Dobytranslations

Blog

  • Friend(GL) 123

    Chapter 123: Hate Her

    Yu Qiao crouched down and picked up Zhou Tianzui’s chopsticks. Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll wash these.”

    She stood up abruptly, her leg bumping against the table leg, but her expression remained unchanged, as if she didn’t feel any pain. Yu Qiao watched her walk away.

    Zhou Tianzui used to be afraid of pain, making a fuss over the slightest injury, clinging to her parents, crying and asking to be held, to have the hurt “kissed away.” But since Zhou Qiming’s death, Yu Qiao hadn’t heard her complain about pain once.

    Over time, she forgot that Zhou Tianzui also felt pain.

    She forgot that during those agonizing years, Zhou Tianzui suffered too, that when she herself couldn’t bear it any longer, Zhou Tianzui was still holding on, her own pain expressed freely, in anger and tears, but what about Zhou Tianzui?

    Her Xiao Tian.

    What did she do when she was hurting?

    Yu Qiao sat in a chair, her expression blank, when a doctor entered, calling out “Auntie.” She returned to her senses, greeted him, then seeing Zhou Tianzui still hadn’t returned, went to look for her.

    The corridor was busy, the restroom nearby. Yu Qiao stood outside, thinking of Zhou Tianzui’s retreating figure, her indifferent reaction after bumping her leg, and felt a lump in her throat. She leaned against the wall, unable to take another step forward.

    Why, of all people, You Ruxu?

    Yu Qiao took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger, hatred, and pain at the mention of that name, a tangled knot in her heart, preventing her from moving. The restroom door was open. Two nurses came out, saw Yu Qiao, and hurried over, “Auntie? Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

    Yu Qiao shook her head, her face pale. She stood there for a moment, then asked, “Is Xiao Tian inside?”

    “Dr. Zhou? I didn’t see her.” One nurse said, and the other added, “I think she went to the ER.”

    Yu Qiao’s heart sank. She nodded, “The ER?”

    The nurse nodded, “I think so, I saw her walking in that direction.”

    Yu Qiao forced a smile, “Thank you.”

    She turned and went downstairs, each step heavier than the last, thinking, if it were You Ruxu who was injured, what would Xiao Tian do? Yu Qiao suddenly didn’t want to go to the ER, didn’t want to see Zhou Tianzui’s anguish. She stood in the corridor, letting the crowd carry her towards the ER, which was also crowded, reporters and police officers. She saw Zhou Tianzui from afar.

    Zhou Tianzui wasn’t with the crowd, but standing by a window, not far from the ER, her gaze fixed on the operating room, motionless. Yu Qiao walked over and stood behind her.

    Captain Zhou turned around, saw Zhou Tianzui, said something to her team member, and walked over, “Dr. Zhou.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked at her, her lips bloodless, her face pale, her voice strained as she asked, “What’s the situation?”

    “She’s still in surgery. Pushed down the stairs, many witnesses.” Captain Zhou said, “It’s somewhat related to your father’s case.”

    Zhou Tianzui’s hand gripped the windowsill, “Related how?”

    “The suspect is the victim’s father.” Captain Zhou explained, “After the TV station’s report, he kept harassing Chen Xiang, trying to find out where the victim was staying. Chen Xiang didn’t tell him, so he pushed her down the stairs today.”

    Zhou Tianzui froze, “Chen Xiang?”

    Captain Zhou looked at her and nodded, “Yes, Chen Xiang.”

    Zhou Tianzui’s hand slipped from the windowsill, her body swaying, her arm hitting the glass. Captain Zhou quickly steadied her, “What’s wrong?”

    “Nothing.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Just tired from all the night shifts lately.”

    “You don’t look well.” Captain Zhou said, “No one to cover your shift?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “There is.”

    Her face regained some color. The operating room door opened, and a doctor emerged. Captain Zhou said, “I’ll go check on the situation.”

    Zhou Tianzui nodded, watching her approach the doctor, who said thankfully, it wasn’t serious, a concussion and a fractured arm, needing hospitalization and observation, they could question her after she woke up.

    Zhou Tianzui turned and walked back, her heartbeat slowing down, her expression calmer now. Returning to her office, she saw Yu Qiao sitting at her desk, a lunchbox on the table, her head lowered, she couldn’t see where the chopsticks were, and just as she was about to look for them, Yu Qiao called out, “Xiao Tian?”

    She turned around.

    Yu Qiao said, “Come eat.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.” She took a pair of disposable chopsticks from the drawer, “I left them on the table earlier, the cleaning lady probably threw them away.”

    Yu Qiao didn’t ask further, just a casual “oh,” “Eat.”

    Zhou Tianzui ate her lunch and asked Yu Qiao, “When are you going back?”

    Yu Qiao said, “After you finish eating.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I can ask a colleague to drive you…”

    “No need.” Yu Qiao said, “I’m going to the supermarket, I’ll take a bus later.”

    Zhou Tianzui nodded, and after lunch, walked Yu Qiao downstairs, then after a moment of thought, went back to the ER. She was told Chen Xiang had been transferred to a regular ward. When she entered the ward, Chen Xiang was talking to her family. Seeing Zhou Tianzui, her eyes lit up, “Dr. Zhou?”

    Zhou Tianzui walked in. Chen Xiang introduced her, “Mom, this is Zhou Tianzui, the doctor from the obstetrics department, I told you about her.”

    “Hello, hello.” Chen Xiang’s mother was very welcoming. “Would you like some fruit?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Thank you, Auntie, but no, I’m just here to visit.”

    Chen Xiang said, “Mom, go wash some fruit.”

    Chen Xiang’s mother agreed and left.

    Only Chen Xiang and Zhou Tianzui remained in the ward. Chen Xiang’s head was bandaged, and her arm was in a sling, but her movements weren’t restricted, still quite agile. Zhou Tianzui asked, “How are you feeling?”

    “I’m fine.” Chen Xiang said, “Tough as nails.”

    Zhou Tianzui, hearing her joke, smiled faintly, “It was the victim’s father?”

    “Yes.” Chen Xiang looked at Zhou Tianzui, her tone knowing, “Her father.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “Does she know?”

    “I didn’t tell her.” It was a strange coincidence, although You Ruxu was in charge of the story, Chen Xiang was the one who conducted the interview, her name on the report. The man had contacted her, and afraid he would go after You Ruxu, she had said that besides herself and the interviewee, no one else was present, not even You Ruxu knew who it was. And with the audio editing for the interview, the man wouldn’t even think of You Ruxu.

    So, You Ruxu still didn’t know about this.

    Chen Xiang said, “Dr. Zhou, please don’t tell Teacher You.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “Why not?”

    “She hasn’t been well lately.” Chen Xiang said, “She had a bad cold after the New Year, then it turned into pneumonia, her mother came from Yuhai and took her back home. She was supposed to come back, but she hasn’t fully recovered yet. I heard she even submitted her resignation.”

    “Resigned?” Zhou Tianzui frowned, looking at Chen Xiang.

    Chen Xiang said, “She was already planning to resign, wasn’t she?” She had already told Shi Qi about it while she was still hospitalized. Shi Qi and the station director hadn’t approved, asking her to take a leave of absence first, but before leaving Jindu, You Ruxu had still completed all the handover procedures. Chen Xiang was surprised, “Dr. Zhou, didn’t you know?”

    “I…” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ve been very busy lately, haven’t contacted her.”

    “I only found out when I messaged her a couple of days ago.” Chen Xiang said, “I heard her mother even scheduled surgery for her after the New Year, she might be moving back to Yuhai.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked down, “That’s good then.”

    “It is good.” Chen Xiang said, “Being with her family is definitely better than being alone, hopefully she can take this opportunity to rest properly.”

    Zhou Tianzui hummed in agreement. Chen Xiang’s mother returned with the fruit. Zhou Tianzui had already left, “Where’s that doctor?”

    “She went back.” Chen Xiang said, “She’s on duty tonight.”

    Chen Xiang’s mother looked at her, “You should just resign, it’s too dangerous. Your father’s blood pressure shot up when he heard about it this afternoon, he’s probably coming back tomorrow morning…”

    “Mom.” Chen Xiang said, “I’m fine.”

    “It’ll be too late when you’re not fine!” Chen Xiang’s mother was slightly annoyed. Chen Xiang hugged her arm and said coquettishly, “Mommy, dearest…”

    There was a knock on the door. Chen Xiang looked over, “Who is it?”

    Yu Qiao stood outside, holding a basket of fruit. Chen Xiang, momentarily confused, then quickly reacted, “A-Auntie?”

    Yu Qiao said, “I heard from Xiao Tian that you were hospitalized, so I came to visit.”

    Chen Xiang said, “You shouldn’t have, Auntie, Dr. Zhou just left.”

    Yu Qiao paused, “She was here?”

    Chen Xiang nodded, “Yes.”

    Yu Qiao looked down.

    Although she knew it wasn’t You Ruxu who was injured, she still came to visit, unable to shake her worry. Yu Qiao handed her the fruit basket, “How are you feeling?”

    “I’m fine.” Chen Xiang said, “Tough as nails, built like a tank!”

    Her mother slapped her on the head, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

    Chen Xiang chuckled awkwardly, “Mom, I’ll chat with Auntie for a bit.”

    Her mother looked at the two of them, “I’ll go pour some water, have a seat, Auntie?”

    Yu Qiao nodded and sat on the chair beside Chen Xiang’s bed, looking at her, her head bandaged, yet still full of energy, she suddenly thought of Zhou Tianzui, it had been a long time since she had seen her so lively.

    Before, she would always hug Yu Qiao’s arm, calling her “Beautiful Yu” this, “Beautiful Yu” that.

    “Auntie.” Chen Xiang’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Is there something you wanted to ask me?”

    Yu Qiao shook her head, “No, nothing, I just came to visit. I heard it was her father who pushed you?”

    Chen Xiang nodded, a little embarrassed, “Yes, you’ve heard about it.”

    Yu Qiao, seeing her expression, asked, “You didn’t tell her father, did you?”

    “No.” Chen Xiang said firmly, “Auntie, you have no idea, he’s a monster! A scum! Gambles, drinks, does everything! Spent most of his life in prison! If he knew who it was, that person’s life would be ruined.”

    Yu Qiao, looking at her, indignant even while lying in a hospital bed, softly repeated, “That person…” She asked, “Don’t you hate her?”

    Chen Xiang was stunned, “Hate her?”

    Then, realizing what she meant, she said, “Of course not.”

    Yu Qiao asked, “Why not? You were injured because of her, why don’t you hate her?”

    Chen Xiang, without hesitation, said with a smile, “Auntie, it’s our job.”

    Yu Qiao looked at her.

    Chen Xiang said, “Anyone would do the same, Teacher You would, and so would any other reporter.”

    Yu Qiao opened her mouth, then closed it without speaking.

  • The Saintess Has A Showdown 193-194

    Chapter 193: The Saint-Rank Scorpion

    The Winter Floating Sky’s battlefield secret realm—the White Velvet Snow Forest!

    A vast space filled with frost-covered trees, a monotonous landscape of white and gray.

    Unlike exploration secret realms, which held hidden treasures, or cultivation secret realms, which accelerated cultivation, or trial secret realms, which offered challenges and opportunities for growth, battlefield secret realms simply provided a space for combat.

    The scoring system for the Final Battle, the third round of the Ranking Battle, was straightforward and brutal.

    The first five Spirit Masters eliminated lost points, from 5 to 1, respectively. The last four earned points, from 1 to 4. And the final victor received 6 points.

    According to the rules, if a participant was in danger, they could shout “Withdraw” to be instantly teleported out of the secret realm.

    At this moment, a blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl, casually strolling through the snow-covered forest with four nervous young Spirit Masters who flinched at every rustle of leaves, was the center of attention, practically half the audience watching her every move.

    Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess!

    Gong Lianyue’s expression remained calm as she wandered aimlessly.

    If she truly wanted to dominate the Sea Region and become the Alliance leader, she could simply unleash two of her Saint-rank spirit beasts, and no one could stop them.

    However, on the eve of the Ranking Battle, Shui Qinghou had secretly approached her, telling her she could win, but to carefully manage her points and avoid securing first place for the Sea Concubine Palace.

    This wasn’t because the Sea Concubine Palace was lazy or unwilling to lead, but because the Pool of Hidden Secrets had ulterior motives. If they failed to secure first place, their retaliation would surely target the current Alliance leader.

    The Sea Concubine Palace didn’t want a direct confrontation with the Nether Empress…

    In fact, not just the Sea Concubine Palace, but all the other Sun and Moon Realm Spirit Masters had also realized this after the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ return.

    Although they were all called Sun and Moon Realm experts, the Nether Empress’s power was on a completely different level.

    After careful consideration, Gong Lianyue agreed with the Sea Concubine Palace higher-ups. They would concede the position of Alliance leader.

    If they couldn’t win, why bother fighting?

    Would they wait for the Sea Concubine Palace to be destroyed, barely escaping with their lives, only to return for revenge centuries later?

    Couldn’t they just cultivate for a hundred years and then crush the Pool of Hidden Secrets?

    She just didn’t know if, upon reaching the Sun and Moon Realm, she would be able to surpass the Nether Empress…

    Meanwhile, the spectators, watching Gong Lianyue wander aimlessly, were puzzled.

    Didn’t she have a Dual Soul Body? Why not unleash two Saint-rank spirit beasts and crush the competition?

    A few minutes passed. After a period of uneventful wandering, the audience suddenly erupted in excitement.

    A confrontation!

    The Sorrowful Saintess’s team had encountered another group!

    Five blue-haired girls versus five green-haired girls. It was the Ice Shield Palace team, led by Luo Kuxin, the Wrathful Saintess!

    The Sea Concubine Palace members tensed, while the Ice Shield Palace members were even more apprehensive. They were the first to encounter the Sea Concubine Palace.

    Although unlikely, they could be eliminated in a single round, becoming the lowest-ranked faction.

    After all, the Sorrowful Saintess was rumored to have a team of Saint-ranks.

    Amidst this tense atmosphere, the thin, wiry, green-haired girl suddenly waved her hand, gesturing towards a nearby grove of trees.

    Gong Lianyue nodded calmly and followed Luo Kuxin into the trees.

    The remaining eight Spirit Masters gulped nervously, staying put. Were the Sorrowful Saintess and the Wrathful Saintess about to duel?

    Without instructions, they didn’t dare to engage. After all, the first five eliminated lost points, and there were no rewards for defeating other spirit beasts. Conserving their strength and lasting until the end was the wisest strategy.

    “Don’t bother. Something’s wrong,” Luo Kuxin said the moment they entered the grove, her tone serious.

    The spirit energy broadcast only transmitted images, not sound, so she could speak freely.

    “I’ll be frank. Several of my clones have reached the Samsara Stage.”

    “The spirit energy restrictions in this secret realm aren’t very strong. I managed to smuggle in a few of my Samsara Stage clones when we first entered.”

    “But… my clones in the audience saw the Nether Empress reinforce the secret realm’s restrictions. And then I lost all contact with the outside. I can’t even sense my main body anymore.”

    “If I’m not mistaken, the Nether Empress must have used an incredibly powerful spirit artifact. We can’t even withdraw from this trial now.”

    “…”
    “…”

    Hearing Luo Kuxin’s words, Gong Lianyue remained silent for a moment, a puzzled look in her eyes.

    The Saintess of Salvation from the Pool of Hidden Secrets wasn’t powerful enough to single-handedly defeat all the other Saintesses. The Nether Empress’s actions couldn’t possibly be aimed at simply eliminating the Sea Region participants.

    What did she gain by trapping them here?

    “Let’s ask the Pool of Hidden Secrets.” Gong Lianyue’s teardrop eyes narrowed, a terrifying aura emanating from her.

    “Good!” Luo Kuxin readily agreed.

    Boom!!!!

    The next second, a violent surge of spirit energy erupted around the Sorrowful Saintess, her six teardrop beauty marks shimmering, her blue hair billowing upwards.

    An incredibly dense water spirit energy, shaking the very ground for hundreds of meters around her, the swirling water forming a clear, azure vortex, distorting the air.

    This awe-inspiring display of power… was merely the minimum requirement for manifesting a Saint-rank spirit beast.

    Amidst the audience’s excited cheers, the first Saint-rank spirit beast appeared.

    A reverse waterfall of water shot towards the sky, its terrifying aura filling the entire White Velvet Snow Forest.

    The next second, a beautiful, blue-haired scorpion woman, her skin as white as jade, her long, deep blue hair seemingly solidified in the air, emerged from the massive waterspout.

    Her appearance was human, but her pupils were crossed, forming an “X” shape.

    Two deep blue, segmented scorpion tails swayed behind her, like floating chains, a strangely endearing sight.

    As Luo Kuxin watched in shock, the scorpion woman took a step, the ground beneath her feet crumbling like tofu. Such incredible power…

    [Saint-rank – ?Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion?]

    Chapter 194: The Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion

    [Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion?]
    [Bloodline Talent: Inversion]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Nether Stone – Tyrant’s March – Blade Breaker – ∞]

    Its pupils crossed, forming an “X” shape like two crossed halberds, its long, deep blue hair floating as if defying gravity.

    The scorpion woman flicked its two crossed tails, its delicate feet lightly denting the ground without a sound, as if walking on soft jam.

    Despite possessing the refined physique of a combat-type, the scorpion woman was classified as a biological, offensive type.

    Therefore, it should have been massive, its size blotting out the sky, but its current form defied logic.

    It resembled a combat-type spirit beast more than a massive, offensive type!

    As the scorpion woman arrived, the air pressure dropped, and the dust on the ground swirled.

    A biological, offensive type, the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion, the first Saint-rank spirit beast to appear in the Ranking Battle…

    Its terrifying blue, water-type spirit energy spread like a vast, invisible ocean, creating an overwhelming pressure that made the spectators watching the live broadcast tremble, their scalps tingling, a chilling dread creeping into their hearts.

    Just seeing the Saint-rank spirit beast’s form, they understood the vast gulf between it and a high-rank spirit beast.

    Boom!

    The next second, the scorpion woman vanished, a sonic boom ripping through the air where it had been standing.

    Its master, Gong Lianyue, still stood there as it charged forward for more than ten kilometers, the resulting hurricane flattening the surrounding forest, turning it into a desolate wasteland in the blink of an eye.

    Like a massive bulldozer, its path a trail of destruction.

    During [Tyrant’s March], its physical strength was drastically enhanced, and the distance limit between it and its Spirit Master was removed.

    Its target: the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

    “Strange, why aren’t the two Saintesses fighting? And where did that spirit beast go!?”

    “So that’s a Saint-rank spirit beast…”

    “Something’s not right. It’s already more than ten kilometers away from its master!”

    “Wait, look! It’s about to collide!!!”

    As the onlookers watched in shock, the blue scorpion woman, propelled by sonic booms, transformed into a blue meteor, streaking across the sky, leaving a long trail of afterimages.

    Almost simultaneously, the five members of the Pool of Hidden Secrets team turned their heads, a blinding blue light filling their vision.

    Boom!!!!

    The next second, the area around the five girls exploded, reduced to dust, a deafening roar echoing for dozens of kilometers.

    As the dust cloud cleared, a massive crater, like a meteor impact, was revealed, the blue scorpion woman standing amidst the ruins, her arms crossed, looking down at the disheveled Pool of Hidden Secrets girls with disdain.

    “A Saint-rank…!!!”

    “Impossible!”

    Overwhelmed by the Saint-rank spirit beast’s aura, the Pool of Hidden Secrets members panicked.

    Hei Luelan’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

    Their plan… had been discovered!

    No, wait… was this just a random act of violence?

    After a moment of silence, Hei Luelan gulped nervously and addressed her companions,

    “You all realize we can’t withdraw now, right? Defeat means death.”

    “To prevent any… unforeseen circumstances, I will now commence the plan. Be careful!”

    “Wait! If we proceed without eliminating the other non-Saint-rank Spirit Masters, there will be massive casualties!” A young Spirit Master from the First Lineage of the Nine Nethers protested.

    “We don’t have a choice. We’ve run out of time. Don’t you feel it? That’s the Sorrowful Saintess’s spirit beast,” Hei Luelan shook her head.

    “…”
    “…”

    The Sorrowful Saintess’s spirit beast… Realization dawned, and their faces paled.

    Facing such a terrifying, abyssal aura, they weren’t thinking about their plan anymore, but about survival.

    Just then, the woman from the First Lineage stood up, a torrent of black water erupting from her body.

    A swirling black vortex, gradually forming a vast ocean of spirit energy, powerful enough to manifest a Saint-rank.

    Although impressive, it was nothing compared to the Sorrowful Saintess’s earlier display.

    A few seconds later, a massive black rhinoceros emerged from the void, its single step pulverizing the ground for hundreds of meters around it.

    “Roar!!!”

    A furious roar echoed, a wave of destructive energy spreading outwards.

    A single horn, piercing the sky, protruded from the rhinoceros’s head, its massive, pitch-black body like solidified liquid, radiating a terrifying aura.

    A Saint-rank spirit beast, the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros.

    Facing—the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion!!!

    The woman from the First Lineage’s face burned with a fanatical intensity. Although their plan had changed, this was her chance to defeat the Sorrowful Saintess, to become the strongest in the Sea Region!

    Not just her, but the audience also erupted in excitement.

    They hadn’t expected to witness a Saint-rank battle so soon. This spectacular sight would be a story they could tell for the rest of their lives.

    “It’s a shame. If my spirit beast defeats and absorbs them, it would be the same as withdrawing. There wouldn’t have been so many casualties. This is all the Sorrowful Saintess’s fault.”

    Meanwhile, Hei Luelan’s voice was low and grim.

    She held a delicate, snow-white hair in her trembling hand, tears streaming down her face.

    Legendary beings could sense every part of themselves, whether a drop of blood, a strand of hair, or even a drop of saliva. Losing even a single strand could invite disaster.

    This was a single hair left behind by the Snow Monarch when it froze the Pool of Hidden Secrets a thousand years ago, preserved perfectly until now.

    Although frozen, they were still alive. Due to their incredible talent, they had been pulled into several secret realms, allowing them to gather information about the outside world and even exchange for rare resources.

    Like the spirit artifact the Nether Empress was currently using to seal the secret realm, said to be capable of suppressing even legendary beings.

    Even the Snow Monarch, if it entered, would be suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage!

    At this moment, Hei Luelan knew exactly what she was doing, and the consequences.

    Her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and terror, tears streaming down her face, she raised the snow-white hair and gently… licked it.

    Instantly, she saw her.

    The legendary being—

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 258

    Chapter 258: Aim Higher

    “It’s okay, it’s all in the past.”

    Kailun patted Afra’s back comfortingly.

    Looking back at the familiar scene, Kailun felt a mix of emotions.

    He had finally regained everything. Now, only one step remained. Once he dealt with Fate, all his problems would be solved.

    “How are things going on your end?” Kailun turned Afra around to face him.

    Afra wiped her tears with the back of her hand and cupped his face. “Everything’s going smoothly. The rest depends on Carol.”

    “That’s good. It seems I can relax a bit. Let’s go and chat with an old friend.”

    Kailun looked at Princess Hilna, who was standing on high ground, surrounded by knights.

    He also saw Shirley, the knight, standing beside Hilna with a look of realization.

    Everyone in this special scene remembered their past lives. The more people who knew the truth, the larger the crack in the sky became.

    Fate seemed to have the initiative now, but it wouldn’t last long.

    Kailun and Afra walked through the battlefield, and everyone made way for them.

    In fact, except for a few key individuals, no one else had memories of their second life. They made way for Kailun because they were afraid of Afra’s strength.

    In this scene, Paul was the peak combat power of the Xiya Kingdom. However, Afra had easily killed him. The immense fear made many people drop their weapons.

    “Long time no see, Princess. Did you miss me?”

    Kailun and Afra walked up to Hilna. He reached out and messed up her crown.

    Hilna clenched her fist, then sighed deeply. “Now I see that everything that happened was my own fault. I made the wrong choice. I can’t believe the Xiya Kingdom ended up like this because of me. I’m a sinner. And…”

    Hilna finally let go of her obsession. She didn’t have the ability to rule a country. Taking over the Xiya Kingdom’s economy was already Kailun’s leniency towards her.

    She wanted to thank him for keeping the Xiya Kingdom intact.

    However, the words wouldn’t come out. After all, Kailun had also bullied her. They were even.

    “And what?” Kailun asked, ruffling Hilna’s hair.

    Hilna turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. “Nothing. Don’t ask.”

    “Alright, then does Shirley have anything to say?”

    Kailun didn’t continue teasing Hilna in front of everyone. He shifted his gaze to Shirley.

    Shirley looked him up and down. “I finally understand why you can see so far ahead. If the Princess had half your learning ability, the kingdom wouldn’t have fallen.”

    Hilna glared at Shirley.

    She didn’t mind her praising Kailun, but there was no need to put her down in the process.

    She pushed Shirley towards Kailun. “I don’t want this traitorous knight anymore. Take her. She’s yours.”

    “No, don’t do this, Princess. You’ll lose me.” Shirley raised her hands in protest.

    “Hmph!”

    Hilna snorted.

    Kailun chuckled, watching their banter. He sensed his current state and turned to Afra. “That entity has cut off the mana supply. It seems this scene is about to end. Let’s talk more when we get back. Take care of yourself. See you later.”

    He kissed Afra’s forehead and then vanished into motes of light. Afra and Hilna exchanged glances and also disappeared.

    “Are you going to continue?”

    Back in the completely still valley, Kailun looked at the sleeping Bella in his arms and asked.

    “Forget it. That scene can’t crush your will anymore. You always surprise me.”

    Fate circled around Kailun. She didn’t attack him directly.

    Her calculations showed that she couldn’t take Bella away from him in a short time, and continuing this might lead to unforeseen consequences.

    “Sigh, this is such a headache. Why can’t we cooperate? I even gave you Galina. You should return the favor.”

    Fate looked at Bella longingly. She needed a catalyst to help her achieve transcendence.

    Bella possessed very special fate lines, making her the perfect sacrifice.

    Kailun would also be a suitable replacement, and Carol would be even better. But the problem was that she couldn’t defeat Kailun in a short time, nor could she confront Carol directly.

    “I can offer myself. Would you dare to take me, Miss Fate?” Kailun replied with a smile. “By the way, what’s your real name? Calling you ‘Fate’ feels strange.”

    “If you bind your own hands and lie down on the ground, I would dare to take you. But are you willing? Names hold no special meaning for me. I am Fate, an extension of the concept itself. My transcendence is far more complete than that unlucky Ottovia.”

    She returned to Kailun and excitedly waved her arms. “You must not know what transcendence is, but I, being helpful, don’t mind telling you. Throughout history, no matter how hard people try, they can only reach the ninth rank. There’s no tenth rank in this world. No one can surpass the limit. Unless they connect themselves to the world’s rules and become the embodiment of a certain concept. This is what I’m doing, and I’m almost done. If you join me, I can help you seize the concept of the Unlucky Entity and replace her as the embodiment of Time. How about it?”

    Fate continued to tempt Kailun. Becoming the embodiment of a concept not only meant possessing immeasurable power but also eternal life.

    Another person might have accepted without hesitation, but Kailun was different. This was what intrigued her about him.

    “You’re aiming too low. Your ambition is too small.”

    Kailun looked at the golden fate lines surrounding Fate. “If reaching a certain limit allows one to touch the world’s rules and grasp a certain concept, then why can’t I have them all?”

    Fate was stunned. She looked at Kailun as if he were an idiot. “Besides Carol, I haven’t seen a fourth person reach that limit. So you can imagine how difficult it is. Moreover, each person can only specialize in one concept. Having them all is impossible.”

    Kailun: “It’s okay, I was just saying.”

    Fate fell silent, seeing the expression on his face. She realized that he was serious.

    Although Kailun possessed unique abilities, it was absolutely impossible for him to have it all.

    Just as she was about to speak, the golden beam of light in Portland suddenly dimmed, as if tainted by black ink, emitting Ottovia Nuonuo’s aura.

    “Tsk, that entity is always causing trouble. I’m out of here. This world deserves to be destroyed again.”

    Fate looked at the distant black beam of light with a headache. Before Kailun could ask, she fled.

    If she didn’t run now, it would be too late. Carol, nearly at her full power, was already approaching.

    She was truly terrifying. Hee hee.

    “This entity might be even crazier than me.” Kailun muttered to himself, watching Fate disappear.

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 171

    Chapter 171: Miss Guijiao Reappears, A Final Farewell

    When Luo Xue projected her true appearance, Concubine Min’s expression didn’t change.

    She didn’t even glance at the projection, just stared intently at Luo Xue.

    After a moment, Concubine Min slowly said,

    “Many people know her. This doesn’t prove anything.”

    Luo Xue’s heart sank, a headache coming on.

    What was going on?

    This “Luo Xue”… was known by many people?

    So, this person who appeared out of nowhere… was running around using her face?

    Luo Xue hadn’t anticipated this. She had thought only a few people knew “Luo Xue.”

    What should she do now?

    Although Concubine Min seemed a bit… unhinged, it was because of her excessive concern and worry for Dugu Xue, her daughter.

    But Luo Xue’s current identity was that of an unknown person, claiming to be sent by “Luo Xue,” which was very suspicious.

    Concubine Min had lived in the imperial palace for a long time, but before entering the palace, she had also survived in the chaotic southern barbarian lands. She wouldn’t trust Luo Xue so easily like the naive Dugu Xue.

    Seeing Luo Xue’s hesitation, Concubine Min’s eyes narrowed, and a technique formed in her hand, reaching towards Luo Xue.

    “Little girl, reveal your true face…”

    Concubine Min’s gaze was firm. No one could use her daughter.

    “Mother Concubine, don’t…”

    Before Dugu Xue could stop her, Concubine Min’s technique hit Luo Xue.

    It wasn’t an offensive technique, but a restrictive one, forcibly stopping Luo Xue’s spiritual power circulation.

    Even weakened, a Nascent Soul cultivator could easily suppress a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator like Luo Xue.

    Luo Xue tried to resist, but her spiritual power was completely unusable.

    The effects of the Thousand Faces Cultivation Art were fading, her true appearance gradually revealed.

    Luo Xue didn’t know what she would look like after the disguise was undone.

    Would it be her original appearance, or the appearance of Princess Xue?

    But either way…

    It would be troublesome.

    “What should I do…”

    In her panic, Luo Xue saw Xue Ling beside her.

    A puppet with Soul Transformation strength, although it looked human, it wasn’t sentient and only followed its master’s commands.

    Dugu Xue definitely didn’t have time to give any commands, she hadn’t even realized what was happening.

    If that was the case… there was only one option left.

    At this critical moment, Luo Xue slowly closed her eyes, and at the same time, a spark of life appeared in Xue Ling’s eyes.

    Controlling a puppet with her soul, success!

    Dugu Xue’s command to Xue Ling was to trust Luo Xue, which meant that theoretically, as long as Luo Xue knew puppetry, she could control Xue Ling.

    Luo Xue hadn’t considered this before. She could see that Xue Ling was Dugu Xue’s good friend and didn’t want to take her away.

    But now… with no other choice, Luo Xue could only take this risk, and thankfully, she succeeded.

    Her soul struggled to control this Soul Transformation puppet, even her body could barely withstand it, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.

    If she continued for much longer, Luo Xue’s soul might collapse.

    Controlling a Soul Transformation puppet at peak Foundation Establishment was too much of a strain.

    But fortunately, what Luo Xue had to do was simple: just stop Concubine Min.

    Just as the restriction was about to reveal Luo Xue’s true face, Xue Ling’s powerful spiritual power erupted, forcibly breaking Concubine Min’s technique.

    “What!”

    Concubine Min looked at Xue Ling in shock, then at her daughter, Dugu Xue.

    Seeing Dugu Xue’s confused expression, she realized that Xue Ling’s intervention wasn’t Dugu Xue’s command.

    Then…

    Concubine Min looked up at Luo Xue.

    Before her was a thin, ghostly girl, her face pale and sickly.

    Luo Xue couldn’t help it. Her Thousand Faces Cultivation Art had mostly faded, and it was impossible to maintain the maid disguise, so she could only temporarily use Senior Sister Li’s classic look.

    Luo Xue silently apologized to Senior Sister Li for using her face again, then looked at Concubine Min and said seriously,

    “Imperial Concubine, let me explain…”

    “There’s no need.”

    Concubine Min waved her hand.

    “Hmm?”

    Luo Xue was stunned. Again?

    So unreasonable?

    “I… believe you.”

    A complicated expression appeared on Concubine Min’s face as she looked at Luo Xue.

    “Huh?”

    Luo Xue was stunned again.

    What was going on? She hadn’t even started making up… or rather, explaining…

    “Luo Xue… is she well?” Concubine Min stared at Luo Xue, but unlike her earlier scrutiny, her gaze now carried an uncontainable emotion. “Did she send you to take me away?”

    “…”

    Luo Xue was silent for a moment, surprised by Concubine Min’s sudden change in attitude.

    Unable to understand Concubine Min’s thoughts, she remained silent to avoid any mistakes.

    Dugu Xue was still looking at Xue Ling, wondering why she had suddenly acted. Could it be that she had gained sentience?

    But she had never heard of an ancient puppet gaining sentience…

    “It was just a misunderstanding, I apologize.”

    Concubine Min, thinking that Luo Xue was angry and silent because of what happened earlier, stood up, supporting herself against the bed, and bowed deeply to Luo Xue.

    Luo Xue was surprised. An imperial concubine’s status was so high that even imprisoned in the Cold Palace, she didn’t have to bow to anyone except the Empress and the Immortal Emperor, let alone such a deep bow.

    This showed that Concubine Min was truly apologizing to Luo Xue.

    But why?

    “Imperial Concubine, please rise,” seeing Concubine Min’s unsteady steps, Luo Xue quickly went over to help her up. “I’m just curious, why did you suddenly believe me…”

    “…You don’t know?”

    Now it was Concubine Min’s turn to be stunned. She stared at Luo Xue’s face and reached out to touch it.

    “This face…”

    “…Hmm?”

    Luo Xue frowned slightly.

    What was wrong with this face?

    “It seems you really don’t know.” Concubine Min suddenly smiled. “You must be the owner of this face. When I first met Luo Xue, she looked exactly like you do now.”

    “…Huh?”

    Luo Xue’s mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

    She couldn’t even count how many times she had been stunned today.

    She suddenly realized something terrifying.

    “Many people know Luo Xue, but not many have seen her like this, so… I believe you.” Concubine Min’s eyes flickered with reminiscence and sorrow. “Little girl, can you tell me your name?”

    Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, glanced at Dugu Xue, then said,

    “My name is Li Guijiao. You can call me Guijiao, Your Ladyship.”

    Luo Xue was now 80% sure that this so-called “Luo Xue” was probably her dearest Senior Sister Li Guijiao…

    If it was just her appearance, Luo Xue might still think there were other possibilities.

    But if she also used the ghostly girl appearance… honestly, the remaining 20% was just Luo Xue being cautious.

    After all, the ghostly girl was Senior Sister Li’s signature look. Luo Xue had only used it frequently in the post-apocalyptic world because she wouldn’t encounter Senior Sister Li there.

    However, Luo Xue didn’t mind Senior Sister Li using her appearance.

    After all, she had done the same…

    “What a strange name,” Concubine Min’s face paled slightly. Her weakened body, coupled with not having used any techniques for a long time, made her feel tired. “Did Luo Xue send you to take me away? Or…”

    Concubine Min looked at Dugu Xue, and Luo Xue also looked over.

    Dugu Xue was still confused.

    She didn’t understand why her mother and Big Sister Luo were fighting just now, and now they had suddenly reconciled.

    Big Sister Luo also seemed to be hiding her identity, changing her name and appearance…

    How strange.

    Confused, Dugu Xue just blinked innocently and shrank back slightly under their gazes.

    “Mother Concubine, you talk…”

    “If you’re here to take me away, then forget it.” A bitter smile appeared on Concubine Min’s lips. “This is my own choice, I don’t blame anyone.”

    “May I ask… what’s your relationship with… Luo Xue?”

    Luo Xue couldn’t help her curiosity and asked.

    Dugu Xue also perked up her ears, wanting to know what kind of relationship Big Sister Luo, who didn’t even know herself, had with this person.

    “There’s nothing to hide,” Concubine Min said softly, “She’s my… savior. But it seems she wasn’t trying to save me, she just mistook me for someone else.”

    “…”

    Luo Xue looked at Concubine Min’s snow-white hair and suddenly realized something.

    “Anyway, don’t worry about me.” Concubine Min smiled sadly, reached out, and rubbed Dugu Xue’s hair. “If you can… take her away from this bottomless vortex. That’s all I wish for. As for the price…”

    Concubine Min took out a small, snow-white dagger from somewhere and handed it to Luo Xue.

    “This is my natal spiritual artifact. It’s useless to me now, useless to the imperial family… Take it, it won’t be a burden.”

    “This…”

    Luo Xue looked at the snow-white dagger, hesitating whether to take it.

    She hadn’t intended to take Dugu Xue away. The “Princess Xue’s” disappearance had already caused chaos in the imperial palace. With Dugu Xue present, things could be stabilized.

    If Luo Xue also took Dugu Xue away, she would truly be missing…

    At that time, the entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty… would be her enemy.

    Luo Xue looked up at Dugu Xue.

    Dugu Xue also looked up slightly, staring at Luo Xue with a somewhat dazed expression.

    And when their eyes met, a smile involuntarily appeared on Dugu Xue’s lips.

    “Little Dugu, do you want to leave with me?” Luo Xue asked softly. “After this, I’m afraid… it will be difficult to return to the imperial palace.”

    Dugu Xue’s expression froze, and she looked at her mother, a hint of sadness and reluctance in her eyes.

    But after a moment, Dugu Xue’s gaze turned firm.

    “I do.” Dugu Xue replied seriously, looking directly into Luo Xue’s eyes. “Not because of Mother Concubine, not because of you, but because… I want to.”

    Dugu Xue wasn’t naive. She knew her father loved her, but this love only brought her pain and restrictions.

    Before her death, Dugu Xue didn’t want to have any regrets.

    She could be Mother Concubine’s Xue’er, Big Sister Luo’s Little Dugu, and her own Dugu Xue, but she didn’t want to be Princess Xue, the little princess of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.

    Concubine Min looked at her daughter, a hint of reluctance in her eyes, but also a flicker of relief.

    Staying in the imperial palace, this bottomless vortex, would only harm Xue’er.

    Both the Immortal Emperor and the Empress were chess players.

    And Concubine Min and Princess Xue were just pawns on their board.

    The fate of a pawn was never in its own hands.

    Even if there was temporary favor, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t be abandoned.

    “In that case, I’ll go with you.”

    A faint smile appeared on Luo Xue’s pale face. She reached out and took Concubine Min’s natal spiritual artifact, also taking on Dugu Xue’s responsibility.

    The moment she held the snow-white dagger, a bone-chilling coldness permeated Luo Xue’s body.

    But this coldness wasn’t harmful, but rather comforting. Luo Xue could feel her soul being cleansed.

    Not only that, but Luo Xue could also feel the emotions of the spiritual artifact in her hand, a faint sadness.

    “What’s its name?”

    Luo Xue asked.

    Unlike magical artifacts, all spiritual artifacts had artifact spirits, which could grow through nurturing and even fight independently to a certain extent.

    Concubine Min’s natal spiritual artifact was probably around eighth-grade. Normally, artifacts of this level could only be used by Nascent Soul cultivators and above, but spiritual artifacts were different.

    They would adjust themselves to their master’s cultivation level, lowering the requirements for use and maximizing the master’s combat power.

    An eighth-grade spiritual artifact could even be used by those at the Ascension Realm, or even Tribulation Immortal and above.

    “It’s called Snow Blade,” Concubine Min said slowly. “I’m entrusting it, and her… to you, Miss Guijiao.”

    Concubine Min took Luo Xue’s hand, then placed Dugu Xue’s small hand in hers and patted it gently.

    Dugu Xue, as if realizing something, blushed and turned her head away shyly.

    Luo Xue raised an eyebrow, feeling that this scene was a bit strange…

    Was this really entrusting her daughter to her care?

    Why did it feel a bit like…

    “And, one last thing,” Concubine Min lowered her eyelids, her voice weakening, “Please give Luo Xue a message for me.”

    “Tell her… Min’er won’t be returning.”

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 515

    Chapter 515: Explain My Ass!

    Carol knew that the cause was Shien.

    Otherwise, why would the fairies be so close to him, and why would his magic power and aura be so close to nature?

    As far as Carol knew, there was only one explanation for this phenomenon.

    That was—the [Blessing of the Goddess of Nature].

    Indeed.

    Once one received the blessing of the Goddess of Nature, they would be protected by nature and become close to it.

    Therefore, those with this blessing would have magic power and an aura very close to nature, attracting elves and fairies.

    However, logically speaking, it was impossible for a human to receive the blessing of the Goddess of Nature.

    The Goddess of Fate, the Goddess of Life, and the Goddess of Nature each had their own domains, responsible for guiding different races, and their blessings were usually only bestowed upon the races under their jurisdiction.

    Therefore, only elves and dwarves could receive the blessing of the Goddess of Nature. Humans and beastmen couldn’t.

    Unless…

    (He’s the Hero.)

    Only the Hero, summoned from another world, wouldn’t be bound by this rule.

    Because Heroes summoned from another world were always human, and they could definitely receive blessings at the level of the Three Goddesses, only Heroes didn’t have to follow the rules and could potentially receive the blessing of any goddess.

    In the past, there were also Heroes who received the blessing of the Goddess of Nature.

    However, now that the Demon King had been defeated, the war was over, and the Hero Summoning Ritual had been sealed by Omniis, the Supreme God, in a remote place in the Divine Realm, never to be used again.

    Therefore, Heroes would no longer appear in this world, and the blessing of the Goddess of Nature could only be bestowed upon elves or dwarves.

    Thus, it was impossible for Shien to have received the [Blessing of the Goddess of Nature]. The nature-loving magic power and aura on him must have another cause.

    Moreover, Carol had never heard of anyone shortening the reincarnation cycle of fairies with the [Blessing of the Goddess of Nature].

    There had been those who received the blessing of the Goddess of Nature in the history of the Elven Race. If they had this ability, they wouldn’t have not used it.

    Therefore, Carol immediately dismissed the idea that Shien possessed the [Blessing of the Goddess of Nature].

    But if that was the case, then what was going on?

    Why was this man from another race so special?

    Could this be the reason why he attracted Airi, the Dragon Demon, and Lilith, the evil god?

    Carol had thought about this more than once.

    She believed that the Elven Queen must also be pondering this.

    In a way, for the Elven Race, Shien’s special nature was even more significant than the Hero who visited them a thousand years ago.

    Just with the affinity that attracted all elves and fairies, the Elven Race couldn’t ignore his existence.

    For now, not many elves had seen this man, and their vigilance towards men from other races was enough to keep them away from him, even resisting this sense of closeness.

    But Carol felt that if this continued, the situation would definitely change.

    At least, now, the fairies’ attitudes had already changed.

    Then, would the elves’ attitudes be far behind?

    Carol had always been wary of this.

    Because she felt that this wasn’t a good thing for the Elven Race.

    She had reported this to the Elven Queen yesterday, but the Queen clearly didn’t want to strain their relationship with this man from another race.

    This person had powerful backing, with the Dragon Demon’s support and Lilith, the evil god, by his side. Now, he seemed to be connected to the Beast Demon and the Ghost Demon as well. The Elven Race definitely couldn’t afford to offend him too much.

    Even Nadue, the Goddess of Nature, had sent her will yesterday, proving that she was paying attention to the situation in the Elven Homeland.

    This made Carol understand that this man’s special nature had attracted the attention of many.

    Under such circumstances, even if she wanted to do something, it would be difficult.

    Considering this, Carol decided not to pursue the matter of Shien shortening the fairies’ reincarnation cycles.

    This wasn’t something she should be concerned about.

    To avoid causing more trouble, it was best for her to do nothing.

    Carol was cautious and rigid in her thinking.

    All of this was for the Elven Race.

    Of course, Carol would report this to the Elven Queen.

    Only someone of the Queen’s level had the authority to handle this matter.

    Thinking of this, Carol suppressed her thoughts and said to Shien, who looked unhappy,

    “Let’s not talk about this anymore.” Carol changed the subject. “I came to ask if you have any plans for today?”

    “Today’s plans?” Shien’s attention was diverted. He scratched his cheek and said, “The Peace Festival is still a few days away, and I have nothing to do today, so we’ll probably stroll around the Elven Homeland.”

    Shien hadn’t forgotten that the purpose of this trip was sightseeing.

    Since it was for sightseeing, they naturally had to explore this Elven Homeland that everyone wanted to enter.

    In other words…

    “I’ll be going out today.” Shien looked at Carol. “You’re not here to stop me, are you?”

    Shien knew that Carol didn’t want him wandering around the Elven Homeland, startling the people here.

    But he didn’t want to be restricted, coming to attend the festival only to be isolated by a group of people who discriminated against men.

    If Carol’s purpose today was to stop him, then Shien felt that he had to cause some trouble to live up to his title of “Troublemaker.”

    Fortunately, Carol didn’t have such intentions.

    “Although it’s not what I want, you are our guests. Since we’ve decided to welcome you, we can’t be impolite.”

    Carol said calmly.

    “I’ll have someone inform everyone in the Elven Homeland and have them prepare themselves.”

    If she didn’t do this, Shien going out would definitely cause a commotion.

    “You’re going to find Melika, right?” Carol said, “Just have Melika show you around the Elven Homeland.”

    Since it was Melika who invited Shien and the others, it was naturally her responsibility.

    “I only have one thing to say.” Carol looked directly at Shien and said each word clearly, “Please don’t do anything suspicious.”

    Carol had already said this many times.

    Shien really wanted to ask, what exactly were these so-called suspicious things?

    Peeking at the elven girls changing clothes? Or peeking at them bathing?

    Was he that kind of person?

    …Anyway, there were still a few days left, there was no rush.

    “I’ll definitely be on my best behavior today.”

    Shien promised solemnly.

    Yes, he would definitely be on his best behavior today.

    As for tomorrow…

    He’d think about it tomorrow!

    “That’s good.” Carol, still unaware that she had been tricked, nodded and said, “After you’ve seen the Elven Homeland, you can go to the Queen’s Palace. The Queen has given instructions that if it’s you, you can visit her at any time. She also seems to have something to discuss with you.”

    “Something to discuss?” Shien raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

    “I don’t know.” Carol replied directly. “Perhaps it’s something related to you.”

    After all, Shien and his group were quite special and important. Even the Elven Queen had to treat them with caution.

    Moreover, quite a few things had happened yesterday, and the Elven Queen might want to ask about them.

    For example, the arrival of the Beast Demon and the Ghost Demon.

    For example, what the Beast Demon talked about when she went to see the Elven Queen yesterday.

    And for example, the commotion in the Elven Homeland last night, which even alerted the Goddess of Nature.

    The truth behind these matters was still a mystery.

    Carol believed that the Elven Queen wanted to understand these things.

    Therefore, she relayed all the information.

    “I still have patrol duty, so I’ll take my leave.”

    Finally, Carol said,

    “Remember, don’t do anything suspicious.”

    Saying so, Carol glanced at the fairies still fluttering around Shien, then turned and left.

    Shien watched Carol leave, and after her figure completely disappeared, he curled his lip.

    “What a boring woman.”

    After this comment, Shien started playing with the fairies again.

    …

    Not long after, in the tree house, the girls woke up one after another, left their rooms, and came to the living room.

    And without exception, they all saw the scene of Shien playing with the fairies and were stunned.

    “What did you do?”

    Lucy ran to Shien, surprised, and asked.

    “Since when could you play with fairies?”

    Airi, still sleepy-eyed, looked displeased, as if still upset about yesterday’s events, her attitude towards Shien unfriendly.

    “Hee hee!”

    “Fun!”

    Lilith and Millu, however, seemed to have completely forgotten about what happened yesterday, like two innocent children, having become friends, holding hands, chasing after the scattering fairies, and giggling happily.

    “These children seem to have been attracted by Mr. Shien.”

    Lasha said calmly while preparing breakfast.

    Lid, lying on the table, looked at Shien meaningfully.

    “Aren’t you going to explain?” Lid said nonchalantly, “This time, don’t try to fool us like yesterday.”

    It seemed that after a night of conversation, this Beast Demon finally realized that she had been tricked by Shien in her concern.

    Shien only rolled his eyes.

    Explain?

    Explain my ass!

    He was naturally charming and loved by all. Even fairies liked him, was there a problem with that?

    Immediately assuming that he had done something, how little did they think of his charisma and character?

    Damn it!

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 127

    Chapter 127: Crispy Pork Lard

    For the viewers who had embraced this new form of entertainment, the camera-less bathrooms were the biggest complaint about Reality Online.

    Initially, they had been quite understanding, thinking that bathrooms were private spaces. But then, after the Team Change Card incident and the surge in Mi Hongdou/Ji Junxin shippers, the “cockroach incident” in the bathroom made them realize how frustrating it was to have blind spots in a 24/7 live stream!

    This frustration intensified when Ji Junxin mentioned cockroaches again the next morning.

    The memory game challenge offered a temporary distraction, giving the crew, who were bearing the brunt of the criticism, a brief respite.

    But this respite was short-lived. As soon as the challenge ended, Ji Junxin’s fall reignited the viewers’ obsession with the bathroom. When she mentioned the bathroom again, the crew’s hearts sank. As expected, when she asked to go to the bathroom to check her injury, the live stream comments exploded with demands for cameras in the bathroom, a torrent of messages that made the crew want to cry.

    No filming in the bathroom, no audio or night vision at night, these were the show’s non-negotiable rules. Even with the exploding comments section, the crew stuck to their principles.

    The viewers, although spamming the comments with their demands, knew it was futile, just expressing their wishes.

    Although there were no cameras in the bathroom, there was still audio.

    As Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin entered the bathroom and closed the door, the viewers turned off the audio for the other cameras, focusing on their microphones.

    A brief silence, then,

    “Put on some medicine…” Mi Hongdou’s voice.

    Another long silence, then,

    “Let me see your knee.” Mi Hongdou again.

    More silence.

    “There’s some bruising, do you want ice or ointment? There’s safflower oil, I can rub it on for you.” Still Mi Hongdou.

    Followed by silence.

    Why isn’t Ji Junxin speaking? Did she turn off her mic? No, even if she did, Mi Hongdou’s mic would still pick up something! So she hasn’t spoken at all? Why? Is she seriously injured?! The viewers flooded the comments with questions, even the demands for bathroom cameras decreased.

    Then Mi Hongdou spoke again. “Does it still hurt?”

    A brief pause, then, “Does it still hurt?”

    The short pause between the two questions made the viewers imagine the scene: Mi Hongdou, squatting down, anxiously examining the injury, while Ji Junxin, silently crying… How pitiful!

    Just as their imaginations ran wild, they heard Ji Junxin’s first words since entering the bathroom.

    A soft, pained whimper… “It still hurts…”

    Ji Junxin’s fans clutched their hearts. So pitiful! She didn’t turn off her mic, she was just crying too hard to speak! The earlier silence, was she just nodding and shaking her head in pain? Waaaah…

    The demands for cameras decreased further, replaced by a flood of sympathetic messages: “So pitiful!” “Don’t cry!” “We’ll always support you, Xinxin!” …

    While the viewers imagined Ji Junxin’s suffering, the two in the bathroom had already progressed from a knee kiss, to jumping away, to almost chipping a tooth…

    The viewers, their hearts aching for Ji Junxin, didn’t notice the prolonged silence from the bathroom.

    As the saying goes, silence is golden, but sometimes, it’s just… awkward.

    While most viewers were still expressing their sympathy for Ji Junxin’s pained whimper, some noticed that even Mi Hongdou had fallen silent.

    This lack of cameras is really testing our imaginations!

    As they sat there, staring at their silent computers, their minds racing, a soft “Mmm~” suddenly came through their speakers, a soft, breathy sound that seemed to break through suppressed restraint, followed by a faint echo, an involuntary release…

    The viewers, who had been typing sympathetic messages, their hearts aching for Ji Junxin’s bruised knee, were stunned by this sudden sound. Their fingers froze on their keyboards, typing random strings of characters like “yyyyyyyy” and “aaaaaaa.”

    Then, they quickly deleted them.

    Their trembling fingers typed new messages, flooding the comments section.

    “Did you hear something from the bathroom?”

    “That moan… what was that!”

    “No, it should be ‘mmm~’ not ‘mmm…’”

    “You’re right, the ‘~’ is more accurate!”

    “Are we really discussing the proper punctuation of a moan! I heard Xinxin’s voice! Someone explain! What was that!”

    “Timidly raising my hand, I think I heard it from Mi Hongdou’s mic. Please tell me I’m not alone…”

    “You’re not alone, I’m watching on two computers, but I think… it’s just us two.”

    “Joining the queue, we’re probably three…”

    “Running to catch up, we’re four…”

    “Piling on, we’re five…”

    “Enough with the ‘we’! It’s a whole group of us! So why did we hear Ji Junxin’s moan from both her and Mi Hongdou’s mics?!”

    “Hehe, why indeed?”

    “See: the relationship between distance and sound propagation.”

    “On the importance of posture.”

    “So, we’re a group, but I still want to know… why the moan?…”

    “I don’t even want to know… my teeth hurt…”

    “Toothache +1”

    “Toothache +2”

    “Toothache +3”

    …

    “Just came back from dinner, seems like I missed something, so, are you saying someone moaned because of a toothache?”

    “You’ll regret having dinner.”

    “Regret +1”

    “Regret +2”

    “Regret +3”

    …

    “So, what was it?”

    “I don’t dare to know…”

    “I don’t dare to imagine…”

    “I don’t dare to ask…”

    “Don’t dare +N”

    Just as the comments were becoming increasingly suggestive and cryptic, Mi Hongdou’s mic came to life. “That’s what you get for being clumsy, now that I’m rubbing medicine on it, does it hurt?”

    The comments paused.

    “I’m the one who went for dinner, so, are you saying Ji Junxin moaned because of the medicine?”

    “Hehe”

    “Hehehe”

    “Hehehehehe”

    “Hehehehehehe…”

    “Such a clumsy cover-up, poor Mi Hongdou.”

    “To the one who went for dinner, don’t cry, some moans… once missed, are gone forever…”

    “There’s an idiom I could never quite use correctly, and now, its time has come…”

    “Covering up the truth”

    “Deceiving yourself”

    “Protesting too much”

    “Trying to hide the obvious”

    “Giving yourself away”

    “OMG… you guys should join the Chinese Idiom Competition!”

    “Why are we so calm… too much sugar?”

    “No… I’m just stunned, it’s my first time having concentrated sugar.”

    “Concentrated sugar is too delicious, I’m still in shock.”

    “We probably misheard, let’s just silently savor this concentrated sugar.”

    …

    Regardless of the viewers’ complex emotions as they savored the “concentrated sugar,” Ji Junxin, who had unintentionally provided the treat, wanted to jump into a pool and disappear.

    The two kisses last night hadn’t been silent, they had even been… more intense, more unrestrained. But… the microphones had been off! And she hadn’t been the only one reacting.

    Ji Junxin was mortified. Such a chaste kiss, just lips touching lips, and she had… how embarrassing! And she had been so… quick to react… If it were just Mi Hongdou, then… well, it still wouldn’t be okay. But there was an audience! Ji Junxin covered her mouth, her eyes reddening again.

    Mi Hongdou, her breathing unsteady, her mind reeling from Ji Junxin’s soft moan, had almost lost control, wanting to hold her tighter, to kiss her deeper. She was a little dizzy.

    They were both adults, and Ji Junxin was the person Mi Hongdou had loved for so long. Having finally realized their mutual feelings, Mi Hongdou, as if hit by a lottery win, still felt a sense of unreality. Especially… Ji Junxin’s unexpected boldness, both surprising and exciting. And after her initial boldness, Ji Junxin would quickly become soft and pliant, her coquettish surrender so alluring that Mi Hongdou wanted to give her the world, just to savor this moment of intimacy.

    Afraid of losing control, Mi Hongdou had intended just a quick, comforting kiss for the bruised knee, then a quick retreat. Who knew… she had overestimated Ji Junxin’s… resistance.

    Such a quick reaction… how tempting…

    But… reacting like that with the microphones on… how embarrassing!

    Hmph! And someone heard it! A twinge of annoyance helped Mi Hongdou regain some composure.

    She steadied herself, looked away from Ji Junxin, who now looked incredibly alluring in her pitiful state.

    “That’s what you get for being clumsy, now that I’m rubbing medicine on it, does it hurt?” she said, winking at Ji Junxin, and then, for added realism, took out the safflower oil.

    Although she wasn’t sure if the audience had heard, or what they imagined… she could still try to salvage the situation.

    Someone like Pan Xiang, with her wild imagination, could probably come up with a better excuse. But massaging Ji Junxin’s injured knee and having her moan in pain was the best she could think of.

    Whether the audience would buy it… she could only hope.

    Mi Hongdou warmed the oil in her hands, rolled up Ji Junxin’s pants leg, and started massaging her knee.

    Ji Junxin sniffed the oil, pouted, her face red, but she didn’t refuse.

    After a few rubs, Mi Hongdou signaled for Ji Junxin to moan.

    Ji Junxin hesitated, then, following the script, let out two soft moans.

    “Too hard? I’ll be gentler,” Mi Hongdou quickly added.

    She felt a little more relaxed. This should explain the earlier moan… at least, it was a plausible excuse. The audience wouldn’t overthink it…

    On the live stream page, however, Ji Junxin’s two dutiful moans stunned the viewers.

    “So, the correct punctuation here is ‘mmm…’”

    “Poor Xinxin, that sounded so awkward.”

    “Completely different from the earlier moan, so unconvincing, she should have created a better… atmosphere.”

    “Are you suggesting another kiss?”

    “No… one dose of concentrated sugar a day is enough, I can’t handle more!”

    “Actually, I could have another dose.”

    “Concentrated sugar is so good, I want more, what’s Bai Bai Dental Clinic’s number again?”

    “Bai Bai Dental Clinic: 139xxxxxxxx, Address: xxxxxxxxx, Jiang City. Mention your ‘Reality Online’ comment ID for a 15% discount~”

    “Kudos to Bai Bai for the discount!”

    “Bai Bai is really going all out…”

    “Xinxin is the one going all out, trying to fix the loophole…”

    “Trying to cover up her own slip-up”

    “Unfortunately, the cover-up failed, the tone was all wrong”

    “Poor Xiaomi, her script ruined”

    “Are you stupid… it’s clearly Mi Hongdou who benefited, why pity her!”

    “Oh, poor Xinxin, so you’re the neko!”

    “Poor Xinxin +1…”

    “Poor Xinxin +2…”

    “Poor Xinxin +3…”

    …

    “Suddenly realizing I’ve chosen the right CP, feeling a little lost.”

    “Don’t worry, Sweet Red Bean Soup welcomes you, concentrated sugar is even better in soup~”

    Speechless… the viewers decided to eat their meals in front of their computers, they didn’t want to miss anything like that viewer who went for dinner earlier. After all, these sweet moments would definitely be edited out of the TV version, hmph!

    The two, thinking they had successfully covered up the moan, quickly left the bathroom after applying the ointment to Ji Junxin’s knees.

    They glanced around, trying to appear calm. The crew members’ expressions seemed normal, it seemed the incident had blown over…

    Great! Time for groceries!

    The cameramen, following them, discreetly touched their phones, glancing at the two happy figures. They’re so sweet…

    Ji Junxin’s thirty coins from the morning challenge had rescued them from poverty. They were rich now.

    But it was only the second day of “Reality Online,” and coins were hard to earn. Even with their newfound wealth, they had to be frugal.

    Mi Hongdou wanted to buy ingredients that could last, after all, it was only the second day, and they still had to eat three meals a day. Both coins and food, sustainability was important.

    Ji Junxin had no objections, letting Mi Hongdou decide. Her obedient and slightly clueless demeanor, combined with the earlier moan, made the CP fans’ noses bleed…

    Ji Junxin, thinking about what they would eat for lunch, was oblivious to the online frenzy.

    At the Supplies Board, Mi Hongdou hesitated. In a world where an egg cost five coins… thirty coins wasn’t much. A fish cost forty… even if she wanted to make something nutritious for Ji Junxin, she couldn’t afford it.

    And the small, discounted starter pack of seasonings was almost gone. The salt, MSG, and sugar were just a pinch each, the oil just a few drops. She had used very little seasoning for the chicken soup, which was why there was enough left for breakfast. But for stir-fries, it would only be enough for one meal.

    After much deliberation, Mi Hongdou spent twelve coins on two liang of fatty pork. Compared to lean pork or pork belly, which were more expensive, they needed the fat for cooking.

    Thinking about Ji Junxin, who had been eating bland rice and pickled cucumbers for days, Mi Hongdou reluctantly spent another five coins on an egg.

    Seventeen coins gone… most of their wealth, exchanged for a handful of ingredients.

    The viewers, watching the live stream while eating their own lunches – chicken legs, braised pork, short ribs, smoked fish – frowned at that small piece of fatty pork.

    It looks so unappetizing! Why not pork belly, at least it looks like meat! And we thought she would make something delicious…

    Mi Hongdou, calculating the most cost-effective way to buy seasonings, had no idea that her precious fatty pork was being criticized. After another long hesitation, she spent twelve coins on small packets of salt, MSG, and sugar, about 100 grams each. Although twelve coins seemed like a lot, it was more cost-effective than the single-use starter pack. She figured that if they were careful, these seasonings would last them for the rest of the show.

    Thirteen coins left, then one. Mi Hongdou had initially wanted to keep it, but seeing the dried soybeans, she couldn’t resist and, after some haggling, traded her last coin for two handfuls.

    So, the newly rich team was penniless again.

    But Ji Junxin didn’t seem worried at all, just constantly asking Mi Hongdou what they were having.

    Mi Hongdou, carrying the meager ingredients, kept her in suspense, which only intensified Ji Junxin’s curiosity and clinginess.

    The viewers silently swallowed their sugar-coated chicken legs, honey-glazed braised pork, candied short ribs, and honey-smoked fish… We seem to have acquired a new skill…

    Mi Hongdou thought that with so few ingredients, revealing the menu beforehand would ruin the surprise. But Ji Junxin was persistent, following her closely, and once they were home, she practically glued herself to the kitchen counter.

    Well… having her around isn’t so bad… Mi Hongdou thought, keeping her mouth shut.

    Two liang of fatty pork, with skin. She removed the skin, washed the fat, and diced it into small, even pieces.

    She started a small fire in the traditional stove, added a little water to the wok, then the diced fat.

    As the water evaporated, the fat started rendering, and both Ji Junxin and the viewers realized that she was making lard.

    Indeed, in the harsh environment of Reality Online, rendering your own lard was much more cost-effective than buying oil. Smart move, getting the fatty pork, thumbs-up!

    Unlike the viewers, who were impressed by her frugality, Ji Junxin, smelling the aroma of rendering lard, felt her stomach rumble, her mouth watering.

    It had been a while since they had anything greasy, and even Mi Hongdou had to admit, the lard smelled particularly good today.

    When the water was gone, Mi Hongdou reduced the heat, stirring the pork bits, which were shrinking and turning golden brown, the aroma intensifying.

    As the lard accumulated, and the pork bits became crispy, she added a pinch of salt, gave it a final stir, turned off the heat, and scooped out the crispy bits.

    Ji Junxin, the dedicated foodie, casually drifted closer.

    The amount of lard rendered from that small amount of fat was even smaller. But that glistening, golden liquid looked… incredibly tempting. To someone craving something greasy, it was irresistible, just the smell was intoxicating.

    Mi Hongdou, seeing Ji Junxin’s almost dazed expression, understood.

    She sprinkled a small amount of sugar into the bowl, stirred it quickly, and handed it to Ji Junxin. “Blow on it, it’s hot.”

    Happiness came so suddenly…

    Ji Junxin took the bowl, carefully scooped a piece of crispy lard, blew on it repeatedly, and then… offered it to Mi Hongdou.

    So now, in the foodie’s heart, I’m more important than food! Mi Hongdou felt a strange sense of triumph and ate the offered lard. “You eat the rest, I’ll start on the other dishes.”

    Tsk, a bit too much sugar, a little sweet, but still delicious! The crispy, fragrant lard, sweet and savory, was incredibly addictive. Mi Hongdou’s mouth and nose were filled with the aroma.

    Ji Junxin… Ji Junxin’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction as she ate, feeling nourished after days of bland food.

    The viewers put down their chopsticks.

    They had just been bombarded with sugar, everything tasting sweet…

    And now, this lard… suddenly, their own food seemed unappetizing!

    We also want lard! Freshly rendered, crispy lard with salt and sugar!

    “Going out to buy pork!”

    “Buy pork +1”

    “Buy pork +2”

    “Buy pork +3”

    …

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 63p2

    Chapter Sixty-Three p2

    The few of them left without looking sideways. Fu Shuang, who was left behind, put away her disappointed expression, smiled at Bo Chi in blessing, and followed them downstairs.

    “Is that the new girl you bought?” Yu Zhao was obviously still thinking about yesterday’s ‘cheating in front of her’, and snorted coldly: “She looks pretty good, and her personality is quite gentle, but she’s not as strong as me, and she’s destined to not be able to protect you.“

    Bo Chi said smoothly: “Yes, yes, yes, Master Yu is the most powerful. This little girl doesn’t ask for much, I only ask that Master Yu can protect me forever and ever, can Master Yu do it?“

    Yu Zhao curled her lips: “As long as I’m alive, I will protect you.“

    Bo Chi said faintly: “Really? Even if you find out that I lied to you in the future, you won’t change your mind?“

    Yu Zhao seemed to sense something, and raised her eyebrows: “Lied to me? What did you lie to me about?“

    Bo Chi’s expression was calm: “It’s just an example.“

    Yu Zhao’s eyebrows relaxed, and she chuckled: “It doesn’t matter what you lied to me about, I love you, I like you, so naturally I will protect you no matter what.“

    Bo Chi bit her lip, hesitated, and finally stammered: “I have a friend… She’s kind-hearted and never kills, but she passed away a while ago. If she becomes a ghost and comes back to me, what would you do to her?“

    Yu Zhao let go of Bo Chi, held her shoulders, turned her around to face her, and said in a deep voice: “I will kill her.“

    Bo Chi’s mind went blank, and she moved her lips: “But she hasn’t done anything bad, she still has human thoughts, she can control herself, she—“

    Yu Zhao interrupted: “She’s already dead. A dead person is not the same person she was before, but a ghost, an evil ghost that might suddenly kill at any time. I can’t tolerate such a dangerous existence by your side, so I’m sorry, Chi Niang, even if you hate me, I will still kill her.“

    Bo Chi didn’t speak for a long time.

    Yu Zhao thought she was sad, hugged her, and sighed: “Humans and ghosts are different paths, you are destined to no longer be on the same path. Forget about her, treat her as a truly dead person.“

    Bo Chi’s eyelashes trembled, and finally, she showed a smile that was uglier than crying, and hummed softly.

    Because of this test, Bo Chi’s original intention to confess retreated again.

    She didn’t want to die, not only because she was afraid of pain, but also because she didn’t want to be separated from Yu Zhao.

    If she returned to the real world, she and Yu Zhao would become enemies again, never contacting each other. Then she had to cherish every small world, cherish this existing tenderness.

    Let’s wait a little longer.

    When she continued to cultivate her relationship with Yu Zhao, when Yu Zhao was willing to compromise and accept that ‘ghost friend’, she could tell this secret with peace of mind.

    Before that, she had to continue to capture Yu Zhao’s heart.

    Seduce her to death!

    Bo Chi quickly regained her spirits, and energetically pulled Yu Zhao to change clothes.

    After having breakfast downstairs, they stayed in the city for a few more days. When they were fully recovered, they set off again.

    After walking and stopping for several months, they arrived in the capital in the bleak autumn wind.

    The capital was far more prosperous and lively than all the previous cities, looking peaceful and prosperous, as if it was a golden age where everyone had enough food and clothing. Most of the people on the street were dressed in fine clothes, and the pavilions and buildings in the distance were high and low, with many brothels among them. Bo Chi looked at them a few more times, and was pulled into a courtyard by Yu Zhao.

    Red maple leaves were in full bloom in the courtyard, covering the ground like fire. It could be seen that no one had lived there for a long time, so a layer of maple leaves had accumulated.

    “Whose house is this?” Bo Chi was a little surprised: “Aren’t we going to the inn first?“

    Yu Zhao led her into the courtyard, stepping on the red leaves and saying: “This is my house. It’s a bit deserted because I don’t live here often. I didn’t bring much money on this trip, and you always want to buy things when you see them, so the money must be almost spent. Instead of continuing to spend money at the inn, why don’t we stay here for now?“

    Bo Chi suddenly realized, and then her face stiffened, her eyes widening: “How do you know that I’m using your money?“

    Yu Zhao smiled meaningfully at her, didn’t answer, but looked at Jin Xi and the others, who were envious: “The courtyard hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, if you want to stay, you have to start cleaning.“

    Jin Xi hurriedly nodded, and started cleaning with her little sisters.

    After a whole day of busy work, it wasn’t until dusk, when the sun was setting, that they barely finished cleaning the house.

    Perhaps seeing that they had calmed down, the neighbor next door came and knocked on the door.

    It was Jin Xi who opened the door. She looked at the neighbor aunt in confusion, and was about to ask what was the matter, when she saw the aunt smiling and saying: “Is this girl a relative of Master Exorcist?“

    Jin Xi hurriedly waved her hand: “No, no, we are Master Yu’s friends, you are…?“

    The aunt smiled: “We are locals of the capital. We heard that Master Exorcist was staying here before, so we specially moved next door, wanting to get close to Master Exorcist. But Master Exorcist didn’t stay for long before she went traveling again, and I felt a little regretful. Now that I heard movement in the courtyard again, I couldn’t help but come over and take a look.“

    Jin Xi suddenly understood, invited the aunt into the house to sit down, and turned to find Yu Zhao and tell her about this.

    Bo Chi was joking with Yu Zhao, and when she heard this, she raised her eyes in surprise: “You’re so famous? There are even people who come to be your neighbor because of your reputation?“

    Yu Zhao was noncommittal: “Demons and ghosts are rampant in the world, and the people are afraid, so naturally they follow the name of the exorcist. I’m not familiar with the neighbors around here, and I don’t intend to make friends with them. Jin Xi, you go and entertain them, and then persuade them to leave.“

    Among their group, Yu Zhao obviously had the highest status.

    Therefore, Jin Xi didn’t refuse, nodded and agreed, and went to deal with these social matters dutifully.

    Fortunately, the aunt wasn’t a difficult person, and tactfully put down the gift and left.

    After that, many more people came to visit, all neighbors from around here. They had flocked here because of Yu Zhao’s reputation before, and now they seized the opportunity to show their goodwill.

    Jin Xi entertained and rejected them one by one, and was busy until midnight before she tiredly closed the courtyard door and returned to her room to rest.

    The night passed, and after resting, Jin Xi packed her bookcase, came to the group of people who were eating, and said excitedly: “Master Yu, Chi Niang, I’m going to Bailu Academy to report today, so I won’t be back for lunch!“

    The few of them looked up at her, and saw that she was already fully prepared, wearing a scholar’s outfit, her neck covered, her hair tied in a bun, and with her heroic voice, she truly looked the part.

    “I always wanted my cold to get better quickly before, so that my voice could recover quickly.” Jin Xi said with a smile: “Now I’m not in a hurry, I even want this cold to last a little longer, so that I can safely finish my studies at the academy.“

    Bo Chi raised her eyebrows, beckoned to her, and when Jin Xi approached in confusion, she patted the other party’s shoulder, took the opportunity to extract a large amount of yin energy, and after retracting her hand, she said in a reserved tone, as if she had done a good deed without leaving her name: “This is what they call ‘blessing in disguise’, and ‘misfortune may be a blessing in disguise’.“

    Jin Xi nodded in agreement: “Yes, yes, yes, that’s it. I didn’t expect you to be so literary, Chi Niang, even though you’re usually so unreliable. Speaking of which, I still don’t know where you lived before, and whether you’ve studied or not.“

    As soon as she said this, Yu Zhao raised her eyelids first, and asked with a hint of doubt: “When we first met, you said you were familiar with Chi Niang, how come you don’t know about Chi Niang’s past now?“

    Bo Chi’s hand holding the chopsticks tightened, and she was about to explain, when Jin Xi spoke faster: “Yes, I know her name, and she said she was sent by my parents to find me, so aren’t we acquaintances?“

    Yu Zhao came to her senses, and said thoughtfully: “You didn’t set off together, but met on the way?“

    Jin Xi didn’t notice Bo Chi’s death stare at all, and nodded readily: “Yes, I just met Chi Niang the day before I met you.“

    Yu Zhao turned her head, stared at Bo Chi for a while, and suddenly frowned: “How can you be so insensible?“

    Bo Chi, who was holding her breath nervously: “Huh?“

    Yu Zhao said unhappily: “Even if Jin Xi’s parents asked you to find her, how can you, a weak woman, go on the road alone without bringing any guards? If you encounter bad people, you—“

    She didn’t finish the rest of her words, but pulled Bo Chi into her arms, and said angrily: “You’re not allowed to do such reckless things again!“

    Bo Chi: “…Ah, oh, okay…“

    She was a little dazed, not expecting that her suspicion was already so obvious that even a blind person could see the problem, but Yu Zhao, who was so smart and sharp, didn’t have any doubts at all.

    This was obviously not because the other party had suddenly lost her mind, but because her trust in her was deep enough to cover all doubts.

    Bo Chi was both moved and anxious.

    She was afraid that things would backfire. Yu Zhao trusted her so much now, how would she react when she found out her identity?

    Bo Chi didn’t dare to think about it, so she could only change the subject: “Jin Xi, is this your first day at Bailu Academy? Anyway, Qing’er and I have nothing to do, why don’t we see you off?“

    Jin Xi was indeed a little uneasy. Hearing this, her eyes lit up, and she said happily: “Okay! Thank you, Chi Niang and Sister Qing’er!“

    “I’m going too.” The little girl Hua Ci, who hadn’t spoken, looked up and stared at Bo Chi seriously: “I also want to see Jin Xi off.“

    A fist suddenly landed on her head, and Jin Xi threatened with a smile: “Little brat, I’ve been putting up with you for a long time, call me big sister, Big Sister Jin Xi!“

    Hua Ci angrily pulled her hand away, glared at her, ignored her, and continued to look at Bo Chi.

    Bo Chi touched her messy little bun, smiled gently, and said: “It’s naturally good that you have the intention. After you finish eating, we’ll go see her off.“

    Jin Xi muttered angrily, “I don’t want her to see me off,” and after breakfast, she walked to the gate of Bailu Academy, looked at the students coming and going alone, and said proudly: “Look, I’m the most popular, even going to school, there are girls seeing me off with tears.“

    Bo Chi was amused by her, poked her forehead with her white finger, and reminded: “Stop playing, go in quickly. After you go in, study hard, and don’t embarrass your family.“

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c35

    35. Scumbag Master 

     

    Say what!?

    If there were a TV interview now, she would definitely say to the camera with deep regret,

    “I was wrong, I was truly wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten married in the first place. If I hadn’t, my husband wouldn’t have died…”

    Sorry, wrong channel!

    Switching channels.

    “My bad, I shouldn’t have teased the female protagonist. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened.”

    Host: “Then, Miss… err, Ms. Gong, please calm down. What happened afterwards?”

    “Afterwards…”

    This was what happened afterwards:

    This was the first time Gong Yiling had done such a thing. It could be classified as a sudden stroke of idiocy.

    And then things got interesting.

    She didn’t know what to do next, so she just froze.

    Until Yan Chuyue, regaining her senses, pushed her away reflexively.

    But as she stepped back, she accidentally tripped on Gong Yiling’s skirt.

    This caused a large tear in the skirt, and Yan Chuyue fell onto Gong Yiling, pinning her to the bed.

    Host: “Just being pushed onto the bed? That’s boring, officer. News needs to be sensational to attract attention. Any more exciting developments?”

    Yes, there were.

    The more exciting development was…

    Yan Chuyue’s lips landed right on Gong Yiling’s, beneath the veil.

    And!

    Qiu Shui, holding a plate of sliced fruit, opened the door and saw everything.

    Host: “Ooh, is this the legendary Shura field? Miss Gong is truly blessed!”

    Gong Yiling: “System, if you speak to me like that again, I won’t accept any more of your quests.”

    The host, I mean, the system, shut up.

    Of course, the above wasn’t fabricated for a TV show.

    Miss Gong really did have a headache from this incident.

    The next morning, the weather was fine. She stepped out of her room and saw Qiu Shui diligently practicing her spiritual arts under the sunlight.

    Just as she was about to greet her, Qiu Shui noticed her gaze, walked over, and said with a deadpan expression, “Greetings, Master.”

    Greetings my ass!

    Then, without looking back, she returned to her room, leaving Gong Yiling speechless.

    She had no balls to ache, so maybe her ovaries ached?

    At mealtime…

    Chun Lian, Qiu Shui, Lu Xinyao, Yan Chuyue, Gong Yiling, and Shangguan Lingyue sat at a large table. Everyone was chatting and laughing except for Yan Chuyue and Qiu Shui, who sat beside each other, an awkward silence between them. In fact, the three of them didn’t exchange a single word throughout the meal.

    And after eating, Qiu Shui immediately returned to her room.

    “Psst, psst.”

    Suddenly, someone tugged at Miss Gong’s sleeve. It was Shangguan Lingyue.

    “Hmm?”

    “That cultivation mantra you gave me is really effective! My cultivation has improved significantly. I might even reach the peak of Earthly Nether realm soon.”

    “Oh.” Gong Yiling replied absentmindedly.

    “Did you have a falling out with your eldest disciple? She usually listens to you and always stays by your side.”

    “Ah, is that so?”

    “Don’t ‘is that so’ me. You’re thousands of years old, Immortal Master. You should give way to a teenage girl when she’s upset.”

    Thousands of years old? Generous of you.

    She was twenty-one.

    “But I didn’t even say anything.”

    Just then, Yan Chuyue joined the whispered conversation. “I was the victim yesterday, and you were the perpetrator. So you should be the one apologizing.”

    “What???”

    “I’ve never apologized to anyone before. To be honest, I’m a hardcore shut-in with little social experience. You, as her master, should be better at this.”

    Wow.

    The mercenary queen calling herself a hardcore shut-in.

    She probably didn’t lack social experience, but rather, most of the people she interacted with ended up six feet under.

    “Then… should I try?”

    “Try what? If you can’t even handle this, you don’t deserve to be called Master.”

    Yan Chuyue pushed Gong Yiling towards Qiu Shui’s room.

    Then, she took the others to clear the table, giving Gong Yiling a thumbs-up and three words:

    “Go for it!”

    Host: “So, let’s turn our attention to—”

    “System?”

    “Just trying to lighten the mood, build some courage, and… you know, nudge things along.”

    Was that last part really necessary!?

    Although annoyed, Gong Yiling quietly approached Qiu Shui’s room. Just as she was about to knock, she heard soft sobs.

    Yes… the girl inside seemed to be crying.

    To hear what she was saying, Gong Yiling had to use her artifact.

    “Qiu Shui, Qiu Shui, how can you have such unrealistic thoughts?”

    “If the Young Palace Master knew you were a spy, would she still treat you so well?”

    “She protected you publicly, taught you cultivation techniques and spiritual arts, gave you a good life, but… but…”

    “Just because I was upset yesterday, do I have the right to give her the cold shoulder? I don’t deserve it… I don’t…”

    Hearing this monologue, Gong Yiling froze, then mentally slapped herself.

    She had known about Qiu Shui’s spy identity all along and even teased her about it several times.

    She hadn’t thought much of it then, but for a fifteen-year-old girl with such a tragic past, the inner conflict and pressure were unimaginable.

    If she hadn’t known, it would be one thing. But knowing the truth and still forcing this girl to question her conscience and loyalty…

    And this girl had repeatedly stood by her side, always feeling unworthy.

    She was a terrible master.

    If she had told her sooner, if only…

    Gong Yiling suddenly understood.

    She put away the Sound Amplifying Stone, took a deep breath, and left the courtyard.

    It was time to do something.

     

     

     

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c72

    Chapter 72: Mother and Daughter 

    The White Witch of Silent Demise.

    Fiona wasn’t unfamiliar with this hellish Grotesquery True Name.

    In fact, she was intimately familiar with it.

    A High-Risk Grotesquery that emerged three and a half months ago, the first in history to replace an existing Sequence Grotesquery, its predecessor being the Puppet Ballad that wreaked havoc in Jiangcheng County.

    Upon its appearance, the White Witch claimed the lives of 400,000 residents of Jiangcheng County as a sacrificial offering. Its brutality led both the Order-side forces and the Harbingers to unanimously classify it as the most dangerous Grotesquery in existence.

    Although the White Witch’s Sequence 49 wasn’t particularly high, its demonstrated threat level and cruel nature made it the greatest concern for the currently vulnerable Victoria.

    It didn’t need to defeat all the factions or even a single Authority Sacred Tool wielder.

    The White Witch’s most terrifying aspect wasn’t its combat power, but its silent infiltration and unstoppable mass slaughter.

    Simply by using its domination ability, which was incredibly effective against ordinary people, the White Witch could easily destroy Victoria, the “Origin Point of Change,” and plunge humanity into an abyss.

    The most reliable information regarding the Puppet Ballad and the White Witch’s abilities came from the “Baiyan Village Operation Report.” Although written by the White Witch herself, several individuals involved confirmed its authenticity.

    The report stated that dominated ordinary people appeared no different from normal humans. Only the fungal threads within their flesh and blood could confirm their status as Meat Puppets.

    Therefore, shortly after the White Witch disaster, the Company, in collaboration with all Order-side organizations, launched a massive hygiene campaign across Victoria.

    …Although it sounded absurd, this campaign allowed the Company to collect blood and tissue samples from ordinary people, checking for fungal threads and preventing the White Witch’s infiltration.

    Fiona was, of course, familiar with the White Witch. Even disregarding her position in Victoria, she had been among the first rescue teams dispatched to Jiangcheng County when the disaster struck.

    To everyone’s surprise, despite the team’s swift response, they were too late. Upon arriving in Jiangcheng County, they were met with a hellish scene of blood and carnage.

    Only a few dozen survivors remained in the entire county, all mentally unstable except for Elsa, hiding in remote corners of the blood-soaked city.

    The more they investigated, the more terrifying the Puppet Ballad’s abilities seemed, further confirming the horrifying nature of the White Witch, who had replaced the Puppet Ballad in the Sequence.

    Especially the heavy blood debt of 400,000 further amplified the Grotesquery True Name’s bloody reputation. The small, white figure was the deepest nightmare for everyone who had witnessed the destruction of Jiangcheng County.

    Fiona, as a firsthand witness, was no exception. Although she was an Authority Sacred Tool wielder, having experienced countless dangers and even entered cities destroyed by the Harbingers, she had never witnessed anything as horrifying as Jiangcheng County.

    Four hundred thousand people, not a single intact body… no, not even a single intact limb. Everywhere she looked, there were only fragmented flesh and blood, and rivers of putrid blood.

    And now, this nightmare stood before her, tilting her head slightly, staring intently at her with a serious, cute little face.

    “……”

    Luo Ling raised her hand, and Fiona instinctively took a step back, fear and wariness still lingering in her eyes.

    “Don’t worry, Aunt Fiona. I’m still the Luo Ling you know. From the very beginning, the White Witch is Luo Ling, and Luo Ling is the White Witch.”

    Luo Ling knew Fiona would be afraid of her current form, perhaps even suspecting that the White Witch had dominated the original Luo Ling. After all, thanks to the Company’s relentless propaganda, the White Witch’s image was practically synonymous with a demon.

    Even the White Witch’s picture on the Company’s wanted posters had been altered, perhaps to avoid her delicate and beautiful appearance evoking unwanted sympathy.

    Even Elsa had complained about this, saying, “They turned the cute and lovely Sister White into a monster that would make children cry.”

    Fiona looked at the nightmare standing before her in silence, seemingly coming to terms with the truth.

    She then looked at her daughter, Linna, who had become a Grotesquery, her expression filled with complex emotions. She twitched her fingers, wanting to reach out and caress her daughter’s face, but she couldn’t.

    “I… can’t accept this,” Fiona whispered, her gaze lowered.

    In the end, she voiced her true feelings.

    Hearing this, Linna stepped forward anxiously, but Luo Ling stopped her. Linna wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

    As her master, Luo Ling had absolute control over Linna. Linna couldn’t resist her will.

    Linna could only look at Luo Ling with confusion, unable to understand why she wasn’t revealing the truth.

    “Aunt Fiona, don’t you… want to hear my explanation?” Luo Ling moved closer, gently cupping Fiona’s face in her hands.

    Fiona’s gaze briefly rested on Luo Ling’s face. She stared at the unfamiliar face, listening to the unfamiliar voice speaking in a familiar tone, memories flashing through her mind.

    The cold and indifferent yet kind-hearted black-haired girl had been a ray of light in her near-desperate life, but now she was one with the pale demon that had slaughtered countless lives, their images completely overlapping.

    Had the White Witch completely dominated Miss Luo Ling, or had she always been the White Witch, everything a deception?

    Either scenario was a devastating conclusion.

    Fiona’s gaze shifted from the White Witch to the lifeless, armored figure standing behind her, grief and confusion flashing across her face.

    Even her real daughter, Linna… had become a puppet of the demon.

    Those dominated by the White Witch, although their appearance remained unchanged, were… no longer themselves.

    Fiona had thought she had escaped the abyss, but she was met with even deeper despair, her heart turning to ashes.

    As for the so-called explanation… anyone who had witnessed the carnage in Jiangcheng County would find it difficult to believe there were any extenuating circumstances.

    But… what if?

    Clinging to a sliver of hope, Fiona mustered her spirits, forcing herself to look at the White Witch calmly. “Go ahead.”

    In her vision, the pale doll stared back at her, her grey eyes filled with sorrow, her delicate cuteness tinged with a pitiful fragility.

    “Aunt Fiona, you seem to have… quite a few misunderstandings about me… about the White Witch. Actually, the Company is wrong. I’m not cruel, nor bloodthirsty. Everyone in Jiangcheng County… was simply… liberated.

    “I just liberated them from their flesh prisons.”

    Fiona remained silent for a long time, her heart truly dying, as if the scene before her was the ultimate, most despairing outcome.

    Wasn’t this rhetoric just a justification for murder?

    As expected, was this all… just a deception by the White Witch?

    On the verge of collapse, she clung to the last straw.

    Fiona turned to the lifeless Linna and whispered,

    “So, Linna… has also been liberated by you?”

    She would rather her daughter be like the others in Jiangcheng County, at least dying quickly, than suffering under domination.

    “No.”

    The pale girl tilted her head and suddenly smiled.

    The vibrant smile, which should have been radiant, appeared eerie and terrifying on the pale girl’s face.

    It was like a twisted smile on a delicate, lifeless doll, her terrifying eyes unwavering.

    “Didn’t I just tell you, Aunt Fiona? Your daughter, Miss Linna, is now a part of the White Witch… a part of me.

    “We’re best friends.”

    Fiona’s heart plummeted into an icy abyss. She had reached the worst possible future.

    Facing the girl’s twisted gaze, she slowly closed her eyes and whispered, “So, Miss Luo Ling… or should I say, White Witch, will I be the next ‘best friend’?”

    She never thought she would end up like this, a puppet in the hands of a Grotesquery.

    Seeing the uncontainable emotions on Fiona’s face, a glint of mischief flashed in Luo Ling’s eyes. “Making you treat me like Linna every day, humph…”

    Linna, dominated and unable to move, was anxious, worried that Luo Ling would go too far and truly frighten her mother.

    But she could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

    Just as Luo Ling was about to answer, a puzzled voice sounded from the doorway,

    “What best friend?”

    A small red head peeked into the room. Seeing Luo Ling awake, she ran over excitedly.

    “Oh my, Sister White, you’re finally awake!” Elsa nuzzled against Luo Ling’s hair, then asked, “By the way, what best friend?”

    “Uh…”

    Just as Luo Ling was about to speak, she saw Fiona open her eyes, looking at Elsa with confusion.

    Clearly, Luo Ling hadn’t anticipated Elsa’s sudden appearance and was caught off guard. This seemed like an uncharacteristic mistake for the all-controlling White Witch.

    This meant Elsa wasn’t dominated, and their relationship seemed unchanged from their time in Victoria, even though Luo Ling’s appearance had changed.

    So… what was going on between them?

    Linna, seizing Luo Ling’s momentary distraction, forcibly broke free from her control and shouted, “Mother, Miss Luo Ling was just teasing you!”

    Fiona immediately realized something more important. Linna also wasn’t completely dominated; she still retained her self-awareness.

    Thoughts and suspicions flashed through Fiona’s mind, and she immediately acted on them.

    She leaned forward abruptly, her face almost touching the doll-like pale girl’s, until she saw a flicker of panic in the girl’s indifferent eyes. A smile finally appeared on Fiona’s lips.

    …As expected, even with her changed appearance, Miss Luo Ling was still the girl she knew.

    Even if she was the White Witch.

    “Knowing Luo Ling’s personality, her words just now… probably had a different meaning.”

    With this thought, Fiona didn’t hesitate. She reached out and, as Elsa watched in stunned silence, wrapped her arms around the pale girl’s slender waist, lifting her up.

    Before Luo Ling could react, she found herself enveloped in softness, warm breath tickling her ear, a gentle voice whispering,

    “Weren’t you going to make me your ‘best friend’ too, White Witch?”

    “Wait, Aunt Fiona…”

    Luo Ling tried to struggle, but a force pushed against her back, sending her deeper into the soft embrace.

    “……”

    Luo Ling turned her head slightly and saw the knight’s face inches away, her eyes curved into crescents, a triumphant smile on her grotesque, fungal thread-covered face.

    Linna, taking advantage of Luo Ling’s momentary panic, also embraced her. Mother and daughter sandwiched Luo Ling between them, soft embraces on both sides.

    “Now, let’s begin,” Fiona said with a smile. “White Witch… Miss Luo Ling.”

    Elsa was dumbfounded. She frantically tried to pry Linna and Fiona apart and rescue her Miss Luo Ling, but against two Ninth-Order Awakened Ones, what could her meager strength accomplish?

    Even Elsa was almost pulled into their embrace. Together, she and Luo Ling in her White Witch form were probably smaller than either Linna or Fiona.

    They were both undeniably older sisters, even taller than Luo Ling in her Naraku form.

    Only after Luo Ling recovered from her panic and reasserted control over Linna did she manage to escape their terrifying embrace.

    “Ugh…”

    A rare blush appeared on Luo Ling’s face, her breath slightly ragged, her cheeks burning.

    Elsa quickly stepped forward, protectively positioning herself in front of Luo Ling, her small face frowning as she glared at Fiona and Linna, as if declaring her ownership.

    “A petite Miss Luo Ling… is also quite nice,” Fiona said, wiping a bit of moisture from the corner of her mouth, as if savoring the feeling, her smile unwavering.

    Linna, looking quite pleased, stood behind her mother with a mischievous grin.

    Miss Luo Ling had finally gained the upper hand, but under the combined assault of mother and daughter, she had been defeated, escaping only through her White Witch abilities.

    …Actually, it was Elsa’s sudden appearance that had broken her concentration. Otherwise, she could have held out longer.

    However, seeing the little girl bravely standing before her, glaring at Fiona and Linna protectively, Luo Ling couldn’t say anything, only sighing softly in regret.

    She had wanted to see Aunt Fiona break down and cry in her arms. What a pity.

    Luo Ling composed herself, her expression returning to its usual calmness, only a faint blush remaining on her ears.

    “So, what exactly happened?”

    Fiona asked seriously, her smile fading.

    She still couldn’t understand why Miss Luo Ling, with her personality, would massacre the entire population of Jiangcheng County, taking 400,000 lives.

    “It’s difficult to explain in simple terms. Let you experience it yourself.” Luo Ling’s white thread extended, brushing against Fiona’s cheek.

    The next moment, Fiona found herself in Jiangcheng County, surrounded by crumbling walls and the residents going about their daily lives beneath them.

    “This is…”

    Fiona’s eyes widened slightly, shocked by Luo Ling’s ability to transmit memories so vividly that it felt like she was truly there. Was this also an ability of the White Witch?

    This wasn’t just a metaphorical “being there.” Fiona could even smell the blood and dust in the air.

    The next moment, an even more terrifying scene unfolded.

    Fiona’s vision turned grey, like a black and white photograph, everything falling into another world. The people wandering among the ruins underwent a strange transformation.

    Fiona saw fungal threads filling everyone’s flesh and blood, even though their wounds only bled normal blood.

    At the same time, countless pained cries echoed in Fiona’s mind, all from the consciousnesses trapped within their flesh prisons.

    Fiona’s head throbbed, her mind close to collapse. Sensing Fiona couldn’t handle it, Luo Ling quickly withdrew the Puppet Ballad’s vision and hearing.

    “They are all…”

    Fiona murmured, terror still lingering in her eyes.

    “They are all Lambs, lost Lambs under the Puppet Ballad’s domination,” Luo Ling’s sorrowful voice echoed in Fiona’s mind. “I have to admit, ‘living’ like this… was true suffering for them.”

    Death… was sometimes a form of liberation.

    Especially under a Grotesquery of the Silent Demise Path.

    This was true for Guixu, and also for the Puppet Ballad.

    Fiona remained silent. Returning to the present, she looked at the frail, pale girl, an urge to embrace and comfort her rising within her heart.

    Such a cruel reality, even a brief glimpse was almost unbearable for her, yet it was Miss Luo Ling’s lived experience.

    The sorrow and despair contained within this memory were beyond anything Fiona had ever witnessed. In this regard, Miss Luo Ling… was more like Jiangcheng County’s savior, not the bloodthirsty butcher everyone believed her to be.

    “…We misunderstood,” Fiona sighed softly.

    She didn’t ask why Luo Ling hadn’t explained this to everyone, because she knew that any explanation regarding the White Witch would be futile.

    Even sharing this memory wouldn’t help.

    No one would believe a High-Risk Grotesquery would make such a choice. They would rather believe it was a grand, bloody sacrifice.

    Even Fiona, only because she understood Luo Ling, was willing to believe that the deaths of 400,000 people in Jiangcheng County were a liberation, not a massacre.

    However, within this memory, Fiona also saw more information.

    “Luo Ling, the White Witch’s domination… doesn’t it… leave the flesh and blood untouched by fungal threads?” Fiona asked tentatively.

    “Yes, when using Complete Control, no matter the detection method, it will only appear as normal flesh and blood,” Luo Ling replied softly, her eyes flickering.

    This didn’t seem to be an inherent characteristic of the Puppet Ballad, as even Ji Ying hadn’t known about it. Her team had nearly eradicated the Puppet Ballad’s main body, but hadn’t discovered this.

    Moreover, none of the Eggs that appeared in Jiangcheng County exhibited this characteristic. They all used fungal strains to replace flesh and blood for domination.

    This terrifying concealment ability seemed more like… an ability possessed by her sister, that special Puppet Ballad individual. This was how Luo Ling could use Complete Control.

    Fiona gasped, a bitter smile appearing on her lips as she shook her head. “So, all along… the Company’s efforts to defend against the White Witch were… futile.”

    It wasn’t the Company’s vigilance that had stopped the White Witch, but the fact that she… had never intended to destroy Victoria. This Origin Point had been spared by her choice.

    “But what about Linna?” Fiona looked at Linna, who was standing behind them with her hands on her hips, her gaze fixed on the fungal threads on her face.

    “Her situation is even more special,” Luo Ling said, rubbing her temples. “Forget it, I’ll just let you see for yourself.”

    “No!” Linna immediately jumped forward, stopping her. “Just tell her, Miss Luo Ling! If it’s too troublesome… I’ll relay it!”

    “No, I want to see it.”

    Before Luo Ling could respond, Fiona said with a smile, glancing at Linna, silencing her daughter with maternal authority.

    “It’s nothing much…”

    Luo Ling packaged the memories and sent them directly to Fiona’s mind.

    After a few moments, Fiona opened her eyes, looking at Luo Ling with gratitude. She had clearly seen what happened in the Incubation Barrier.

    And all the circumstances surrounding it.

    Everything Miss Luo Ling had experienced during her month and a half of disappearance was finally revealed, a heartbreaking and sorrowful past.

    Especially Linna’s calm words, “Please use Complete Control on me, Miss Luo Ling,” and the pale girl’s subsequent refusal, gripping her hand and enduring the pain, desperately trying to save Linna’s life, deeply moved Fiona, bringing tears to her eyes.

    She hadn’t expected her daughters to have gone through such an experience…

    Fiona’s gaze shifted between the embarrassed Linna and Luo Ling. She raised a trembling hand to her mouth and said, “I agree.”

    “I disagree!” Elsa, who had been ignored, jumped up and down, puffing out her cheeks. “Miss Luo Ling, I want to see too! You haven’t shown me!”

    “Haven’t I?” Luo Ling paused, thinking back. “Oh right, I haven’t shown you… It’s nothing much, really.”

    After sending another package of memories to Elsa, finally appeasing the little girl, Luo Ling looked up and saw an unreadable emotion in Fiona’s eyes.

    It had been there before, but not as strongly as now.

    “Can I keep this memory? I want to… revisit it occasionally,” Fiona asked with a smile.

    “Mother!”

    Linna was almost frantic. Just thinking about that incident made her scalp tingle, especially the thought of her mother reliving it. It was mortifying.

    “That’s not a problem.”

    Luo Ling took out a few white hairs, stood on tiptoe, and attached them to the back of Fiona’s head. “Just use this ability when you want to see the memories.”

    “So thoughtful, Miss Luo Ling, just like a little padded jacket,” Fiona said, looking down at the pale girl and gently kissing her forehead, leaving a soft mark.

    Thankfully, Elsa was currently immersed in the memories, otherwise, seeing this scene would likely trigger another jealous outburst.

    “However… I’m curious, when you saved Linna, you didn’t seem to be using the White Witch’s abilities?” Fiona asked, puzzled. The memories she saw were from Luo Ling’s perspective, so she hadn’t seen Luo Ling’s transformation.

    “Oh, that’s right, I wasn’t. It was another Grotesquery’s ability,” Luo Ling said after a moment’s thought, transforming into her Naraku form.

    Instantly, the small figure transformed into a tall, mature woman, a flash of purple disappearing as quickly as it appeared, a pair of terrifying black eyes with pinpoint pupils staring at Fiona.

    Fiona looked at the purple-haired woman, only slightly shorter than herself, her face filled with astonishment.

    Luo Ling… had this form too?

    “The ability to rewrite reality comes from Naraku,” Luo Ling said calmly.

  • Captivating Beauty 72p1

    Chapter 72 p1

    Shen Shu lay on the bed, her pale fingers just barely visible beneath the collar of her pajama top, the glimpse of her collarbone tantalizing.

    Xu Jinnan sighed inwardly. Shen Shu had a way of rendering her completely helpless.

    She sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the tube of ointment, when Shen Shu’s phone vibrated on the nightstand.

    She paused, picking up the phone and handing it to Shen Shu.

    It was a call from an unknown number.

    Shen Shu glanced at the caller ID, then answered. She didn’t give out her number often.

    She waited for the caller to speak.

    “Hello?”

    Hearing the voice, she instinctively looked at Xu Jinnan, who was examining the ointment, as if studying the ingredients.

    Sensing her gaze, Xu Jinnan looked up.

    “Ah Shu?” a hesitant voice asked. It was Xia Chun.

    The rain had stopped, but the balcony windows were still closed, the apartment quiet, amplifying the sound of Xia Chun’s voice through the phone’s speaker.

    “Is something the matter?” Shen Shu asked.

    “Your voice… are you okay? I’ve been meaning to call… are you badly hurt? Can I… come visit you?”

    Xu Jinnan calmly looked down, continuing to read the instructions on the ointment tube, as if she hadn’t heard.

    Shen Shu also looked away, releasing her grip on her collar. “No, thank you,” she replied.

    “I’m sorry,” Xia Chun said.

    “It wasn’t your fault.”

    “But I saw it happen. If I had been more alert, if I had checked on you, you wouldn’t have gone through that. I’m so stupid! I was so close!” A slight slurring in Xia Chun’s voice betrayed her distress. “Xia Chun…” Shen Shu began, her voice softening.

    Just then, Xu Jinnan leaned closer, her cool fingers applying the ointment to the bruises on Shen Shu’s neck, the contrast in temperature making Shen Shu’s breath hitch.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t speak, her gaze fixed on the marks on Shen Shu’s neck.

    She examined them closely. The mark Cai Ying had mentioned, while resembling a love bite, wasn’t one she had made.

    Xia Chun’s voice continued, seemingly oblivious to Shen Shu’s silence. “I’m always one step too late. When we broke up, I almost managed to change your mind. When you were attacked, I was almost there. When Xu Jinnan forced you into that marriage, I was almost there… and now…”

    Shen Shu gasped softly, the ointment on her skin surprisingly sensitive, Xu Jinnan’s touch sending shivers down her spine.

    Xu Jinnan’s finger gently traced the outline of Shen Shu’s collarbone, her touch cool and smooth against Shen Shu’s warm skin.

    “Ah Shu?” Xia Chun asked, her voice sharp, finally sensing something amiss.

    Shen Shu looked at Xu Jinnan, her heart pounding, unable to reply.

    Their faces were inches apart, and she could see the subtle softness in Xu Jinnan’s eyes, despite her usual aloof demeanor.

    She felt Xu Jinnan’s finger gently tug at her collar, her breath catching in her throat.

    She mumbled a quick reply, then hung up, her gaze fixed on Xu Jinnan.

    After a moment, Xu Jinnan, finished applying the ointment, looked up, a smile playing on her lips. “Why are you staring at me?”

    “Teacher Xu, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Shen Shu asked, her voice soft.

    “Did what on purpose? You asked me to apply the ointment,” Xu Jinnan replied innocently.

    The ointment had a slightly greasy texture.

    Xu Jinnan straightened up, wiping her hands with a tissue.

    Shen Shu watched her for a moment, then looked away, a faint smile playing on her lips, her earlier drowsiness forgotten. She didn’t bother arguing.

    “Let me see your elbow and knee,” she said.

    Xu Jinnan, remembering the other injuries, had Shen Shu pull up her sleeve and pant leg, revealing more bruises.

    After applying the ointment, Xu Jinnan placed the tube beside Shen Shu. “Shu Shu, you can do the rest yourself,” she murmured.

    Shen Shu paused, understanding.

    Her earlobes flushed slightly. “There’s no need,” she said softly. The bruises had been more noticeable when she woke up, but they had faded slightly, except for one, a little darker than the others.

    She paused, then, before Xu Jinnan could reply, unbuttoned another button on her pajama top, pulling it down slightly to reveal the “X” tattoo on her collarbone, a small, dark red mark beside it, about the size of her pinky fingernail.

    “Just here. The others are fine.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She stared at the tattoo, her fingers twitching. She squeezed some ointment onto her fingertip, then, as if casually asking, said, “Does that tattoo have any special meaning? It’s the same as your WeChat profile picture.”

    “Teacher Xu.”

    Xu Jinnan looked up.

    Shen Shu didn’t answer her question, instead saying, “You’ve been wanting to ask about that for a while, haven’t you?”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She had been curious ever since learning about Shen Shu and Xia Chun’s past relationship, but she hadn’t found the right opportunity to ask.

    “Not really. I just… remembered to ask,” she said.

    Shen Shu looked at her for a moment. “Really?”

    Xu Jinnan, unable to meet her gaze, admitted, “It’s not Xia Chun’s initial, is it?”

    Shen Shu paused, then chuckled softly. “Is that why you kept… biting it?”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She didn’t reply, not wanting to revisit the memories of last night.

    Shen Shu, her cheek resting on her bent arm, said, “It has nothing to do with Xia Chun.”

    “Then what is it?”

    “I’m not telling you.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Shen Shu, clearly enjoying her curiosity, her mood having lifted considerably, seemed determined to keep it a secret.

    Xu Jinnan sighed inwardly. She couldn’t exactly force her to tell her.

    If it wasn’t Xia Chun’s initial, then what did it mean?

    Shen Shu didn’t take the herbal supplements, and Xu Jinnan didn’t press her, simply putting them away. “Alright, aren’t you tired? Go to sleep,” she said.

    Shen Shu, seeing her stand up, asked, “What about you?”

    “I still have some work to do. The company is waiting for my reply.”

    “Oh.”

    Xu Jinnan paused at the doorway, looking back. “I’ll be in later,” she said.

    After a brief pause, and hearing Shen Shu’s “Okay,” she left the room.

    —

    The rain continued throughout the night, finally stopping just before dawn.

    Xu Jinnan opened her eyes, squinting against the faint light filtering through the curtains.

    She rubbed her eyes and heard Shen Shu shift beside her.

    She turned slightly to see Shen Shu, facing her, fast asleep, her hand, warm and soft, resting on Xu Jinnan’s arm as she turned over.

    The faint scent of medication mingled with Shen Shu’s sweet pheromones, the two distinct yet somehow harmonious in Xu Jinnan’s heightened senses.

    Sometimes, all she could smell was that sweet fragrance.

    A sudden tingling sensation in her scent gland made her heart skip a beat.

    But it quickly subsided.

    Afraid of losing control, she had been deliberately maintaining a distance from Shen Shu since the night before last.

    She had been relieved when Shen Shu had already been asleep when she came to bed last night. Sleeping in separate beds had made it easier to control her impulses, but sharing a bed was different.

    Not only was her body still affected by the original Xu Jinnan’s… quirks, but Shen Shu’s attitude had also changed, her occasional displays of affection both surprising and unsettling.

    She carefully moved her arm, preparing to get out of bed, when a soft moan came from beside her.

    “What time is it?” Shen Shu murmured, her voice still hoarse, but less so than yesterday.

    “It’s only 7 a.m. Go back to sleep,” Xu Jinnan replied. “I have to go to the Special Ward today.”

    Shen Shu’s eyes fluttered open. “Because of the… incident?”

    Xu Jinnan shook her head. “No, remember my brother’s friend, Li Lan? She’s in North City now, and she’s taken over the case. I just have to go through the formalities,” she explained, then got up and started getting ready, putting some porridge on the stove before leaving.

    She had a busy day ahead of her.

    —

    After a morning meeting, which ended around 10 a.m., she went to the North City Special Ward.

    It was similar to a regular police station, but specifically for ABO-related matters, its jurisdiction more focused.

    Li Lan took her directly to her office and briefly explained the situation.

    While she was the director, she still had to follow protocol; she wasn’t one to bend the rules.

    Xu Jinnan understood.

    “A week, ten days at most. I’ll have an answer for you,” Li Lan said.

    Xu Jinnan, taking a sip of the cappuccino Li Lan had ordered for her, smiled faintly. “You’re that confident?”

    “This woman seems tough. She’s not giving us anything useful. We need to change our approach,” Li Lan explained.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t ask for details, simply saying, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

    Li Lan’s words reminded her of something.

    They had never found out who had supplied the drug to Yin Xue.

    “If you handled that case, do you think you could get anything out of Yin Xue?” she asked.

    Li Lan leaned back in her chair. “I interrogated her.”

    Xu Jinnan was surprised. She had known Li Lan had helped with the aftermath, but not that she had personally interrogated Yin Xue.

    “Yin Xue is different from this woman. She’s incredibly resilient. Even after two weeks in solitary, on the verge of a mental breakdown, she didn’t say a word. Meaning whatever she’s hiding is more important than her own well-being. Without more evidence, I can’t keep interrogating her.”

    That was why they hadn’t been able to get anything out of Yin Xue.

    But this woman, the one who attacked Shen Shu, wasn’t as strong.

    Xu Jinnan’s thoughts paused.

    “Speaking of Yin Xue, she was acting crazy for a while, causing trouble every day, but lately, she’s been behaving, even actively participating in rehabilitation programs,” Li Lan said.

    “She wants to get out?”

    “She’s not getting out,” Li Lan said firmly, standing up. “Didn’t your brother tell you that?”

    He had.

    Xu Yincheng had said Yin Xue would never be released.

    —

    Xu Jinnan sat in her car outside the Special Ward for a while, lost in thought.

    She had a feeling that the person behind Yin Xue and the person behind the attack on Shen Shu were the same.

    She hadn’t been able to go to the hospital that day, having received an urgent call from the company on her way there.

    She had been putting it off, and now, with work piling up, she hadn’t had time.

    —

    Shen Shu had returned to filming.

    Despite the three-day delay, no one on set held it against her. Xu Jinnan had been providing catered meals and afternoon tea for the entire crew, and had even given all the women, both Alphas and Omegas, gifts from Meilai Jewelry.

    Someone had even posted about it on Weibo, praising Xu Jinnan as the “perfect wife.”

    The post had gone viral, and the hashtag #CEO Wife had trended.

    By the time Xu Jinnan heard about it, her and Shen Shu’s names had been trending for three days – after the attack on Shen Shu, someone had promoted their CP super topic, and it had quickly climbed the ranks, reaching the top spot.

    Then, someone had dug up more information about their relationship.

    This time, a more thorough profile of Xu Jinnan had emerged.

    Third daughter of the Xu family. (Need I say more? There’s only one Xu family in North City.)

    Notorious playboy, known for her wild ways. (Everyone in the upper echelons of the wealthy socialite circle knows this.)

    Used underhanded tactics to marry the stunningly beautiful Shen Shu. (A classic case of forced marriage turning into love. Basically, a reformed scumbag Alpha falling for her wife. I’m not a CP fan, but CEO Xu is definitely cool.)

    Started investing a year ago, and her assets are already among the top ten in North City. (What does that mean? It means while your mom gives you a dollar and you think about what kind of candy to buy, she takes a dollar and thinks about how to buy a factory, and succeeds.)

    Her most successful ventures so far are Meilai Jewelry (which she saved from bankruptcy, and which is now an international brand) and the “Show” live streaming app (which she personally designed – yes, you read that right, personally designed – and which is revolutionizing the short video industry with its innovative design).

    And for those in the financial world, you’ve probably heard about the Song family’s downfall. A friend of mine, a financial manager, said if the Song family hadn’t apologized, their company would be bankrupt by now…

    And you’ve probably noticed, there’s almost no information about her online, no photos unless she posts them herself.

    Think about it, what kind of background grants you that kind of power? A simple business wouldn’t be enough.

    In conclusion, powerful family, powerful CEO.

    I know my account will probably be deleted soon, but I’m so jealous! This is a real-life rags-to-riches story!

    Xu Jinnan read the post, which, while omitting some details, was relatively accurate, and she was pleased with the praise.

    She liked the post using her “RichSisterWithStamina” account.

    To her surprise, Shen Shu had also seen the post and liked it.

    And because of Shen Shu’s like, their names trended again.

    It also boosted the popularity of the “Show” app, its registered user count exceeding five hundred thousand in a single day, and still climbing.

    Even celebrities and influencers were joining the platform.

    With their names constantly trending, Shen Shu’s Weibo follower count also skyrocketed, many of them CP fans, and the “NanShu” super topic continued to grow.

    From the parking garage incident to the #CEOWife hashtag, Shen Shu had been trending almost non-stop for a week.

    It even spawned a new term – the Shen Shu Effect.

    Anything associated with Shen Shu seemed to trend.

    Of course, there were still plenty of haters.

    Seriously? Someone with no work to her name is actually famous? What is this world coming to…

    Isn’t she an actress? Where are her dramas???

    Trending Queen. Ugh, barf.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t think the negative comments were a bad thing. If she hadn’t seen Shen Shu’s acting herself, she might have doubted her talent, but she had witnessed it firsthand.

    These comments would only fuel Shen Shu’s future success.

    —