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  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c22

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 22 A Ghastly Shadow

    Chris really didn’t want to experience another flashback; one brush with death was enough.

    But continuing to be lost wasn’t a solution either, and after leaving the Lower District, Chris vaguely sensed something amiss in Lannister.

    It was likely that the situation in Lannister outside of Spencer Manor was far worse than they imagined.

    Magistrate Norian’s commission was most likely related to these anomalies.

    After the connection to the Ember Formation was cut off, even Chris couldn’t obtain information about the current situation in Lannister, let alone Luo Yan.

    “Forget it, if there’s no other way, we’ll ask for directions and see how to leave.”

    Chris gritted her teeth. She had never encountered a situation where she had to rely on asking for directions, and she felt a little embarrassed.

    “That’s not impossible, but… do you see anyone around to ask for directions?” Luo Yan said, spreading her hands.

    “Uh…”

    Chris looked around, equally troubled.

    Although they had left the dirty and smelly Lower District, the surrounding situation wasn’t much better.

    The dilapidated old buildings still vaguely showed traces of their past glory, but most of the houses were in precarious condition, only barely holding up with patches.

    “This should be Lannister’s Old Town,” Chris said. “Due to the constant shifting of the ‘Ember Formation’ and Lannister’s development, this unsuitable district was gradually abandoned. Only the most ordinary commoners and some refugees would choose to live here.”

    Beneath the glorious Lannister, there were also hidden shadows.

    But these historical legacy issues weren’t something Chris and Luo Yan could delve into at the moment. The worse situation was that all the commoners here were evacuating.

    …Or rather, the word “fleeing” was more appropriate.

    There were very few people on the road, and even if a figure occasionally appeared, they were hurrying away, scrambling towards the Lower District.

    Luo Yan and Chris walked for a while but didn’t have any opportunity to ask for directions.

    Even when they tried to stop fleeing passersby, the other party was filled with terror and incoherent, unable to utter a complete sentence.

    “This is troublesome…”

    Chris had a terrible headache, but she didn’t know how to solve it.

    Luo Yan pondered for a moment and said, “These people’s reactions are abnormal.”

    “I can see that too, Miss Luo Yan.”

    “It seems something might have happened up ahead,” Luo Yan said in a low voice. “There’s another passerby over there. Try using ‘Siren’s Song’ and see if you can find out anything.”

    Chris looked up and saw an ordinary woman in plain clothes, limping with a cane, her face filled with the same terror as the previous passersby.

    “Eyes… evil… monster…”

    The woman kept muttering incomprehensible words, only a few words discernible.

    The passersby Luo Yan had stopped earlier were all in the same situation. Since she didn’t dare to rashly use her abilities on these ordinary people, she could only give up and let them continue to flee.

    Chris nodded, and a soft humming sound began. “Siren’s Song” wrapped around the woman like a ribbon.

    The warm, healing effect of her mental power gradually appeared, and the woman’s terrified expression eased, confusion replacing the panic in her eyes.

    “It seems to be working.” Chris said.

    “Let’s go and take a look.”

    Luo Yan didn’t hesitate, immediately undid the effect of her Life Hacks, and walked forward.

    This action had an immediate effect. The woman, who had just calmed down, became even more terrified upon seeing Luo Yan.

    “Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me!”

    The woman’s cane pounded the ground like a pecking chicken, but her legs seemed to have some ailment, and she fell to the ground after only a few steps.

    But even so, the woman continued to flee from Luo Yan in terror, desperately using her hands to crawl on the ground, leaving a trail of blood.

    “Miss Luo Yan… no, let’s just leave.”

    Chris, watching the woman desperately trying to escape from Luo Yan, and seeing Luo Yan’s silent figure, spoke up.

    “Am… I really that scary?” Luo Yan asked softly.

    This was the first time Luo Yan had seen such undisguised terror in the eyes of an ordinary person. This unprecedented experience made her feel momentarily lost.

    Chris wanted to answer “yes,” but she also knew that saying such a thing wasn’t appropriate at the moment.

    So she could only say, “Don’t think too much, Miss Luo Yan. We have more important things to do… find Magistrate Norian and inform him of the situation in Spencer Manor.”

    “I know.”

    Luo Yan said in a low voice, and when she turned around, Chris saw that her expression was once again indifferent as usual.

    Chris secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Miss Luo Yan didn’t seem so fragile after all, and a little contact wouldn’t cause any irreparable damage.

    Lannister’s caution seemed a bit excessive…

    “These passersby seem to be fleeing from that direction,” Chris composed herself and focused on the matter at hand again. “From their fragmented words, it seems like some kind of monster appeared over there? Or… some kind of Calamity phenomenon.”

    Luo Yan looked up and frowned slightly,

    “I don’t sense any Calamity aura… But there is indeed an aura I’m very familiar with.”

    The aura of a Primordial Demon…

    She didn’t know which Demon it belonged to, but it was clearly the same type as the one she had encountered in Yan City before, a Devil’s Minion possessing part of a demonic power, or…

    —A “God’s Chosen.”

    However, the aura Luo Yan sensed was quite stable, not like it was out of control.

    “Let’s go and take a look.” Chris drew a shadow dagger and held it in her hand, ready for battle. “If anything unexpected happens, Miss Luo Yan, try not to act. I’ll handle it.”

    Chris wasn’t sure where Luo Yan’s “boundary” was. If there was no need to touch it, it was best not to… especially at this time, Lannister couldn’t spare the energy to deal with Luo Yan’s matters.

    Luo Yan also understood her situation. Although she felt there wouldn’t be a problem, she still nodded and said,

    “Mm.”

    ……

    The sun set, and the faint twilight of dusk fell upon Lannister.

    Unknowingly, the sky gradually darkened, the setting sun slowly sinking below the horizon, and this turmoil was far from over.

    In an inconspicuous district of Lannister, in a dilapidated residential building, a small head peeked out of the window, a mess of light pink, slightly curly, short hair seemingly unkempt.

    “Why has everyone left…”

    Cecilia was a little dejected. This was usually her favorite time of day.

    Because at this time, Cecilia could squat by the window and watch the people outside returning home in twos and threes.

    The emotions they emanated were relaxed and comfortable, and Cecilia liked that.

    And the beautiful sunset in the sky, the last rays of light on the horizon, these were all beautiful scenes that Cecilia rarely saw.

    Since she became seriously ill, Cecilia found that everything she saw was covered with a faint gray mist, gradually thickening as her condition worsened.

    Until finally, everything became black and white, ugly and unpleasant.

    Cecilia didn’t like it.

    Grandpa Bishop had just given her medicine today, and Cecilia’s condition had improved quite a bit, so she wanted to take this opportunity to see these scenes, which she didn’t know how many more times she would be able to see, for a little longer.

    Unfortunately, something happened today. The emotions emanating from the crowd outside the window made Cecilia very uncomfortable, making her feel like vomiting.

    When she came to her senses, the street was empty, and the occasional passerby was running and crawling away from the district.

    “Why…”

    Cecilia sat back in her chair, her face full of distress.

    But what she didn’t see was that, above her residential building, floated a ghostly shadow, its ferocious face and blood-stained fangs terrifying to behold.

    But it didn’t move, just hovered in mid-air, coldly watching everything on the ground.

    ……

    “Another one escaping.”

    Luo Yan silently watched a pitiful, incoherent man stumble past her.

    Although his soul and body hadn’t suffered any damage, he was showing such a strange reaction that it was hard not to think more about it.

    Chris looked up into the distance and frowned slightly,

    “I don’t sense any Calamity phenomena, and the surrounding air doesn’t have the usual stench of Calamity monsters.”

    The Calamities summoned by the Church of the End Gods were of two types: highly destructive Calamity monsters and strange Calamity phenomena.

    Neither of them would be quiet, and neither… could ordinary people escape unscathed.

    Although the people just now were panicked and incoherent, as if they had suffered some kind of serious mental contamination, they actually hadn’t.

    Even Luo Yan, who possessed a mental demonic power, couldn’t see any contamination, so there definitely wasn’t any.

    “It’s okay, we’ll be there soon.” Luo Yan said. “It should be just up ahead.”

    “Hmm? Miss Luo Yan, did you sense something?” Chris raised an eyebrow and asked.

    Luo Yan considered for a moment and said, “Have you heard of… ‘God’s Chosen’?”

    “What’s that?” Chris scratched her head. “Haven’t heard of it… sounds a bit scary.”

    Things related to Gods didn’t seem to be good things…

    Well, in Miss Luo Yan’s case, it was fifty-fifty.

    “Or another name, ‘Demonically Infected’.” Luo Yan said in a low voice.

    Actually, compared to this somewhat derogatory term, Luo Yan preferred “God’s Chosen,” perhaps because of One’s residual influence.

    After all, “Demonically Infected” sounded like siding with the Primordial Demons…

    “I’ve heard of that. It’s said to be humans born with demonic powers… wait, Miss Luo Yan,”

    Chris thought that Miss Luo Yan seemed to be one, but then her eyes widened. “Are you saying that there’s a Demonically Infect… a God’s Chosen up ahead?”

    “Perhaps a Devil’s Minion, I can’t be completely sure.” Luo Yan nodded seriously and said in a deep voice.

    But a Devil’s Minion wouldn’t be so quiet in this situation. The only explanation could be a God’s Chosen.

    “…Unbelievable, I’ve actually encountered two Demonically Infected people at the same time.”

    Chris was slightly speechless. Her first reaction when she heard Luo Yan’s words was disbelief.

    But since Miss Luo Yan had said so, she certainly couldn’t deny it directly.

    Demonically Infected individuals were extremely rare, rare to an exaggerated degree, otherwise Frick in Yan City wouldn’t have had the absurd idea of stealing One’s remains to use his ability.

    Maybe only one would appear in several hundred years, and finding two in a hundred years was a miracle.

    Actually, there was another reason for the rarity of Demonically Infected individuals, also known as God’s Chosen. Humans born with demonic powers were very likely to die in infancy. The chances of a human body being able to withstand demonic power were extremely small.

    Within this small probability event, there was another small probability event that they had to go through, and even surviving each day during their growth was like overcoming a difficult hurdle. The erosive nature of demonic power itself was enough to take the lives of most God’s Chosen.

    There were almost no known cases of God’s Chosen surviving to adulthood, which was why Chris was so shocked to encounter two at the same time.

    As for the Misters of Dawn, their situation was a complete exception and couldn’t be replicated.

    “I… forget it, let’s go and confirm first.”

    Luo Yan originally wanted to explain that she couldn’t be considered a God’s Chosen, because her demonic powers weren’t innate.

    “Envy” came from Mrs. Natalie, “End” from One, and the only one she might have innately possessed was perhaps the Forbidden Technique “Manjusaka” belonging to the Witch of Absolute Death.

    But the problem was, after hearing One’s story in the space of silence, Luo Yan always felt that the black Manjusaka tattoo on her chest, the demonic offering “Death,” was actually deliberately left to her by Absolute Death.

    So, counting it this way, did Luo Yan have any abilities of her own…?

    Her own strength had only barely reached “Calamity” level… So, Luo Yan was actually a complete weakling.

    Chris, who was the same age as her (sixteen), had already reached “Ruin” level, and didn’t seem weaker than Hua Qiling (over twenty, exact age unknown, she refused to say).

    Luo Yan didn’t reveal these inner thoughts; her situation was already complicated enough, and further investigation wouldn’t yield any results.

    “Mm,” Chris nodded, tightening her grip on the shadow dagger. “Even if it’s not a God’s Chosen, it’s probably related to those cultists.”

    Having made up their minds, Luo Yan and Chris quickly set off, walking towards the direction of the God’s Chosen’s aura in the setting sun.

    Six hours had passed since the start of the banquet at Spencer Manor, and this disaster in Lannister had also lasted for three hours.

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 84

    Chapter 84: I Love Slacking Off

    Tao Ning spoke to her, but as expected, she received no response. The Mermaid stared at her unblinkingly, seemingly deaf to her words.

    No one could remain unmoved under the focused gaze of such a beauty.

    Earlier that afternoon, Tao Ning had heard the soldiers who captured the Mermaid say, “With just one glance from her, my face flushed red. I’m not kidding.”

    As if realizing something, Tao Ning held up the mostly eaten apple, wiggled it back and forth, then put it down.

    Sure enough, the Mermaid’s head turned left, then right, finally fixing her gaze on Tao Ning’s lowered hand.

    Two big words were clearly written in her blue eyes: I want.

    Tao Ning didn’t give it to her. Instead, she took the last bite, leaving only the core.

    Mermaid: “…”

    If this frail human’s voice wasn’t the most pleasant among this group, the Mermaid would never have shown herself.

    In the Mermaid’s simple and crude classification, all upright, two-legged creatures were divided into two categories: noisy and ugly two-legged beasts, and humans.

    The one before her was temporarily classified as human.

    Feeling tricked, the Mermaid was about to sink back down when, as if performing a magic trick, Tao Ning pulled another whole apple from her other pocket.

    The Mermaid’s swaying tail fin stilled. Pretending nothing had happened, she hung by the edge of the pool.

    Tao Ning knelt down a short distance away, close enough to see the Mermaid clearly but far enough to avoid being pulled in if the Mermaid reached out.

    Holding the apple, Tao Ning said, “Want to eat?”

    The Mermaid tilted her head: “?” Her pointed ears twitched.

    Tao Ning noticed the subtle movement hidden beneath her hair. She repeated herself, then brought the apple to her face, mimicking a bite.

    The Mermaid became anxious, reaching out to grab it, her brows slightly furrowed, a picture of pitiful beauty.

    Tao Ning pulled her hand back, a bright smile curving her pale lips: “If you want to eat, you have to trade me your name.”

    The Mermaid, not understanding, continued to reach for the fruit. Realizing this person was truly unyielding, she looked at her with pleading eyes.

    Tao Ning wouldn’t fall for it. This was an apex predator of the ocean, with a temper to match. Getting too close would result in being dragged into the water.

    As a leader who dared to feign injury to come ashore, she couldn’t be truly foolish. She was probably suspecting that Tao Ning was testing her, playing along with the appearance humans wanted to see.

    Indeed, Tao Ning had guessed the Mermaid’s thoughts. The Mermaid was constantly mindful of the persona she was portraying to deceive humans.

    Pointing a finger at herself, Tao Ning said earnestly, her eyes focused: “Me, name, Tao Ning.”

    The Mermaid opened her mouth, meeting Tao Ning’s gaze for a long moment before looking away, her eyes glancing at the object in Tao Ning’s hand.

    520, observing the “fishing” from the sidelines, finally realized something was amiss. The original host’s name was Zang Yuzhu, why was she telling the Mermaid her real name?

    Then it dawned on her, this widow was planning to remarry, finally free from her burdens.

    Hesitating for a moment, 520 swallowed its words. It was her host, who else would it support?

    Tao Ning broke the apple in half, releasing an even stronger fruity aroma. This was a subtle torture for the Mermaid, who had a keen sense of smell but couldn’t eat it. Her expression became agitated.

    And the human kept speaking words she couldn’t understand.

    The Mermaid could probably tell that the other party was introducing herself, but she didn’t care right now.

    Humans actually had quite a bit of research data on Mermaids, it’s just that very little was publicly available. If they truly knew very little, or even nothing, how could the First Academy have a Mermaid language major?

    There were even Mermaid language translator positions in research institutes. As for accuracy, being able to understand half of what was said was considered excellent.

    Mermaid language was obscure and difficult to learn, and human vocal cords couldn’t accurately and fluently pronounce all Mermaid sounds.

    Holding half an apple in each hand, Tao Ning moved a little closer: “You, what name?”

    The Mermaid’s name recorded in the original world line was given by Gu Yuan: Xiao En (Little Grace).

    No matter what others said, the Mermaid would only reply with “En” (a sound of agreement), so he suggested calling her Xiao En. The Mermaid, upon hearing this, simply replied with “En.”

    But Tao Ning didn’t think that was the Mermaid’s real name. The reason she accepted that name was because she disdained revealing her true name.

    Tao Ning wanted to know her real name. Exchanging names was the true beginning of a relationship.

    After speaking, she quietly watched the Mermaid, observing her expression as she processed the words.

    Recognizing someone wasn’t just about appearance, it was also about feeling.

    Even with the changed appearance and personality, the moment Tao Ning saw her, she felt a voice deep inside confirming her thoughts.

    Yes, it was her.

    After a while, the Mermaid’s tail twitched, and she moved closer to the edge.

    Her webbed claws rested on the glass, her hair spreading like seaweed. She parted her red lips, uttering a phrase with an ancient cadence.

    “isu?”

    Mermaid language.

    The phrase flashed through Tao Ning’s mind.

    As expected, she didn’t understand.

    Tao Ning was prepared for the difficulty in communication. Regardless of what the other party said, she would offer the item in her hand.

    After uttering the questioning sound, the Mermaid received what she desired, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

    She reached out and took half of the apple from Tao Ning, quickly finishing it.

    The outwardly elegant Mermaid had a natural wildness when eating, perhaps a habit developed from quickly consuming food to prevent it from being snatched.

    Tao Ning waited for her to finish, then offered the other half, which she had originally intended to eat herself.

    Tao Ning said, “This is for you too.”

    The Mermaid was stunned. She didn’t expect this human, who wasn’t her subject, to offer her food. She took the fruit and couldn’t help but speak again.

    In Mermaid language, she said, “You’re giving this to me too? Aren’t you going to eat it?”

    Naturally, Tao Ning still didn’t understand. She just smiled and continued speaking to herself, “I have more in my dormitory. I’ll bring you some tomorrow. If I had known you liked them, I would have brought more.”

    The Mermaid, enjoying her apple, saw the person suddenly stand up, swaying slightly from the dizziness caused by the abrupt movement.

    The Mermaid, surprised, moved back a little, in case the other person lost their balance and fell on her.

    With a thud, Tao Ning reached out and grabbed the railing beside her, steadying herself, glancing at the surveillance camera facing the pool as she massaged her temples.

    Someone was coming, and quite quickly.

    The Mermaid could hear every movement on the entire ship. She was already immune to various subtle sounds, unlike Tao Ning’s sensitivity.

    Tao Ning looked at the Mermaid. Before she could say anything, the Mermaid finished the other half of the apple, not even leaving the seeds, and quietly retreated underwater.

    Tao Ning: “…” Very good, very quick escape.

    Supporting herself on the stairs as she descended, she indeed encountered someone.

    An He, who had been searching everywhere and finally found her on the lower decks, strode over: “Finally found you. What are you doing here?”

    Tao Ning had just reached the ground, her coat draped over her. She used the lining to wipe the seawater from her hands.

    Tao Ning said, “I heard the Mermaid’s singing in my dream, and then I came here.”

    An He was not a liar. Tao Ning’s words were beyond her comprehension. She let out a puzzled monosyllable: “Ah?”

    Tao Ning had to say, “I couldn’t sleep, so I got up for a walk and unknowingly ended up here.”

    An He: “I see.”

    Looking at the pale and frail face under the dim light, An He couldn’t help but recall her injuries, her sympathy growing.

    Putting aside everything else, if she woke up one day and found herself crippled, it would be impossible not to go crazy.

    Not many people possessed high psychic power, and even fewer lacked it. Having it and then losing it, that sense of loss was difficult to accept.

    And so, the once arrogant young lady had become introverted.

    Tao Ning interrupted An He’s thoughts, saying, “It’s so late, did you need something?”

    An He finally remembered the real reason she came, tapping her head with a frustrated expression: “It wasn’t anything important, but after seeing Dr. Howard, I felt that the record of your attack that day wasn’t quite right.”

    Tao Ning said, “Did you come to find me for a late-night snack? That’s fine, I’m also sick of the taste of nutrient solution.”

    An He: “?” What does that have to do with what I just said?

    A smiling voice came from nearby: “That might not be possible. The ship’s cafeteria has just closed after the late-night snack period, half an hour ago.”

    An He looked up in surprise, towards the source of the voice.

    The sound of hard-soled boots hitting the ground grew clearer. A figure approached from the opposite direction. Since they were standing with their backs to that direction, neither of them had noticed anyone approaching.

    Recognizing the person, An He straightened up and saluted: “Major General Gu.”

    Tao Ning didn’t even raise her hand, her face full of displeasure: “I rarely want to eat something, and it’s already closed. How disappointing.”

    Gu Yuan was clearly accustomed to Zang Yuzhu’s temper and didn’t bother correcting her about addressing him by his title in public.

    Stopping in front of them, Gu Yuan said, “There’s nothing I can do about the cafeteria. I can’t help you there.”

    Tao Ning put on a disappointed expression.

    But Gu Yuan changed his tune: “However, the cafeteria is only closed to the public. It’s not yet closed for the staff, and there are still plenty of ingredients. I can take you inside.”

    Following behind him towards the cafeteria, An He felt a little lost.

    Her original intention wasn’t to discuss the student exercise records with Zang Yuzhu, so how did it turn into a late-night snack run?

    Gu Yuan walked in front, with Zang Yuzhu beside him.

    This scene was actually quite common. Everyone had heard Zang Yuzhu’s “fiancée declaration” long ago and was used to it.

    Judging by the Gu parents’ attitude, they seemed to approve. Otherwise, they wouldn’t let Zang Yuzhu say such things and sometimes even responded to the criticisms from the Starnet on her behalf.

    As the Federation’s youngest Major General, Gu Yuan had many admirers. In an interview, he had expressed that he would protect his significant other, and fighting for his loved one was his honor.

    This interview further boosted Gu Yuan’s already high popularity.

    At the same time, it was revealed that Zang Yuzhu was only admitted to the First Academy due to her martyred parents’ connections, yet she didn’t study hard and had the worst grades. The public developed a dislike for the clingy cousin, Zang Yuzhu.

    But in An He’s eyes, these weren’t principled issues. Although she came from an ordinary background, her parents were both alive, and she grew up in a healthy family environment.

    Before the exercise began, she had video-called her parents, telling them about her teammates. When she mentioned Zang Yuzhu, her mother showed sympathy.

    Her mother had said to An He, “I still don’t believe General Zang’s child would be like that.”

    An He’s parents were both from the Ninth Star System. After getting married, they immigrated with her father and settled in the Fifth Star System. Both of them had experienced war.

    If given a choice, she believed Zang Yuzhu wouldn’t want the opportunity to attend the First Academy at the cost of her parents’ lives.

    And thinking deeper, if Zang Yuzhu’s parents were still alive, as the child of a General, Zang Yuzhu would have been guaranteed admission to the First Academy, regardless of her grades.

    Looking at the two figures ahead, An He paused slightly.

    Gu Yuan’s attitude seemed disapproving. He always referred to himself as Zang Yuzhu’s older brother, both publicly and privately, often mentioning his younger sister at home but rarely using her name.

    They arrived at the cafeteria, which, as expected, wasn’t completely closed. After Gu Yuan explained the reason, they obtained permission from the staff.

    “Major General Gu, please let us know when you’re finished. We have regulations…”

    “I understand, we won’t cause you any trouble.” Gu Yuan readily agreed, even promising to clean up after themselves.

    The staff member, having received the promise, left. Only the three of them remained in the cafeteria kitchen. Tao Ning skillfully sat down, supporting herself on the table.

    One was a patient recovering from a serious illness, the other a Federal Major General. An He, standing between them: “…”

    It’s always me.

    She rolled up her sleeves, preparing to cook.

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 71

    Chapter 71: “I Sincerely Wish to Marry You.”

    The wedding palanquin, carried by thirty-six people, slowly landed before the main hall.

    Mu Tao took Li Yu’s hand and, gazing at her face, led her away from the flower-adorned path.

    The usually cold and imposing Demon Lord’s palace was brightly lit by warm, human-realm candles.

    The flickering candlelight made the blue in Li Yu’s eyes seem hazy and indistinct.

    Like an illusion, Mu Tao felt that Li Yu’s eyes weren’t as vacant and unfocused as before.

    But as she tried to look closer, Li Yu lowered her gaze.

    Mu Tao opened her mouth as if to say something, then hesitated, and led Li Yu into the hall, towards the towering throne, under the watchful eyes of the assembled demons.

    Flowers and red candles lined the long stone steps leading to the throne.

    Many young demon children, their hands forming clumsy seals, scattered sparkling lights throughout the hall.

    The children’s blessings, pure and simple, were a tradition in Demon Realm weddings, wishing the newlyweds a long and happy life together.

    They reached the throne and turned to look down at the demons below.

    Looking at their various expressions, Mu Tao tightened her grip on Li Yu’s hand.

    “Master,” she said softly, looking up at Li Yu, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

    Mu Tao forced a smile. “Master,” she whispered, “You are…willing to be with me…forever, right?”

    “Mm,” Li Yu nodded, a glint of light seemingly flickering in her eyes.

    Mu Tao was momentarily entranced, then she realized it was just the reflection of the countless candles and sparkling lights, not a true spark within those blue eyes.

    They had no elders to bow to, nor did they wish to bow to the uncaring heavens.

    So, they turned to each other and bowed three times, a sacred vow.

    From this day forward, the god who protected the human realm would rule the Demon Realm alongside her.

    “Master, I won’t let anyone mistreat you again.” Mu Tao smiled faintly, gently caressing Li Yu’s face, her expression a mix of complex emotions and a possessive devotion. “The human realm’s immortal sects might scorn you, but the demons here won’t dare.”

    Her eyes hardened. “If anyone dares to disrespect you, I will make sure they never speak again.”

    Her soft voice, amplified by spiritual power, reached every ear in the hall.

    The demons exchanged glances, silent.

    Li Yu blinked, her gaze fixed on Mu Tao.

    After a moment of silence, Mu Tao swept Li Yu into her arms. Li Yu instinctively wrapped her arms around Mu Tao’s neck, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

    Her long sleeves draped over Mu Tao, the soft red fabric wrinkling in her grasp.

    Carrying Li Yu, Mu Tao swiftly moved past the crowd and reached the entrance of the hall.

    The ornaments in Li Yu’s hair swayed, the glass beads on her belt chiming softly.

    Her long, fishtail train trailed behind her, a symbol of their entangled fates.

    Without hesitation, Mu Tao carried Li Yu out of the black stone hall, following the warm glow of the candles, towards their wedding chamber.

    The demons turned, confused, watching them leave.

    Their new Demon Lord, after the ceremony, had simply left with her bride.

    She didn’t stay to entertain the guests, leaving everything to Xiang Hanyu.

    Today, she only wanted to be with her master.

    The wedding chamber was decorated in human-realm style.

    Soft red silk draped from the ceiling, hanging in gentle folds.

    Candles flickered on the desk, the tea table, the carved wooden table laden with fruits, pastries, and wine, even by the bedside and in the corners of the room.

    Lanterns of various sizes hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room, no trace of the usual green spiritual fire.

    The flickering candlelight, reflecting off the gold and jade ornaments in Li Yu’s hair, made Mu Tao restless.

    She gently placed Li Yu on the bed.

    The bed curtains were a soft, alluring red. Li Yu’s long train spread around her like scattered flower petals, a pool of vibrant color.

    And her master, within this sea of red, was the most captivating sight.

    Even sitting motionless on the bed, she drew Mu Tao’s gaze.

    Mu Tao’s heart pounded in her chest.

    She felt restless, unable to calm down.

    She gazed into Li Yu’s eyes, unsure whether the light she saw within them was from the candles, or from…something else.

    A long silence, as if time itself had stopped.

    They just stared at each other, neither speaking.

    The more Mu Tao looked into those blue eyes, the more a burning sensation tightened her throat.

    She knew, she was experiencing another delusion, a sudden, irrational belief that her master had awakened.

    But how could that be? If her master was truly awake, she wouldn’t have participated in the ceremony, wouldn’t be sitting here so obediently, like a jade statue, silently returning her gaze.

    The candlelight suddenly seemed too bright,

    Creating an illusion of awareness in those vacant eyes.

    Mu Tao frowned and, with a wave of her hand, extinguished most of the candles.

    The room darkened, only a few flickering flames remaining in the corners.

    Their long shadows danced on the walls.

    Mu Tao could no longer see the faint light in Li Yu’s eyes.

    She breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside Li Yu.

    Li Yu’s gaze, fixed on Mu Tao, hadn’t wavered.

    But she didn’t speak, as if waiting for her “master’s” next command.

    Mu Tao took Li Yu’s hands in hers, placed them on her lap, and whispered, “Master, for a long, long time, I’ve been dreaming of this moment, holding your hands, hearing you say…that you’re willing to be with me forever.”

    “How long…how long have I dreamt of this?” Mu Tao looked at their shadows on the wall, her thoughts drifting.

    She stared at their intertwined shadows, as if the candlelight, passing through that puppet-like body, could reveal the person she truly craved.

    After a long silence, a tearful smile appeared on her face, and she asked softly, “Master, do you remember…the year you brought me back to Chaoxi Pond?”

    “That year, I couldn’t even transform, my cultivation so weak I couldn’t even speak.” Mu Tao said. “Perhaps because I was…different, the other spirits and disciples on the mountain didn’t like me.”

    “I was always bullied. You happened to be passing by one day and saw them mistreating me, so you brought me back to Chaoxi Pond.” A warm smile appeared in her eyes. “That day, you told me…from now on, I would be your only disciple.”

    Mu Tao paused. “After saying that, you left—and I would just…stare at your retreating figure, day after day, year after year. You never seemed to notice me, yet I was your only disciple.”

    “And for some reason…a thought took root in my heart.” Mu Tao placed her hand over her heart. “It grew stronger, deeper, intertwining with every part of me.”

    Her eyes reddened, her fingers pressing against her chest, as if wanting to carve out that thought and show it to Li Yu.

    “I couldn’t help but feel that…Master should care about me, that this distance…wasn’t how it should be between us… I wanted…to be closer to you.”

    She said she had longed for this, waited for this, for over two hundred years…

    And now, she finally had it.

    She looked at Li Yu, waiting for a response.

    But Li Yu just lowered her gaze, staring at the flickering candlelight in the corner, lost in thought.

    Mu Tao, slightly displeased, gently took Li Yu’s hand and kissed her fingers,

    Then the back of her hand, her wrist—finally leaving a faint red mark on the Harmony Bell tied with a red string.

    “Master, Master…” her voice trembled, a plea in it. “Just…pity me, and promise me…you’ll never leave, okay?”

    She saw Li Yu’s lips part slightly, but no words came out.

    This silence, like a heavy stone tied to her heart, dragged her down.

    The stone sank into the ocean, her heart sinking along with it into the cold, dark depths.

    Suddenly, Li Yu responded.

    “I won’t leave.”

    Her voice was soft, like a whisper in a dream.

    A flicker of joy in Mu Tao’s eyes quickly faded.

    —Just a puppet controlled by a spell.

    What was there to be happy about?

    Mu Tao lowered her gaze, frowning, her thoughts a tangled mess.

    She seemed to steel herself, her hand reaching out to gently pull at Li Yu’s robe, sliding it off her shoulder, revealing the crimson inner garment.

    The thin fabric, like a veil, revealed the pale skin of Li Yu’s shoulder and arm.

    Mu Tao hesitated for a moment, then slid the garment further down, exposing Li Yu’s shoulders and arms.

    Li Yu looked at her, her brow furrowed slightly, making no other move.

    Ignoring the look, Mu Tao reached for the jade-studded belt, her fingers impatiently fumbling with the clasp, then pulled it off, tossing it aside.

    The belt landed on the floor, the glass beads chiming softly.

    She reached for the long skirt, then paused, meeting Li Yu’s blue eyes.

    A sudden wave of anxiety washed over her.

    She took a deep breath and gently pushed Li Yu against the bedpost, a hint of anger in her eyes.

    Her master shouldn’t look at her like that.

    Even panic, disgust, or fear were better than that bottomless sadness in her puppet-like eyes.

    Why… Why was it like this…?

    Was being with her…truly that unbearable for her master?

    A tear rolled down her cheek, the warmth quickly turning cold.

    Mu Tao’s breathing deepened as she struggled to calm her racing heart.

    “Are you…afraid of me, Master?” she whispered, but received no answer.

    Li Yu raised her hand and gently caressed Mu Tao’s tear-stained face.

    Her cool fingers brushed against the corner of her eye.

    Mu Tao couldn’t hold back any longer and pulled Li Yu into a tight embrace.

    She buried her face in the crook of Li Yu’s neck, inhaling her scent, a fragrance that never used to be there, the scent of cosmetics, applied only for their wedding day.

    This scent, this change, was because of her; she should possess it completely.

    Her eyes turned crimson, and she removed the last of Li Yu’s clothes, leaving only a thin, peach-colored undergarment.

    She pulled the ornaments from Li Yu’s hair, scattering them.

    She pushed Li Yu onto the bed, holding her tightly, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against hers,

    The rhythm of their breaths, their heartbeats.

    She held Li Yu’s hands, kissing her forehead, her eyes, the bridge of her nose, her lips,

    Every inch of her skin.

    The silver bells on her wrist chimed softly.

    The warm candlelight cast their shadows on the wall, intertwined.

    Her movements gradually slowed, each kiss lingering.

    She wanted to stop, but every time she tried to pull away, Li Yu’s hand would gently touch the back of her neck, as if unwilling to let her go.

    Perhaps she had lost her mind to have such a delusion.

    After a long time,

    The crimson in Mu Tao’s eyes faded.

    The person in her arms, exhausted, disheveled, her body covered in bruises, looked incredibly vulnerable.

    Several pearls, scattered on the pillow, glistened in the dim candlelight.

    Mu Tao’s heart pounded, and she froze, unsure what to do.

    She stared for a long moment, then, her hands trembling, pulled the blanket over Li Yu, carefully covering her like a precious treasure.

    As she tucked the blanket around her, she met Li Yu’s gaze.

    Each second of eye contact was like a thorn twisting in her heart.

    She must have gone mad.

    She had done the most foolish, the most despicable thing…

    Her master would never forgive her.

    After tonight, there was no turning back.

    Mu Tao curled up, her head buried in her knees, unable to stop crying.

    Like that day six months ago, lost in the darkness, without even a flicker of light to guide her.

    She deserved this.

    She wasn’t inherently good.

    Born with a Demon Bone, wasn’t she inherently evil?

    When everyone treated her badly, she hadn’t been indifferent, she hadn’t wanted to endure it forever.

    She had wanted to kill them all.

    She had torn apart beautiful flowers, imagining them as the people who hated her, who lived better lives than her.

    She had clawed at small, weak creatures, imagining them as those who hurt her, wanting to tear them apart.

    She wasn’t obedient, wasn’t well-behaved.

    She had simply been…trying to survive by pleasing others.

    Her sense of right and wrong, good and evil, was all learned, all imitation, just trying to guess and appease others, nothing truly her own.

    Qingxuan Revered One was wrong to bring her to Mount Chao Yao, and her master was also wrong to take her in.

    She was a monster, a calamity.

    If her master had killed her two hundred years ago, or hadn’t saved her six months ago, things wouldn’t have come to this.

    How could she undo the spell now? How could she face her master when she woke up?

    How would her master look at her?

    —With resentment? Or hatred?

    A despair deeper than the ocean consumed her.

    Her hands clenched tightly, as if trying to hold onto something, yet her palms were empty.

    A cool hand gently patted her head.

    She looked up, her vision blurred with tears, and met those familiar blue eyes.

    “Don’t cry,” Li Yu said softly. “You were the one who…forced me, why are you crying?”

    “…”

    “I’ve never met anyone as difficult to please as you.” Li Yu pinched her tear-stained cheek. “You don’t believe me when I’m conscious, and you don’t like what I say when I’m not.”

    The pinch made Mu Tao’s eyes widen in pain, she wanted to say something, but her sobs choked the words.

    Li Yu: “I only lied to you once; are you going to hold it against me forever?”

    Mu Tao: “M…Master?”

    The candlelight was dim; she couldn’t see her master’s expression clearly through her tears.

    Her master…was awake…

    When?

    Just now? Or earlier?

    No, her master wasn’t awake; if she was, she wouldn’t be acting like this.

    She had imprisoned her master, controlled her mind, treated her like a plaything—she was guilty of unforgivable sins.

    Her master would hate her, forever.

    Her already curled-up body trembled.

    Like falling into a bottomless abyss, a coldness that almost froze her blood.

    Li Yu: “I truly don’t know what to do with you.”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    Li Yu sat up, pulling the blanket around her, and took Mu Tao’s hand.

    She smiled, a bitter smile.

    She truly didn’t know what to do with Mu Tao.

    The words she wanted to say wouldn’t come out, the things she wanted to explain couldn’t be explained.

    A single lie, and it was as if she had been sentenced to death, with no chance of reprieve.

    During those two weeks under the spell, she had seen the deep-seated insecurity and possessiveness in Mu Tao’s eyes.

    Even with the power to control everything, the girl still felt unworthy.

    She believed she had been abandoned by the world.

    The more desperately she tried to hold on, the more she feared losing everything.

    Li Yu knew that as long as these misunderstandings remained, she couldn’t ease Mu Tao’s anxiety.

    When she regained consciousness, she had considered escaping, fighting back, even trying to reason with the girl.

    But after much thought, she chose to follow Mu Tao’s wishes.

    Some things couldn’t be explained, some knots couldn’t be untied.

    If she feared the curse, this misunderstanding between them would remain like a thorn, a constant source of pain.

    Only by resolving this could they discuss the future.

    The curse, the Heavenly Demon,

    The hidden plot the system insisted on, perhaps it was the path she had been trying to avoid.

    Since it was unavoidable, she would face it.

    Li Yu touched the silver bells and looked into Mu Tao’s eyes. “I never took it off,” she said softly. “What more do I have to do to prove I never intended to leave?”

    Why…why would a puppet controlled by a spell say such things…?

    Li Yu sighed and frowned slightly. “You, with your measly few centuries of cultivation, were afraid of the Heavenly Demon’s power harming me, so you didn’t even dare to use your full strength—How long did you think you could control me?”

    Such a weak little Demon Lord, not even comparable to Weisheng Xuanzhu, even Xiang Hanyu was more ruthless.

    Seeing Mu Tao’s stunned silence, Li Yu flicked her forehead again.

    Her master was awake…

    Her master…was truly awake!

    And she wasn’t afraid…wasn’t angry…

    Mu Tao snapped back to reality, a surge of joy overwhelming her.

    But the joy was fleeting, replaced by panic, confusion, and guilt.

    “Master, Master…I, I was wrong…” she grabbed Li Yu’s hands, her voice choked with tears. “I was truly wrong, Master, punish me however you want…just please, don’t leave me…”

    Li Yu pulled her hands away.

    Mu Tao’s heart sank.

    She…couldn’t keep her?

    “I’m hungry. As punishment…get off the bed…” Li Yu sniffled and pouted. “…and cook for me.”

    Mu Tao stared at her, speechless, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

    Li Yu poked her forehead. “I can’t even punish you anymore, can I?”

    Mu Tao hiccuped, tears streaming down her face.

    After a moment, she scrambled off the bed, ready to obey.

    But before she could even reach the door, Li Yu called out,

    “Come back.”

    Mu Tao froze, then rushed back, kneeling by the bedside, looking up at Li Yu with tear-filled eyes.

    Li Yu gestured towards the table with the wedding wine. “I just realized there’s food there, you don’t have to cook.”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    With a flick of her wrist, Li Yu changed her clothes, kicked off her red embroidered shoes, and, barefoot, her hair now free from its elaborate updo, walked to the table and picked up a pastry.

    She finally understood why fewer and fewer people in her world wanted to get married.

    Weddings were so troublesome!

    She had been hungry for a while!

    “…Master?” Mu Tao followed her, her eyes filled with caution.

    Li Yu continued eating,

    Two pastries, then a peeled orange.

    It wasn’t enough to fill her empty stomach, but it helped.

    She turned to look at Mu Tao, her makeup still vibrant, yet her expression gloomy, and sighed deeply.

    The sigh made Mu Tao straighten up.

    Li Yu: “You want to marry me?”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    Li Yu: “You skipped a step.”

    Mu Tao: “…?”

    Li Yu poured some wedding wine into two cups, turned to Mu Tao, and said, “Before consummating the marriage, we drink the nuptial cup, understand?”

    Mu Tao stared at her blankly, clearly not understanding.

    Li Yu took her hand and made her drink the wine with her, their arms intertwined.

    So bitter…

    Li Yu frowned, put down her cup, turned to Mu Tao, and said seriously, “Mu Tao, listen carefully. I’m only saying this once.”

    “My feelings for you are not just those of a master and disciple.” She raised her hand and gently wiped away Mu Tao’s tears. “I sincerely wish to marry you.”

    Li Yu then playfully, yet firmly, tugged at Mu Tao’s red ear.

    Hearing Mu Tao’s wince, she glared at her.

    “If you don’t believe me…”

    “…then pretend I never drank this wine with you.”

  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 57p1

    Chapter 57 p1

    Director Gao shooed Meng Wanqing and her zombie horde away like a flock of chickens.

    She even posted signs at the entrance and on the walls, declaring that zombies were not welcome on the “Unseen Spring” set and offering a bounty of 800 yuan for the capture of Meng Wanqing.

    The crew was excited, eager to collect the reward, lying in wait for Meng Wanqing’s inevitable return.

    The paparazzi lurking in the bushes, exposed by Xu Jingyu’s sharp gaze, was also chased away by a furious Director Gao.

    Fortunately, the kissing scene was almost finished, just a few more shots needed, and they soon wrapped for the day.

    The next few days were spent filming less intense, more emotionally subdued scenes.

    A week later, with public opinion finally shifting in Xin Yao’s favor, and Xin Yao herself seemingly in better spirits, Director Gao decided to film the more emotionally charged scenes.

    It was the climax of the film, the beginning of the tragedy.

    Lu’s father wanted to marry Lu Duanjing off to Wen Sigu’s older brother.

    He announced it during a seemingly ordinary family dinner, the news coming as a complete shock to Lu Duanjing, her face paling, her hand trembling, accidentally knocking over a bowl.

    But looking back, it hadn’t been entirely unexpected.

    The first time Lu’s father had taken her to the Wen residence, it had been a subtle warning, a hint of his intentions.

    His subsequent visits, always with Lu Duanjing in tow, hadn’t been about her education, but about giving Wen Sigu’s older brother a chance to assess her, to choose her.

    Lu Duanjing, of course, refused.

    And Wen Sigu wouldn’t allow it.

    But in the Lu household, Lu Duanjing had no say in the matter.

    And in the Wen household, Wen Sigu’s father found her objections childish and naive.

    He told her bluntly that marrying into the Wen family was Lu Duanjing’s best option, a far better fate than becoming a concubine to some old, powerful man.

    Wen Sigu’s anger grew. Lu’s father clearly didn’t care about his daughter’s happiness, treating her like a commodity, a pawn in his game of social climbing.

    Her own father sighed, shaking his head.

    “Parental authority. A daughter’s marriage is decided by her parents. What can we do?”

    “And you, Wen Sigu, have no right to interfere. Besides, wouldn’t Duanjing marrying into your family bring you closer?”

    No, it would only drive them further apart, forcing them to live under the same roof, their forbidden love a constant torment.

    It would be hell.

    Her father’s words made Wen Sigu’s face pale, her usual composure shattered.

    But unlike her, Lu Duanjing, usually so timid and obedient, was now defiant, her quiet resistance a powerful force.

    And Wen Sigu, usually so bold and independent, now found herself wavering, her fear growing.

    She wasn’t afraid of the obstacles they would face, but of the pain and suffering Lu Duanjing would endure, the ridicule and ostracism she would be subjected to.

    So, Wen Sigu, her heart aching, wanted to give Lu Duanjing a choice.

    A chance to leave, to choose a different path, a life of peace and security.

    Lu Duanjing, sensing Wen Sigu’s hesitation, her fear of abandonment growing, became even more clingy, following Wen Sigu everywhere.

    She accompanied her on her medical rounds, attended her lectures, even assisted her during her free clinics.

    And during one of those clinics, in a remote village, they had found an injured beggar, hidden in a haystack, his body covered in blood.

    Seeing his condition, Wen Sigu’s face had paled.

    And the beggar, despite his injuries, had tried to run away.

    Wen Sigu had caught him, her gentle words calming him, persuading him to stay.

    They had cared for him together, their silence a shared burden.

    And during that time, the news of the impending marriage, and Wen Sigu’s apparent reluctance, had tormented Lu Duanjing, pushing her to the brink.

    In a moment of desperate courage, she had burst into Wen Sigu’s clinic and kissed her, demanding that they be together.

    It was the scene Xin Yao and Xu Jingyu had filmed on their first day, the passionate kiss and the love scene, their emotions raw and unrestrained.

    In that moment of shared intimacy, they had both realized that they couldn’t live without each other.

    And they had vowed to be together, no matter the cost.

    But in their time, courage and love weren’t enough.

    Their path was filled with obstacles, their future uncertain.

    Lu’s father and Wen’s father, both shrewd and perceptive, had sensed something amiss, their daughters’ vehement opposition to the marriage arousing their suspicions.

    And secrets, especially in their social circle, rarely remained hidden for long.

    They had investigated, their inquiries discreet yet thorough, and had discovered the truth about their daughters’ relationship.

    One day, as Wen Sigu walked Lu Duanjing home after her lesson, their hands intertwined, they had entered the Lu residence, their footsteps echoing on the stone pathway.

    Lu’s father, waiting for them, had walked towards Lu Duanjing and, without a word, had slapped her hard across the face.

    The force of the blow had almost knocked her to the ground.

    Wen Sigu’s face had paled, and she had rushed to Lu Duanjing’s side, her hand gently touching her cheek, her eyes filled with concern as she pulled her behind her, her usually gentle demeanor replaced by a protective anger.

    “Mr. Lu, what could possibly justify such violence towards your own daughter?”

    Her instinctive protectiveness, her unspoken love for Lu Duanjing, had been a clear sign of their relationship.

    Wen’s father, also emerging from the house, his usually jovial face now dark with anger, his voice sharp, had exclaimed, “How dare you ask?! Look what you’ve done!”

    Wen Sigu’s expression hardened, and Lu Duanjing’s heart sank, a cold dread creeping down her spine.

    Lu’s father had glared at them. “Separate yourselves! Now!”

    Their fathers’ anger, their accusing gazes, it was clear what had happened.

    Wen Sigu realized that their secret had been discovered.

    They had just acknowledged their love for each other, hadn’t expected their secret to be exposed so soon.

    They stood there, frozen in place, their fathers’ gazes like daggers piercing their skin, their hands still clasped together, the servants watching them, their secret now exposed in the harsh light of day.

    Lu Duanjing, raised to be a proper young lady, her reputation now tarnished, felt her world crumbling around her.

    Wen Sigu, her earlier hesitation, her fear for Lu Duanjing’s safety, now a painful reality, her heart aching for the young woman she loved.

    But just then, Lu Duanjing, the usually timid and obedient daughter, found her voice.

    She looked up at her father, her face still flushed from the slap, her voice clear and strong, her gaze unwavering.

    “I won’t marry him.”

    Her words, though soft, were filled with a quiet defiance.

    Lu’s father, stunned by her unexpected rebellion, was about to explode when Lu Duanjing continued, stepping forward, her voice rising.

    “Why should I marry someone I don’t love? Why should my father choose my husband?”

    “Since I was a child, you’ve controlled my every move! I couldn’t run, I couldn’t laugh too loudly, I couldn’t even speak my mind!”

    “And now, even my marriage is just a pawn in your game! Is this my life, or your toy?!”

    Her words, stripping away his pretense, exposing his true motives, especially in front of Wen’s father, made Lu’s father’s face contort in rage, his fists clenching.

    “Take her away!”

    The servants, waiting for his command, rushed forward, trying to drag Lu Duanjing away.

    Wen Sigu, however, instinctively shielded Lu Duanjing with her body, her hand gripping Lu Duanjing’s tightly.

    Wen’s father’s face darkened.

    “Take her away!”

    The Wen family servants also approached, their figures and their shadows looming over the two women, like a closing net.

    Hands reached out, grabbing their shoulders, their arms, trying to separate them.

    They clung to each other, their grip so tight that it hurt, their hands the only connection between them, a lifeline in the encroaching darkness.

    They both knew that if they were separated now, it would be almost impossible to see each other again.

    They held on, their desperation a silent plea.

    Then, Lu’s father stepped forward, his shadow falling over them, and forcefully separated their hands.

    “Take her away!”

    They were torn apart.

    Wen Sigu, her usual composure shattered, her eyes red-rimmed, whispered, “Wait for me.”

    Lu Duanjing, her own tears falling, nodded, her grip on Wen Sigu’s hand lingering even after they were separated.

    But she would never see Wen Sigu again.

    “Okay! Cut!”

    The director’s voice echoed through the set, the tragic second act of “Unseen Spring” successfully filmed.

    As the scene ended, the crew rushed forward, their voices filled with concern as they led Xin Yao away, helping her to a chair.

    Chen Jia, her assistant, ran over, an ice pack in hand, ready to soothe the redness on Xin Yao’s cheek.

    Xu Jingyu, who had been filming a different scene, her face impassive, walked quickly towards Xin Yao’s makeshift resting area.

    She took the ice pack from Chen Jia, sat down beside Xin Yao, and gently pressed it against her cheek, her touch surprisingly gentle, despite the slight tension in her voice.

    “It’s cold. Just bear with it.”

    Xin Yao had known she would be slapped in this scene.

    But she had been determined to give a realistic performance, and before filming, she had even asked Yi Miao, the actor playing Lu’s father, and also Wen Xin’s real-life husband, to slap her for real, not wanting to fake it.

    Yi Miao, a respected veteran actor, had been impressed by her dedication and had agreed.

    He had used a technique that minimized the impact, but it had still stung, leaving a red mark on Xin Yao’s cheek.

    Shortly after Xu Jingyu arrived, Yi Miao also entered the tent, his expression apologetic.

    “Yaoyao, does it hurt? I’m so sorry.”

    Xin Yao, her cheek still pressed against the ice pack, smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

    “It’s not that bad, Teacher Yi. Don’t worry. It’s just part of the job.”

    Xu Jingyu, sitting beside her, didn’t acknowledge Yi Miao’s presence, her gaze fixed on Xin Yao’s face, her hand gently holding the ice pack in place.

    She wasn’t usually rude, and it wasn’t directed at Yi Miao. She was simply worried about Xin Yao.

    After Yi Miao, feeling guilty, had left a pile of snacks and apologized profusely, Xu Jingyu, still holding the ice pack, her expression still slightly sullen, continued tending to Xin Yao’s cheek.

    Xin Yao, glancing at her, reached out and gently touched her hand.

    “It really doesn’t hurt that much. Teacher Yi was careful. Don’t worry so much. You look like you’re about to cry.”

    Xu Jingyu, her hand captured in Xin Yao’s, her fingers being playfully traced and caressed, was silent for a moment.

    She knew she couldn’t ask Xin Yao to stop working, to become a delicate flower in her protected garden, but…

    “Don’t take on roles like this anymore. Roles that require you to get hurt.”

    As expected, Xin Yao refused, her voice light and teasing.

    “Ms. Xu, that’s not very professional. It’s part of the job. I can handle a little pain.”

    “Why should you have to endure pain?”

    “Huh?”

    “Yaoyao,” Xu Jingyu removed the ice pack, her gaze softening as she looked at the fading redness on Xin Yao’s cheek. She cupped Xin Yao’s face in her hands, her touch gentle, her voice soft.

    “You don’t have to suffer anymore. Not while you’re with me.”

    “But…”

    “You always work so hard,” Xu Jingyu interrupted her, her voice a soft murmur. “As if you have to earn your happiness.”

    “And you’re so independent, always doing everything yourself, never asking for help. And you’re so kind, always putting others’ needs before your own.”

    “But it makes me sad, Yaoyao. I want you to take care of yourself, to prioritize your own happiness. You don’t even have to worry about me so much. When you’re with me, you don’t have to suffer anymore, you don’t have to be so independent. You can rely on me completely. I’ll hold your hand and show you, every day, that…”

    She paused, a soft smile playing on her lips, her voice earnest.

    “I’m not good with words, so I hope this doesn’t sound too cheesy, but I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you that you’re the most precious person in the world to me, my Xin Yao.”

    Suffering.

    Xin Yao had suffered a lot.

    It was what she was best at, what she had become accustomed to.

    Growing up in poverty, working tirelessly to make ends meet, to pay off her debts.

    She had pushed herself to the limit, working until 6 am, then sleeping for two hours before returning to work at 8 am.

    She had endured it all in silence, her body finally giving out, her life ending in exhaustion.

    She hadn’t even realized she was suffering.

    But now, the person beside her, seeing through her cheerful facade, had pulled her out of the darkness, holding her close, offering her a different kind of life.

    A life without hardship, a life filled with joy.

    And her past suffering, like dust on a windowpane, seemed to fade, its sting dulled by Xu Jingyu’s warmth and tenderness.

    Xin Yao’s lips trembled, her eyes filling with tears, but she blinked them back, unwilling to cry, her voice a soft murmur.

    “That’s so cheesy. But if I don’t work, how will I eat?”

    “You can eat candy,” Xu Jingyu said, her gaze soft, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a handful of candy.

    She offered it to Xin Yao.

    Xin Yao’s tears threatened to spill, her eyes shimmering like a pool of water.

    After a moment, she reached out and took a candy, unwrapping it and popping it into her mouth.

    Xu Jingyu, to appease her, always carried candy with her now.

    “You’re treating me like a child.”

    “I’m not.”

    “Then what am I?”

    Xu Jingyu looked at her, her eyes soft and warm, a smile playing on her lips.

    You’re the only rose in my garden.

    My spring.

    My sunshine.

    Inside the small tent…

    Xu Jingyu and Xin Yao sat close together, their conversation a soft murmur, their intimacy a barrier against the outside world.

    Xi Yue, the set medic, who had come to check on Xin Yao’s cheek, stood outside the tent, hesitating to interrupt their private moment.

    The other crew members, seeing her, suggested she wait, their voices hushed.

    And then, the only person on set who seemed completely oblivious to their romantic entanglement appeared.

    Director Gao, having reviewed the footage, walked towards Xin Yao, her usual brisk pace even faster now.

    Seeing Xu Jingyu also inside the tent, she didn’t hesitate, walking straight in, her assistant unable to stop her.

    She stood before them, her hands on her hips, her gaze fixed on their faces, shaking her head.

    “No, no, no! This won’t do!”

    Xin Yao, confused, blinked. “What’s wrong, Director? Is there a problem?”

    Director Gao, startled by her voice, stopped pacing and turned to face her.

    “The problem is you two! You’re too close! Too comfortable with each other! It doesn’t match the emotions of the upcoming scenes! You need to create some distance! So!”

    “So?” Xin Yao prompted.

    “So, from today onwards,” Director Gao clapped her hands together, her expression serious, “until we finish filming, you two are not allowed to see each other! Not even for a second!”

    What kind of request was that?!

    Xin Yao was stunned.

    Xu Jingyu’s face darkened.

    “I disagree.”

    “Why?” Director Gao was surprised by her refusal. “You’ve never been like this before, Ms. Xu! You’re usually so aloof, you don’t even remember your co-stars’ names! I thought you would welcome this kind of request!”

    Xu Jingyu closed her eyes, her patience wearing thin.

    Don’t call me aloof in front of my girlfriend.

    You’re asking me to stay away from my girlfriend for weeks, and you’re asking me why?

    She opened her eyes, her voice cold.

    “We’re professionals. We can manage our own emotions.”

    Xin Yao, agreeing with her, nodded.

    “No!” Director Gao’s voice rose slightly.

    “You can’t! Especially you, Ms. Xu! The way you look at Xin Yao… it’s too soft, too loving! You can’t portray the pain, the heartbreak, the desperation of the character!”

    “We’re almost finished! Just a few more weeks! Is it really that difficult to stay away from each other? Don’t you want to do a good job? Don’t you want to win awards?”

    Her last words struck a chord with Xin Yao.

    She did.

    She wanted this film to be a success, more than anything.

    While Xu Jingyu had advised her to prioritize her own happiness, she had promised the original owner, the woman whose life she was now living, that she would do her best.

    She would carry the original Xin Yao’s hopes and dreams with her, all the way to the awards podium.

    “Unseen Spring” had won numerous awards in her previous life, launching the careers of its two lead actresses. She couldn’t do any worse, could she?

    Director Gao turned to Xu Jingyu.

    “And Ms. Xu, even if you don’t care about your own performance, what about Xin Yao? You’ve already won countless awards. Doesn’t Xin Yao deserve a chance to shine? To add this to her resume?”

    “You don’t want people to criticize her acting, do you? And she doesn’t want another round of online hate.”

    Her words hit Xu Jingyu where it hurt.

    Xu Jingyu didn’t care about anything, except for Xin Yao’s happiness.

    She knew how much Xin Yao wanted this, how hard she had worked.

    And she wanted the film to be a success, for Xin Yao’s sake.

    Director Gao, her arguments surprisingly persuasive, had appealed to both their professional pride and their love for each other.

    Seeing their hesitation, she grinned, not giving them a chance to protest, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

    “Alright, team, separate them!”

    Her tone was even more dramatic than Lu’s father’s in the movie.

    But it was just a joke, of course.

    No one would dare to physically separate Xu Jingyu from Xin Yao, not on set.

    After a prolonged and slightly tearful farewell, and a promise to stay in touch via phone, they finally parted ways.

    And Director Gao’s strategy, surprisingly, worked.

    The first night after their separation, Xin Yao couldn’t sleep.

    The thought of not seeing Xu Jingyu, of not being able to talk to her, for weeks, was unbearable.

    She finally understood the pain and longing of the two women in the film.

    Their suffering, in their time, must have been even greater.

    But at least they could communicate through their phones.

    Director Gao, however, was even more ruthless than they had anticipated.

    While Xin Yao missed Xu Jingyu, Xu Jingyu’s longing was even more intense.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c30

    30. Qiu Shui’s First Battle 

    It was unclear how many people in the forest had been drawn to the commotion.

    But the crowd surrounded the two confronting parties, and judging by their positions, most seemed to be on the First Prince’s side.

    What happened was this:

    After Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao returned to the outer area, they immediately wanted to crush the communication crystals and call for help.

    After all, they knew their Young Palace Master’s true strength. She could fool others, but not them.

    A cultivator, whose strength was questionable, facing a legendary demonic beast… it was a losing battle.

    However, just as they were about to do so, the First Prince, who had been searching for them, appeared.

    Qiu Shui wasn’t a pushover.

    She stalled him for a while, eventually leading him to a crowded area.

    Now, attacking them directly was impossible, so he came up with a plan.

    He played the victim, accusing Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao of using him and Xuli as bait, luring them into the central area, then abandoning them after taking the treasures.

    And indeed, he and Xuli looked like they had just fought a fierce battle, covered in wounds and dirt, while Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao looked perfectly fine.

    This made most of the onlookers believe Shangguan Qingyun. Only a few thought the two girls, whose strength was clearly among the top contenders, wouldn’t resort to such tricks.

    The two sides argued, leaving Qiu Shui exasperated.

    Fortunately, the Flame Python’s dying words echoed through the forest shortly after.

    Although many didn’t understand its meaning, it likely meant that Master was safe.

    This thought filled Qiu Shui with anger.

    It was this Shangguan Qingyun who prevented her from helping her master, from even offering a gesture of concern, forcing her to listen to his lies.

    How dare he!

    “Do you just want to fight?” Qiu Shui blurted out, “After all this talk, isn’t it because you lost face and want to fight?”

    “Hmm?” Shangguan Qingyun was surprised by her sudden change in attitude. “What do you mean?”

    “If I can defeat you, it means I didn’t need to trick you.” Qiu Shui pointed at him confidently. “Your Highness, right here, right now, a duel. Do you dare?”

    The First Prince frowned. “Are you sure?”

    This girl was only at Return to Origin, while he was at Profound Void. Where did she get her confidence?

    “Don’t be a coward. Are you fighting or not?”

    “Since you insist—”

    Shangguan Qingyun cleared the area, creating a battleground about a hundred meters wide.

    Qiu Shui handed the unconscious Lu Xinyao to a guard she recognized from Lingyue’s manor and stepped into the arena.

    “Please.”

    “Please.”

    No more words were exchanged.

    They bowed to each other, then Shangguan Qingyun took a deep breath and attacked with lightning speed.

    His first strike was a thunderous assault, as if trying to tear the girl apart.

    This was the Shangguan family’s most powerful opening move, the Three Lightning Strikes.

    Even cultivators at the same level struggled to comprehend its speed, let alone this girl, who was only at Return to Origin.

    But just as everyone held their breath, Shangguan Qingyun’s attack passed right through her.

    What?

    An illusion technique?

    Slightly surprised, but not panicked, Shangguan Qingyun leaped back, both to avoid a potential counterattack and to get a clearer view of the situation.

    He spotted Qiu Shui.

    She was standing some distance away, seemingly chanting something.

    “Do you think you can escape?”

    He unleashed the third of the Three Lightning Strikes, leaving golden afterimages in the air.

    In a flash, he appeared before her.

    His fist, infused with wind energy, was about to end the match.

    However, as he saw the scene before him, he froze.

    As if anticipating his attack, Qiu Shui had placed the trunk of a large tree in his path.

    Dozens of vines sprouted from the ground, blocking all his escape routes.

    What kind of technique was this?

    He had only seen her use healing arts before. This nature-based attack caught him off guard.

    But it was only a momentary surprise.

    He let the vines entangle him, his attack continuing unabated.

    A powerful punch!

    It shattered the giant tree Qiu Shui had summoned. As leaves rained down, Shangguan Qingyun clicked his tongue.

    This Qiu Shui was also an illusion, disappearing upon contact.

    “Another illusion?”

    Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the world spun around him, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

    Those leaves—were poisonous!?

    He immediately punched the ground beneath him.

    This punch was powerful.

    His concentrated true essence exploded, sending a shockwave in all directions.

    This wide-range attack affected Qiu Shui, hidden by her illusion.

    She was thrown back several meters, struggling to regain her footing and control her breathing.

    “The poison should have…”

    These techniques from the Cloud Rainbow Heavenly Sound Technique were meant for self-defense.

    However, looking at Shangguan Qingyun, he had stabbed a dagger into his less dominant left hand.

    Pain was the best antidote to illusions, and for a ruthless man like him, this was a natural reaction.

     

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 328

    Chapter 328: Linlang’s Turn

    Early in the morning, Adele woke up in a daze. She involuntarily tightened her embrace around the soft body in her arms, murmuring “Seraph…” and was about to kiss her. But just then, Adele woke up completely and realized that the person nestled in her arms was Xiao Ai, fast asleep.

    “…!” That was close! It was a good thing she opened her blurry eyes and took a closer look. Otherwise, she didn’t know how embarrassed she would be. Although Adele knew that Xiao Ai wasn’t her biological daughter, that they weren’t blood-related, which meant that in the future, it was possible… But Xiao Ai was still so young. If Adele could still develop an “interest” in Xiao Ai like this, then she would be too depraved!

    The girl’s drowsiness vanished instantly because of this sudden situation. She tiptoed out of bed and walked downstairs to the bathroom, mentally cursing that stupid angel Seraph who always came and went without a trace, without saying goodbye!

    “Seraph, I know you can hear me.”

    “You’re an idiot, an idiot!”

    “Next time, I’ll make your legs so weak that you can’t run away!” Adele’s temper was always direct, and she spoke to the air with great momentum. Regardless of whether Seraph actually saw all this, it was enough for the girl to vent her frustration.

    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone, Xiao Ai, left on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes. She hugged herself, sniffing the faint scent of Adele on the sheets, her eyes showing a hint of disappointment and regret. Why can the angel sister…but I can’t? I’m so unwilling.

    She narrowed her eyes and softly called out “Mama…”, imagining what Adele and Seraph had done last night after she turned around. But for the little girl, it was a completely blank area. If only Mama could teach her… Xiao Ai had a certain confidence that she could learn and do it no worse than anyone else.

    After washing up in the bathroom, Adele noticed a message on her phone. The girl curiously lit up the screen and, seeing the familiar nickname “Linlang,” her eyes instantly brightened. It was, of course, her classmate, Tang Linlang, who came from a family of vampire hunters. After going to the vampire territory for the holidays, Adele hadn’t seen her for many days and missed her dearly. As for Tang Linlang, she was even more lonely.

    She had finally looked forward to Adele’s return through other means. She even gently gave the girl a day to rest and recover, instead of disturbing her. And after the day ended, in the early morning when Adele should have woken up, she couldn’t wait to send a greeting message.

    Tang Linlang’s kindness towards Adele was always like this, subtle and silent. Adele might never notice. But she didn’t need Adele to notice.

    Linlang: Good morning, Adele.

    Linlang: It’s a bit cold today, stay warm.

    Linlang: If you’re free, can we have dinner together tonight?

    Linlang: You choose the place, anywhere is fine, or you can come to my house…I’ve been learning to cook recently.

    Linlang: I even bought a new apron.

    The girl’s messages came one after another, making Adele’s eyes spin. But soon, she stopped, seemingly worried that her excessive enthusiasm would bother Adele. Adele held her phone, her heart warmed. She gently tapped the soft keyboard with her slender fingers to reply to the girl’s messages. It was worth mentioning that Adele was a firm believer in the 26-key keyboard.

    Adele: I’m free, of course I’m free!

    Adele: Hehe, the food Linlang makes, Linlang~ must be delicious!

    Tang Linlang was currently in the kitchen, pouring fresh milk into her glass with one hand and holding her phone in the other, her gaze shifting back and forth. She didn’t want to miss any message from the girl. And her wish came true. When she received Adele’s reply, Tang Linlang’s heart raced, especially seeing the sentence “Linlang~ must be delicious!” The girl’s feelings couldn’t be described with words. Was Adele talking about the food, or something else? But no matter what, Tang Linlang…would let the girl have a good taste.

    Ugh, the milk, the milk is overflowing! The girl panicked, but she managed to handle it and then replied to Adele’s message.

    Linlang: Then…when should we meet? Every minute and every second of Tang Linlang’s time could belong to Adele. She didn’t have many friends, due to her family’s decline and her identity as a descendant of vampire hunters. Only after meeting Adele did she finally understand what friendship meant. Although now, this friendship had long since evolved into…love that she yearned for day and night.

    Adele: At noon, come to my dorm.

    Adele: Remember to bring your student ID, otherwise the guard will stop you.

    Linlang: Are you planning to make lunch yourself, Adele? The girl was looking forward to tasting Adele’s cooking. But after sending this message, Adele’s expression became a bit awkward.

    Adele: Ahem, maybe…takeout.

    Adele: My cooking skills…let’s just say I don’t have any.

    Adele: But I can cook rice! Meaning, wash the rice and use a rice cooker.

    Linlang: Then the rice Adele cooks must be fragrant. Tang Linlang didn’t dislike the girl’s lack of life skills and still praised her. Adele scratched her hair on the other end, “Ehehe.”

    Adele: Gotta go, I’m making breakfast. Clearly, in Adele’s mind, making breakfast, like frying an egg or cooking noodles, couldn’t be considered cooking.

    Linlang: Okay~ Their conversation ended there.

    Adele went to the kitchen and started bustling about. At some point, the petite girl with black hair and pink eyes came to the kitchen door. As she leaned against the doorframe and looked into the kitchen, Adele’s graceful figure in the light instantly captured the girl’s full attention.

    What a beautiful scene. The rising sun, like snowflakes, shone through the kitchen window, falling on the girl’s hair and shoulders. As the girl wielded the spatula, the light seemed to dance. Anyone would be instinctively attracted to such a girl. If it were a wandering spirit, it would also innocently imitate her appearance when taking form, right?

    Of course, Xiao Ai didn’t know what she was. A lonely ghost, or a spirit born in the Blood Secret Realm? Since her birth in the Blood Secret Realm, her consciousness had been vague and blurry, with only the instinct to distinguish between good and evil, and to escape and hide. The vampires who entered the Secret Realm were all bad, especially the True Ancestors. They stole power that didn’t belong to them. But one True Ancestor was an exception. She voluntarily returned the stolen power to the Secret Realm. She was True Ancestor Xina.

    During this time, Lady Chen Xi would hold a private memorial service for her. And Xiao Ai vaguely remembered that she was born the moment True Ancestor Xina returned the power. To be precise, she was originally just a formless spirit. But when Xina returned that drop of God’s blood to the Secret Realm, Xiao Ai gained a body, the petite form she had now. She wasn’t the thirteenth drop of God’s blood, but she was born because of that drop of God’s blood.

    And at that time, she had never seen Adele, but she took on the exact same appearance as Adele when she was young. No one knew what this meant. Xiao Ai didn’t know either. But when she sensed Adele’s existence from the Secret Realm, she finally found the meaning of her life. To live was for Adele!

    Then everything that followed happened. Xiao Ai accidentally became Adele’s daughter. Because she found that the moment she saw Adele, the only sound she could make was “mama,” so she called out. Adele, being careless, readily accepted it.

    “Xiao Ai~ what are you peeking at?” Although Adele had noticed the little one’s burning gaze early on, she just hummed a tune casually, not paying much attention. It wasn’t until she finished frying the eggs and was about to put them on a plate, adding soy sauce, that she called out.

    “…Looking at…beautiful Mama.” She could already use most everyday language, including the names of all the furniture and appliances in this dorm. Adele and First Snow had taught her these in one day. As they said, nothing was impossible for a willing heart. And Xiao Ai was inherently intelligent.

    Adele suspected that even if she gave Xiao Ai a dictionary and let her figure it out on her own, while a day might be too much, in a week or a month, she might actually learn everything in the dictionary.

    Adele blushed. She was still the same, easily flattered.

    “Not really~ just average beauty, there are many more beautiful than me.”

    “Like your Aunt Hermione, Aunt Dorothy…” Adele wanted to be modest, but Xiao Ai didn’t listen, stubbornly murmuring, “Mama is the most beautiful, bad women are not beautiful…”

    “Eh, why are they bad women?” Adele asked curiously.

    “…” Xiao Ai didn’t answer. But in her heart, she was saying, They steal my Mama, so they are bad women. Although Xiao Ai was unfamiliar with this world and had no common sense, she shouldn’t have a sense of morality. But she cleverly realized that with Adele’s attitude towards her, she shouldn’t express her feelings for her mother. Otherwise, it might create an irreparable rift between them. And because of this, she seemed to be naturally a step behind other girls, those girls who had a close relationship with Mama. But Xiao Ai chose to work hard silently, to catch up with them one day, and subtly make Mama accept her…and accept her care and love.

    “Can you take the milk out of the refrigerator and pour it into glasses?”

    “Mm…okay.” Xiao Ai volunteered. She opened the refrigerator, stood on tiptoe, and took out the milk carton with her small hands. Then she took two transparent glasses from the cupboard and placed them on the counter, which was only slightly lower than herself. She struggled to open the cap and carefully poured two glasses of milk. Finally, she didn’t put the milk back in the refrigerator, but turned to Adele and asked, “Mama, should I add milk to Sister First Snow’s bowl too?”

    “Eh~ you actually care about First Snow? Sure, go ahead~!” Adele’s expression bloomed like a flower, showing surprise and joy. Nothing was more comforting than a well-behaved and polite child. And the “bowl” Xiao Ai mentioned was the water bowl used by First Snow in her cat form, upstairs in Adele’s bedroom.

    After getting permission, Xiao Ai padded upstairs, added milk to First Snow’s bowl, and added a bowl of cat food. Then she left the bedroom, returned to the kitchen, and put the milk back in the refrigerator.

    Adele also brought the toast, golden fried eggs, and two glasses of milk from the kitchen to the dining room.

    “Xiao Ai, come and have breakfast.”

    “What kind of jam do you like, strawberry or blueberry?”

    “Strawberry, meow.”

    “Pfft, why are you imitating Sister First Snow?”

    “That privilege belongs to Mama, meow!” Adele was really something. She had never seen a “Mama” competing with a child for the right to act cute. But she quickly waved her hand and said with a smile, “Just kidding, Xiao Ai is so cute when she meows, meow again!”

    Hearing this, Xiao Ai’s eyes lit up. The next moment, she clenched her small hands into fists, raised them to her cheeks, and imitated First Snow’s voice, “Meow meow~”

    Adele covered her nose. She felt her HP instantly drop to zero! Was this the power of a soft and cute little loli!? Crap…if this goes on…I might fall for Xiao Ai! And Xiao Ai looked almost exactly like her younger self. Rounding up, she was falling for her childhood self! This is so messed up, even a pervert would find it perverted!

    A faint smile, like a fox’s, appeared on Xiao Ai’s lips. It seemed she had sensed her mother’s current feelings through mind-reading. But she didn’t continue to act cute or do anything unnecessary. Too much sweetness would eventually be noticed and disliked.

    Adele blushed slightly, picked up a slice of toast, and spread a layer of strawberry jam on it with a small spoon before handing it to Xiao Ai. The bread was ordinary sliced bread, but because it was freshly toasted, it was soft and fluffy, emitting a warm fragrance. Coupled with the sweetness of the strawberry jam, Xiao Ai ate it with relish. And in front of her, there was also a perfectly golden fried egg waiting for her. The fried egg didn’t need salt, just a little soy sauce after it was cooked was enough.

    The mother and daughter’s breakfast passed by simply and unpretentiously. When they returned to the bedroom, they found a little kitty in the corner, who had come without notice, licking the milk in her bowl, “Lick, lick, lick~”.

    Adele came to First Snow’s side, squatted down, and gently petted her.

    “Meow~” First Snow turned around and meowed cutely at her, milk stains on her white whiskers, looking adorable.

    The rest of the day was no different from usual. First Snow and Xiao Ai played games, and Adele played on her computer, checking if the game console she ordered yesterday had arrived. It was like a different world version of the Switch. The girl bought three at once, just enough for First Snow and Xiao Ai to play online together, or to play party games when there were more people. After all, with Adele’s current dorm conditions, there probably wasn’t enough space for multiple computers. But the room Sharon had lived in could also be used. Adele just needed to ask Sharon.

    Adele acted very generously, showing off in front of First Snow and Xiao Ai. But no one knew that she was actually spending Celeste and Tang Linlang’s money! As for whose money specifically, Adele had too many cards now, she didn’t know, anyway, they all had a lot of money…

    Just like that, the holiday leisurely passed until noon. With the sound of a crisp doorbell, Adele’s eyes lit up. She knew who it was, Linlang! The next moment, the girl ran downstairs in her socks, forgetting to put on her slippers. She didn’t forget to turn around and say to the stunned First Snow and Xiao Ai, “I’m going to get a friend!”

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 141p2

    Chapter One Hundred and Forty-One: A-rank?! Intelligence?! p2

    After getting closer, Lin Jiayao finally saw clearly what the mass of things lying on the sand and gravel at the bottom of the water was.

    Those were black spikes, swaying at the bottom of the water. These spikes almost covered the entire bottom of the canyon… at least four to five hundred meters wide!

    The large blank area that Lin Jiayao detected just now was this “creature” that was shaking like a sea urchin’s spikes.

    And its bottom was bottomless. In Lin Jiayao’s Bone Spike Lurker, a large vacuum area was formed.

    This was… a skeletal zombie from the sea?

    What the hell was this thing? A sea urchin? Or something else mutated?

    Soon, with Lin Jiayao’s arrival, those spikes also moved.

    “Dada-dada—”

    Those spikes tapped each other quickly at the bottom of the sea, seeming to be probing what was approaching.

    Lin Jiayao could feel a wave of water pushing in her direction, but soon, this feeling disappeared.

    And the countless bone spurs lying on the sand also stopped.

    “Boom boom boom…”

    Suddenly, the bottom of the water vibrated, and there was a muffled thunder.

    And the spikes at the bottom of the sea slowly cracked with the vibration. In the canyon, a canyon formed by black spike clusters cracked again.

    Countless gravel and seawater were sucked into the huge mouth with a vortex, and even Lin Jiayao’s huge body of hundreds of meters of bone ray was irresistibly sucked.

    Just when Lin Jiayao was about to “abandon the armor” and escape, her body stopped struggling as she approached the rift.

    Because she could see that she was getting closer and closer to the Extraction Point.

    The Extraction Point… was in that black, terrifying mouth.

    Seeing the gravel and seawater forming a waterfall at the bottom of the water, Lin Jiayao hesitated for a while, and then accelerated towards the huge mouth.

    No matter what was inside, she only had this way to go.

    “Swish—”

    After rushing into the giant mouth, Lin Jiayao, along with the waterfall, plunged into the depths of the black cave. She didn’t know how long she fell before she slammed into a soft, huge platform.

    At the bottom of the platform, countless tiny tentacles were tearing at her bones and blood threads, but soon, a viscous liquid filled this entire area, and she could feel that her body, which had just been gnawed, was recovering quickly.

    Where was this place…

    The inside of a giant beast?

    【Extracting: 7.1】

    The countdown for extraction had already begun, but at the same time, Lin Jiayao also found that she could use Bone Spike Lurker to detect everything around her after entering here.

    “Dada—”

    The bone spurs on Lin Jiayao’s body quickly tapped on the soft platform on the ground, and everything within a radius of ten kilometers was quickly formed in Lin Jiayao’s mind.

    She saw where she was.

    This was a huge nest composed of chambers, and the place where she fell was one of the larger chambers.

    Almost every soft chamber was soaked with countless nutrient solutions, just like the one Lin Jiayao was soaking in now.

    And continuing to explore deeper, Lin Jiayao found that this nest full of dense chambers could not be detected to the end…

    “Gurgle… gurgle gurgle?”

    Suddenly, a strange bubble sound caught Lin Jiayao’s attention.

    In the last 3 seconds before extraction, Lin Jiayao simulated the place where the sound came from through Bone Spike Lurker.

    It was a huge, slowly opening earthy yellow eyeball below countless chambers. There were several crystals with a diameter of 30 meters wandering in the turbid vitreous body.

    And at this time, these crystals were all aligned in Lin Jiayao’s direction, and their sight seemed to pass through layers of barriers and look at Lin Jiayao.

    “Gurgle? Gurgle?”

    Countless huge bubbles rose from the holes below its eyeballs, creating regular sounds. These sounds were also detected by Lin Jiayao in the last second.

    This was…

    This couldn’t be…

    Trying to communicate with me?

    When Lin Jiayao had this doubtful thought in her heart, the system countdown ended, and her consciousness quickly withdrew from this weird and terrifying space.

    Even after the extraction, Lin Jiayao’s mind was still numb. She felt a wave of dizziness only after storing the thirty-odd blood crystals from the pouch in her Warehouse and leaving the settlement space.

    “Hoo… hoo… hoo…”

    Lin Jiayao, whose consciousness returned to her body, was breathing heavily, her whole body was like being drenched in water, full of sweat, and she quickly propped up her body and sat up.

    At this time, Lin Jiayao had a feeling that she was alive.

    An eyeball was as big as a zombie ray… What kind of terrifying and huge existence was this deep-sea monster…

    And looking at the dense chambers born on its body, and the various blood crystals nourished in the chambers, and the rhythmic bubble sound at the end…

    It was hard for Lin Jiayao not to suspect that this was an intelligent, and even trying to build a social system… intelligent zombie?

    Was it A-rank?

    Whether it was A-rank or not, the fear it brought her was definitely not comparable to B-rank.

    “Huff…”

    Under the effect of Hunting Rhythm, Lin Jiayao’s breathing quickly adjusted, and even the feeling of dizziness gradually dissipated, replaced by weakness in her limbs.

    At least she didn’t faint directly.

    The submerged city, the terrifying rift valley, and the terrifying underwater zombie lurking at the mouth of the sea, buried in the ground, whose size was unknown…

    These apocalyptic scenes kept flashing back in Lin Jiayao’s mind, making her heart, which had been at ease, half cold.

    She tried to dispel the image of that terrifying giant eye from her mind and stop thinking about these things.

    After brushing the sweat-soaked hair from her forehead, Lin Jiayao noticed another object beside her.

    Turning her head to look, she saw Huayibai, who didn’t need sleep, lying flat beside her, holding a red little quilt woven with mycelium in both hands, looking at her blankly.

    “Mommy? You sweated a lot…”

    Huayibai called out, startled by Lin Jiayao’s sudden movement.

    “It’s okay…” Lin Jiayao reached out and patted Huayibai’s head, barely squeezing out a smile, “I’m fine.”

    At this time, Huayibai seemed to have thought of something, and quickly sat up, raised the small quilt woven with mycelium, and wiped Lin Jiayao’s neck

    “Huayibai will help Mommy wipe the sweat.” Huayibai wiped while observing Mommy’s expression changes.

    If Mommy didn’t let her wipe, she would put her hand down immediately.

    But Mommy didn’t object to her helping her wipe the sweat, and even closed her eyes directly, which made Huayibai excited.

    Because the mycelium quilt was also Huayibai’s body.

    On the surface, it looked like Huayibai was holding a mycelium quilt and wiping Lin Jiayao’s body.

    But in Huayibai’s feeling, this was the same as using her tongue to lick the sweat on Mommy’s body.

    While wiping, Huayibai’s small mouth had uncontrollably opened at some point, and her pink tongue stuck out, like a puppy dissipating heat.

    At this time, Lin Jiayao did not pay attention to Huayibai’s current state.

    Now she was closing her eyes tightly, checking the evolutions that could be retained.

    No matter what was at the bottom of the sea, no matter whether that terrifying creature would threaten her, there was only one way to solve it and protect everything now.

    Become stronger, become stronger.

    As long as she could be strong enough to smash that underwater creature with one punch, there would not be so many worries.

    「Please keep your evolution」
    「1、【Ghost Swimmer Lv.1 (Gold): Allows your bones to perfectly integrate into any bones, and can hide your aura】」
    「2、【Bone Manipulator Lv.3 (Gold): Can achieve off-body control of bones and use all their abilities; can connect your own bones with other creatures, share energy, and synchronize thinking】」
    「3、【Bone Crystal Thread Lv.1 (Gold): Can generate threads around bones to store highly concentrated blood crystals; can convert highly concentrated blood crystal fluid into crystal hormones through threads and inject them into bones, greatly enhancing the strength of the injected person】」

    Lin Jiayao’s consciousness swept back and forth among these three evolutions, and finally chose 2.

    After all, this was an ability used by the main body.

    The first evolution, Lin Jiayao had used it when logging into Mask, this was the skill that could swim freely in the bones of the zombie ray.

    It was useful, it was indeed very strong. If she could drill into the opponent’s bones, she could directly torture the opponent to suicide.

    But it was useless, it was actually quite useless… because this could only be regarded as a “civil war” divine skill.

    It could have a miraculous effect against large-headed and skeletal zombies and Awakened like the zombie ray, but if it was against the previous flame awakening or lightning awakening… it would be a little powerless.

    Especially against boneless ones like Huayibai, this skill directly became useless.

    And the reason for not choosing 3 was because Lin Jiayao had a substitute for 3.

    【Liquid Blood Crystal Veins Lv.1】 and 【Mutated Self-Healing Lv.1】 added together could achieve a similar lower-level substitute effect, and there was no need to specifically choose a strong one.

    As for 2, it might be of great help to Lin Jiayao.

    After Bone Manipulator was promoted to Lv.3, it would not cause damage to the manipulator’s bones. Choosing 2 might allow her to stand up.

    Even if she couldn’t stand up, she could also use this talent to combine with her sister, maybe she could burst out with even stronger power.

    As for how to combine, Lin Jiayao hadn’t figured it out yet, but it was always more useful than the other two evolutions.

    After choosing Lv.3 Bone Manipulator, Lin Jiayao slowly opened her eyes.

    After evolving to level 3, Lin Jiayao could clearly feel that her understanding of zombie control had undergone a qualitative leap.

    Even if Lin Jiayao just raised her hand slightly and shot out a bone needle, as long as it pierced into the zombie’s body, Lin Jiayao could quickly remotely carry out destructive control on it.

    Off-body control would still damage the bones, but if the bones were connected, it would not damage the bones.

    Then wouldn’t it…

    Lin Jiayao ignored Huayibai, who was helping her wipe her face with a blanket, and slowly lifted her long skirt, revealing her straight and slender legs.

    “Ch…”

    A bone spur slowly drilled out of Lin Jiayao’s arm, and according to Lin Jiayao’s wishes, it directly pierced her skin and connected to the direction of the pelvis.

    ……No response?

    Or was it just that she was not yet proficient in this evolution?

    She could find her sister to poke her and try, to see if it was her problem or the bone spur’s problem.

    “Okay, no need to wipe,” Lin Jiayao blocked Huayibai with her left hand and asked, “Where’s your Sister Xi?”

    “Eh? Ah.” Huayibai drilled countless mycelia out of her mouth, swallowed the blanket directly into her body, and did not waste a drop. After that, she closed her eyes and felt it.

    Now a part of Huayibai’s body was still on standby on Lin Xiwan’s bracelet, so it was easy to locate Lin Xiwan’s location.

    “Sister Xi seems to be… going upstairs… Oh, she jumped off the building again… um… she’s…”

    Lin Xiwan, who was always exercising, made Huayibai not know how to describe her state.

    “It’s okay, just take me there.” Lin Jiayao put her hand on Huayibai and nodded to her.

    Huayibai also quickly understood Lin Jiayao’s meaning. She took a deep breath, and white skirts bled countless mycelia from the bottom of the skirt like blood.

    The mycelium formed a much smaller flapping-wing flying insect and wrapped Lin Jiayao in it.

    Then, Huayibai, who had turned into a flapping-wing flying insect with mycelium, carried her mother and crawled out of the villa, and then vibrated her wings in the open space.

    She had to use Goldie to harvest all the blood crystals in Wisconsin quickly, and she had to get the evolution of Mask and A4 as soon as possible.

    Lin Jiayao, who was in Huayibai’s body, opened the Hideout, and then clicked on 【Training Grounds Lv.2】, directly invested 50 blood crystals, and began to build.

    12 hours of construction time…

    When the level 2 training ground was built, she could strengthen herself tirelessly.

    Lin Xiwan’s current location was not very far away. Soon, Huayibai carried Lin Jiayao and approached a square center surrounded by building-trees.

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 294

    Chapter 294: Athena’s Despair

    The whispers vanished the moment the four figures appeared, as if they had never existed.

    The feeling of being entangled by invisible threads also disappeared.

    The entity seemed unwilling to confront them.

    But Athena felt no relief, only a deeper despair. The man’s presence here shattered her last vestiges of hope.

    Too smart isn’t always a good thing?

    His words made her tremble.

    What did he mean?

    Athena, with her intelligence, understood the implication, but she refused to believe it.

    Because believing it meant extinguishing the last flicker of hope within her, leaving only darkness and despair.

    Their reactions puzzled Muse.

    He looked back and forth between the man and Athena, frustrated by his ignorance.

    “Damn it, who are you? What do you want?”

    “Show yourself and state your name!” he roared, his knuckles white as he gripped his axe. He didn’t notice the swelling on his body.

    The man smiled and nodded: “You must be Muse the Mad.”

    “A member of the former Hero Squad, the most ferocious and reckless warrior in the war against the Demon Beasts.”

    “Even the Demon Beasts feared you.”

    “It’s an honor to meet you.”

    But why did he look like this? In the first loop, Muse had been mad and brutal, but even when frequently ill, he hadn’t been this… grotesque.

    It was said that Muse’s axe, stained with the blood of countless beings, was covered in deadly pathogens, like a komodo dragon’s teeth. A single wound, even a non-fatal one, could weaken the victim, leading to a slow, agonizing death.

    Muse’s current appearance was far more disturbing than in the first loop. He looked like a monster.

    Even more repulsive than Karsus, though he hadn’t completely lost his mind.

    The man quickly averted his gaze. Muse’s appearance was too disturbing, even for someone without trypophobia.

    He bowed slightly, a perfect gentleman’s gesture: “I haven’t introduced myself. My apologies.”

    “I am Qin Chu, the Second Hero.”

    Qin Chu.

    Muse’s face contorted.

    The Second Hero appearing here, right after he and Athena had obtained the soul fragment? Had their plan been discovered?

    A murderous rage filled him.

    If their plan was exposed, Qin Chu couldn’t be allowed to leave this place alive.

    Nor could the women behind him.

    Killing them wouldn’t be a problem. He loved killing. Unfortunately, his mind was clouded, unable to grasp the disparity in their strength.

    Ireta, the Daughter of Death, was a witch even Shaye was wary of, one of the strongest among them.

    Ireta had offered her assistance to Qin Chu whenever he needed it. This was the first time he had called upon her, and she had appeared remarkably quickly.

    He needed Ireta to decipher Jie Luo’s soul fragment.

    And if possible, he wanted to use her power over souls to conduct an experiment on Athena.

    Heloise, though powerful, was still weaker than Muse, but this icy landscape was her domain.

    As for Princess Anastasia, she was the weakest.

    But the Snow Chain Mountains were practically her backyard. Without her guidance, finding this place wouldn’t have been easy.

    Like Athena, Qin Chu only knew the name of the mountain range, not its precise location.

    With Qin Chu, the Hero, on their side, the outcome of the battle was practically predetermined.

    Muse wanted to attack, but seeing Athena standing there, dazed and unresponsive, he hesitated.

    The tense silence stretched. Finally, Athena spoke, her voice hollow: “Qin Chu…”

    “You knew all along.”

    “Yes,” Qin Chu replied readily.

    That single word pierced Athena’s heart like a knife.

    It hurt.

    The last flicker of hope died within her.

    She gasped for breath, as if suffocating: “Then… Jie Luo’s residual soul…”

    Qin Chu looked at her, a mocking smile on his lips: “Athena, there never was a residual soul.”

    “It was me all along.”

    Buzz…

    Her mind went blank.

    She couldn’t think.

    It hurt. So much that she couldn’t even scream.

    Her body convulsed, a sharp pain in her abdomen, her eyes turning dull and lifeless.

    Not fear, not sadness, but the empty despair of lost hope.

    Those weren’t the eyes of a living person.

    Her reaction filled Qin Chu with a perverse satisfaction. This was what he wanted. The more she suffered, the more pleasure he felt.

    More sadness, more despair…

    It wasn’t enough.

    He wanted more.

    “You lied to me…”

    She whispered, her voice barely audible.

    Qin Chu smiled, walking towards her, his gaze fixed on her beautiful face, the face that had writhed beneath him in pleasure countless times.

    He felt no pity.

    In this moment, he wasn’t a hero, but a demon.

    He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

    Athena, seemingly drained of all strength, offered no resistance, her empty eyes staring into his.

    She saw his demonic smile, heard his cruel words:

    “Yes, I lied.”

    “Did you really think your plan was foolproof? I know more than you think.”

    “Ronald and Benson’s deaths… you orchestrated them,” Athena whispered, her lips trembling.

    Qin Chu sighed: “That’s why I said you’re smart. That idiot behind you hasn’t figured it out yet.”

    “Karsus’s death… you planned that too…”

    “While he ultimately brought it upon himself… I won’t deny my involvement.”

    So many members of the former Hero Squad, all manipulated by Qin Chu.

    Realizing this, a sad smile touched Athena’s lips. They were like clowns, putting on a pathetic performance.

    Haha… hahahahaha…

    She laughed hysterically, like a madwoman.

    The crushing weight of despair, the shattering of all hope, was enough to break anyone.

    Tears streamed down her face as she looked up at Qin Chu: “And me…”

    “I had planned different deaths for each of you… but Athena, you’re too beautiful to simply kill…”

    He shrugged: “You thought offering me your body would hasten Jie Luo’s resurrection…”

    “You thought you were sacrificing yourself for him, wallowing in self-pity.”

    “Feeling defiled, unworthy of him even if he were resurrected, yet hoping he would appreciate your sacrifice, your devotion.”

    “But everything you did only served to please me.”

    “You know, watching you moan Jie Luo’s name while beneath me…”

    He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound: “It was exhilarating!”

    Was this man truly a demon?

    Even Anastasia and Heloise exchanged uneasy glances, though they knew the former Hero Squad had been plotting against Qin Chu. They had brought this upon themselves.

    But Qin Chu’s torment wasn’t over. He leaned in, whispering in Athena’s ear:

    “Athena, you know…”

    “You taste delicious.”

    His warm breath sent shivers down her spine.

    Was this fear?

    Was this despair?

    Where was hope?

    She couldn’t see it.

    She hugged herself, her body trembling uncontrollably.

    She wished she were dead, wished he had simply killed her, sparing her this torment.

    She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t.

    Why was he so cruel?

    “Oh, right,” Qin Chu said, as if remembering something. He tapped his head lightly: “Jie Luo… you all want to resurrect him, don’t you?”

    “You’ll be disappointed. Even if you kill me and take all my blood and soul, he can’t be resurrected.”

    “He’s dead. His soul is gone. He’s no more.”

    “Even if you gather all the soul fragments and use the resurrection technique, I’m curious to see what would actually be resurrected.”

    Buzz…

    The last flicker of light in Athena’s eyes vanished.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 226

    Chapter 226: The Storm Subsides, The Ice-Cold Ghostess (Revised)

    Is this… Yun Yue’s other half?

    Lin Tianlu was about to ask when the fox suddenly opened its mouth and spoke. “Tianlu, don’t get too close to her. She’s cold and ruthless. You might get hurt.”

    “This—”

    Lin Tianlu’s expression was a mix of surprise and amusement. “How can a fox talk?”

    Seeing his confusion, the fox’s face showed a human-like exasperation. “This isn’t the time for jokes, Tianlu.”

    “I know.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded, his amusement fading. “I just wanted to ease the tension between you two.”

    The moment the ghost and the fox met, a chilling wind swept through the area around the lake. Although they hadn’t attacked each other yet, the atmosphere was tense, a battle imminent.

    “Ease the tension… Tianlu, it’s not that simple.”

    The fox was about to continue when Yun Yue, her face expressionless, suddenly raised her hand, and countless moon blades materialized, hurtling towards the fox!

    But Lin Tianlu quickly grabbed her wrist, and the moon blades dissipated.

    The fox, who had been preparing to defend herself, relaxed and sat down, her tails swaying gently.

    “—Why did you stop me?”

    Yun Yue looked up at him, her gaze calm.

    Lin Tianlu clicked his tongue. “And why did you attack her?”

    “We’re like fire and water. We can’t coexist.”

    Yun Yue’s voice was cold and indifferent. “Since you refuse to accept me as your servant, I’ll defeat her and prove that I’m stronger.”

    “Your relationship is…”

    “Tianlu, she’s too cold and distant. Let me explain.”

    The fox’s voice echoed in his mind. “When you sent my demonic half into your immortal mountain, our power was evenly divided, balanced by my cultivation technique.

    But during our visit to the Lunar Valley, with the abundant spiritual energy and your help, my cultivation reached a bottleneck. The demonic and Yin energies within me clashed, the Yin energy becoming excessive, disrupting the balance. My power split in two. I became the demon, and she became the ghost.

    And just as there’s Yin and Yang, my personality became more cheerful and optimistic, while she inherited my nine hundred years of resentment and negativity, amplified by the Yin energy, becoming a being of pure darkness.”

    Lin Tianlu frowned, his mind racing.

    So when he rescued Yun Yue from the Netherworld, he hadn’t completely dispelled her resentment.

    And since Yin energy was connected to the soul, this imbalance had caused this new, colder Yun Yue to manifest.

    “Is there no way to restore the balance, to return her to her previous state?”

    “Her Yin energy and resentment are too strong. My cultivation technique can’t contain it anymore. That’s why she sought you out, Tianlu, seeking your Yang energy to restore the balance.”

    “I see.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully, looking at the silent girl. “So you’re just throwing a tantrum, Yun Yue?”

    Yun Yue’s eyes narrowed, and she pushed his hand away. “Nonsense.”

    The fox chuckled softly.

    “You’re not wrong, Tianlu. She’s still carrying nine hundred years of resentment.”

    “—Since you won’t listen to reason, I’ll have to use force.” Yun Yue’s eyes narrowed, and a faint light emanated from her body. “Once I defeat you, I’ll—”

    But a large hand suddenly landed on her head, interrupting her.

    “Don’t be ridiculous.”

    Lin Tianlu looked down at her, his voice calm. “Behave yourself.”

    “Ugh!”

    Yun Yue’s face paled as she felt an immense pressure bearing down on her, her Yin energy dispersing.

    Emerald green chains materialized, binding her limbs, restricting her movements.

    She tried to speak, but a mysterious force sealed her lips.

    The fox appeared beside them, her voice a soft murmur. “Tianlu, my cultivation technique is unique, intrinsically linked to my very being. It might take decades to—”

    “There’s a simpler solution.”

    Lin Tianlu interrupted her, a smile on his face. “Since her resentment is so strong, we just have to make her happy, to help her let go of her negativity. Once she smiles, she’ll be fine.”

    “—Eh?”

    The fox’s expression turned strange.

    Such a simple solution… but it might actually work.

    After a moment of thought, she nodded in agreement.

    “I’ll trust your judgment, Tianlu.”

    But then she sighed softly. “I’ve caused you so much trouble. This journey home was supposed to be joyful. But because of my instability, my lingering resentment, you’ve had to worry about me.”

    “It’s no trouble at all. Whether it’s you or her, you’re still Yun Yue, aren’t you?”

    Lin Tianlu knelt down and patted the fox’s head gently. “Just think of it as dealing with a spoiled child. With a little coaxing, she’ll return to normal.”

    “Th-that’s a bit embarrassing.”

    The fox turned away shyly. “Alright, since you have a plan, Tianlu, let’s go back and rest. And please try to keep ‘me’ out of trouble.”

    “Don’t worry.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled and stroked the fox’s tail, then he picked up the emerald chains and vanished, taking the bound and silenced Yun Yue with him.

    …

    As the storm of Yin energy subsided, Hua Shuya and Mao Ruoyu lowered their hands, their eyes fixed on the figure that had appeared in the room.

    A familiar voice echoed through the air.

    “It’s alright now.”

    Lin Tianlu waved his hand, dispelling the remaining mist, and smiled gently. “Yun Yue is stable now. You can go back to sleep.”

    Mao Ruoyu patted her chest, relieved.

    She had been worried about losing control again. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

    Hua Shuya relaxed and sheathed her sword.

    Now that everything was resolved, they could—Hmm?

    Suddenly, both Hua Shuya and Mao Ruoyu gasped, their eyes wide with surprise as they looked at Yun Yue, who was lying on the bed.

    “Wh-what happened?”

    Mao Ruoyu’s voice was filled with shock. “Where are Sister Yun’s tails?!”

    Not just her ears, but even her fluffy tails, which had been large enough to cover the entire bed, were gone. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll.

    Hua Shuya’s hand instinctively went to her sword, her eyes filled with suspicion.

    And her aura was completely different.

    The Yun Yue they knew had been elegant and graceful, gentle and kind, like Madam Mao. Sometimes, she even had a motherly aura.

    But this girl radiated a chilling coldness, a sense of unease washing over them even before their eyes met.

    “…”

    Yun Yue opened her crimson eyes, her gaze sweeping over them, her expression cold and indifferent. She didn’t greet them.

    Instead, she looked at Lin Tianlu. “Is this your choice?”

    “Of course.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded, his voice calm. “Don’t you like it?”

    Yun Yue lowered her eyes, her voice soft. “I have no objections.”

    Mao Ruoyu approached him, her face filled with worry. “My husband, what happened to Sister Yun? Why is she—”

    “Don’t worry, she’s still Yun Yue.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled and patted her shoulder reassuringly. “It’s similar to what happened to you a while ago, Ruoyu. She’s also split into two. But only when her ‘demon’ and ‘ghost’ halves are united does she become the Yun Yue we know.

    She’s currently at a bottleneck in her cultivation, and her old technique is affecting her, causing the separation. This is Yun Yue, the ghost.”

    Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened in understanding. “So Sister Yun’s constitution is even more unique than we thought? But…”

    She looked at Yun Yue with concern. “Does she still remember us?”

    If she had lost her memories of their time together, how could they rebuild their relationship?

    “I remember everything.”

    Yun Yue’s voice was cold and emotionless, her beautiful face expressionless. “Everything that happened before, I remember it all. Don’t worry, I recognize you.

    I just… express myself differently now.”

    “As you can see, she can only show this cold and distant demeanor right now.”

    Lin Tianlu shrugged. “We just need to find a way to dispel her resentment, to help her break through this bottleneck. Once she reaches a higher realm, her two halves will merge again, and she’ll return to normal.”

    Mao Ruoyu nodded thoughtfully.

    She had some experience with this.

    After all, she had gone through something similar recently. Perhaps she could help.

    …

    The next morning…

    Lin Tianlu and his companions left Anshi County and began their journey home.

    But the atmosphere inside the carriage was…

    …awkward.

    Hua Shuya sat stiffly, her gaze fixed on Yun Yue, trying to decipher her thoughts.

    Yun Yue stared back, her eyes cold and empty, the air in the carriage thick with tension.

    After a long, silent confrontation, Hua Shuya’s eye twitched, and she looked away, defeated.

    She rubbed her forehead, feeling a twinge of self-doubt.

    “Sister Yun, would you like some breakfast?”

    Mao Ruoyu took out a few steamed buns wrapped in oil paper, her voice gentle and warm. “I bought these at the inn before we left. Would you like to try one?”

    Yun Yue’s eyes flickered, and she glanced at the steaming bun, sniffing it delicately before nodding. “Thank you.”

    She took the bun and took a small bite, her lips parting slightly, a puff of warm air escaping her lips.

    “…”

    She chewed slowly, her face still expressionless.

    Mao Ruoyu leaned closer, her voice filled with concern. “How is it?”

    “It’s good.” Yun Yue’s voice was flat and indifferent as she took another bite.

    “Take your time. There are plenty more.”

    Mao Ruoyu smiled gently, like a mother caring for her child.

    “Mm.”

    But seeing her continued coldness and lack of response, Mao Ruoyu’s smile faltered, and she exchanged glances with Hua Shuya, her expression troubled.

    Sister Yun was so different now…

    Her cold demeanor made them uncomfortable, not knowing how to interact with her.

    Yun Yue looked up at them. “Aren’t you eating?”

    Mao Ruoyu’s face lit up. “We’ve already eaten, Sister Yun. You can have them all.”

    “Oh.”

    “…”

    Eh?

    Seeing her silence again, Mao Ruoyu tilted her head, chuckling awkwardly, starting to doubt her own ability to… care for others.

    Hua Shuya’s expression was equally awkward, not knowing how to start a conversation.

    After all, she wasn’t very good with words, and her current merged state with Yu Xuanling made her even more reserved and aloof.

    It was like two ice sculptures staring at each other, the atmosphere in the carriage growing colder.

    Even Mao Ruoyu, who had been trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor, couldn’t help but feel her smile falter.

    Yun Yue, however, seemed completely unfazed, calmly eating her bun, like a little hamster.

    After finishing the bun, she lowered her hands and nodded. “It was good.”

    “Would you like another one, Sister Yun?”

    “No.”

    “Oh…”

    Mao Ruoyu put the buns away, her expression disappointed.

    At that moment, the carriage curtain was pulled aside.

    “The atmosphere in here seems a bit… chilly.”

    Lin Tianlu leaned against the frame of the carriage, chuckling. “I can feel the cold air radiating from inside. Are you practicing some kind of freezing technique?”

    Mao Ruoyu and Hua Shuya sighed in relief.

    “We’re just not sure how to interact with Sister Yun now. We’ll figure it out—”

    “I’ll teach you a trick.”

    Lin Tianlu raised his finger, a mysterious smile on his face. “Guaranteed to break through her icy exterior.”

    “What is it?”

    “Watch closely.”

    He leaned closer to Yun Yue and quickly rubbed her cheeks with his hand.

    “???”

    Yun Yue blinked, her eyes wide with confusion.

    By the time she reacted, Lin Tianlu had already retreated, closing the curtain behind him.

    “…?”

    Yun Yue tilted her head, her hand covering her slightly flushed cheek, a puzzled look on her face.

  • On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 211

    Chapter 211: A Beauty

    While the masked figure was still stunned, Chen Yin had already placed a basin of hot water and a tray of food and wine beside the bed, his sleeves rolled up like a diligent innkeeper.

    “Would you like to wash up first, or have dinner?”

    The masked figure’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

    “You must be tired from your journey. Let’s freshen up first.”

    Chen Yin wrung out a hot towel and said solicitously, “Allow me to assist you.”

    The masked figure remained motionless.

    Chen Yin smiled and gently helped her onto a chair, then knelt down and removed her boots.

    The masked figure’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t resist.

    The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Chen Yin noticed dried bloodstains on the soles of her boots.

    He silently placed her feet in the basin and poured warm water over them.

    The masked figure flinched as his hands touched her feet, but she bit her lip and remained silent.

    Chen Yin carefully washed her feet and ankles with the warm towel.

    A soothing warmth spread through her body, easing the aches and pains of her journey. She felt like she was soaking in a hot spring.

    She noticed the faint blue glow emanating from his palms.

    “Are you… healing me?”

    “You jest, my lady. I’m just a humble servant, attending to your needs.”

    The masked figure’s cheeks flushed with anger. “Chen Yin! Stop playing these games!”

    Chen Yin ignored her and continued washing her feet and legs.

    The masked figure finally lowered her head and whispered, “How did you find me?”

    “You sent me a message. Yunlin Province.”

    “I didn’t—” The masked figure paused, then mentally cursed, “System!”

    The System remained silent.

    Chen Yin finished washing one foot, then moved on to the other.

    The masked figure, uncomfortable with his gentle touch, fidgeted slightly.

    “I-I can do it myself…”

    “You must be tired, my lady. Allow me to assist you.”

    Chen Yin’s tone was casual and dismissive.

    The masked figure fell silent.

    The only sound in the room was the gentle splashing of water.

    After washing her feet, Chen Yin smiled and said, “Please, allow me to help you undress and wash your body.”

    The masked figure’s mind went blank.

    Before she could react, he was already reaching for her clothes.

    “You!”

    She flinched and was about to protest when Chen Yin’s hand gently touched her shoulder, his voice suddenly serious.

    “…Don’t move.” His voice was soft and gentle.

    The masked figure obediently sat still as he removed her outer robe.

    Chen Yin frowned as he saw the wounds beneath the black cloak.

    Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, some fresh, some old, some dried, some still bleeding.

    The masked figure glanced at him nervously, then watched as he silently removed her robe and reached for her inner garments.

    But before he could touch her, she crossed her arms protectively over her chest.

    “Don’t…” she whispered, her voice filled with a sudden vulnerability.

    Chen Yin didn’t force the issue. He tossed the bloodstained clothes aside and picked up a clean towel, gently wiping the blood from her arms.

    His touch was soft and careful.

    The masked figure’s body trembled, a tingling sensation spreading through her, her muscles relaxing.

    A soft moan escaped her lips.

    “Mmm…”

    Her fair skin, her delicate curves, were a sight that would make any man’s heart race.

    But Chen Yin’s gaze remained calm as he continued wiping her body, his spiritual energy discreetly probing her injuries.

    …Her meridians were twisted and mangled, as if they had been violently contorted.

    It was a miracle she was even alive.

    The pain must have been excruciating.

    Chen Yin didn’t know how much it hurt,

    But he tried to be as gentle as possible.

    As he cleaned her wounds, he suddenly asked,

    “…The Divine Son’s doing?”

    She hesitated, then nodded silently.

    Chen Yin finished cleaning her wounds, her skin now smooth and unblemished, even the minor cuts and bruises gone.

    He took out a few pills and handed them to her.

    “The side effects are a bit strong. You might sleep for an entire day. But they’re very effective.”

    “You’ll be fine when you wake up.”

    Hearing that she would be asleep for a whole day, the masked figure hesitated, her lips pressed together.

    But Chen Yin said firmly,

    “Take them.”

    She took the pills and swallowed them, then looked at him with wide, expectant eyes.

    Chen Yin’s expression softened slightly.

    “You must be tired, my lady. I’ve prepared some food for you.”

    “Would you like to try some?” He smiled.

    The masked figure looked at the braised crucian carp, sweet and sour pork ribs, and fish-flavored eggplant on the table. Her stomach rumbled audibly.

    “I-I’m not hungry—”

    “I can feed you,” Chen Yin offered casually.

    The masked figure immediately picked up her chopsticks and took a bite.

    …It was truly delicious.

    She had tasted countless delicacies, but this simple home-cooked meal was exceptional.

    After just one bite, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

    Chen Yin was right.

    A full stomach was the greatest comfort when you were feeling down.

    She ate a few more bites, then lowered her head silently.

    “Is it not to your liking?”

    “…This is the first time you’ve cooked for me.”

    Chen Yin propped his head up with his hand and looked at her. “If you like it, I can cook for you every day.”

    The masked figure suddenly looked up.

    “When did you recognize me?”

    “I told you. You remind me of someone I know.”

    Chen Yin tilted his head and smiled, his eyes twinkling.

    …Someone who had shared drinks with him, regardless of gender.

    Someone carefree and unrestrained, passionate and fiery, like a phoenix.

    “She’s straightforward, impulsive, a bit spoiled, and a bit willful.”

    Seeing the masked figure’s lips pouting slightly, Chen Yin chuckled. “But I like her personality. Free-spirited, happy, drinks till she drops, loves and hates with equal passion. I envy her.”

    “And coincidentally,” he smiled, “she also likes using red handkerchiefs.”

    The masked figure froze.

    She remembered wiping the spilled wine from her robe with her handkerchief that night.

    “It’s j-just a handkerchief… other people might also like—”

    “But I don’t know that many people.”

    Chen Yin said seriously, “In my heart, only one person uses that color.”

    Whenever he saw that color, he would think of her.

    The sunrise. Candlelight.

    A red wedding canopy. A bride’s makeup.

    He would always remember the woman in red, her beauty breathtaking.

    “Sister Qiaoqiao, am I right?”

    The masked figure didn’t answer.

    Even as Chen Yin gently removed her mask, revealing her beautiful face and long, flowing hair,

    She remained silent,

    Her eyes red-rimmed, her gaze fixed on him.

    Chen Yin smiled and gently stroked her hair.

    “There are always sad and frustrating things in life.”

    “Even if you don’t want to tell me,”

    “As long as your stomach is full, you can cry as much as you want.”

    “And after you’ve cried, no matter how difficult things are, they will eventually pass.”

    “Of course,” he added, “if you don’t want them to pass, you can always tell me about them.”

    “I’m not good at much, but I’m a good listener.”

    “I can listen for a long time.”

    Luo Qiaoqiao’s nose tingled, and she lowered her head silently.

    She didn’t want to cry.

    She knew that if she did, everything she had worked so hard for would be for nothing.

    So, she took another bite of food and asked softly, “Why… are you being so nice to me?”

    “Why was Sister Qiaoqiao so nice to me back then?”

    Luo Qiaoqiao opened her mouth, then looked away, a flicker of regret in her eyes.

    “You… don’t have to force yourself to comfort me.”

    “It wasn’t for you. It was for myself.”

    She had fallen for a complete stranger, a young cultivator she had met by chance.

    She had given him everything, determined to marry him, to leave her mark on his heart, even if it meant being unreasonable.

    Looking back, it had all been one-sided.

    She had realized it later.

    Perhaps he had never liked her.

    He had just happened to meet a sad and lonely girl drowning her sorrows in a tavern.

    And out of kindness, he had spent the night drinking with her and then taken care of her.

    They were strangers.

    Everything that followed had been her own doing.

    “I know. My actions only made you feel guilty. If you don’t like me, you’ll never like me.”

    “Just because I like someone, it doesn’t mean they’ll like me back.”

    She whispered, “I don’t want you to be nice to me out of guilt.”

    “Everything I did… was my own choice.”

    Chen Yin looked at her silently.

    “Are you full?”

    “Huh?”

    “Then let’s talk.”

    He glanced out the window. “It’s still early. I want to hear your story.”

    “Tell me what happened after we parted ways.”

    “And… about our first meeting.”

    “Why was Sister Qiaoqiao drinking alone that night?”

    Luo Qiaoqiao bit her lip. “What’s the point of talking about the past…?”

    “There is a point. Because it’s important to me.”

    Chen Yin said seriously, “I want to know why Sister Qiaoqiao fell for me after just one night of drinking.”

    “I know I’m handsome. It’s normal for beautiful women to be attracted to me.”

    “…But I still want to hear it from you.”