and predatory, her hand reaching for something.

    She grabbed Xin Yao’s wrists, pinning them above her head, then used the object to tie them together.

    Xin Yao glanced at the makeshift restraints. It was her discarded swimsuit top. She couldn’t help but laugh, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in her voice.

    “My clothes have become your weapons now?”

    Xu Jingyu, having secured Xin Yao’s wrists, didn’t reply, her gaze tracing the curves of Xin Yao’s body, her fingers gently tilting her chin up as she kissed her.

    The kiss was long and deep, their tongues tangling in a passionate dance.

    When they finally parted, Xu Jingyu’s breath coming in short gasps, her hair falling around Xin Yao’s face, tickling her skin, she looked at Xin Yao, her eyes soft and warm, her voice a husky whisper.

    “Yaoyao, let’s get married.”

    Xin Yao, her mind still hazy from the kiss, her body relaxed and pliant, smiled lazily.

    “You’re saying this now? In this position? Is this a proposal?”

    “Yes,” Xu Jingyu’s gaze was intense, “will you marry me?”

    “No,” Xin Yao’s reply was swift.

    Xu Jingyu’s lips found hers again, a demanding kiss that left Xin Yao breathless, her eyes darkening as she looked at Xin Yao.

    “Will you marry me?”

    “No.”

    Xu Jingyu leaned closer again, her lips seeking Xin Yao’s.

    Xin Yao, however, bit her lip, a silent protest, her teeth leaving a faint mark on her swollen, reddened flesh.

    Xu Jingyu’s fingers, cool and smooth like jade, traced Xin Yao’s lips, gently parting them, her touch a teasing caress.

    Her voice, low and sensual, was a husky whisper.

    “Don’t bite.”

    Xin Yao’s eyes filled with tears, but she couldn’t speak, her voice trapped in her throat.

    Xu Jingyu, seizing the opportunity, leaned closer, her lips brushing against Xin Yao’s ear, her voice a seductive murmur.

    “Yaoyao, let’s get married.”

    This marriage maniac.

    It was practically blackmail.

    But Xin Yao, weakened by Xu Jingyu’s touch, her body trembling with a mix of desire and frustration, could only nod, her eyes shining with a soft light.

    “Really?”

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes lit up, her breath catching in her throat as she withdrew her hand, her eyelashes fluttering, her excitement palpable.

    She seemed momentarily flustered, her usual composure shattered.

    She reached out as if to touch Xin Yao, then hesitated, pulling her hand back, her desire for a more intimate connection overwhelming her as she leaned down to kiss Xin Yao again.

    Xin Yao gently pushed her away, holding up her bound wrists.

    “Untie me first. I can’t talk like this. It’s uncomfortable.”

    Xu Jingyu, eager to please, quickly untied her wrists.

    Xin Yao sat up, rubbing her wrists, then slowly put on her swimsuit top.

    She looked at Xu Jingyu, a playful smile on her face, and kissed her cheek.

    Then, she got out of bed.

    She glanced at the bright sunlight streaming through the window, then turned to look at Xu Jingyu, who was sitting on the bed, waiting patiently, her gaze fixed on Xin Yao’s face.

    Xin Yao raised an eyebrow, her fingertip tracing Xu Jingyu’s forehead, her voice a playful tease.

    “You want to marry me?”

    Xu Jingyu, lovestruck, nodded.

    Xin Yao’s smile widened, and she leaned closer, her lips brushing against Xu Jingyu’s ear, her voice a husky whisper.

    “Let me teach you something, then. Never trust a woman in bed.”

    “I was just kidding.”

    Then, afraid of being caught, she quickly slipped away, waving at Xu Jingyu.

    “I’m going for a swim!”

    Xu Jingyu sat there, watching her go, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

    Then, she shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

    She had been completely seduced, completely played.

    Just as Xue Ning had said, Xin Yao could sell her, and she would happily help count the money.

    But even knowing this, Xu Jingyu wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Xin Yao ran downstairs and onto the beach.

    It felt like summer.

    The ocean stretched before her, a vast expanse of blue, the two coconut trees swaying gently in the breeze, their fronds a vibrant green, the air filled with the fresh, salty scent of the sea.

    The housekeeper had thoughtfully set up a beach umbrella and two lounge chairs, a small table with drinks waiting for them.

    After a while, Xu Jingyu, also changed into her swimsuit, joined her.

    Wanting to be more covered up, she had chosen a more modest swimsuit, its dark color a stark contrast to Xin Yao’s white bikini. The fabric, however, clung to her body, revealing her perfect figure.

    As she walked towards Xin Yao, her black hair swaying in the breeze, her long legs gleaming in the sunlight, she looked like a model on a runway.

    Xin Yao, having already moved on from their earlier encounter, ran towards her, a bright smile on her face, and took her hand.

    “Let’s go for a walk.”

    Xu Jingyu, looking at Xin Yao’s smiling face, then at the ocean, her hand tightening around Xin Yao’s, nodded.

    As they walked along the water’s edge, a wave crashed against the shore, the water swirling around their ankles, then rising to their knees.

    Xu Jingyu looked down at the churning water, its salty scent filling the air, her brow furrowing slightly.

    She didn’t like the sea.

    And in that moment, memories flooded back.

    Xu Jingyu was the eldest daughter of the Xu family.

    The Xu family was wealthy and influential, their business empire spanning the globe.

    Such wealth and power inevitably attracted unwanted attention, especially towards their vulnerable children.

    When she was ten years old, Xu Jingyu had been kidnapped.

    The kidnappers had warned her family not to contact the police, threatening to kill her if they did.

    The Xu family, however, known for their ruthlessness, had pretended to comply while secretly contacting the authorities.

    By the time the kidnappers realized they had been betrayed, it was too late. They were surrounded.

    But they were desperate and ruthless, having targeted the Xu family and successfully kidnapping Xu Jingyu, and seeing their plan foiled, they had decided to take her down with them, detonating the boat they were on.

    Xu Jingyu had been thrown into the ocean.

    The water, usually so gentle, now pressed against her from all sides, crushing her chest, filling her lungs, making it impossible to breathe.

    She had struggled, but her movements had been futile, her body like a weight, sinking into the depths.

    She had looked up at the fading light, her body slowly sinking, until she lost consciousness.

    The police had searched for her, but they had only found the bodies of the kidnappers. They had declared her missing, presumed dead.

    The Xu family had been saddened by the news.

    Their eldest daughter, so intelligent and capable, had been the perfect heir to their empire.

    But their grief hadn’t been profound. After all, they were wealthy and influential. They had other children, including a younger son.

    And there were plenty of other relatives.

    To ease their pain, they had adopted another child, a more obedient and compliant daughter.

    And so, their perfect family had been restored.

    And the child lost at sea, buried in their memories, forgotten.

    But Xu Jingyu hadn’t died.

    She had been incredibly lucky, rescued by a fishing family in a small, remote village.

    But her luck had been short-lived. The family hadn’t saved her out of kindness.

    They had seen her beauty and had decided to keep her, to make her a child bride for their simple-minded son.

    The village was isolated, and while Xu Jingyu was intelligent, she had been adrift at sea for too long, her memories hazy, her sense of direction lost.

    And the family, fearing she would escape, had chained her up, keeping her captive.

    She was trapped in hell, with no hope of escape.

    So, the ten-year-old Xu Jingyu had changed her tactics, feigning obedience to gain their trust, waiting for an opportunity to escape.

    She had been treated like a slave, forced to work from dawn till dusk, beaten and locked away in a dark room for the smallest infraction.

    She had spent countless nights sitting on the cold floor, her eyes open until dawn, waiting for her parents to come and rescue her.

    But they never came.

    So, she had saved herself.

    With a patience beyond her years, she had waited for a year, then, seizing an opportunity, while the family was distracted, she had set fire to their warehouse. As they rushed to put out the fire, she had escaped, following a route she had carefully memorized, and had contacted the police.

    She had returned home.

    The family who had kidnapped and abused her had been arrested and punished.

    But for Xu Jingyu, returning home had been like stepping from one hell into another.

    After two years, she had returned to find a complete, happy family: her parents, her younger brother, and their adopted daughter, their lives intertwined, leaving no space for her.

    She had fought so hard to return, only to find herself even more alone.

    Two years.

    A short time, yet long enough for her memories to fade, for her mother to forget her.

    On the day Xu Jingyu started high school, her mother had ordered a large strawberry cake.

    But Xu Jingyu didn’t like strawberries. It was her adopted sister’s favorite flavor.

    They had almost forgotten her birthday, remembering only the anniversary of her supposed death.

    And even more absurdly, her adopted sister had been terrified of her return.

    Afraid that Xu Jingyu would reclaim her place in the family, she had tried everything to push her away, hoping that everyone would dislike Xu Jingyu and love her instead.

    She had even faked an accident, falling down the stairs and accusing Xu Jingyu of pushing her.

    Then, she had feigned illness, threatened suicide, resorting to every trick she could think of.

    She had even put cockroaches in Xu Jingyu’s bag.

    Xu Jingyu, her patience finally wearing thin, had confronted her, holding the cockroach in her gloved hand, her face impassive, her voice cold and calm.

    “I don’t have a good temper. I don’t like arguing, I don’t like fighting, and I don’t like talking.”

    “So, please be quiet. Don’t say a word in my presence. Ever again. Is that clear?”

    “Oh, and that wasn’t a request. Understand?”

    Her adopted sister had been terrified.

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 60p1

    Chapter Sixty p1

    In the wilderness, there were no signs of human habitation.

    Bo Chi and Jin Xi turned their heads and saw Yu Zhao, and were immediately so frightened that they hugged each other and trembled.

    Jin Xi couldn’t tell whether this person was human or ghost, while Bo Chi’s heart skipped a beat, and she thought tearfully—Why did Yu Zhao come so quickly! According to the plot, shouldn’t she arrive at the temple at night?

    Bo Chi was anxious, and ignoring everything else, she immediately plucked another handful of yin energy from Jin Xi like plucking wool from a sheep.

    Ghosts would undergo a drastic change in temperament after death, filled with resentment and malevolent energy. Very few ghosts would choose to slowly absorb yin energy to increase their strength, or perhaps the mortality rate of ghosts who chose this path was relatively high. Therefore, among evil ghosts, those who ate flesh and blood alive were more common, and very few exorcists knew about their other cultivation method.

    Bo Chi, relying on Yu Zhao’s young age and lack of knowledge of those secrets, used this handful of yin energy openly to completely cover up the ghostly aura on her body.

    The pointer on the compass immediately spun around, and finally returned to its starting point, no longer pointing at Bo Chi.

    Yu Zhao was stunned, frowned and fiddled with the compass, obviously not understanding what was going on.

    Jin Xi, who had been scared for a long time, seeing that she hadn’t moved for a long time, finally couldn’t help but say: “Hey, are you human?“

    As soon as this muffled voice came out, Yu Zhao couldn’t help but be stunned. She looked at Jin Xi and Bo Chi for a while, then returned to her expressionless face, and said: “No wonder she was pinned down by you, so… you’re a man.”

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Jin Xi: “???”

    The air froze strangely for a while, and then was broken by Jin Xi’s loud crying.

    “I’m not a man!” Jin Xi cried so hard that the heavens and earth seemed to be collapsing, her voice shaking the earth, aggrieved and heartbroken: “I’m a girl! I’m not a man!“

    A surprised look appeared on Yu Zhao’s calm face, and she said in confusion: “Then your voice…“

    “It’s a cold.” Bo Chi helped Jin Xi up, and smiled: “She slept in a mountain temple last night, without a quilt, so she caught a cold and her voice became hoarse.“

    “I see.” Yu Zhao said, but her long and narrow phoenix eyes were fixed on Bo Chi.

    So far, her spirit-seeking compass had never made a mistake. Now, seeing the different reactions from the girl in front of her, she couldn’t let down her guard.

    Yu Zhao carefully examined her. She saw that her hair was as black as ink, her lips were red and her teeth were white, and her skin was paler than ordinary people, but not as pale as a ghost without any blood.

    Was it really the compass’s problem?

    Yu Zhao thought to herself, and when she glanced at the girl again, her expression suddenly changed.

    Because the girl was wearing a white gauze dress, but she was wearing a pair of red embroidered shoes!

    Red and white clashed, and ordinary people wouldn’t dress like this. Only a ghost bride who died suddenly during her wedding, turning a happy event into a funeral, would wear red and white together with this resentment.

    Everyone knew about this taboo, but the girl in front of her was still dressed like this. Yu Zhao looked at her, and endless vigilance and killing intent arose in her heart.

    Bo Chi felt her hair stand on end from her gaze, followed her gaze and saw her red embroidered shoes, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately shifted the blame: “How frivolous of the Daoist, staring at my feet!“

    Jin Xi, who was wiping her tears, immediately protected her, and said in a rough voice: “You pervert! Rogue!“

    Yu Zhao moved her eyebrows: “…This girl is still wearing shoes, how can I see her feet through the shoes? Besides, I was just thinking, everyone knows about the red and white taboo, why is this girl still wearing red embroidered shoes after wearing a white dress? Aren’t you afraid of evil spirits coming to take your soul in the middle of the night?“

    Jin Xi looked down at Bo Chi’s shoes, and hissed: “That’s right, Chi Niang, why are you dressed like this!“

    Bo Chi said without changing her expression: “I’m poor. Your parents insisted on me taking you back before giving me the money. I had no choice but to pick up a pair of dead people’s shoes after my shoes broke.“

    Jin Xi immediately felt both guilty and scared, and hurriedly said: “Then let’s switch shoes first, and I’ll buy you a new pair when we enter the city.“

    Bo Chi had no objections, and sat on a big rock on the side, taking off her shoes.

    After her fair and delicate jade feet were exposed, Bo Chi suddenly looked up, her curled eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, revealing a pair of sly almond eyes: “Daoist, are my feet beautiful?“

    Yu Zhao’s serious gaze froze, she looked at Bo Chi in a daze for a while, then suddenly turned her face away, and said angrily: “Shameless!“

    Bo Chi burst into laughter: “It was clearly the Daoist who was staring at me intensely, why are you embarrassed now that I’ve said it out loud?“

    Yu Zhao took a deep breath, and simply ignored her with a cold face.

    Bo Chi felt a little regretful in her heart, quickly switched shoes with Jin Xi, and then walked towards Yu Zhao.

    Yu Zhao reacted very quickly, and took a step back when she approached, frowning: “Since the girl thinks I’m frivolous, please stay away from me.“

    Bo Chi looked innocent: “Is the Daoist too petty? We’re both women, I was just casually teasing, I didn’t mean to blame you.“

    Yu Zhao sneered without speaking, her eyes still filled with endless vigilance.

    Bo Chi’s expression paused slightly, knowing that it would be futile to approach her again, so she stopped, deliberately retreated to advance, and turned to look at Jin Xi: “We’ve wasted so much time, let’s continue down the mountain.“

    Jin Xi didn’t want to talk anymore, just nodded and hummed.

    The two of them walked down the mountain. After a while, footsteps came from behind them again.

    Jin Xi turned around in horror, and found that Yu Zhao had followed them. She couldn’t help but point at her, and then at her head.

    Bo Chi acted as a translator: “Daoist, Xiao Xi is asking if you have a brain.“

    Jin Xi: “???”

    No! She was asking what this Daoist was thinking! Why was she following them!

    Bo Chi’s translation successfully scared Jin Xi. Jin Xi covered Bo Chi’s mouth, which was about to chatter, and decisively spoke herself, asking a series of questions.

    Yu Zhao looked at their intimacy coldly, and said in a deep voice when she heard this: “I’m not a Daoist, but an exorcist. You can call me by my name, Yu Zhao.”

    Jin Xi suddenly realized: “So it’s Master Exorcist… Wait, Master, why are you following us? Could it be, could it be that there are demons and ghosts around us?!“

    She was frightened by her own imagination, and couldn’t help but hug Bo Chi in fear.

    Yu Zhao narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on Bo Chi beside her, but she asked: “Are you two acquaintances?“

    Jin Xi, without any scheming, replied: “Yes, Chi Niang was sent by my parents, and we have a very good relationship.“

    Yu Zhao frowned slightly, confusion flashing in her eyes.

    Since she was sent by her parents, then she must have been with her all the way, never separated.

    Even if an evil spirit could endure for a while, it wouldn’t endure for so long without taking action.

    So… was it really a temporary error of the compass?

    Yu Zhao couldn’t get an answer. Seeing Jin Xi, who was confused, about to pull Bo Chi and continue walking, her eyes darkened slightly, and she still followed them.

    Jin Xi stopped again, this time her face was full of vigilance: “Why, why, why are you always following us! Could it be… you’re not actually an exorcist, but a real ghost?“

    A thought suddenly occurred to Yu Zhao, and she looked at Bo Chi and said faintly: “What if I really am a ghost?“

    Jin Xi’s face turned pale with fright, and just as she was about to pull Bo Chi and run, Bo Chi didn’t move, but blinked her eyes, and exclaimed: “A love story between a human and a ghost? Oh my, how exciting!“

    Yu Zhao: “?”

    Jin Xi: “?”

    The other two’s pupils shook, obviously shocked by her words.

    Bo Chi suppressed a smile, returned to her serious look, and said: “Master Exorcist is following us because she’s worried that we two girls will encounter danger. Xiao Xi, you should thank Miss Yu Zhao.“

    Only then did Jin Xi understand, and she looked at Yu Zhao with shining eyes and started to flatter her.

    Yu Zhao ignored her, her gaze fixed on Bo Chi, and her voice was cold: “Aren’t you afraid?“

    Bo Chi’s eyes fluttered, and she said something Yu Zhao couldn’t understand: “I’m only afraid that you won’t follow.“

    Yu Zhao snorted coldly, thinking that she was just putting on a brave face, and didn’t say anything more.

    The three of them began to slowly walk down the mountain. Halfway down, the weather suddenly changed, and it started to rain heavily.

    None of them had an umbrella, so they could only hurriedly look for a place to shelter from the rain.

    Fortunately, they were lucky, and they found a dilapidated thatched hut, and went in to take shelter from the heavy rain.

    This hut should have been built by hunters going up the mountain. It had been there for some years, and now it was shaking in the heavy rain, making Jin Xi tremble with fear, afraid that the hut would collapse.

    While she was praying with her hands clasped together, Bo Chi and Yu Zhao were standing on the side. Because the hut was not big, their shoulders and arms inevitably touched.

    Yu Zhao felt it for a while, lowered her eyes and looked at her: “Your body seems to be cold.“

    Bo Chi’s expression became strange: “Miss Yu, your words sound like a rogue teasing a decent woman.“

    Yu Zhao then reacted, the tips of her ears turning red, but her face became even colder: “Why do you always tease me? Are you scared?“

    Bo Chi chuckled, and couldn’t help but say: “Yes, I’m so scared that Miss Yu will be tempted by my beauty and take advantage of me in this broken hut.“

    Yu Zhao’s face darkened, her aura low, obviously unable to argue with Bo Chi, and very angry.

    Bo Chi waited for a while, and seeing that she didn’t say anything, she couldn’t help but tease her again: “Why isn’t Miss Yu talking? Weren’t you staring at me just now? By the way, you don’t know my name yet, do you? My name is Bo Chi, you can call me Chi Niang.“

    She kept chattering, and Yu Zhao felt irritated. Especially when she heard her name, her heart throbbed, and she inexplicably felt a little concerned. This concern was strange, and Yu Zhao didn’t understand, so she could only frown and say: “Shut up!“

    Bo Chi was startled by her fierceness, her coquettish nature surfaced, she hummed and turned away, and went to talk to Jin Xi.

    The two of them chatted happily, while Yu Zhao became more and more annoyed, and even regretted scaring the person away.

    She endured it for a while, and finally couldn’t help but grab Bo Chi’s arm and switch places with her.

    Bo Chi and Jin Xi’s chat was interrupted. She stared at Yu Zhao, who was standing in the middle, raised her eyebrows and asked: “Why aren’t you letting me and Xiao Xi chat?“

    Yu Zhao snorted coldly: “Too noisy.“

    Bo Chi: “…”

    A miscalculation, she thought this blockhead was jealous!

    Bo Chi closed her mouth unhappily and quietly watched the rain.

    She became quiet, but Yu Zhao felt uncomfortable instead. After two seconds of silence, she took the initiative to ask: “Why are you two girls in this wilderness? Aren’t you afraid of encountering ghosts or wild beasts?“

    Bo Chi glanced at her: “Are you concerned about me?“

    Yu Zhao’s face turned red again, and she said angrily: “Why do you always tease me? Can’t you talk to me properly?“

    Bo Chi: “…”

    This was nothing, they had flirted with each other in previous worlds, why was the Yu Zhao in this world so innocent and rigid!

    Bo Chi was speechless, rubbed her temples, suppressed the urge to get close to her, and replied seriously: “We want to go to Bailu Academy in the capital, so we have to pass by here.“

    Yu Zhao thought for a while: “Bailu Academy only accepts male disciples, do you want to sneak in?“

    She looked at Bo Chi and Jin Xi, and finally said faintly: “That girl can perfectly blend into the academy, you can forget about it.“

    Jin Xi was confused, and said indignantly: “Don’t think I can’t hear you scolding me! Chi Niang said, I just have a cold, and when I recover, my voice will become clear again!“

    Yu Zhao: “Oh, then you can’t enter the academy either.“

    Jin Xi: “…”

    The heavy rain lasted for a long time. There wasn’t much entertainment in the thatched hut, so the three of them could only chat with each other, and gradually became more familiar.

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 161

    Chapter 161: Before Her Highness, There Are No Powerful Families 

    “I can’t enter?”

    Nangong Mian’s temper flared. She wasn’t known for her patience.

    Moreover, she had just boasted to the princess, only to be turned away at the door.

    Where was her face now?

    “Entering the Tianlie Auction House requires a certain level of registered assets. I’m sorry, but you two don’t seem to be registered.”

    The guard said impassively, “To provide our guests with the best and most exclusive service, we need to maintain a certain atmosphere. As for you two… please excuse us.”

    Mocking gazes came from the surrounding crowd. Although most of the guests, considering themselves high-class, didn’t openly mock them, their expressions weren’t friendly, all waiting for a good show.

    “Then let’s register.”

    Luo Xue said softly, and only then did the surrounding people notice the small, delicate girl beside the country bumpkin.

    “If you qualify, I apologize.” The guard nodded.

    “Wait… no!”

    Nangong Mian quickly stopped them. She seemed to realize something, hesitated for a moment, then turned to Luo Xue.

    “Let’s go to another auction house.”

    She had almost forgotten to keep a low profile…

    Asset registration required identification. If Luo Xue revealed her Snow Crystal Ring, the symbol of her identity as the little princess, they would have to return to the palace.

    Without prior arrangements, Luo Xue couldn’t appear in the Great Qin Imperial Capital as Princess Xue. It would cause a lot of trouble, both for the capital and for herself.

    “Pfft!”

    Someone in the crowd chuckled, making Nangong Mian grit her teeth, but she couldn’t lash out.

    If this were the Nangong Sacred Land, she would have already beaten them up. She couldn’t defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator, but half of the Core Formation cultivators weren’t her match.

    Luo Xue naturally wasn’t stupid enough to reveal her identity as the little princess, but there were other solutions.

    For example, offering something to be auctioned. An auction house couldn’t refuse someone who wanted to sell something, could they?

    Nangong Mian clearly wasn’t very clever, a bit of a simpleton.

    Meanwhile, inside the Tianlie Auction House.

    Vivienne was one of the most renowned auctioneers of the Tianlie Auction House, having handled countless rare treasures.

    Recently, with Princess Xue’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Immortal Emperor, in his delight, had bestowed many of his treasures, including countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and even spiritual artifacts.

    Due to the unprecedented scale of this event, the Imperial Capital was experiencing unprecedented prosperity, and even the quality of items in the daily auctions had increased.

    The Tianlie Auction House had summoned almost all its signature auctioneers from all over the Immortal Dynasty to the Imperial Capital, intending to make a fortune during this prosperous period.

    Vivienne had previously been in charge of the auction house in the Nangong Sacred Land, and during this time, she was also in the Imperial Capital, busy at various branches.

    Today, she had just finished her work at Branch 3 in the fifteenth ring when she heard a commotion outside and asked curiously,

    “What’s going on outside?”

    “Nothing, just a country bumpkin trying to get in, but she was stopped.” A colleague looked out the window with amusement. “It’s mainly because after saying ‘I can’t enter?’ she just slunk away, quite comical.”

    “I see…”

    Vivienne immediately lost interest, but she still glanced out the window.

    And she saw a familiar face.

    “That’s… Miss Mian? Eh, shouldn’t she be in the inner ring? Why is she in such a remote place? Wait…”

    Vivienne’s gaze fell on the small, dignified girl beside Nangong Mian, and her eyes widened instantly.

    “Holy shit!”

    “Yes, yes, that’s her.”

    Her colleague was still laughing at Nangong Mian, but when he turned around, Vivienne was already gone.

    …

    “What a pitiful child, hahahaha…”

    “‘I can’t enter?’ Did you see her expression, ‘I can’t enter?’ Hahaha…”

    Nangong Mian was pulling Luo Xue away, but the surrounding crowd had grown.

    More and more people were watching the show, and the occasional mocking laughter irritated her.

    Luo Xue was silent for a moment, then stopped, not leaving with Nangong Mian.

    She touched the Snow Crystal Ring on her finger, the symbol of her identity as the little princess.

    Once she revealed it, all those mocking her wouldn’t even run, but would probably kneel down and slap themselves.

    But if she did that, this trip out of the palace would be over, and it would be more troublesome to leave the palace privately in the future.

    Nangong Mian saw Luo Xue’s intention and anxiously transmitted her voice.

    “Your Highness, it’s okay, I can endure it.”

    “Enduring… that’s not your style.”

    Luo Xue shook her head. She extended her hand, about to reveal the ring, when she suddenly heard an anxious female voice.

    “Miss Mian!”

    Hearing this familiar voice, Nangong Mian’s heart sank. Why was there someone she knew here?

    She quickly turned around, frantically signaling to the approaching Vivienne, stopping her from saying “Your Highness Princess Xue.”

    Luo Xue paused, retracted her hand, and looked at the woman hurrying towards them.

    The woman wore a well-tailored, patterned dress, her black, waist-length hair neatly styled, and her light makeup made her very approachable.

    “Miss Mian, and this…”

    “My younger sister.”

    Nangong Mian quickly said.

    Vivienne was slightly stunned, then quickly realized that her earlier guess was probably correct.

    Because Nangong Mian wouldn’t have a younger sister she could bring with her…

    Her younger siblings in the clan were all terrified of her.

    “Hello, Big Sister.”

    Luo Xue politely bowed to Vivienne, almost making her kneel.

    How could she accept a greeting from Princess Xue, and that “Big Sister”… Vivienne knew that agreeing would only bring trouble, so she quickly said,

    “You can call me Xiao Ya, that’s what Miss Mian calls me.”

    “Vivienne, who is this?”

    Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

    A thin man with a monkey-like face stepped out from the crowd, his greedy gaze first sweeping over Vivienne, then glancing at Nangong Mian mockingly.

    He had seen the earlier scene and looked down on this country bumpkin.

    “Mr. Linnard,” Vivienne’s eyes flashed with disgust when she saw the newcomer, but she still replied politely, “She is a valued customer of our Tianlie Auction House, with many transactions.”

    At the same time, Vivienne transmitted her voice to Nangong Mian and Luo Xue. “This person is very troublesome, and he’s been pursuing me recently. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

    “Many transactions? More than me?”

    Hearing this, the monkey-faced man, Linnard, sneered.

    Linnard had seen Vivienne hosting an auction and had taken a fancy to her, following her wherever she went.

    He had also used the opportunity of auction transactions to approach Vivienne, sending her many orders.

    Linnard was shrewd. If he had directly given her gifts, Vivienne definitely wouldn’t have accepted them.

    But sending orders, Vivienne couldn’t refuse, because the auction house wouldn’t refuse business.

    Therefore, Vivienne could only endure it for now. She would return to the Nangong Sacred Land soon anyway.

    However… compared to Nangong Mian, Linnard’s orders were insignificant.

    She was someone who could loot several ancient clan secret realms…

    “Several times more.”

    Vivienne replied with a smile.

    “Hahaha, her?” Linnard burst into laughter, then scoffed. “Vivienne, do you think I’m an idiot?”

    He had just been looking for an excuse to talk to Vivienne, but he hadn’t expected her to tell such a blatant lie.

    “And I’ve checked, during your time in the Imperial Capital, I’m your number one customer,” Linnard pointed at himself smugly. “Me, Young Master Lin, the number one dandy in the Imperial Capital, understand?”

    Hearing this name, the surrounding crowd became even more agitated.

    “It’s actually Young Master Lin… no wonder…”

    “To be favored by Young Master Lin… tsk, why don’t I have such good luck…”

    “Even just a few months with Young Master Lin would bring countless benefits. This woman doesn’t know what’s good for her…”

    Vivienne’s face darkened as she listened to the chatter, and Linnard became even more smug, enjoying the current situation.

    Luo Xue tugged on Nangong Mian’s clothes and transmitted her voice.

    “What kind of family is the Lin family? Are they powerful?”

    “…Before Her Highness, there are no powerful families.” Nangong Mian’s eyelid twitched. “I think they’re the family of the General Who Guards the South, right?”

    “Oh, that little old man.”

    Luo Xue recalled. She had indeed seen someone with the title of General Who Guards the South at the birthday banquet, but he was sitting in a relatively inconspicuous corner.

    While Luo Xue and Nangong Mian were chatting privately, Vivienne took a deep breath and said,

    “Her orders aren’t from the Imperial Capital, but from the Nangong Sacred Land.”

    “Hahaha,” Linnard laughed again, not believing her at all. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to say that she’s actually from the Nangong clan?”

    “…How did you know?”

    Vivienne was stunned. Knowing she was from the Nangong clan, he still dared to act so arrogantly? Was this Linnard stupid?

    “Hahaha… ah? Cou-, could it be…”

    Linnard’s laughter gradually died down, and he panicked upon hearing Vivienne’s words.

    Based on his understanding of Vivienne, she would never be so bold as to impersonate a member of the Nangong clan.

    In other words…

    “She… she is…”

    Linnard stammered.

    “Her name is Nangong Mian.”

    Vivienne’s last words confirmed her identity.

    Nangong Mian’s expression was helpless. She didn’t want to flaunt her Nangong clan background, but now that her identity was exposed, there was nothing she could do.

    “Hmm?”

    The onlookers who had been enjoying the show were suddenly startled, and the mocking laughter subsided.

    Nangong…

    That was the Empress’s clan…

    Within the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, the Nangong clan’s status was almost equal to that of the imperial family.

    And since the Nangong clan was an ancient clan, they also possessed an ancient prestige, making them even more formidable.

    “She’s actually the young mistress of the Nangong clan?”

    “Holy…”

    Hearing this, most of the onlookers immediately dispersed.

    Who would dare to watch the Nangong clan’s jokes…

    Those who had mocked her earlier were ashen-faced and fled without looking back.

    The guard who had stopped Nangong Mian earlier quickly came over to apologize, but Nangong Mian waved her hand dismissively. She knew that the guard was just following the rules.

    Linnard’s face turned pale, his legs weak, and he quickly changed his attitude.

    “Miss Nangong…”

    “Get lost.”

    Nangong Mian wasn’t polite, but she couldn’t attack either.

    She didn’t like using her Nangong clan identity because with that surname, she couldn’t act recklessly.

    If not for the princess being nearby, she would have given these people a “small boxing lesson.”

    “Yes, yes, Miss Nangong, may you be blessed…”

    Linnard, relieved, looked at Vivienne with a mournful expression.

    Why didn’t you tell me you had such connections earlier? If you had, I wouldn’t have bothered you…

    Being able to talk to someone from the imperial family or the Nangong clan, even if their status was low, they would still have some standing in the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.

    After saying that, Linnard quickly left, probably not daring to bother Vivienne again.

    Actually, besides Nangong Mian, Vivienne also knew several other members of the Nangong clan, but she didn’t use them as her backing.

    If she casually used the Nangong clan’s name, if they found out one day, even if she wasn’t punished, Vivienne wouldn’t be able to survive in the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.

    “Thank you, Miss Mian, for today.”

    Vivienne smiled and bowed to Nangong Mian, then looked at Luo Xue, hesitating whether to kneel.

    “Can we go in and take a look?”

    Luo Xue asked at the right time. To avoid embarrassing Vivienne, she didn’t address her as “sister” out of politeness.

    “Of course,” Vivienne quickly said. “Miss Mian is our valued customer. She practically supports the daily auctions of our branch in the Nangong Sacred Land…”

    “That’s right.”

    Nangong Mian said proudly, her ego inflated after being flattered.

    Luo Xue looked deeply at Vivienne. This auctioneer seemed to have interacted with Nangong Mian quite a bit and knew how to handle this Nangong clan prodigy.

    “This way, please,” Vivienne led them in another direction. “To apologize for today’s incident, the Tianlie Auction House would like to offer you some compensation. You can choose anything from our exhibition hall.”

    “Wow, how nice!”

    Nangong Mian was immediately overjoyed. She loved getting free stuff.

    Luo Xue asked with concern, “You’re not deducting it from your salary, are you?”

    Vivienne was stunned, not expecting Luo Xue to ask this, then replied after a moment of surprise,

    “Don’t worry, the Tianlie Auction House isn’t that petty.”

    …

    Vivienne led Luo Xue and Nangong Mian through the staff passage. After all, even using the VIP passage now might cause trouble.

    Especially with someone whose identity was already troublesome…

    Vivienne glanced at Luo Xue and found that she was just looking around curiously, without the arrogance or petulance of a princess.

    Even Nangong Mian, although casual, still had an air of superiority.

    But this little princess didn’t seem to have any of that…

    Luo Xue looked at the slightly shabby surroundings with a hint of nostalgia. In her previous, previous life, she had worked a summer job at a supermarket, and she always used this kind of passage.

    This shared experience made her feel closer to Vivienne, which was why Vivienne found this little princess particularly approachable.

    The staff passage wasn’t long, and they soon arrived inside the Tianlie Auction House.

    Upon entering, Luo Xue realized that the space inside was at least three to four times larger than it appeared from the outside. They must have used some kind of spatial formation.

    It made sense. In the Imperial Capital, where every inch of land was valuable, using a formation to expand the space was much more cost-effective than renting more land.

    “The fifteenth ring is quite remote. If you’re not satisfied with what’s here, you can come with me to our headquarters in the inner ring. There should be treasures there that will satisfy you.” Vivienne said with a professional smile, bowing slightly.

    Besides the first ring, which was exclusively for the imperial family, the second to fifth rings were considered the inner ring, where the officials and nobles of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty resided. Naturally, there were also many corresponding facilities there.

    Famous auction houses like the Tianlie Auction House had their headquarters in the inner ring, for the convenience of doing business with the most esteemed people in the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.

    “Let’s take a look around first.” Luo Xue nodded slightly.

    Hearing this, Vivienne knew that the little princess didn’t need her to accompany them and immediately bowed and excused herself.

    After Vivienne left, Nangong Mian looked at her receding figure and muttered, wondering why she left so readily this time.

    “An old friend?”

    Luo Xue asked.

    “Well… sort of,” Nangong Mian scratched the back of her head. “Mainly because she speaks nicely, hee hee…”

    Anyone who agrees with you, you find them pleasant…

    Luo Xue had figured out Nangong Mian’s simple mind and couldn’t help but smile.

    Then, she turned her attention back to the exhibition hall, her expression turning serious.

    The fifteenth ring was considered the suburbs of the Imperial Capital, but the Tianlie Auction House was a large chain, and even in the suburbs, the exhibition hall was still quite impressive.

    The entire hall was filled with exhibits, ensuring that there was always something within sight, no matter where the customers went.

    There weren’t many customers around, and they were all quietly browsing—after all, since this was where Vivienne had brought the little princess and Miss Nangong, the items here were definitely not low-level.

    Nangong Mian’s purpose was simple. Since the Tianlie Auction House was offering compensation, she would definitely choose the most expensive item, checking the price of everything.

    Luo Xue, on the other hand, was excitedly looking at the heavenly materials and earthly treasures of this world. It could be seen that the Ancient Demon Lands weren’t fundamentally different from the nine provinces and four domains, not to the point where even the rules were different, like in the post-apocalyptic world.

    Luo Xue had even seen most of these heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the nine provinces and four domains, and even for those she hadn’t seen before, she could roughly deduce their effects and properties.

    Furthermore, the artifact refining level of the Ancient Demon Lands wasn’t significantly higher. Spiritual artifacts were still rare, and so were high-level magical artifacts.

    The same went for cultivation techniques. Although there were some differences due to the presence of demonic bloodlines, the overall difference wasn’t significant.

    In other words, if someone from the nine provinces and four domains suddenly came to the Ancient Demon Lands, they could adapt quickly.

    The more Luo Xue looked, the more she felt that the nine provinces and four domains were truly a cage…

    But why did such a cage exist?

    Luo Xue didn’t know and could only speculate.

    …Bloodline?

    Almost everyone in the nine provinces and four domains was human, and even those with demonic bloodlines were a minority.

    While in the Ancient Demon Lands… pure humans were the rarest. Even mortals possessed some demonic bloodline, allowing them to barely embark on the path of immortality.

    What exactly happened, to create such a caged world…

    It was still unknown.

    After browsing for a while, Luo Xue’s gaze was drawn to a drop of blood, flickering with flames.

    This drop of blood, like a fire sprite, moved within a transparent container, occasionally emitting sparks.

    “Is this… Phoenix blood essence?”

    Luo Xue looked at the label and blinked.

    The Phoenix blood essence she had seen before wasn’t like this… although this one looked much cooler.

    “Xue, are you interested in this?” Nangong Mian leaned over and touched her chin. “Probably some clan member who’s short on money, selling their own blood essence?”

    “Clan member?” Luo Xue asked with confusion. “But it says Phoenix…”

    “The Phoenix is the bloodline of the Nangong clan. What’s wrong with calling it Phoenix blood essence?” Nangong Mian looked at her strangely. “Don’t tell me you thought it was the blood essence of an ancient divine beast Phoenix? Even the Empress probably doesn’t have something like that…”

    “In the entire Great Thousand Worlds, I don’t know if you can even find a single drop.”

    “I see…”

    Luo Xue nodded thoughtfully.

    Nangong Mian didn’t seem to know about Phoenix Venerable’s existence, which meant that most of the Nangong clan didn’t know about this.

    The Empress might know, but Luo Xue didn’t have a chance to find out.

    Nangong Mian’s eyes darted around, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.

    “Xue, if you really want Phoenix blood essence, you don’t need this inferior stuff. I have some!”

    She patted her chest and said proudly,

    “I’m a direct descendant of the Empress’s lineage, and I cultivate the Desolate Extinction Scripture. The purity of my blood essence is unmatched in the entire Nangong clan. As long as you pay for the nutrients, I’ll give you a drop!”

    For Nangong Mian, blood essence wasn’t something she couldn’t give away, but it required a suitable price.

    Clearly, the reason she didn’t offer it at the banquet was simply because the imperial family’s return gift wasn’t enough.

  • The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 65

    65: The Carriage Ride

    I wavered until the last minute about who to bring on the inspection trip.

    The official scenario confirmed that the protagonist, Leticia, the three male Capture Targets, and I would participate.

    Since the men would be there for their own reasons, I thought that as long as Leticia and I went, I could leave the rest to fate.

    Of course, considering the serious work involved in the inspection, Ciel was indispensable.

    If we used a four-person carriage, we could take one more person… but, as Leticia had said, it was a trip, even if it was for business.

    It would be better to have only familiar faces in the main carriage, so I decided to limit it to those three, plus the coachman. A lighter carriage would also be less of a burden on the horses.

    Since the head of the ducal family and the first in line to inherit the title were traveling together, we would also have an escort carriage.

    That one was a covered wagon, with five people, including the driver.

    While it wasn’t a substantial force against a serious attack on the ducal family, the “shadows” patrolled the roads, and there were also official highway patrols.

    More importantly, I had been gathering intelligence. It would be difficult to mobilize such a force undetected.

    While it was a habit to consider the possibility of an attack, I hadn’t heard of any such plans, or even rumors of bandits.

    While I couldn’t completely trust fate’s scenario, there were no such [Events].

    It was easy to forget, since my execution was predetermined.

    [Moonlight Liberium] was a romance simulation game… a love story.

    While I should always be mindful of such concerns, my immediate priority was—

    “…Elder Sister, is it okay if I sit next to you?”

    —How to respond to my sister’s adorable request.

    The moment I heard her words, the jockeys in my mind took off.

    “Of course. Come sit next to Big Sister,” surged ahead at top speed.

    “Sit in front. I want to see your face,” started late but caught up quickly.

    “Come sit on Big Sister’s lap,” was a dark horse, conserving energy.

    My weak heart momentarily rooted for the dark horse.

    As we boarded the carriage, I looked down at my sister and said curtly—or at least, I tried to make it sound curt—

    “…Do as you wish.”

    I had a vision of the jockeys in my mind falling off their horses simultaneously.

    Since my sister wanted to sit next to me, I supposed it had the same meaning as the first option, “Of course. Come sit next to Big Sister.”

    A reasonable outcome, I suppose.

    “Okay!”

    Leticia eagerly came to my side and sat down neatly.

    She seemed close, but I didn’t have any siblings, so I wasn’t sure.

    Was this normal?

    At least, those around us—Ciel, the coachman, the butler seeing us off, and the servants remaining at the mansion—didn’t seem to find Leticia’s behavior unusual.

    “I leave the mansion in your care.”

    “Yes. You can count on me.”

    The silver-haired butler smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening, and bowed.

    “…Enjoy yourselves. As long as everything is in order when you return, I won’t complain.”

    The male servants and maids lined up behind the butler bowed in unison.

    As expected of the ducal family’s servants.

    Ciel boarded the carriage and closed the door.

    “Let’s go.”

    “Yes, ma’am.”

    The coachman replied curtly, and the carriage started moving.

    A moment later, cheers erupted behind us.

    I could hear their cries of joy: “Alright!” “She gets it!” “Yay!” “Time to relax!” “Long live Vanderwaals! Long live summer vacation!”

    This wasn’t a summer vacation.

    Such behavior was unbecoming of the ducal family’s servants.

    “Ahaha…”

    Leticia, who had also apparently heard them, chuckled wryly.

    Ciel sighed softly.

    “We’ll have to reprimand them when we return.”

    “I’m sure the butler will take care of it.”

    The inspection was an annual event. I had accompanied my father, and as I grew older, I gradually learned about managing the territory.

    When my mother was alive, we sometimes went together, and sometimes, I visited her separately during the inspection, since the air was cleaner there than in the capital, and it was a good place for her to recuperate.

    I had visited the territory countless times—this would be my last.

    However, it was the first time I was going with my sister.

    I suppressed my excitement.

    This [Inspection Event] was more important for establishing her as a noble than for romance.

    Leticia had to learn.

    Not just superficial manners and knowledge, but the spirit of a noble.

    How this country worked.

    Not just the limited world of the “back alley” corner, the Vanderwaals mansion, or the Royal Castle…

    Well, the fact that we kept encountering the same three men made it a little less exciting, but perhaps the novelty came from meeting them in different locations.

    I, the villainous sister, was a stage prop.

    My only job was to accompany my sister to the territory and make the necessary arrangements for the inspection.

    So, there were no [Individual Events] between my sister and me.

    My sister, sitting next to me, covered her mouth with her hand and stifled a yawn.

    While I inwardly thought, Even her yawns are cute, I maintained a neutral expression. Perhaps misinterpreting my gaze, Leticia blushed.

    “S-sorry. I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep…”

    Saying such things so casually… it would be misunderstood, I thought with an inward sigh.

    If the Capture Targets saw her like this, they would fall head over heels in love.

    Or rather, they probably already had.

    After all, my sister was adorable.

    “Get some sleep. It’s a long journey.”

    “O-okay… excuse me then.”

    Excuse me?

    Just as I was about to ask what she meant, I felt a weight on my shoulder.

    Leticia leaned against me, her body relaxing as she closed her eyes.

    It was the same position as when she had fallen asleep on the bench, with me as her support.

    This was… beyond informal!

    I inwardly screamed, and tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.

    Then, her body relaxed completely.

    …My sister was a sound sleeper.

    “…How nostalgic, Lady Adelheid,” Ciel murmured after a while.

    “Yes… it is.”

    ――I, too, used to get sleepy during carriage rides and would lean on Ciel like this.

    So, she remembered.

    Now, it was my turn.

    There were no [Official Events] between my sister and me.

    But this, too, would become a small, precious memory of our journey.

    ――But this wasn’t very villainous sister-like, was it?

    I was torn between being a good older sister and being a proper villainous sister.

    This time, I prioritized my sister’s sleep.

    …The protagonist’s well-being took precedence over everything.

    Probably.