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  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 64

    Chapter 64: Vanessa, the Creator

    Saint Lorenzo Magic Academy had a long and storied history, boasting the largest and most luxurious library in the world, rivaled only by the “Golden Library” on the west coast and Mr. Y’s private collection, the “Crystal Cave.” All were forbidden places for ordinary people.

    Silence reigned in the library.

    A frail-looking girl in a black uniform sat atop a mountain of books, her mind adrift in a sea of knowledge.

    Her eyelids almost touched the pages, yet her eyes darted across the text, rapidly absorbing the information.

    Finishing a page, a ray of sunlight fell upon her hair, illuminating her slender, jade-like neck. Her long, dark blue hair cascaded down the pile of books to the floor like a waterfall.

    “I had a bad feeling this morning, but I didn’t expect misfortune to find me. How unlucky…”

    She muttered to herself, her back to the newcomer, closing the heavy magic book on her lap and jumping down from the stack.

    She stumbled, her attempt at a cool dismount failing, almost twisting her ankle in front of Lena.

    “What are you laughing at?”

    Vanessa possessed a beauty that rivaled Angel’s, especially the tear mole at the corner of her eye, adding a touch of allure.

    It contrasted sharply with her aloof and ethereal demeanor.

    “Are we not allowed to laugh in the library?”

    Lena wasn’t accompanied by anyone, as if she had come to meet an old friend, showing the utmost respect. “It’s been a while, Vanessa.”

    She kissed the back of Vanessa’s hand, eliciting goosebumps.

    Seeing this amusing reaction, Lena smiled faintly.

    “Do we know each other?”

    Vanessa frowned, searching her memory, but found nothing about Lena.

    Who was this wild child? Well, a beautiful, unruly wild child…

    Her long, dark hair flowed freely behind her, like the princess in a certain animated film, her ethereal beauty and aloofness outshining any seductive vixen.

    A classic beauty, albeit a younger version…

    “This is our first meeting, Junior Vanessa, but I’ve read your work. It’s a pity it was banned by the empire.”

    Lena feigned regret, as if mourning the loss.

    “But I brought a copy, hoping to discuss the content on page 1246 with you, just the two of us.”

    “Page 1246?”

    A golden gate opened in Vanessa’s mind, bathing her in a warm glow as she searched her memory palace for the answer.

    Lena sat atop a tall stack of books, casually flipping through one, seemingly engrossed in its contents.

    After a moment…

    Vanessa’s deep black eyes opened slowly.

    “I never wrote that page, Lena Falmouth. Are you playing with me?”

    Although unsure of Lena’s intentions, Vanessa wasn’t easily provoked. Faced with harassment, she had her own solutions.

    “If you don’t come down and apologize, you’ll experience the feeling of falling from a great height and being roasted by lava. Think carefully before you answer.”

    “Wow…”

    Lena gasped dramatically, feigning fear.

    Vanessa’s eyes remained fixed on Lena, her hands silently preparing a spatial transfer spell. If Lena made any sudden moves, she wouldn’t hesitate—she’d sink the entire library into the ocean’s depths in an instant.. “I hate repeating myself. If you weren’t the young lady of the Falmouth family, you would already be swimming in the fetid mud of the Sasse Marshes… filthy maggot.”

    “Tsk, it seems our first impressions of each other aren’t very favorable.”

    Lena’s lips twitched at the sudden insult.

    This little girl’s sharp tongue was formidable.

    No wonder no one liked her, only that frigid hero would accept her, and even then, it was a forced marriage.

    It was said that the hero was devoid of desire, so even after marriage, Vanessa’s love life remained stagnant.

    It seemed to be true.

    A sexually frustrated old maid, how could she have a good temper?

    “Shall we talk somewhere else?”

    Lena was wary of Vanessa’s spatial magic. One wrong move, and she could be banished to some desolate wasteland. She had experienced its power in her past life…

    “I know a nice place. I want to talk to you about your sister.”

    “Angel?!”

    Vanessa’s usually expressionless face showed a hint of surprise.

    Lena quickly caught it, teasing, “It seems you already know everything. But as her older sister, you wouldn’t object to her relationship, would you?”

    “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

    Vanessa gritted her teeth, activating her spatial magic.

    The scene shifted, the world around them changing, the wooden floor beneath their feet transforming into a black and white checkered pattern.

    Lena felt a wave of dizziness, unable to open her eyes, her body as if being pulled apart from all directions. She was forced to activate her Mana Surge form to withstand the turbulent spatial currents.

    “I thought you would be more disheveled.”

    Vanessa poured a cup of black tea for the half-human, half-demon Lena.

    She only drank black tea, so that’s all she had to offer guests, although Vanessa was extremely reluctant to let this gray devil into her home.

    “As expected of the Creator…” Lena chuckled softly, deactivating Mana Surge.

    She gulped down the black tea, the taste mixing with the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.

    “A rank four Creator, and you can already teleport two people simultaneously?”

    “Yes.”

    Vanessa didn’t deny it; her profession wasn’t a secret. Compared to Lena’s Mana Surge form, which had withstood the spatial turbulence, she was more worried about her sister’s safety.

    “Angel, she… why does she like you…? She’s never been one to lie, you must have taken advantage of her kindness.”

    “So certain it’s my fault?”

    Lena drank several more gulps of tea, her throat finally feeling better, although her internal organs still ached.

    She smiled. “Why don’t you ask Angel directly? Asking her face-to-face is better than asking an outsider like me.”

    “She doesn’t want to talk to me.”

    Vanessa, initially staring intently at Lena, suddenly deflated. “She hates me, I know. Because I never supported her hobbies or her career, even belittling her idol dreams in front of our father. She hates me…”

    Vanessa stopped, as if regretting saying too much.

    “What if I said I could help you reconcile with your sister?” Lena pounded her chest, realigning her disordered organs. “You must also want to talk to your sister, but seeing how neither of you is willing to make the first move, I think I have to step in.”

    “You can?” Vanessa’s eyes widened in disbelief.

    “Angel is head over heels for me, what do you think?”

    Lena touched her lips, smiling languidly. “What if I succeed? I’d be happy to see you two reconcile. After all, she’s my girlfriend, and she’s been moping around ever since she found out you were back. It’s annoying, so I came to find you.”

    Vanessa: “…”

    Honestly, she was slightly tempted.

    But this was Lena, a master of manipulation. Could she be trusted?

    “So, what’s the price?” Vanessa asked cautiously.

    Lena: “A small favor, insignificant for a skilled Creator like you.”

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 46

    Chapter 46: Licking Greedily

    This was the first time Zhu Yiqiao, always highly self-disciplined and in control, felt herself deviating from her usual course, on the verge of losing control.

    In her past life, every heat cycle after her differentiation had been overcome through suppressants, pheromone bracelets, and an endurance so strong it could be described as terrifying.

    She didn’t even need rest and could execute assassination missions immediately after a heat cycle ended.

    Therefore, during her years at the Ole Empire’s Southern Military Academy, she had never revealed her hidden omega identity, and the other alphas and betas had never suspected that she was a disguised alpha.

    However—

    At this moment, she wasn’t controlling the overflow of her pheromones.

    She even let her own pheromones envelop the pear scent, until everything else was suppressed, until the flesh of that snow-white, sweet pear was filled with the heavy woody fragrance.

    But the person stepping into the trap was completely unaware of all this, and as if not sensing any danger, approached Zhu Yiqiao proactively and asked with good intentions,

    “Then… Jiejie, do you need me to provide a reverse temporary marking?”

    Hearing this, countless possibilities flashed through Zhu Yiqiao’s mind. She stared at the person in front of her, her aura as a superior fully revealed.

    “Why?” she asked.

    For Ming Fei, asking this question proactively had already made her feel embarrassed. After all, such a question, in normal social interactions, was considered too intimate.

    But Zhu Yiqiao had actively helped her so many times.

    She couldn’t remain indifferent, let alone turn around and leave, completely detaching herself from the situation.

    The main lights in the corridor had been turned off at ten o’clock, and the wall lamp leading to the master bedroom emitted a dim light, adding a touch of ambiguity to the atmosphere.

    Ming Fei stood by the wall lamp, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders. The white home clothes made her look very gentle, like a quiet spring night after the late winter, her slightly trembling eyelashes like butterflies in a spring night garden.

    The butterfly gently flapped its wings, yet it caused ripples and waves in Zhu Yiqiao’s deep blue eyes.

    Ming Fei explained, “Because I’m guessing your current pheromone situation is due to the premonition of a heat cycle. If a reverse temporary marking works, and you’re not against it, I would like to help you.”

    Perhaps because the atmosphere was too strange, or perhaps because she sensed a hint of danger, her address changed from the more intimate “Jiejie” back to the distant and unfamiliar “nin” (you).

    The towering cedar and fir trees reached out with their branches and leaves to touch the small pear blossoms, the elegant woody fragrance becoming richer, all signs that her pheromones were expressing dissatisfaction.

    Zhu Yiqiao asked indifferently, “Nin?”

    Ming Fei softly called her: “…Jiejie.”

    Her voice was as soft as the tender leaves sprouting in spring. These tender leaves brushed away the snow from the cedar and fir trees, making them joyful and happy.

    After Zhu Yiqiao responded, the pheromone concentration in the air decreased slightly.

    Ming Fei repeated her question for the third time: “Jiejie, do you need me to provide a reverse temporary marking?”

    As soon as she finished speaking, the pheromone concentration, which had just decreased, suddenly surged, as if reason and desire were in a constant tug-of-war. But after a while, the pheromone concentration decreased again.

    Zhu Yiqiao didn’t answer whether she needed it or not, turning and walking into the master bedroom.

    Ming Fei was a little confused.

    She felt that her judgment shouldn’t be wrong. Both Zhu Yiqiao’s unusual behavior and the woody pheromone scent she sensed were indicating the same premonition of a heat cycle.

    But… Zhu Yiqiao seemed to have declined her help.

    Ming Fei felt a little embarrassed, for her proactiveness, and for her presumptuous offer, knowing she shouldn’t have made it, because the contract clearly stated—Party B is prohibited from any transgressive behavior.

    But worry still outweighed hesitation.

    She didn’t linger foolishly, quickly following Zhu Yiqiao into the master bedroom.

    And the moment she stepped into the master bedroom, she found that the woody scent that had been surging in the air moments ago instantly receded like a tide, without even leaving a trace.

    Ming Fei was surprised, because this required very strong control and self-discipline, and she still hadn’t learned how to control her pheromones, even… needing Zhu Yiqiao’s help with pheromone guidance.

    The gap between them made Ming Fei feel a little ashamed.

    She lowered her head and pursed her lips, approaching Zhu Yiqiao on the sofa, stopping three steps away.

    “Jiejie,” she asked, “are you alright?”

    Zhu Yiqiao was silent for a moment: “Mm.”

    Ming Fei suggested, “Tonight isn’t a good time for pheromone guidance. Why don’t you rest first, Jiejie?”

    Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Why isn’t it a good time?”

    Ming Fei looked at her, her eyes as clear as a spring in a secluded valley.

    “…Because Jiejie’s pre-heat symptoms might make you uncomfortable.”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “It’s not that.”

    Ming Fei blinked: “It’s not a premonition of a heat cycle?”

    “Mm.”

    Ming Fei was a little puzzled: “Can I ask what it is?”

    Zhu Yiqiao changed the subject: “Do you want to know?”

    Ming Fei was even more confused.

    She thought, shouldn’t the question be whether she could know?

    Why did it become whether she wanted to know?

    This question, like a kitten suddenly scratching her, piqued Ming Fei’s curiosity.

    She asked, “Does it involve personal privacy?”

    Zhu Yiqiao looked at her: “Not really.”

    “Mm.” Ming Fei admitted honestly, “Then I want to know. Don’t worry, Jiejie, even if I know the specific reason, I won’t tell anyone. I just want to help you in any way I can.”

    Without any warning, Zhu Yiqiao said straightforwardly,

    “Because my pheromones like your pheromones very much.”

    “It’s never happened before, only with you.”

    The light in the master bedroom was bright, clearly illuminating Ming Fei’s reaction after hearing these words. Her ears turned red, like a rabbit’s red lanterns, and her fingers curled slightly.

    Translated into the language of the Ole Empire, this expression meant—

    [I like you.]

    [I want to be your partner.]

    [I hope to have you forever.]

    Although Ming Fei knew that Zhu Yiqiao definitely didn’t mean it that way, and she definitely wouldn’t overthink it, she still felt shy because of this sudden directness.

    She tried to remain calm: “I remember the book saying that alpha and alpha pheromones are usually mutually repulsive.”

    Zhu Yiqiao said calmly, “Mm.”

    “That’s why I said, only with you.”

    In fact, for Zhu Yiqiao, whether it was omegas or alphas with the same or opposite differentiation attributes, none of their pheromones had ever caused such a fluctuation in her own.

    Previously, in the Omega Noble Academy, she had also sensed the pheromones of other omegas. Just like alphas would use pheromones to fight on a second battlefield, many omegas would also use their pheromones to compete.

    At that time, after sensing the pheromones of other omegas, she hadn’t felt anything, and her pheromones clearly expressed boredom and dislike. This feeling intensified at the Southern Military Academy when facing alphas, directly turning from dislike to disgust.

    But it was different with Ming Fei.

    She knew better than anyone how much her pheromones liked Ming Fei’s. Every time their pheromones collided, she could clearly sense the signal her own pheromones were sending.

    —Like.

    —Like very much.

    —Want to devour.

    She had never felt this way before Ming Fei.

    Because it was already very late, Zhu Yiqiao didn’t delve deeper into it at this moment, didn’t dwell on the strange and irritating feeling she had felt when watching Ming Fei and Xue Xun trimming flower branches tonight, didn’t explore the root cause of her pheromones’ unusual reaction.

    She prioritized the most important matter, putting aside these personal reactions, and expressionlessly asked Ming Fei to sit next to her, ready to begin pheromone guidance.

    The distance of a few steps disappeared. Ming Fei sat to Zhu Yiqiao’s right and suddenly blurted out,

    “That’s good.”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “What?”

    Ming Fei, the tips of her ears red, smiled: “Jiejie doesn’t reject my pheromones, which means that when we did the reverse temporary marking, and now for the pheromone guidance, Jiejie really doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”

    “I was always worried that Jiejie, in order to help me with my condition, would hide your true feelings, and even if you felt uncomfortable, you would continue to hide it from me. Now that I know you don’t reject it, I feel much better.”

    Ming Fei continued, “And, if Jiejie needs my pheromone help in the future, I will also do my best to assist you.”

    Zhu Yiqiao: “Is that so?”

    Ming Fei wasn’t sure what this “Is that so?” was specifically asking. Was it asking if she really felt that way? Or was it asking if she would really do her best to help when needed?

    She simply replied without hesitation: “Of course.”

    Outside the window, the night deepened, the chill permeated the air, and the world was covered in snow.

    After Ming Fei’s voice faded, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes. Because it was so faint, even she herself didn’t catch this change in emotion.

    She didn’t continue the topic, skipping the answer and directly proceeding with the crucial pheromone guidance.

    “Remove the suppressor patch and the bracelet.”

    Ming Fei: “Okay.”

    After completing the preparations according to Zhu Yiqiao’s instructions, Ming Fei actively released her pheromones and looked at the person beside her with a hint of nervousness.

    But Zhu Yiqiao didn’t release her woody scent again as she had expected. Instead, she suddenly took Ming Fei’s hand.

    Their hands clasped together, and Ming Fei was stunned for a moment, her pheromones surging out as if encouraged.

    “This is to stimulate a differentiated individual. This method can also stimulate pheromone release.” Zhu Yiqiao explained, “If this stimulation fails, then we will directly stimulate the gland.”

    While coaxing Ming Zaozao to sleep, Ming Fei had been warmed by the little warm furnace that was Ming Zaozao. But after standing in the corridor for a while, the warmth had faded, and she had become cold again.

    And Zhu Yiqiao’s hand was soft, warm, and slender, like a warm spring enveloping her completely.

    Ming Fei hummed in response: “What else do I need to do?”

    The next moment—

    Zhu Yiqiao released her pheromones again, not overwhelmingly, aggressively, or invasively, but gently, like a dragonfly skimming the water, gradually intertwining with the pear scent.

    “Feel it,” she said. “Increase when I increase, decrease when I decrease.”

    Ming Fei was obedient and intelligent.

    With Zhu Yiqiao’s guidance, she quickly grasped the skill of controlling her pheromones. They cooperated tacitly, like long-time partners fighting side by side on the battlefield.

    At first, Ming Fei’s pheromones still carried a hint of sourness, like unripe pears. Soon, the increasingly sweet pear scent swirled around, like a raccoon cat rolling in the snow, sometimes lingering under the cedar trees, sometimes circling the fir trees.

    As their pheromones intertwined for longer and longer, the snow pears that covered the ground emitted a completely sweet pear fragrance, and the situation reversed.

    The rolling raccoon cat became the increasingly elegant woody scent.

    It was as if it had truly arrived at the One Raccoon Hill that the differentiated individual longed for. Facing the pears covering the mountain, it happily raised its tail, first circling the ripening pears, then reaching out a paw to touch them, sometimes even possessively circling them with its tail.

    Even licking them greedily.

    In the silence, Ming Fei sensed the change in her own pheromones, and she looked sideways at Zhu Yiqiao.

    “Jiejie.”

    “Mm?”

    Half an hour had passed. Judging from the state of her pheromones, Ming Fei felt that it was enough for now.

    She asked, “Is that enough for tonight?”

    “Mm.”

    Zhu Yiqiao stopped and released Ming Fei’s left hand.

    As Ming Fei withdrew her hand, she also gradually retracted her overflowing pheromones.

    However, as she withdrew the last traces of her pheromones, she sensed a reluctance from Zhu Yiqiao.

    To be precise, it was a reluctance from Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones.

    She thought, not only did Chief Judge Zhu like to eat pears, but her pheromones also liked… pears very much.

    So much so that they actively expressed reluctance.

    In addition, during the pheromone guidance, she had actually noticed something strange about Zhu Yiqiao’s condition, although the answer she had received earlier wasn’t a premonition of a heat cycle.

    But Ming Fei’s limited knowledge of differentiation still led her to think about heat cycles.

    Of course—

    All of this was based on the premise that Zhu Yiqiao was an alpha. If she knew Zhu Yiqiao’s true identity at this moment, she would completely understand the reason for this abnormality.

    Because not only did alphas have pre-heat symptoms, but omegas also had pre-heat symptoms before their heat cycles, and these symptoms were particularly evident in their pheromones.

    But under the current circumstances, Ming Fei had no way of thinking about these things.

    And because Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone reluctance was so strong, Ming Fei couldn’t help but wonder—

    What should she do?

  • Captivating Beauty 68p2

    Chapter 68 p2

    After focusing on her work for a while, Viola knocked on the door.

    “CEO Xu, Miss Xia is here,” she said.

    “Xia Chun?” Xu Jinnan asked, and Viola confirmed. Xia Chun’s character was a fashion stylist who had studied abroad.

    She was wearing a stylish white dress and a dark blue coat, her usual gentle expression replaced by a coldness as she looked at Xu Jinnan.

    “Miss Xia, please have a seat,” Xu Jinnan said, leaning back in her chair, unfazed by her demeanor.

    “No need for formalities,” Xia Chun replied, standing a few feet away, her voice calm. “I received the information you sent through Tong Jia.”

    “Oh, so you’re here to say it was a misunderstanding, that your staff acted without your knowledge?”

    “Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. I’m not here to explain myself,” Xia Chun said.

    Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Then what are you here for?”

    Xia Chun’s chin lifted slightly. “You sent me a message. I had to respond. If I didn’t, you might think I was afraid of you.”

    “You’re overthinking it,” Xu Jinnan replied, her posture relaxed. “I don’t think you’re afraid of me, or anything else, because frankly, I don’t care.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, her words laced with a subtle disdain.

    The message was clear – You’re not even on my radar.

    Xia Chun’s eyes narrowed slightly. “It’s not important,” she said.

    “Xu Jinnan, you don’t deserve her.”

    Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. So, we’re being direct now, are we? Fine.

    “And you do? You’re the one who turned her into a ‘homewrecker’ in the eyes of your fans, accusing her of using you for clout,” she retorted, her smile not reaching her eyes.

    Xia Chun’s brow furrowed instinctively, then quickly smoothed out.

    She admitted she had ulterior motives, hoping to see Shen Shu, to have a chance to talk to her. Shen Shu’s coldness, her deliberate distance, had been driving her crazy.

    In the drama, they were former lovers, their feelings still lingering, but outside of filming, Shen Shu treated her like a stranger, her eyes devoid of any warmth or recognition.

    But Shen Shu looked at Xu Jinnan differently.

    And it reminded Xia Chun of their past, of the happy memories they had shared.

    She had seen the online discussions, the CP super topic drama, and she hadn’t wanted to clarify things… she knew it was wrong.

    She had even read the comments accusing Shen Shu of using her for fame.

    But she couldn’t help herself, finally reposting Shen Shu’s Weibo post, a painful act of surrender, like handing over the person she loved to someone else.

    “I admit I had ulterior motives. And you? You used such underhanded tactics to force her into this marriage. Are you any better?” Xia Chun asked.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her, her voice cool and indifferent. “You’re the past. You have no right to question me.”

    Xia Chun, stung by her dismissive tone, felt a surge of anger. It was the condescending attitude of someone in power, looking down on those beneath them.

    “The future is long. Who knows what will happen?” she retorted.

    Xu Jinnan smiled, then, after a moment of silence, wondered if the term “destined” had a different meaning in Savage Lover.

    Or perhaps the changes in the plot and Shen Shu’s character had also changed Xia Chun’s role.

    The current Xia Chun didn’t seem like the “destined” partner described in the novel.

    “Fine, I’ve given you enough face,” she said, her voice cold, then stood up and picked up her phone, finding Shen Shu’s number, which was pinned at the top of her contact list, and dialed it, right in front of Xia Chun.

    Xia Chun, not realizing she was making a call, was about to speak when she heard a familiar voice.

    “Hello?”

    Shen Shu’s cool, calm voice came through the line, the background noise slightly muffled.

    Xu Jinnan looked at Xia Chun, her voice low and intimate. “Wife, I miss you,” she murmured. She had used that term once before, when Shen Shu had broken ties with the Shen family, and occasionally in the group chat, but rarely in private.

    Shen Shu was silent for a moment.

    In the quiet office, the sound of her voice through the phone’s speaker was clear and distinct.

    “I miss you too,” she replied.

    —

    Xia Chun’s face paled, and she left without hearing the rest of their conversation.

    The office door closed.

    “Xia Chun was just here,” Xu Jinnan explained softly.

    “I know,” Shen Shu replied.

    Xu Jinnan could hear the faint sounds of activity from the film crew’s office. With their offices facing each other, it wasn’t surprising Shen Shu knew Xia Chun had visited.

    “So, you didn’t actually miss me,” Shen Shu said, her tone neutral.

    Xu Jinnan paused, unsure what she meant.

    She chuckled softly. “Not entirely.”

    “Then what?” Shen Shu asked, her voice still calm.

    Xu Jinnan pictured Shen Shu sitting in her chair, the script in her lap, her free hand resting on the open page, her head slightly bowed as she spoke on the phone.

    “Wait for me,” she said.

    She hung up.

    —

    In the resting area, Shen Shu put down her phone and picked up her well-worn script, her expression unreadable.

    A few minutes later, a commotion erupted in the office area across the hall, a mixture of excited chatter and gasps.

    She heard a familiar name and looked up.

    Xu Jinnan, a smile on her face, was walking towards her, carrying a clear container of grapes. She exchanged greetings with the director and a few actors along the way, handing one of them the container briefly.

    After dismissing them with a few polite words, she reached Shen Shu. There were no chairs nearby, so she simply crouched down beside her, placing the container in Shen Shu’s lap.

    “Have some. They’re washed,” she said, looking up at Shen Shu, her eyes smiling.

    As she crouched down, Shen Shu heard a collective intake of breath from the nearby crew members.

    She nudged Xu Jinnan’s arm. “Stand up. There are chairs over there,” she said, her voice slightly sharp.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at her arm, then at Shen Shu’s hand, which was still resting on her shoulder. “I have to go out for a bit,” she said.

    “Okay,” Shen Shu replied, taking the grapes.

    “How’s your leg?” Xu Jinnan asked.

    “Still a little sore,” Shen Shu admitted.

    “Can you take a couple of days off?”

    “The production can’t wait for me,” Shen Shu said. “It’s fine. I don’t have many scenes in the next few days.”

    Xu Jinnan didn’t say anything more, watching as Shen Shu peeled a grape. She always peeled her grapes, unlike Xu Jinnan.

    Shen Shu offered her a grape, and Xu Jinnan took it, popping it into her mouth and deftly removing the skin with her lips and tongue, then licking a stray drop of juice from her lip.

    She’s so… sensual, even when she’s just eating, Shen Shu thought, then noticed a young woman staring at Xu Jinnan.

    The woman, catching Shen Shu’s eye, quickly blushed and looked away.

    Shen Shu turned to Xu Jinnan. “Can you at least try to be a little more… discreet?” she asked, her voice slightly annoyed.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her, puzzled. “Huh?”

    Shen Shu didn’t elaborate, and just then, the assistant director called out, “Places, everyone!”

    Shen Shu placed the grape back in the container and closed the lid. Xu Jinnan stood up, telling Shen Shu she might be late tonight and wouldn’t be able to pick her up.

    “I might go home tonight,” Shen Shu said, meaning the Shen residence.

    She was going to retrieve the item her grandmother had left her.

    —

    After Xu Jinnan left, Shen Shu filmed for another five hours, over an hour later than she had expected.

    It was almost 6 p.m., dinner time at the Shen residence, so she decided to go another time.

    As she messaged Wei Wuqing to reschedule, she and Tong Jia entered the elevator.

    Wei Wuqing didn’t seem particularly bothered, simply adding, [It’s fine. Bring Nannan with you next time.]

    Shen Shu replied with a noncommittal “Okay.”

    Wei Wuqing had been displeased when Shen Shu had said Xu Jinnan wouldn’t be coming. She knew her mother well; if she refused again, Wei Wuqing would use her grandmother’s gift as leverage.

    She was about to reply to Xu Jinnan when a notification popped up.

    Xu Jinnan: [Just leaving? I’ll be at the office soon, but I have a few things to deal with.]

    Shen Shu: [Just got into the elevator.]

    Xu Jinnan asked if she was still going to the Shen residence, and Shen Shu said she would go another day.

    Xu Jinnan’s replies were almost instantaneous. [Then go home and get some rest. I’ll come over when I’m done.]

    Shen Shu: [Okay.]

    Since Shen Shu had been planning to go to the Shen residence, Tong Jia had dismissed her driver, intending to accompany her. Now that she wasn’t going, Tong Jia offered to drive her back to Xingcheng International.

    Shen Shu felt bad about imposing on her.

    “It’s nothing compared to you taking a slap for me. I’m happy to do it,” Tong Jia said.

    Shen Shu’s heart warmed. She had always been aloof and had few friends. Before meeting Xu Jinnan and Tong Jia, only Cai Ying had truly cared about her.

    As they reached the parking garage and Shen Shu was about to unlock the car, Tong Jia suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, I left the car keys in my makeup bag! Xinxin gave them to me this afternoon, and I put them away. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

    “Okay,” Shen Shu replied, nodding, then remembered something. “Jia Jia, can you bring down the grapes too? I forgot them.”

    —

    As Tong Jia went back upstairs, Xia Chun emerged from the restroom.

    “Jia-jie, what are you doing back here? I thought you left with Shu Shu,” a crew member asked.

    “Shu Shu is waiting for me downstairs. I forgot my keys,” Tong Jia replied.

    Hearing Shen Shu’s name, Xia Chun felt a pang of jealousy.

    The image of Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan together, their earlier intimacy, flashed through her mind.

    She looked away, her gaze stopping on a figure entering the elevator – a woman in a black hat and glasses.

    “Xia Chun, what are you looking at?” her assistant asked, noticing her reaction.

    “Did you see the person who just got into the elevator?”

    “Which one? I wasn’t paying attention.”

    Xia Chun didn’t reply, taking a few steps towards the elevator, as if trying to get a better look, when her agent called out to her.

    “Chun Chun, come here. Director Zhang wants you.”

    By the time she turned around, the elevator doors had closed.

    “Xia Chun, are you feeling alright?” her assistant asked.

    Xia Chun paused, then shook her head. “I must have been mistaken,” she murmured. She had seen that woman before, at the prison. For a moment, the woman in the elevator, with her glasses, had reminded her of the Alpha who had assaulted Shen Shu.

    But this was a film set, with restricted access. It couldn’t have been her.

    Her agent called out to her again, and she pushed the thought aside.

    The parking lot had been full that morning, and she had parked in a remote corner. The occasional sound of a car starting echoed through the vast space.

    Shen Shu stood by the car, the silence of the parking garage amplifying her sense of unease.

    Xu Jinnan had said she would be at the office soon. Perhaps they would meet.

    The thought calmed her slightly.

    Then, she heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching, and that feeling of being watched returned.

    A shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly turned around.

    This time, she wasn’t alone.

    A woman in a black beret emerged from behind a van a few meters away, smiling at Shen Shu, her glasses glinting in the dim light.

    —

    As Xu Jinnan’s white Bentley entered the parking garage, she was about to message Shen Shu when she heard a scream.

    She froze, her blood running cold.

    It was a high-pitched, terrified scream, filled with panic, revulsion, and fear.

    A sound so familiar it pierced her heart.

  • Female Lead Was Coaxed Away by the Villain Again [Quick Transmigration] 127

    Chapter 127: My Guardian Spirit is Dead (13)

    After failing to negotiate with Xie Yunzhi, the Xie family naturally wouldn’t sit idly by. They launched their own campaign, promoting the Xie family and trying to regain some business. Their tactic was “The Previous Head of the Xie Family Returns,” as he became the second person to be certified by the underworld.

    They believed that the more experienced old man could overshadow Xie Yunzhi.

    However, this only made the Xie family look even more pathetic, their younger generation unable to compete, they had to resort to bringing back a retiree.

    “What were they thinking? None of the younger generation passed, so they bring out a retiree?” Xie Yunzhi said, scrolling through her phone, looking at the latest news about the Xie family.

    “They have no other choice, they probably couldn’t find anyone more capable, the Xie family has truly declined,” Jiang Zhiyan said, looking at the phone over Xie Yunzhi’s shoulder. “No wonder they kept trying to get you to return.”

    The younger generation of the Xie family could exorcise ghosts, but their skills were mediocre, the underworld’s standards were simply too high.

    Regardless of how ridiculous others found it, the Xie family’s strategy of advertising their retired former head was successful, attracting quite a bit of attention, many still believed that older meant more reliable, and the Xie family was, after all, a century-old establishment.

    Xie Yunzhi didn’t care, she already had a long waiting list of clients, but seeing the Xie family seemingly making a comeback, she discreetly leaked the information about the vengeful spirit haunting the Xie family to their rivals.

    The other families had long suspected the reason why the Xie family was haunted, but because they had no proof, and the Xie family’s position was secure before, they didn’t dare make any accusations, they could only pretend not to see. And now, the Xie family’s foundation had finally been shaken, but they were trying to regain their footing by bringing back a retiree, this was causing headaches for the other families who were trying to compete with them, and the information Xie Yunzhi provided was perfect.

    Jiang Zhiyan saw the articles revised and embellished by the rival families. She suspected they had hired professional writers, watching the videos, she felt like the Xie family was portrayed as the ultimate villain, it was clear that the competition in this field was truly fierce.

    The Xie family tried to suppress the news online while publicly maintaining an air of innocence, condemning their rivals’ shameless slander.

    But at this critical juncture, Xie Yunzhi’s aunt announced her departure from the Xie family. She had also passed the underworld’s assessment, and regarding the exposed information about the Xie family online, she sneered, although she didn’t explicitly say anything, her attitude spoke volumes.

    There was no need for Xie Yunzhi to do anything more; the situation was incredibly chaotic.

    After being besieged for half a month, the Xie family finally admitted it. To gain sympathy, several elders of the Xie family came forward and apologized, standing there with tears streaming down their faces, looking very pitiful.

    Xie Yunzhi quietly posted the prices of the three elders’ clothes under the posts sympathizing with the Xie family, instantly reducing the number of people feeling sorry for them.

    “Are you trying to ruin us?” a member of the Xie family called Xie Yunzhi.

    “Of course not, but just apologizing isn’t enough, what’s your compensation plan for her?”

    “She’s already a vengeful spirit, how can we compensate her? How?” the Xie family member said through gritted teeth. “Not everyone is as unconventional as you, making deals with vengeful spirits.”

    Xie Yunzhi sneered and hung up.

    “Alright, don’t be angry, we’ve done enough,” Jiang Zhiyan said, nuzzling Xie Yunzhi’s neck. “Let’s go, she wants to handle this herself.”

    “Then I won’t be able to see the outcome,” Xie Yunzhi muttered.

    “I’ll tell you,” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Xie Yunzhi. “Although I’m not usually interested in what happens after we leave a world.”

    Jiang Zhiyan put her arm around Xie Yunzhi’s neck. To avoid freezing Xie Yunzhi, she couldn’t touch her for long periods, she had to wait until night to enter her dreams, it was truly agonizing.

    And now Xie Yunzhi sometimes even worked overtime at night, her sleep time decreasing.

    For someone who wanted to be glued to Xie Yunzhi, not being able to cuddle freely was torture.

    Xie Yunzhi looked at Jiang Zhiyan’s resentful gaze and sighed: “Then I’ll listen to you.”

    Before leaving, Jiang Zhiyan obtained a reduced sentence for the original owner from the underworld, after all, she had contributed so much, and the original owner hadn’t harmed anyone outside the Xie family.

    This was the last thing Jiang Zhiyan could do for her.

    Returning to the System space, Jiang Zhiyan immediately checked the subsequent events in that world.

    As soon as she and Xie Liaoyi left, the vengeful spirit went straight to the Xie family to seek revenge. Xie Yunzhi didn’t follow, or rather, she didn’t even try to stop her, either because she didn’t react in time, or because she didn’t want to.

    Jiang Zhiyan thought she would go on a killing spree, but she didn’t, she just let her resentment permeate the entire Xie family estate, occupied their mansion, and demanded they find her remains and rebury them, but after so much time, where could they possibly find them? But that wasn’t her concern.

    “She’s much calmer than I thought,” Jiang Zhiyan said. “Indeed, if she wasn’t calm, she would have gone on a rampage long ago, she prefers psychological torment.”

    The vengeful spirit went to the underworld herself. The Xie family members involved in the incident hadn’t reincarnated yet, because of their sins, they were doing community service in the underworld, and seeing a familiar face, they were almost scared out of their wits, she traveled between the mortal realm and the underworld, giving the living and dead members of the Xie family a little scare.

    After realizing that the vengeful spirit didn’t intend to harm anyone, Xie Yunzhi let her be. She hadn’t seen her for a long time, just occasionally receiving gifts from her, like gold bars and other valuables, clearly found in the Xie family mansion.

    Jiang Zhiyan also noticed that Song Zhili had tried to contact Xie Yunzhi several times, but was blocked by the vengeful spirit.

    She raised an eyebrow: “How interesting.”

    Jiang Zhiyan collected Xie Liaoyi’s soul fragments, held them in her arms, then lay back on the bed: “I’m going to find the Main God, I’ll be back later.”

    The System sighed dramatically: “Host, are we really parting ways?”

    It expressed its reluctance emotionally, then glanced at Jiang Zhiyan and found that her soul had already left.

    System: What a heartless woman!

    The Main God, sensing Jiang Zhiyan approaching, quickly searched for her coordinates, preparing to hide, but it was too late.

    “Main God, what a coincidence, long time no see, I came looking for you last time, but you weren’t here.”

    Hearing Jiang Zhiyan’s calm and polite voice, the Main God was puzzled for a second and became wary: “What do you want this time?”

    “I’m planning to leave, do you have any objections?” Jiang Zhiyan’s voice became even more polite, although her question didn’t really give the Main God any choice.

    “You’re leaving?” The Main God’s voice was clearly filled with delight.

    Jiang Zhiyan: …

    Although the Main God tried to suppress their joy, genuine happiness was difficult to conceal, Jiang Zhiyan felt like they were about to light firecrackers in celebration.

    Jiang Zhiyan had always known that the Main God disliked her, but she didn’t expect it to be this much, she hadn’t even done anything, just become mentally unstable after Xie Liaoyi’s accident.

    “When are you planning to leave? Have you collected all of Xie Liaoyi’s soul fragments?” The Main God checked and, seeing Xie Liaoyi’s current state, was a little surprised. “No wonder you want to leave… Hm? Why did you devour the world consciousness of my small world? Don’t you two go too far.”

    “She didn’t do it on purpose,” Jiang Zhiyan defended Xie Liaoyi. “Don’t you know her? She loves peace the most, it must have been the world consciousness of that small world that provoked her, I’ve encountered world consciousnesses that tried to prevent me from taking fragments before.”

    The Main God looked at Jiang Zhiyan intently: “I approve, leave whenever you want, but remember, don’t come back after you leave.”

    Jiang Zhiyan sighed softly, looking at the Main God: “I suddenly feel reluctant to leave you, sigh, don’t worry, I’ll definitely come back and visit often, after all, this is where I was born.”

    “Just get out of here.” The Main God approved Jiang Zhiyan’s request and then kicked her out of the Main God space.

    Jiang Zhiyan wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she heard the Main God laughing uproariously.

    “Am I that annoying?” Jiang Zhiyan glanced at a robot floating nearby, it looked at her, then quickly changed direction.

    Jiang Zhiyan: ???

    Someone must be targeting her, why else would even robots avoid her?

    Jiang Zhiyan returned to her own space and opened her eyes, the System’s whimpering cries echoing in her mind, sounding surprisingly realistic.

    “Why are you crying?” Jiang Zhiyan frowned.

    “Wuwuwu, we’re going to be separated, I’m sad, wuwuwu, Host, will we ever meet again?” the System cried, its voice getting louder.

    “Yes, because we haven’t left yet, I haven’t collected all the fragments, so you can cry later, I’ve never seen such a crybaby System,” Jiang Zhiyan said helplessly, then paused. “I’ll ask her, if she’s willing to take you with us, I’ll take you.”

    System: !!!

    “Then I can retire early?” the System asked excitedly. “Oh my god, will I be the first System to retire?!”

    “So you’re crying just because I can retire early?” Jiang Zhiyan asked faintly.

    “Of course not, hahaha,” the System gave three dry laughs, its voice becoming more obedient. “Host, I’m very simple, I’m just reluctant to part with you, and who wouldn’t be happy to hear they can retire early?”

    Jiang Zhiyan ignored it, placing the soul fragments in the System space, they emitted a soft glow, seemingly resonating with something.

    “Wife, I miss you so much,” Jiang Zhiyan murmured. “Let’s go, next world.”

    Perhaps, perhaps she would be able to see a complete and healthy Xie Liaoyi in the next world.

    She closed her eyes peacefully.

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 217

    Chapter 217: The Third Moonlight Rabbit!!!

    Moon Soul World, Tai Yin Kingdom.

    While Cloud Mist Sea was the largest territory in the Moon Soul World, the occasionally appearing Tai Yin Kingdom was second, far larger than Cold Moon Palace. A single Monarch-Tier Fallen Species couldn’t cause widespread destruction in such a short time.

    However, with two powerful support companions, the situation was vastly different…

    “…”

    “…”

    “Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!!”

    A white, fiery speck, like a meteor, streaked across the sky, obliterating nations in its path, leaving not even ash behind. Then, the white phoenix stopped abruptly, black smoke engulfing its body.

    “Crack—”

    A massive, black, crescent-shaped blade descended, cleaving through the phoenix’s neck. But instead of dying, it was shielded by a faint white light. The black smoke expanded, forming a giant grim reaper’s scythe that swung silently at the air.

    “Whoosh—”

    As the scythe fell, countless beings in the Tai Yin Kingdom perished, not just in the distant cities, but even some of Tai Yin’s subordinates near her.

    Tai Yin’s playful expression turned to one of stunned silence.

    Seconds later, she gasped, then clapped slowly, impressed by the display.

    “So this is Death Sentence’s ability…?”

    “Emperor-Tier Death Sentence, new trait: upon a death, inflicts an attack equal to the fatal blow on all beings the deceased saw that day.”

    “No wonder it’s ranked similarly to Calamity Sun. A true instrument of world destruction…”

    “And the user also suffers the attack, but it was blocked by her other Weapon Species. Working together, these three could potentially wipe out the entire Tai Yin Kingdom in a day.”

    “So, is the analysis complete…?”

    “Which legendary Beast Tamer’s Pet Beasts are these?”

    As Tai Yin spoke, a translucent scroll unfolded before her, displaying the three Pet Beasts’ information.

    The scroll itself was also one of the seventy-two Legends, the lower-ranked [Mountains and Seas], one of Tai Yin’s subordinates.

    [Monarch-Tier · Fallen Species · Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan]

    [Emperor-Tier · Weapon Species · White Silk Weaver Girl]

    [Emperor-Tier · Weapon Species · Moon-Severing Decapitation Song (Death Sentence)]

    [Evolutionary origins unknown.]

    “Huh…?”

    “They’re using the Moon Soul World’s evolutionary rules, yet Mountains and Seas can’t determine their origins?”

    “How is that possible…?” Tai Yin’s eyes widened in disbelief.

    After a moment of silence, she looked at the rampaging white phoenix with renewed curiosity.

    “I know you’re eager to reach Emperor-Tier, but don’t rush.”

    “I’ll let you continue your slaughter. No one will disturb you…”

    As Tai Yin spoke, a sky-blue vortex appeared beside her, reviving the nations destroyed by the phoenix and even her fallen subordinates.

    [Sumeru], a mid-ranked Viral species among the seventy-two Legends.

    Unlike Replay and Inverse Time, who directly refreshed NPCs, Sumeru’s ability stemmed from the Tai Yin Kingdom residing within her.

    Therefore, as long as Sumeru remained unharmed, the beings within her couldn’t truly die.

    Seeing the revived beings, the Fallen phoenix’s eyes flickered with confusion.

    Without hesitation, she activated Death Sentence again.

    The newly revived NPCs were instantly beheaded.

    Then, Sumeru revived them again.

    [Death]

    [Revival]

    [Death]

    [Revival]

    [Death]

    [Revival]

    [Death]

    [Revival]

    After several repetitions, even the single-minded Fallen Species realized something was amiss. Someone was clearly controlling this kingdom from behind the scenes.

    But why wouldn’t they show themselves?

    Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan expanded her vision, searching for the kingdom’s master.

    Tai Yin smiled, waving her hand.

    “She’s getting suspicious. Someone go and… entertain her.”

    “…”

    “…”

    “BOOM!!!”

    Seconds later, a slender figure in a priestess robe descended, her body radiating a powerful aura.

    Shimmering moonlight surrounded her, her long hair trailing sparks, two silver, sword-like rabbit ears erect on her head, her appearance as dreamlike as a moon rabbit under the moonlight.

    Her priestess robe barely covered her front and back, leaving her smooth, white legs completely exposed, their alluring curves a sight to behold.

    The silver irises in her eyes, like burning mercury, shimmered with silver stardust.

    Her aura resembled a Shining Species, but she wasn’t one.

    Even Tai Yin was slightly surprised by the silver rabbit woman’s appearance.

    “Oh, you’re going yourself?”

    “It seems you’re quite interested in this one…”

    Dao Yao, ranked fifth among the seventy-two Legends, an Emperor-Tier Biological species!

    Though Tai Yin collected Legends, Dao Yao wasn’t her subordinate. Their relationship was more like that of close friends.

    Millions of years ago, Dao Yao had joined Tai Yin after hearing about the “interesting places” outside the Moon Soul World.

    In terms of pure combat power, Dao Yao surpassed all other Legends.

    Even Moonwalker, a combat-type Legend ranked higher than her, was only above her because Dao Yao had left the Moon Soul World millions of years ago.

    Under the awed gazes of Mountains and Seas and Sumeru—

    Dao Yao’s silver hair flowed behind her like rocket exhaust, her ears flapping wildly as she transformed into a blur.

    “BOOM!!!!!”

    The next second, the clouds and sky shattered.

    The silver blur descended with incomprehensible speed, colliding head-on with the white phoenix soaring in the sky.

    As they clashed, Dao Yao’s figure, like a bolt of lightning, plummeted towards the ground, the Tai Yin Kingdom’s landscape crumbling beneath her.

    As the ground cracked, she raised her head, her eyes burning with silver starlight, spitting out a broken, white phoenix feather.

    The Fallen phoenix, dazed and disoriented, one of its wings torn, spiraled downwards.

    But it quickly regained its composure.

    Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan’s injuries began to heal as she hovered in the air, her bloody white wings flapping, staring at the silver rabbit woman below with unprecedented seriousness.

    “Another Moonlight Rabbit evolution path…?”

    “But why is she an independent Legend?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Wait, I see… a post-natal Legend!!!”

    After a moment of thought, Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan understood.

    The seventy-two Legends’ rankings shifted. When a new Pet Beast joined the ranks, it didn’t necessarily replace a member of its own species.

    The entire species wasn’t affected; instead, the newcomer became an independent, reincarnating Legend.

    However, this didn’t improve the situation.

    The Legendary Moonlight Rabbit’s terrifying aura made her scalp tingle, far surpassing even Drought.

    This was a battle god, a Legend who had reached her high rank through pure combat power!

    Even with her two companions’ support, Smelting Fire Wrathful Luan knew her chances of victory were slim.

    This was a hopeless situation; she had nowhere to run…

    ***

    Meanwhile, in the Inverse Time Society of the Moon Soul World…

    Mist Colt, a jade-green antelope-like Pet Beast with swirling, emerald clouds, galloped through Inverse Time’s territory.

    The Inverse Time Society was larger than Cold Moon Palace, a necessary stop on the route from Cloud Mist Sea to the Tai Yin Kingdom.

    Normally, the Royal-Tier Mist Colt, slower than even an ordinary airship, couldn’t reach the Tai Yin Kingdom from Cloud Mist Sea in just a few days.

    And Lian Xing had never visited the Inverse Time Society or its surrounding areas, so she couldn’t use Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring’s teleportation.

    But Mist Colt’s current speed was abnormally fast.

    Two mechanical dragonfly wings, shimmering with Shining energy, propelled her forward, each step covering tens of thousands of miles, like a bolt of lightning.

    This was [Touch Water], one of the Divine Machine’s mechanical creations, supposedly its third strongest.

    Though weak in combat, the Divine Machine’s crafting skills were exceptional. With these dragonfly wings, all other airships in the Moon Soul World were obsolete.

    Within Mist Colt’s viral world, Lian Xing, in her mature form, and the Divine Machine were enjoying the scenery and sipping tea.

    It was remarkable that they, who had been mortal enemies not long ago, were now traveling companions.

    According to the Divine Machine, it had once been acquainted with Tai Yin, who would likely give it face and not pursue the Fallen Species.

    However, Lian Xing was thinking about something else.

    Had the little phoenix successfully evolved into a Fallen Species…?

    She hadn’t come looking for Lian Xing. Did this mean she no longer cared for her…?

    Though the little phoenix hadn’t shown any outward affection, nor had her affection decreased significantly, she had displayed a strong aversion to the Moonlight Rabbit in their lineup, even feeling a surge of killing intent upon seeing other Moonlight Rabbits, both wild and those belonging to other players.

    Regardless, even if she wouldn’t sign a contract again, she had once been Lian Xing’s Pet Beast.

    Lian Xing couldn’t just abandon her and let Tai Yin, an outsider, deal with her.

    Seeing the silent, golden-haired woman, the Divine Machine asked the question that had been bothering it most.

    “Star Concubine, how did you evolve an Ancient Species under my nose?”

    “The other players’ Ancient and Shining Species were artificially created by me. I provided all the evolution data in Beast Taming Evolution Duel. A true Ancient Species shouldn’t be possible…”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Nothing special. When Storm accidentally entered the game, she stumbled into your tenth-anniversary map, which contained evolution paths for both Ancient and Shining Species…” Lian Xing replied casually.

    However, the Divine Machine’s confusion only deepened.

    After a long hesitation, it asked, “Star Concubine, are you sure it was the tenth-anniversary map?”

    “I did create a template, but I didn’t add any data. And think about it, if I knew the Ancient Species evolution path, wouldn’t I create one myself and become invincible?”

    “Don’t you remember? It was the one you created with the Eleventh Zodiac’s aura…”

    “No, I initially intended to use the Eleventh Zodiac’s aura, but I abandoned the project after creating the starting area. Could you describe the map?”

    “…”

    “…”

    “It was a starry sky, the starting point on a cratered lunar surface. There were a few living Pet Beasts inside, including a wild Moonlight Rabbit. She led me to the Ancient and Shining Species evolution paths.”

    Lian Xing’s patience was wearing thin, repeatedly interrupted by the Divine Machine.

    If the Divine Machine hadn’t placed the data and NPCs there, had she been dreaming?

    Could she evolve a true Ancient Species from a dream?

    She wanted to try again…

    Suddenly, as Lian Xing finished speaking, the Divine Machine froze, a chill running down its spine, its scalp tingling.

    This description…

    Sounded too familiar…

    So, Lian Xing’s eligibility for the Lunar Divine Festival had been predetermined years ago…

    That wasn’t Beast Taming Evolution Duel’s tenth-anniversary map, but…

    The resting place of the Moon Soul World’s True Spirits, the Twelve Moons!!!

  • Shion’s Notes 139

    Chapter 139: It’s Not Like I’m Spoiling Her

    A more intense pressure emanated from Ye Zhiyun, a feeling like being thrown into a meat grinder. Such terrifying power, like a demonic roar from the depths of hell.

    The dark-haired girl’s eyes were fixed on the blonde girl in the thug’s grasp, her fury burning like an inferno, threatening to incinerate him. She gritted her teeth, her gaze unwavering, like a tiger about to pounce.

    “Let… her… go.”

    Each word, spoken slowly and deliberately, amplified the chilling aura surrounding her.

    Yu Linna had never seen Ye Zhiyun like this. In her memory, Ye Zhiyun wasn’t capable of such rage. The angriest she had ever seen her was when she had interrupted her moment with Li Muqing. This murderous look… it was terrifying.

    But knowing Ye Zhiyun’s fury was directed at those who threatened her, Yu Linna felt a surge of warmth.

    “W-what do you want…?”

    Though a seasoned gangster, the leader couldn’t withstand Ye Zhiyun’s aura, his bravado crumbling in her presence.

    “Don’t make me say it again. Let her go. Understand?”

    “…Who the hell do you think you are? You think I’ll just let her go? I’d lose face…”

    “Then stop wasting my time!”

    Without hesitation, Ye Zhiyun executed a perfect shoulder throw, sending the burly man crashing to the ground, his head hitting the pavement with a sickening thud. Yu Linna was stunned.

    “Anyone who messes with me… will pay.”

    Ye Zhiyun’s eyes, blazing with fury, swept over the remaining thugs, who trembled in fear. They wanted to fight back, but her gaze made them cower.

    She stepped on the fallen leader’s face, grinding her heel into his cheek, then grabbed his collar, delivering a swift, brutal slap.

    Yu Linna watched, frozen in fear.

    By the time the police arrived, the thugs were incapacitated, their leader bruised and battered, his face a bloody mess. He had intended to avenge his brother, only to end up worse off. The police took them away for questioning. Ye Zhiyun, thanks to her influential background, escaped arrest.

    Ye Zhiyun, her hand gripping Yu Linna’s tightly, led her away from the scene, her rage seemingly subsiding, her aura less intense, but the image of her fury remained etched in Yu Linna’s mind, a disturbing reminder of her past.

    “Did they do anything to you?” That was Ye Zhiyun’s first question.

    “No…”

    “They didn’t hit you? Didn’t touch your hair?”

    “No.”

    “Good. If they had, they would be dead. Hmph.”

    Ye Zhiyun’s lingering anger made Yu Linna uneasy.

    But…

    She had done this for her.

    “Zhiyun…”

    “Don’t say anything. I’ll take you somewhere safe. If it weren’t for Jiangning’s call, I wouldn’t have known. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure those bastards spend some time in jail.”

    Anyone who crossed Ye Zhiyun would face her wrath. She had promised to protect Yu Linna.

    But… why was she so angry?

    She didn’t understand her own reaction, the intensity of her rage. It was the angriest she had ever been. Why? Because of Yu Linna?

    It was… unsettling.

    “Zhiyun, thank you.”

    It was all Yu Linna could say.

    Ye Zhiyun had saved her. If it weren’t for her, she would have been taken away by those thugs, her fate unknown. And back at the train station, if it weren’t for Ye Zhiyun, she would have jumped, ending her life.

    She had always been under Ye Zhiyun’s care.

    “Are you hungry?”

    “Um… a little…”

    It was almost six o’clock. The encounter with the thugs had taken time, and she was indeed hungry.

    “Let’s go get something to eat. What do you want?”

    “Well… it’s okay…”

    “My treat.”

    “…Actually, I’d like McDonald’s.”

    She couldn’t resist the urge to freeload, especially when someone else was paying.

    McDonald’s wasn’t considered healthy, its high calorie content unsuitable for dinner. But since Yu Linna had requested it, Ye Zhiyun wouldn’t object. She would take her anywhere she wanted to go, as long as she was happy.

    Yu Linna craved McDonald’s because it represented a luxury she had never known. As a child, she had watched other children enjoy burgers through the restaurant window, while she gnawed on stale bread. Even later, when she could earn money, she still couldn’t afford such indulgences, barely able to pay her rent. It had become a symbol of her unattainable desires.

    Ye Zhiyun, without hesitation, took her to McDonald’s, ordering a large meal for her. She didn’t enjoy fast food, but for Yu Linna, she endured.

    When the meal arrived, Yu Linna’s eyes lit up. She grabbed a handful of fries, dipping them in sauce, savoring each bite. She took a large bite of her burger, washing it down with cola.

    Ye Zhiyun, watching her eat, a smile touched her lips.

    This wasn’t so bad.

    Though she didn’t like burgers, the food tasted better now, simply watching Yu Linna enjoy her meal.

    “Is it good?”

    “Mmm-hmm! Delicious!”

    “Then eat more.”

    Yu Linna’s face was covered in crumbs, her cheeks smeared with sauce. Ye Zhiyun, without thinking, reached out and wiped her mouth, a gesture so natural that even Yu Linna was momentarily stunned.

    Ye Zhiyun paused, remembering they were in a public restaurant, not at home. She coughed awkwardly, discarding the napkin, memories of their time living together resurfacing.

    Not long ago, they had shared a home, meals, and laughter. But Yu Linna had moved out, wanting to be independent, not wanting to be a burden. The joy of their shared life had ended.

    Ye Zhiyun wasn’t used to it; Yu Linna’s absence left a void. But she understood that Yu Linna was destined for greater things, that she couldn’t be confined.

    Sharing a meal like this was already a rare treat.

    “Nana, let’s do this more often. Let’s eat together.”

    “…Okay.”

    Yu Linna wouldn’t, and couldn’t, refuse. She felt obligated to agree.

    Being with Ye Zhiyun always brought her joy. Ye Zhiyun had given her what she had always longed for. Though it couldn’t replace everything she lacked, it was the comfort and stability she had always craved.

    Gratitude was a natural human emotion; she would never forget Ye Zhiyun’s kindness.

    The meal ended quickly. Unable to finish the large portion, despite her best efforts to avoid wasting food, Yu Linna finally gave up when Ye Zhiyun stopped her.

    “There’s so much left! It feels so wasteful!”

    “You’re already full. Don’t overeat; you’ll get a stomachache.”

    “But food is important!”

    “Yes, it is. But your stomach is more important. Come on, let’s take a walk and get something to drink.”

    Yu Linna hadn’t changed. She still valued food above all else, even when she was full, her small frame unable to handle large portions. Her childhood habit of avoiding waste was something Ye Zhiyun understood.

    But Ye Zhiyun cared more about her health, wanting her to enjoy her food, not force herself to eat.

    “Nana, how’s your new place? Are you settling in?”

    “I’ll get used to it. I’m almost done with the illustrations. Once my two books are published, I can focus on studying.”

    “That’s good. It seems you already have a university in mind.”

    “Yes, I hope to get a good score.”

    From a poor girl who only wanted to survive, to a successful author with a million yuan in prize money, she had transformed. She would never be poor again, never go hungry again. But she had new goals: attending university and sharing her stories with the world.

    Looking at the girl’s profile, Ye Zhiyun smiled. Being with her brought her joy.

    Even though they no longer lived together, she was happy. Life could be so simple, finding happiness in the company of someone you cared about.

    She had spent so long chasing money, chasing Li Muqing, never finding true happiness. Now, simply being with Yu Linna was enough. She wished these moments could last forever.

    She wanted to live a happy life with Yu Linna.

    “Zhiyun.”

    “Yes, I’m listening. Are you thirsty? Let’s get something to drink.”

    “Let me pay this time! You always pay!”

    “Okay, if you insist.”

    This stingy girl could be surprisingly generous, a sign that someone held a special place in her heart.

    Ye Zhiyun never thought this day would come. They used to argue constantly, with Yu Linna always freeloading. And now, she was being treated to a drink. The penny-pincher was finally being generous.

    “I want this one.”

    “Wow, that’s expensive! Twelve yuan for a single drink!”

    “Then I’ll buy it myself.”

    “…No way! Choose something under four yuan!”

    Scratch that, she was still a penny-pincher.

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 81

    Chapter 81: I Love Slacking Off

    A massive ship sailed through the galaxy. The nebula outside the porthole was dazzling and romantic, a sight to behold.

    It was a pity that the only person inside was critically injured, lying in a capsule-like healing chamber, hovering between life and death.

    Countless medical machines surrounded the lone figure in the healing chamber, closely monitoring her vital signs.

    Time passed slowly. The galaxy gradually receded as the ship advanced. With the disappearance of the brilliant nebula, the vital signs on the medical machines gradually decreased until they reached zero.

    From the moment the machines issued a warning to the complete cessation of vital signs, no medical team appeared in the brightly lit, silver-white ward. It remained quiet, as if a vacuum had sealed the small room.

    Five minutes later, the vital signs declaring death flickered, and the still chest slowly rose and fell.

    The movement was subtle, almost invisible through the glass cover, but it was definitely rising and falling.

    Amidst the tremors, the eyelashes of the sleeping figure in the healing chamber fluttered, and finally, her eyes opened, two physiological tears squeezed out by the bright lights of the room.

    At the same time, an emotionless electronic voice echoed in her mind: [Loading successful!]

    She blinked, clearing the residual drowsiness from her eyes, her gaze instantly becoming sharp.

    As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her personal data displayed on the glass cover above the healing chamber. Nourished by her soul, the data slowly recovered, approaching that of a weak but living person.

    Tao Ning glanced at it, confirming there were no major issues. After lying there for five minutes, she opened the chamber door, a little clumsily.

    Her body had been lying down for several days, her muscles stiff, her whole being like a malfunctioning robot, neither graceful nor agile.

    Tao Ning could only grip the edges of the healing chamber with both hands, slowly sitting up, her knuckles white from the effort.

    Her flawless, delicate skin revealed that these were hands accustomed to a life of leisure.

    In fact, this was indeed the case. These hands had never worked harder than twisting open a bottle of mecha oil. They were soft and white, without a trace of labor.

    After some effort, Tao Ning sat on the edge of the healing chamber. The chamber was elevated, so her toes still dangled above the floor.

    She didn’t rush to get down. Her dark eyes swept across the room. It wasn’t large, and the furnishings were simple. The setup resembled a student dormitory more than a hospital ward.

    The reason she thought it was a student dormitory was because she saw books pressed under some medicine, the keywords all related to command.

    Her pale feet touched the floor, and for a moment, it was difficult to tell which was colder, her skin or the silver-white flooring.

    520 was still calibrating data. Seeing its newly resurrected host about to get down, trembling like a candle in the wind, it felt a pang of anxiety, fearing she would fall: [Ancestor, why don’t we sit for a while before going out? Shouldn’t we receive the information first?]

    Having spent a long time in the Xianxia world, and constantly hearing those juniors call her “Ancestor,” it had picked up the habit.

    520 couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. What had time done to it, turning it into something resembling a housekeeper?

    But it knew very well that Tao Ning wasn’t someone whose will could be easily swayed.

    Sure enough, Tao Ning only paused for a moment. She said, “We’ll go over the original host’s personal information later. Give me the world line first.”

    520: [How about lying back down first… Okay, just a moment.] Seeing the host’s stubbornness, it knew persuasion was futile.

    Having gone through the previous world, her soul had been tempered. Tao Ning no longer experienced severe discomfort when receiving the world line; now, she only felt slightly dizzy.

    She could endure this dizziness, and even while enduring it, she found her shoes and put them on, using the furniture to support herself as she practiced walking.

    520 had never seen her so impatient, wanting to advise her but not knowing how.

    After receiving the world line, she could walk normally, though her steps would occasionally falter if she moved too quickly.

    Tao Ning asked, “What’s the date today?”

    The room’s AI announced in a monotonous voice: “Today’s date: New Star Calendar 1101, June 2nd.”

    Tao Ning’s brows furrowed slightly. Her face was pale, and from her appearance, she looked like a delicate beauty: “June 2nd, so the tremors just now were because she boarded the ship.”

    Without bothering to put on a coat, Tao Ning walked out in her white hospital gown, her dark hair swaying around her face.

    The doors of the student dormitories on the ship were supposed to be opened with facial recognition. However, because the original host was seriously injured, the access had been changed to a password for easier access during treatment. She didn’t remember the password, so she used facial recognition to exit.

    The door closed behind her. Tao Ning looked around, having 520 scan the ship’s map. It was too late for the doorway, she decided to check the lower decks.

    After taking a few steps, she looked back at the closed door, where a nameplate hung.

    It displayed the name of the room’s owner—Zang Yuzhu, Command Department.

    The figure supporting herself against the wall gradually disappeared down the corridor.

    Long after she left, another person approached from the opposite direction, draped in a long white coat, strolling slowly.

    They skillfully entered the password, and the door opened.

    Looking at the empty dormitory/ward, the newcomer let out a puzzled hum, asking, “Where is she?”

    Tao Ning’s guess was correct. Down on this level, there were more people.

    There were soldiers in silver-gray uniforms, medics in white coats, and young people in various simple training suits, all gathered together, discussing something in low voices.

    In the interstellar age, human lifespan had increased significantly, with an average age of three hundred years. Essentially, from adulthood to around two hundred years old, they all looked relatively young.

    However, the difference between real soldiers and students could be easily discerned from their posture and demeanor. Students lacked the disciplined air of soldiers who had been in combat for years.

    But their expressions were now much the same, all looking in the same direction with anticipation.

    The only thing that could make everyone’s expression change and fill them with longing was…

    “A Mermaid! I finally get to see one with my own eyes!”

    With so many people crowding around, Tao Ning, who had arrived a step late, couldn’t see anything.

    “It has to be Major General Gu Yuan. He found the Mermaid during a patrol and brought her back.”

    “Well, look at him, the Federation’s youngest Major General. His abilities are undeniable. Good-looking, capable, and with S-level psychic power. Absolutely perfect.”

    “Not exactly perfect though… his cousin is quite…”

    No one finished the sentence, but those who heard it exchanged knowing looks of sympathy.

    Even the most capable people have weaknesses, and Gu Yuan, hailed as the Federation’s dream lover, had a weakness: his particularly troublesome cousin.

    But in most people’s eyes, the existence of his cousin, Zang Yuzhu, only added a touch of sympathy to his otherwise flawless image.

    Tao Ning took a breath, gathering her strength, preparing to take her next step. She wasn’t sure yet, but she had to see for herself to be certain.

    Amidst the excited chatter, several puzzled voices called out from behind: “Zang Yuzhu? Is that really you, Zang Yuzhu?”

    The person walking ahead ignored them, continuing to move forward while supporting herself against the wall.

    This disregard annoyed the caller, who strode forward: “Why aren’t you answering when I’m talking to you, Zang Yuzhu…?”

    She reached out to grab the swaying figure, but before her hand touched the thin shoulder, it was caught by a cold hand and twisted outwards.

    Tao Ning turned her head, giving her a cold glance: “What do you want?”

    Tina froze, stunned by the hostile look.

    The tall woman who followed frowned slightly, disapprovingly calling out, “Tina, she just woke up from a life-threatening injury.”

    “I didn’t even touch her, and she grabbed my hand…” Tina struggled, unable to pull her wrist free from the grip, her expression gradually becoming blank.

    She, a mecha mechanic with A-level psychic power, couldn’t pull her hand back from a frail, sickly patient?

    Her mind momentarily short-circuited as Tina stared at the hand. If she remembered correctly, just a few days ago, this hand couldn’t even open a bottle of mecha lubricant, and its soft, reddened palm had been held out with a coquettish pout, complaining of being hurt.

    What the hell, was this Zang Yuzhu?

    Had the delicate rose grown thorns?

    Two more girls in silver-white training suits approached, nameplates pinned to their chests. Tao Ning didn’t recognize any of them, but they seemed to know the original host, even quite well.

    Tao Ning had to suppress her impatience and respond patiently. She didn’t have the original host’s memories, so it was best to say as little as possible.

    The crowd gathered at the top of the stairs had all gone down, wanting a closer look at the rare Mermaid.

    For a moment, only the frail patient and the three First Academy students who had just come out of the simulation training room remained near the stairwell.

    “Zang Yuzhu, what are you doing here?” The tall woman with “An He” and “Mecha Department” on her nameplate spoke first.

    Judging by their positions, An He seemed to be the leader of the group, or at least a central figure like a captain.

    Tao Ning’s face was pale. She said, “I’m sorry, my head is still dizzy. I woke up and found no one in the room, so I came out to take a look.”

    Captain An He’s expression became more serious: “How could there be no one watching over you in your room?”

    Tina was still staring at her hand in disbelief. She now even wanted to rush back to the repair room and lift a wrench to prove that her strength hadn’t regressed during training.

    Another girl, also from the Mecha Department, said, “Maybe they all went to see the Mermaid.”

    Crossing her arms and sneering, she looked Tao Ning up and down, saying, “Shouldn’t you be resting in your room waiting for the doctor to come back? Don’t complain again if you get hurt that the doctor isn’t providing you with personal care. Medical resources on the ship aren’t exactly abundant.”

    The first sentence was directed at the others, but the rest was aimed at Tao Ning.

    Her name was Song Fangzhou, also from the Mecha Department.

    Tao Ning lowered her eyelashes and remained silent. Ignoring what she might have done before, just looking at her face, it was hard to feel any blame towards her.

    An He couldn’t bear it. She said, “You can’t be left unattended in your condition. Let’s take you back to your dormitory.”

    She stepped forward, supporting Tao Ning’s thin arm with a gentle but firm grip.

    No matter how capable a person was, after suffering a near-fatal injury that almost destroyed their psychic sea, and surviving only on nutrient solution in a healing chamber, they should be weak and frail, let alone someone like Zang Yuzhu who had grown up pampered.

    Tao Ning grabbed her wrist, her pale lips uttering a weak voice, “No, I want to see…”

    Song Fangzhou, even more impatient than Tina, interrupted her, unwilling to listen to the faint voice: “Don’t tell me you’re dragging your sick body out here to see your dear cousin? Miss Yuzhu, you’re truly touching.”

    Coming from a military family, Song Fangzhou naturally had no interest in Gu Yuan. She simply disliked people like Zang Yuzhu.

    Disobedient, afraid of hardship, almost endangering her teammates, lacking a sense of cooperation—these were all things Song Fangzhou couldn’t tolerate.

    This wasn’t a ladies’ tea party where only the beauty of power was appreciated, not the beauty of appearance. One should fulfill their duties. Since she chose the battlefield, she shouldn’t bring her bad habits along.

    Tao Ning straightened up, pushing An He’s hand away. She gave a faint smile: “No, I’m here to see you.”

    Song Fangzhou was taken aback by the smile.

    Even though her beauty had faded after being ravaged by illness, there wasn’t a trace of vulnerability in her demeanor.

    Tao Ning turned and walked downstairs, leaving the others momentarily frozen, forgetting to stop her.

    520 sighed inwardly, thinking: I wouldn’t dare provoke a twice-widowed woman, but you guys are lining up to be dealt with.

    After a while, Song Fangzhou asked in confusion, “What did she mean? Was she flirting with me?”

    Tina hummed, “Maybe.”

    Song Fangzhou rolled up her sleeves, her eyebrows furrowing: “No way, I have to go and have a good talk with her. She doesn’t seem to have any remorse.”

    A hand stopped her. Looking over, it was Captain An He who had reached out.

    An He said, “She’s already suffered a serious injury, almost died. We’re all safe and sound, isn’t that punishment enough for her?”

    Song Fangzhou was speechless. She pulled the dazed Tina along and headed downstairs.

    A rare Mermaid, a sight not to be missed.

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 80

    Chapter 80

    After his outburst, Wen Shao Ze returned to his usual doting older brother mode, specifically calling the doctor over for another check-up, only relaxing slightly after receiving confirmation that Qin Qianrou was fine.

    The sudden incident had left him exhausted. He had been dealing with his family’s constant pressure to get married, secretly searching for Yuan Qi, helping Qin Qianrou investigate He Chao, and then learning about Dongsheng Group’s schemes at the television station.

    He wasn’t sure who was behind Qin Qianrou’s attack, but regardless of who it was, he would make them pay.

    “Cousin, Shao Ze-ge, you should go back, I’ll stay here with Jiejie.” Shen Yiqiu had mostly calmed down, although she looked a little pale, her overall demeanor was stable.

    Yuan Qi nodded and glanced at Qin Qianrou again.

    “Call me if anything happens.”

    Shen Yiqiu smiled faintly and nodded.

    Wen Shao Ze, after saying goodbye to Shen Yiqiu, watched Yuan Qi leave, then left himself. However, he had only been gone for a short while when he realized Yuan Qi had disappeared.

    He was annoyed, but their unexpected encounter had been a shock for both of them. They had both been putting on a brave face in the ward, and although anxious, Wen Shao Ze knew this wasn’t the time to pursue him relentlessly.

    Besides, he had to deal with Qin Qianrou’s matter first.

    Rubbing his temples, he couldn’t determine whether he was more happy or more… melancholic and lost.

    Wen Yirong arrived late at night, quietly entering the ward, her gaze immediately falling on her precious daughter lying in bed. The small bedside lamp cast a dim glow, but it couldn’t hinder a mother’s instinct to find her child.

    She hurried over, then noticed another person slumped by the bedside. Wen Shao Ze had explained the situation in detail, and she recognized the figure from behind.

    Her earlier suspicions resurfaced, and Wen Yirong sighed softly.

    Shen Yiqiu wasn’t deeply asleep, she was simply exhausted, emotionally drained, having dozed off lightly, waking at the slightest sound.

    “Did I scare you?” Wen Yirong’s voice was as gentle and elegant as ever, her worry masked by her calm demeanor.

    “Aunt Wen, please have a seat.” Shen Yiqiu stood up and placed a chair by the bed.

    “There were some matters at home, so I was delayed.”

    Although it wasn’t that late considering the distance from Hai City, given the Qin family’s influence, it was still later than expected.

    Shen Yiqiu didn’t know how to respond, she was filled with guilt, blaming herself for not protecting Qin Qianrou, feeling that it was because of her that Jiejie had been harmed. Seeing Wen Yirong now, the words caught in her throat, and she forgot to be nervous.

    “Child, don’t worry too much, Xiao Rou will be fine, the doctor said she’s out of danger. You should take care of yourself, don’t collapse after she wakes up.”

    Wen Yirong’s voice was even gentler than usual, her usual playful teasing replaced by maternal concern, and Shen Yiqiu’s heart softened, her eyes reddening.

    “You child, so easily moved to tears. Don’t cry here, if Xiao Rou wakes up and sees you crying, she’ll blame me.”

    Shen Yiqiu rubbed her eyes, insisting she wasn’t crying.

    Wen Yirong’s gaze lingered on her daughter, it had been a while since she had properly looked at Xiao Rou.

    “I’ll take good care of Jiejie in the future.”

    Wen Yirong turned to look at her, then, after a moment of silence, said, “I’ve considered asking her to return to Hai City. After all, that’s her home, her family is there, she’ll be safer.”

    The light in Shen Yiqiu’s eyes dimmed, she knew that would probably be better for Qin Qianrou, but it also meant a long separation. Even a short business trip had been so difficult to bear, let alone a permanent separation.

    Seeing her silence, Wen Yirong smiled helplessly. “But I also know how she feels, if she was willing to come back, she would have done so long ago. So, it’ll be up to you to take care of her.”

    Shen Yiqiu was stunned by that last sentence, unable to process it.

    Wen Yirong hadn’t insisted on Qin Qianrou returning to Hai City, which surprised both Wen Shao Ze and Li Wan.

    Wen Yirong didn’t stay long in the ward. Shen Yiqiu messaged Li Wan about this, and before she could even lock her phone, Li Wan’s call came.

    “Did Aunt Wen really say that?” Li Wan had been worried about this all night and hadn’t expected such a calm reaction.

    “Yes, that’s what she said.”

    “She really didn’t insist on Qianrou returning?”

    “No, she even told me to take good care of Jiejie.”

    This was truly strange, and Li Wan was amazed.

    “That’s good, saves you two from a long-distance relationship, it wouldn’t be easy.” Li Wan also didn’t want to be separated from her friend.

    “By the way, have you found out what happened?”

    “No leads yet, but Wen Shao Ze is already investigating, I’ve also contacted some people, we should have some answers in a couple of days.”

    Two days later, Qin Qianrou was discharged. Shen Yiqiu was incredibly attentive, practically hovering over her, even supporting her as they got in and out of the car.

    Li Wan and Wen Shao Ze, witnessing this, couldn’t help but tease her.

    “With all this fuss, anyone would think Qianrou is pregnant.”

    Wen Shao Ze received a sharp glare from Qin Qianrou, but Shen Yiqiu didn’t seem to notice.

    She seemed completely oblivious, or perhaps simply didn’t care. Her entire attention was focused on Qin Qianrou, anything she could do for her wasn’t excessive.

    Qin Qianrou, however, felt a little embarrassed, and after getting out of the car, she gently withdrew her hand, saying, “I’m fine now, I can walk by myself.”

    Shen Yiqiu released her arm, then immediately took her hand again.

    “You’re fine, but I’m not.”

    Li Wan, following behind them, chuckled softly.

    “Qianrou, just give in, you’ve scared your little one half to death these past few days, just let her take care of you, put her mind at ease.”

    The first thing Qin Qianrou had seen upon waking up was Shen Yiqiu asleep by her bedside. Memories flooded back, the emotions before losing consciousness, all overshadowed by the relief of seeing Shen Yiqiu safe and sound.

    Shen Yiqiu, even in her sleep, her brow was furrowed with worry, and Qin Qianrou had wanted to reach out and smooth it out, but she couldn’t quite reach. She gently touched the back of Shen Yiqiu’s hand, and she immediately woke up.

    “Jiejie, are you alright?”

    She leaned closer, her eyes filled with joy and relief, but she carefully avoided putting any weight on Qin Qianrou.

    “Mm, I’m awake.”

    Shen Yiqiu kissed her forehead tenderly, then immediately pressed the call button.

    The nurse and the doctor arrived shortly, and Qin Qianrou finally received confirmation of her discharge. The nurses couldn’t help but comment that, during the past two days, Shen Yiqiu had been the one who looked more like a patient, her anxiety and exhaustion evident, she had practically wanted to chain the doctor to the bedside for constant monitoring.

    Being home was truly the best. Li Wan and Wen Shao Ze, understandingly, left early. Shen Yiqiu, like a busy little bee, bustled about the apartment.

    “Jiejie, drink this first.” Shen Yiqiu brought a bowl of soup from the kitchen; she had started simmering it before going to pick Qin Qianrou up from the hospital.

    “I’m not that fragile, it’s not like I had major surgery.”

    “Don’t say such things, it’s bad luck, don’t say them again.”

    Qin Qianrou took the soup and sipped it slowly, looking at Shen Yiqiu’s anxious expression, she couldn’t help but tease, “Such a superstitious child.”

    “Anything related to you, I don’t care about superstitions, I just want to eliminate all possibilities of anything bad happening.”

    “Alright, alright, I won’t say it again.”

    Shen Yiqiu finally smiled, but Qin Qianrou still sensed a hint of strain in her expression.

    She initially thought it was simply exhaustion from staying at the hospital, but even that evening, Shen Yiqiu’s brow remained furrowed, as if preoccupied with something.

    Her worried expression seemed involuntary, she probably hadn’t even realized it herself.

    Qin Qianrou leaned against her, chatting idly. They had discussed the incident in detail after she woke up and hadn’t deliberately brought it up again.

    “What are you thinking about?” Qin Qianrou finally couldn’t help but ask, gently stroking Shen Yiqiu’s brow.

    “Nothing.”

    “You’re lying.”

    Qin Qianrou didn’t believe her, this child couldn’t hide anything, especially from her, she was always so honest and transparent.

    “I was just thinking, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”

    Qin Qianrou was surprised and puzzled by her words.

    “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have offended Dongsheng Group, you wouldn’t still be pursuing the He Chao matter.”

    Wen Shao Ze had told her about this, deepening Shen Yiqiu’s guilt.

    “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been dragged into all this mess, you wouldn’t have been…”

    Qin Qianrou knew what she was about to say and firmly interrupted her, “That’s just your assumption, not the reality.”

    Shen Yiqiu was taken aback and didn’t continue.

    “I’m a reporter, my duty is to report the truth, if it weren’t for you, perhaps Dongsheng Group or He Chao’s wrongdoings would have been discovered much later, or perhaps they would have remained hidden forever, but would that have been a good thing? I might have been safe, but what about the others who suffered because the truth was concealed?”

    Shen Yiqiu didn’t respond, but she knew the answer in her heart.

    Qin Qianrou shifted slightly, finding a more comfortable position in Shen Yiqiu’s embrace, and wrapped her arms around her waist.

    “Besides, even if I hadn’t reported on Dongsheng, or investigated He Chao, wouldn’t there have been other similar stories for me to uncover? So, it wasn’t because of you that I encountered these things, it’s simply the nature of my work.”

    “But…”

    “I know you’re worried about me, I’ll be more careful in the future.”

    Such assurances couldn’t truly comfort Shen Yiqiu, she wanted to be with Qin Qianrou as much as possible, so she could protect her.

    “So stop blaming yourself, it’s pointless.” Qin Qianrou shifted again, sitting up beside Shen Yiqiu.

    “And besides, without you, my life would be much less… colorful.”

    Shen Yiqiu felt a wave of warmth and affection from Jiejie.

    Their breaths mingled, the familiar closeness returning.

    Without a word, their lips met in a soft kiss.

    No passionate intensity, just a gentle caress, and to Shen Yiqiu, it felt like an eternity.

    **

    Lin Shuangzhi, after hearing the news from Li Wan, rushed back the next day. After visiting Qin Qianrou at the hospital, Li Wan drove her home.

    “Another day wasted?”

    “Not exactly wasted, I met with the director.”

    “It seems the outcome wasn’t very promising.”

    Lin Shuangzhi looked at her and chuckled, “You know me too well.”

    Li Wan, focusing on the road ahead, said casually, “You’re just not very good at hiding your feelings.”

    Lin Shuangzhi sighed and relaxed slightly. “The director suggested that if it’s just a matter of questioning Director Yu’s capabilities, we should discuss it with the city government or the station directors. If we insist on reporting him, we need stronger evidence.”

    Li Wan had expected as much, such matters were rarely straightforward.

    “The information Director Jian provided, do you think it’s usable?”

    “It is, but it’ll take some time to organize.”

    Li Wan breathed a sigh of relief, at least it was usable.

    But then Lin Shuangzhi said, “But I’m afraid we don’t have much time. It’s just the beginning, and Qianrou has already been targeted, I don’t know what will happen next.”

    “Are you scared?”

    Lin Shuangzhi admitted frankly, “A little.”

    Li Wan was slightly angry; she hadn’t known the team leader was so timid.

    She fell silent, and Lin Shuangzhi, still immersed in her worries, didn’t notice the change in her mood.

    The scenery outside the car window blurred as Lin Shuangzhi tapped her fingers on her leg, lost in thought.

    After a moment of consideration, she said, “Xiao Wan, after Qianrou is discharged, you should both… stay out of this.”

    Li Wan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, a surge of anger rising within her.

    “I’ll handle this, you shouldn’t get involved anymore.”

    “Can you handle this alone?” Li Wan’s voice sharpened, and Lin Shuangzhi finally noticed her change in mood.

    “I can’t let you be put in danger again and again.”

    “In our line of work, we don’t expect to just sit in the office, sipping milk tea and waiting for the end of the workday.”

    “Xiao Wan!”

    “Team Leader, are you any different from us? Just because your position is higher? More experience? Or do you have some special skill that protects you?”

    Lin Shuangzhi was speechless, she could only remain silent.

    “Since we’re all the same, why are you pushing Qianrou and me away? Fighting this together is better than you doing this alone.”

    “I’m worried about you, I’m scared!” Lin Shuangzhi’s voice rose in agitation.

    Li Wan rarely saw such an emotional outburst from her and didn’t know what to say.

    “If you were the one who was hurt, and I wasn’t there for you, what would I do? I can’t even bear to imagine it, if something happened to you, I don’t think I could handle it.”

    Li Wan’s grip on the steering wheel tightened again, she didn’t know what to say.

    So, the team leader cares about her this much?

    “Then… I might not be so unlucky.” Her words lacked conviction, not even convincing herself.

    “Xiao Wan, even if the possibility is only one in ten thousand, I would still be worried, very worried!”

    Lin Shuangzhi’s emphatic tone left Li Wan speechless.

    The car fell silent. Only as they approached Lin Shuangzhi’s complex did Li Wan finally speak. “You’re worried about me, we’re also worried about you, the only way to eliminate the danger is to resolve this quickly.”

    They both understood this logic, but they didn’t want each other to be harmed.

    “We’re here, go up, take a shower, and get some rest. Your eyes are bloodshot, it’s scary.”

    Lin Shuangzhi knew she couldn’t dissuade Li Wan. After a moment of hesitation, she opened the car door.

    As she walked away, she heard footsteps behind her.

    “Team Leader.”

    Lin Shuangzhi turned around and saw Li Wan standing before her.

    Before she could speak, Li Wan cupped Lin Shuangzhi’s face in her hands and gently kissed her lips.

    “I’ll protect myself, don’t worry, you should take care of yourself too, because I feel the same way.”

    With that, she quickly let go, turned around, got in the car, and drove away.

    A swift and decisive departure, not giving Lin Shuangzhi a chance to respond.

    Watching her drive away, Lin Shuangzhi standing there dumbfounded, Li Wan felt a warmth spreading through her, as if fireworks were exploding in her ears.

    She had sensed the team leader’s concern, and after that visit to her apartment, seeing the vase she had given her, hearing her story about being abandoned, Li Wan had already forgiven her.

    Although they hadn’t mentioned that night again, she had belatedly realized she might have misunderstood the team leader.

    Their current situation didn’t allow for romance, they had no time for love, but the care they felt for each other was undeniable, perhaps even amplified by the looming crisis.

    Lin Shuangzhi was afraid, and so was Li Wan. She hadn’t had a moment of peace since Lin Shuangzhi went to the provincial government.

    Lin Shuangzhi returned home, exhausted. Although Li Wan had assured her she would be careful, against such powerful forces, even the greatest caution might not be enough. Someone had already dared to attack Qin Qianrou, who knew who would be next?

    Lin Shuangzhi didn’t want to back down, but she also didn’t want to see anyone else get hurt. She thought, perhaps she should take a step back, find another way to protect them all.

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c19

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 19 Taking Someone for a Ride… in the Void!

    Unknowingly, Spencer Manor had been filled with the eyes and ears of Devil’s Minions.

    They were just like ordinary people, moving around the manor inside and out, alongside the other servants.

    Even if the nobles, chatting and laughing beside them, brushed past them inadvertently, they would never know that these inconspicuous servants were the objects of their fear.

    What a chilling scene…

    Chris held her breath. Her first thought was to immediately inform Count Spencer of the anomaly in the manor, but after a moment of reflection, she suppressed the urge.

    “From now on, no one in the manor can be trusted… except for you and me.” Chris said in a low voice. “Miss Luo Yan, it seems it’s time for us to leave the manor.”

    These Devil’s Minions wouldn’t appear in Spencer Manor for no reason. Given that even Luo Yan had sensed the anomaly, this was definitely not a small matter.

    The only possible guess was that they were after Luo Yan.

    Although Spencer Manor was luxurious, it wasn’t particularly conspicuous in Lannister. It was just a pretty bauble built on a whim by the Spencer family and held no value that would attract Devil’s Minions.

    Let alone the fact that these Devil’s Minions were running around the manor, as if searching for something.

    No wonder Miss Luo Yan had such an intuition…

    Since that was the case, they could only leave.

    “I promised Magistrate Norian… However, this seems to be an unforeseen circumstance.” Luo Yan scratched her cheek. “Magistrate Norian will understand, right?”

    “…Even if he doesn’t understand, it won’t make a difference. Besides, if Uncle Norian knew about the situation in Spencer Manor, he would make the same decision as me.”

    Chris whispered, then quickly changed into her Shadow Guard uniform.

    It had to be said that, although the appearance of this night suit, modified by Shadow herself, wasn’t great due to its creator’s sense of aesthetics, its practicality was top-notch.

    The material used to make the Shadow Guard uniform was naturally not ordinary cloth. It was made from the Shadow Abyss in the Endless Wasteland, combined with the shadow power infused by Shadow herself, making the wearer seem to blend into the shadows after putting it on.

    Not only that, another feature of the Shadow Guard uniform was that the wearer didn’t need to take off their clothes underneath; they just needed to put it on to achieve the effect.

    In an instant, a shadow-like figure appeared beside Luo Yan, almost intangible, as if she didn’t exist in this world.

    “Miss Luo Yan, are you… still going to maintain your current appearance?”

    Chris asked nervously. Actually, seeing Luo Yan in her black-haired young man form, she admitted that this young man was indeed much more handsome than she had imagined.

    Judging solely from appearance, Chris even felt a slight flutter in her heart.

    But after learning that it was Luo Yan’s disguise, Chris had a vague expectation, looking forward to what Luo Yan would look like after removing the disguise.

    “Is it necessary?” Luo Yan tilted her head and asked. “I don’t mind… anyway, it doesn’t consume much energy.”

    Because this disguise wasn’t a change in her physical appearance, but rather a change in how others perceived her, Luo Yan didn’t feel anything different. In her opinion, she still looked the same as before.

    Still with troublesome and cumbersome long hair…

    Luo Yan really wanted to just cut it off, but unfortunately, she couldn’t find hairdressing scissors that could cut her silver hair… or a weapon?

    Anyway, in this situation, Luo Yan didn’t care whether she looked like a black-haired young man or not.

    “I think… forget it, Miss Luo Yan.” Chris composed herself and looked towards the exit of Spencer Manor. “The most urgent matter is that we have to leave Spencer Manor immediately.”

    Given Luo Yan’s identity, it was best to limit her to a controllable range of activity.

    But the current Spencer Manor had clearly and silently become a nest of Devil’s Minions. If they stayed any longer… Miss Luo Yan would only become more endangered.

    “What about your butler?”

    Luo Yan frowned. She didn’t immediately follow Chris, but thought of the mature young woman who always appeared beside Chris.

    “Liv? Don’t worry, I left a message for Liv before I left. If I lose contact, she will go to a safe place as quickly as possible.”

    Chris waved her hand and said, but her tone was somewhat weak for some reason.

    Because what Chris didn’t say was that the purpose of her message… was actually aimed at Luo Yan.

    If, because of Luo Yan, she lost contact, Liv would go directly to her mother, Tina, for help.

    Chris was a Saint candidate, yes, but Saint candidates were evaluated based on their character, talent, willpower, and a series of other comprehensive abilities, but not their current strength.

    Although Tina had narrowly missed the selection, her strength was undoubtedly powerful. At only fifty-eight years old, she was considered a strong figure among “Peril” level ability users.

    Anyway, the situation wasn’t much different now, and it was too late for Chris to call Liv over.

    To escape this quagmire of Spencer Manor, they had to avoid wasting any time; any delay could easily lead to accidents.

    As for the other nobles attending the banquet… they could only pray for their own safety. Chris didn’t dare to inform them.

    Devil’s Minions could only be identified one by one. Who could guarantee that there weren’t Devil’s Minions hidden among these nobles?

    Having made up her mind, Luo Yan didn’t hesitate. She immediately grabbed Chris’s small hand, startling her.

    “Ah!”

    Chris subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but Luo Yan gripped it even tighter.

    “Hold on tight,” Luo Yan whispered. “If we want to leave here quickly and avoid being discovered by these cultists, we can go through the Void.”

    After One’s sacrifice in the Yan City war, Luo Yan had mastered another demonic power, “End,” which had the ability to traverse the Void.

    But actually, the essence of “End” was to tear space. Luo Yan’s Void Traversal was entirely her own ability. She had a very high adaptability to the Void and could sense the nodes within it… although there were occasional deviations.

    One, who also possessed the power of “End,” couldn’t do this. One could at most perform short-distance Void jumps based on herself, and couldn’t fully enter the Void, nor could she bring others along.

    Luo Yan couldn’t be sure whether these cultists had set up domains or barriers around Spencer Manor. The safest way to leave was through Void Traversal.

    “Vo-, Void?”

    Chris was stunned, just like Lin Cheng and Rhine’s reaction when they heard Luo Yan’s words; her first reaction was complete bewilderment.

    Who would have thought that Void Traversal could be done with another person!

    However, Luo Yan didn’t give Chris time to think. A spatial rift silently opened, and the terrifying aura of the Endless Void rushed towards them.

    “Holy shit, you’re really doing it!”

    Chris cursed in an extremely unladylike manner, then, with the instinctive fear of the Void that all living beings possessed, she was dragged into the Void by Luo Yan.

    In less than a breath, the spatial rift closed, and everything returned to normal.

    ……

    Restricted Zone Seven.

    Two aged figures stood facing each other in mid-air, seemingly in a standoff.

    But the actual situation… was not like that.

    Granny Zoya was no match for Bishop Hamid Surian. Even though both were at “Destruction” level, there were still differences within that level.

    However, at least Granny Zoya wasn’t completely defenseless. She had the “Ember Formation” supporting her, and for some reason, Hamid hadn’t attacked with his full strength.

    But even so, Granny Zoya’s defeat was only a matter of time. The barrier she maintained quickly shattered under the aftershocks of the battle.

    Fortunately, Lannister had made preparations before the barrier shattered. A super spiritual energy shield, powered by the “Ember Formation” as its core, enveloped the area around Restricted Zone Seven.

    And Granny Zoya’s purpose in maintaining the barrier had been to buy time until the spiritual energy shield was deployed.

    After summoning the avatar of the “Sovereign of Terror,” the aged Hamid gradually regained his youthful appearance.

    His messy gray hair was once again dyed a dazzling gold, his aged face rejuvenated, returning to his appearance hundreds of years ago, overlapping with the Hamid Surian in Granny Zoya’s memory.

    Of course, nothing romantic had happened between Hamid and Zoya back then. If there were a story between a top student and a straggler, that would be truly unbelievable…

    After hundreds of years, seeing the Hamid Surian from her memory again, Granny Zoya only felt a sense of nostalgia.

    Nostalgia aside, she still had to stop him. Granny Zoya knew very well that she couldn’t let Hamid enter Lannister under any circumstances.

    The consequences of a malicious “Destruction” level ability user entering a mega-city would be catastrophic, causing damage no less than a small-scale “Destruction” level Calamity.

    As the pinnacle of the mystery system, the power of the “Sovereign of Terror” was related to causality and was extremely difficult to deal with.

    If Hamid’s desire to attack hadn’t been so weak, it would have been very difficult for Granny Zoya to stop him as easily as she was doing now, simply by burning some spiritual energy.

    The black-haired Hamid hovered in mid-air, slightly raising his head as if looking into the distance.

    Mental power and the power of causality collided around them, invisible ripples spreading through Restricted Zone Seven, forming a true forbidden zone for living beings.

    “Zoya,” Hamid’s gray-white eyes lowered slightly, and he said softly, “Long time no see, you’ve aged.”

    “At least I can still move.”

    “After the peak of prosperity, comes gradual decline… The body slowly becomes disobedient, and things that were once easy now require a thousand, ten thousand times more effort… We, are walking towards the abyss of death, welcoming our destined demise.”

    Although Hamid’s appearance was now much younger, his voice was still raspy. “We are like this, humanity is like this, this season of civilization is also like this… Struggling on the path of decline will only lead to more serious consequences.”

    “I don’t understand.”

    Granny Zoya curled her lip. These cultists always liked to speak in riddles, it seemed even Hamid was no exception.

    No, Hamid seemed to be the most cryptic among these cryptic people, and he was even a leader.

    “You don’t understand because you haven’t seen the truth, the truth about the Lord… and the Gods.”

    Hamid looked at Granny Zoya and slowly extended his hand,

    “Come, closer, I’ll show you… the truth of this world. Then, Zoya, you will understand everything.”

    Granny Zoya moved away with disgust and waved her hand,

    “No thanks. Although I really want to see the ‘Witch of Envy’ and glimpse the scenery at the pinnacle of the mystery system, I’m not stupid.”

    Witnessing the true form of a Primordial Demon was taboo. This was the first warning from the War of the Witch of Absolute Death hundreds of years ago, and Granny Zoya naturally remembered it clearly.

    Like Hamid, after witnessing the true form of a Demon, his temperament had changed almost overnight, and he conspired to kill many Saint candidates who had been his classmates for many years.

    Even now, Granny Zoya couldn’t be sure whether the current Hamid was still the Hamid she knew, nor could she be sure whether she would become like Hamid after encountering the true form of a Demon.

    “…Your thinking is still wrong, Zoya. Power is meaningless; everything is on the path of destruction.”

    Hamid shook his head in disappointment. But at this moment, he suddenly looked towards a certain direction.

    As if a faint blue light soared into the sky and then vanished in an instant, so brief that it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

    But in this blink of an eye, Hamid sensed the long-lost… aura of the Gods, although it was only an extremely faint trace.

    “It seems we weren’t wrong. She has indeed seen the Gods with her own eyes.” An unconcealable joy appeared on Hamid’s face. “The slumbering Gods are about to return, and our mission of these long years… is finally coming to an end!”

    “Who? Miss Luo Yan?”

    Doubt surfaced in Granny Zoya’s heart, but then she became alert.

    However, Hamid didn’t try his best to break through her blockade as Granny Zoya had expected, he even stopped attacking and just stayed where he was.

    “Stop, Zoya, your injuries are serious.” Hamid said softly. “I can sense your thirst for knowledge and yearning for the Gods. When you witness the truth, we will become fellow travelers.”

    “…Wishful thinking.”

    Although Granny Zoya was still putting up a brave front, she was indeed seriously injured in this invisible confrontation.

    Facing a “Destruction” level Devil’s Apostle with a demonic avatar, Granny Zoya, the straggler, was still a bit outmatched.

    “Very well, let’s wait for her arrival together, to bring us the oracle bestowed by the Gods.”

    Hamid said softly, as if reciting some kind of rhythmic poem,

    “She will follow the guidance of fate, as if listening to the divine words from the heavens above, humming softly as she walks towards her destination, no one can stop her steps.”

    “She will carry all the malice of the world, walk the path paved with countless corpses, wander the land of suffering, and the end of her journey is the end of civilization.”

    “Because she is the eyes through which the Gods peek into the world, she is… the Eye of Malice.”

    At this moment, Granny Zoya felt a chill run down her spine.

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 68

    Chapter 68: “Little Crybaby”

    Half a month ago, a joyous occasion was supposed to take place on Mount Chao Yao.

    Two of the mountain’s revered ones were to be wed, and representatives from various immortal sects arrived to offer their congratulations.

    However, on the eve of this joyous event, Cangming Revered One, one of the betrothed, secretly left Mount Chao Yao without a word, without even a letter of explanation.

    Her departure was so discreet that only when a disciple went to Chaoxi Pond to deliver her wedding attire did they realize she was gone.

    On the wedding day, with the bride missing, the guests were stunned.

    Some were amused, some offered condolences, and some felt that Mount Chao Yao had made a fool of them.

    They hadn’t received a satisfactory explanation for the Demon Bone incident.

    And then, regarding the Heavenly Gate, Mount Chao Yao’s attitude had been incredibly hostile.

    Now, having traveled a great distance for this joyous occasion, they were told the wedding was canceled because the bride had disappeared?

    —Weren’t they being treated like fools?

    Although Cangming Revered One’s reputation in the human realm was tarnished, she was still one of the Three Revered Ones of Mount Chao Yao, the only god currently residing in the human realm.

    Such a marriage, without her consent, even under duress, wouldn’t have been approved by Qingxuan Revered One or the Mount Chao Yao disciples.

    When the various sects arrived, they were told that Cangming Revered One had no objections and the entire mountain was celebrating.

    If she had no objections, and the disciples were celebrating, why did she suddenly flee? And where could she have gone?

    The answer was obvious.

    —Didn’t she have a disciple, a Demon Lord now, in the Demon Realm?

    She had stubbornly insisted on sending the Demon Bone to the Demon Realm, and now that the Demon Bone had become the Demon Lord, she chose to flee to the Demon Realm on the eve of her wedding, right when all the immortal sects were gathered on Mount Chao Yao.

    This was a deliberate act of defiance, a blatant mockery!

    Cangming Revered One was clearly siding with the demons, showing no respect for the immortal sects!

    Besides this speculation, other rumors circulated.

    Some said that she had been forced, that Lingyao Revered One had come to Mount Chao Yao for her.

    Now that her reputation was tarnished and she was injured, he wanted to force her into marriage, and she had no way to resist.

    Others said that she didn’t escape on her own, that her disciple, the Demon Lord, had taken her—because someone claimed to have seen a dark cloud of resentment on the horizon the day before the wedding.

    But without proof, the immortal sects didn’t accept these explanations.

    Regardless of the reason, they had traveled a great distance for nothing, only to witness a farce.

    Everyone turned to look at Weisheng Xuanzhu.

    They expected some kind of explanation, some reaction, from the groom whose bride had run away.

    But he simply said indifferently, “So be it.”

    As he spoke, everything red within sight instantly froze, then shattered into countless ice shards as he turned and left.

    Silence fell upon the crowd.

    There would be no explanation; no one dared demand one from the Kun Peng Monarch of the North Sea.

    So, everyone turned to Qingxuan Revered One, who hadn’t left yet.

    She shrugged and said, “Why are you looking at me? It’s not my wedding.”

    Then, she muttered, “Why did he have to freeze my flowers too…”

    So rude!

    Si Qinglan had always known that Weisheng Xuanzhu was rude.

    As a flower that bloomed in sunlight, she naturally wouldn’t bicker with a fish from the cold, dark depths.

    But this time, his rudeness was excessive.

    She knew he had liked Li Yu for a long time, but that wasn’t an excuse to use such underhanded methods!

    Normally, anyone who dared to be this disrespectful on Mount Chao Yao would be expelled.

    But this situation was different; she couldn’t defeat him, so she chose to feign ignorance and endure.

    After Li Yu left, Si Qinglan had expected Weisheng Xuanzhu to confront her, knowing she was involved.

    But she waited anxiously for days, until all the other sects left, and the mountain gate was closed again, yet he never came.

    She thought about it, the more she thought, the more uneasy she felt. Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore and went to Qingke Hua, tracking Weisheng Xuanzhu’s aura until she found him.

    She pushed open his door with a forceful surge of spiritual energy—at least, the sound was loud.

    Not breaking down the door directly was her being polite!

    But before she could even enter, a wave of icy coldness assaulted her, forcing her to strengthen her protective barrier.

    He was cultivating, the frost and snow in the room swirling around him in a strange pattern, like a rotating nebula.

    “Weisheng Xuanzhu!”

    As her angry shout echoed, the frost and snow instantly vanished.

    He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and emotionless as he looked at Si Qinglan.

    “Something the matter?” he asked indifferently.

    As if nothing had happened.

    Si Qinglan frowned. “Don’t you…know what you did?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “If it’s about Li Yu, there’s no need to discuss it.”

    Si Qinglan: “No need to discuss it? After causing such a scene, such a huge embarrassment, you’re just dismissing it?!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “You were the one who let her go. If I don’t dismiss it, how do you expect me to hold you accountable?”

    Si Qinglan faltered. “You…you knew all along?”

    He didn’t answer, just asked in return, “If you didn’t want this to happen, why interfere?”

    Si Qinglan was speechless.

    He had never confronted her, so she assumed he hadn’t suspected her involvement.

    Or perhaps he had, but was too ashamed to confront her, since he himself was also responsible.

    She hadn’t expected him to not only know about her actions, but also be so…unapologetic.

    Si Qinglan frowned, her expression shifting. After a moment of silence, she asked, “You’re holding me accountable?”

    “Shouldn’t I?”

    “After what you did, you’re holding me accountable?” Si Qinglan was so angry she almost laughed. She entered the room, erected a soundproof barrier, and shouted, “You know what you did to Li Yu! I didn’t release her; you drove her away!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu didn’t speak, just stared at the furious Si Qinglan.

    “How could you do this?! How dare you!” Si Qinglan continued angrily. “Taking advantage of her like that, even if you have her now, what do you truly have? A soulless puppet, is that what you want?!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Yes.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    Yes? He actually said yes?

    Si Qinglan suddenly felt like she didn’t know him at all.

    “Weisheng Xuanzhu, I considered you a friend! We’ve known each other for over three thousand years! When you’re in hibernation, I even have my disciples guard your resting place! How could I not have known you were this kind of person?!”

    “Thank you for your trouble,” Weisheng Xuanzhu replied indifferently, “But I didn’t need it.”

    Si Qinglan laughed in exasperation. “If I did something like this, I’d be so ashamed I’d want to hide. And you’re just sitting here, acting like nothing happened!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Don’t worry.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I’ll leave when the time comes.”

    Si Qinglan: “What do you mean?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I read that letter. I left it there, hoping you would see it.”

    Si Qinglan’s eyes widened in surprise.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “The news of the wedding spread far and wide; Mu Tao would definitely come to take her away. If you discovered it in time, the Demon Bone wouldn’t set foot on Mount Chao Yao.”

    Si Qinglan: “And if I didn’t?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Then we would fight. She would be taken away either way.”

    Si Qinglan was confused, her brow furrowed. She couldn’t understand his motives.

    Was he…trying to get them together?

    Had he also noticed their relationship…?

    But Li Yu’s letter was filled with resolute determination; she was clearly prepared to go to the Demon Realm alone.

    If he wanted to help them, why not just…not interfere?

    Si Qinglan: “Tell me, why…why are you doing all of this?”

    “This isn’t something you can interfere with,” Weisheng Xuanzhu said in a low voice. “Si Qinglan, for the sake of our long acquaintance, I won’t involve Mount Chao Yao, and I won’t harm you. Don’t dig any deeper.”

    Si Qinglan: “What are you talking about?!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Just go.”

    Just go? How could she possibly be at ease?

    His words were increasingly strange. What did he mean by “not involving Mount Chao Yao,” “not harming her”?

    And if she did dig deeper, what would she find?

    Si Qinglan was momentarily confused, then she seemed to understand. “You didn’t just…want her? No, you never wanted her! She left, and you didn’t even react… What…what are you planning?”

    “…”

    Seeing his silence, Si Qinglan stepped closer, her brow furrowed, her voice filled with suspicion. “You did something to Li Yu, didn’t you? You’re using her to harm Mu Tao!”

    “…”

    “What’s your goal?!” she demanded. “To eliminate the Demon Bone for the human realm? Or something else…”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Knowing these things will benefit neither you nor Mount Chao Yao.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    Should she continue questioning him?

    The answer seemed dangerous.

    He was willing to manipulate even Li Yu for this; perhaps this truly wasn’t something she could interfere with.

    But could she just…stand by and watch?

    “Weisheng, we’ve known each other for so long, is there anything we can’t discuss openly?” Si Qinglan said softly. “Perhaps…we can help you.”

    She received no answer, only silence.

    The kite outside the window soared high in the sky, like a free bird.

    But Si Qinglan suddenly felt that everything she knew, everything she was familiar with, was trapped, bound by an invisible force.

    Nothing was truly free, not even her.

    She chuckled humorlessly and nodded. “Fine, I won’t interfere, I won’t get involved anymore! Come and go as you please, do whatever you want, just don’t ask me to clean up your mess…”

    “After you’re all gone, I’ll pretend I never knew any of you!” Si Qinglan said, dispelling the soundproof barrier and leaving without looking back.

    They were all heartless, she thought.

    Just leave, and take that damn Lamp with you, before it explodes on her mountain!

    After they were all gone, she would turn Chaoxi Pond and Qingke Hua into her personal garden!

    Such a waste of space!

    As she fumed, she saw the human woman Li Yu had brought back.

    She was flying the kite, the little black bird by her side.

    Her bell-like laughter echoed in the otherwise quiet world.

    Always bringing back trouble, good riddance…

    Although she didn’t want to be involved, a wave of worry washed over her.

    Perhaps she should find a way to send a message to the Demon Realm.

    Li Yu, Mu Tao, don’t fall for his trap!

    Mu Tao hummed a tune from Mount Chao Yao, gently brushing Li Yu’s long, dark hair with a sandalwood comb.

    Her master’s usual hairstyle was simple, not adorned with elaborate accessories.

    She had tried many hairpins but couldn’t find one worthy of her master.

    In the end, she could only tie a soft blue ribbon around Li Yu’s hair, adding a few simple pearl ornaments.

    “Why am I even bothering? Master looks beautiful no matter what.”

    She leaned her chin on Li Yu’s shoulder, her cheek against hers, and looked at their reflections in the mirror. “What do you think, Master?”

    “It’s good,” Li Yu replied, her voice emotionless.

    “Master has never combed my hair before. Can you…do my hair today?”

    “Okay.”

    Mu Tao happily helped Li Yu up, sat down before the mirror, removed her orange-red ribbon, and placed it in Li Yu’s outstretched hand.

    Her long hair cascaded down her back. Li Yu stood behind her, picked up the wooden comb, and started combing her hair, her gaze lowered.

    Her movements were rough, not gentle at all, pulling at Mu Tao’s hair, making her wince.

    But her complaints were ignored; Li Yu would pause momentarily after each wince, but her touch didn’t soften.

    And after finally combing it smooth, she gathered all the hair and tied it into a messy, thick ponytail with the ribbon.

    Mu Tao puffed out her cheeks, frowning at her reflection. After a long moment, she muttered, “Master, this isn’t…pretty…”

    “It is,” Li Yu said.

    “How is it pretty?”

    “It is.”

    “…”

    Mu Tao took a deep breath and used a spell to redo her hair.

    She stood up, pouting. “Master is just humoring me!”

    Li Yu: “I’m not.”

    A flicker of disappointment appeared in Mu Tao’s eyes.

    She took the comb from Li Yu, placed it on the dressing table, led Li Yu to the bed, and sat down beside her.

    “Master, someone will bring some wedding attire later, you can try them on and choose whichever you like.”

    Li Yu: “Okay.”

    Mu Tao smiled and kissed her forehead.

    Li Yu looked at her, a faint smile on her lips.

    No surprise, no anxiety, no attempt to avoid the contact.

    This was rare and precious, and Mu Tao couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Li Yu’s neck, nuzzling against her.

    Her master’s scent, the scent she craved,

    Every bit of it intoxicating.

    “Like a little puppy,” Li Yu said.

    Mu Tao, hearing this, gently nibbled on Li Yu’s lips as punishment.

    A soft moan escaped Li Yu’s lips.

    Mu Tao looked at her, but Li Yu’s eyes were unfocused.

    Mu Tao paused.

    How boring…

    She bit down harder.

    Another soft moan.

    The faint taste of blood brought her back to reality.

    She quickly released Li Yu, her heart pounding, pulling away slightly.

    A spot of blood appeared on Li Yu’s pale lips.

    Like a plum blossom blooming in the snow, a stark contrast, yet strangely beautiful.

    Mu Tao gently touched Li Yu’s lips with her thumb, smudging the blood.

    “Does it hurt, Master?”

    “No.”

    “I didn’t mean to.”

    “It’s fine.”

    Mu Tao bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, but they fell anyway.

    Li Yu reached out and gently wiped them away with her sleeve.

    “Don’t cry, it hurts me to see you cry.”

    A sharp pang in Mu Tao’s heart made the tears flow even more freely.

    It was all fake…

    Just the spell’s control.

    There were only two things Li Yu needed to do.

    —Obey her and be kind to her.

    Orders superseded instinct.

    Mu Tao knew Li Yu wasn’t truly unconscious, that she would remember everything when she woke up.

    Lingyao Revered One must have controlled Master like this too.

    He also wanted her master this way.

    How could her master be happy?

    The moment she regained consciousness, she would try to escape.

    She had escaped Lingyao Revered One; would she escape her too?

    Mu Tao couldn’t understand, or perhaps she didn’t dare to think about it.

    She felt like a thief, stealing these precious moments.

    And stolen things were always returned eventually…

    Mu Tao’s heart ached, and she grabbed Li Yu’s hand. “Don’t…don’t wipe them anymore.”

    Li Yu paused, then continued wiping her tears.

    “Why…why can’t I stop them?” she asked, her voice soft, a mix of confusion and gentle persuasion. “Mu Tao, don’t cry anymore, your eyes are all swollen.”

    Why was this happening? She was being comforted for doing something wrong.

    Mu Tao didn’t understand, her heart aching.

    “Master!” She couldn’t help but throw herself into Li Yu’s arms, burying her face against her chest, her voice choked with tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

    Li Yu gently patted her back.

    Mu Tao repeated her apologies, as if hoping they would reach Li Yu’s heart.

    She had apologized countless times, her throat dry, her tears soaking Li Yu’s robes.

    Then she asked timidly, “No matter what I do wrong, Master…won’t abandon me, right…?”

    “I won’t,” Li Yu replied, gently stroking her hair.

    Mu Tao’s voice was muffled against her chest. “Really?”

    Li Yu: “Mm.”

    Mu Tao shook her head slightly. “…That’s a lie.”

    Li Yu: “It’s true.”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    Li Yu: “Seeing you cry…hurts me.”

    Mu Tao froze, then forced a smile, her eyes still red. “Then I won’t cry anymore!”

    Li Yu pinched her cheek gently.

    This small gesture made Mu Tao feel a flicker of hope.

    She looked up at Li Yu, searching for a spark of genuine emotion in those blue eyes, but they were unfocused, distant.

    What was she expecting? This was her own doing.

    Her master was here, obedient, even kind to her.

    Every word, every tear, acknowledged.

    Mu Tao gently caressed Li Yu’s face, her tear-filled eyes fixed on her.

    She told herself to be happy.

    This wasn’t a bad thing; her master would always be with her.

    But…

    Was this truly…her master?

    She tilted her head, a blank look in her eyes.

    Not yet, she couldn’t undo the spell yet.

    She needed more time.

    After their wedding, when everyone knew about their relationship, no one would dare covet her master anymore.

    Then, she could truly have her master, without any pretense.

    “Master, wait a little longer, just give me a little more time…”

    “Wait for what?”

    Mu Tao played with the sash of Li Yu’s robe, avoiding her gaze. “Wait for me…to marry you…”

    Wait for me to marry you, wait for you to truly belong to me.

    I’ll undo the spell; then you can punish me however you want.

    She would only make this mistake once.

    She wouldn’t make any more mistakes.

    “Master said yesterday that you would marry me, you won’t…go back on your word, right?”

    She carefully took Li Yu’s hands in hers. “You wouldn’t lie to me again, right?”

    “Right.”

    “Then…say it again?”

    “I’m waiting to marry you,” Li Yu said with a smile.

    “Words are meaningless!” Mu Tao thought for a moment, then, shaking Li Yu’s wrist, listening to the soft chiming of the bells, she said playfully, “Write it down, Master, and leave your fingerprint!”

    Li Yu frowned slightly. “Where would I find paper and a brush?”

    Mu Tao immediately stood up. “I’ll go find some!”

    She hurried out of the room, like a little rabbit.

    The door remained open, the barrier still active.

    Li Yu leaned against the doorframe and waited.

    Mu Tao quickly returned.

    “Master!” She took Li Yu’s hand and led her to the table.

    With a flick of her wrist, a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, along with bright red ink paste, appeared on the table.

    “I’ll grind the ink for Master!” Mu Tao poured some water into the inkstone and carefully started grinding the inkstick.

    Li Yu watched as the ink darkened, then picked up the brush.

    She looked at Mu Tao, her eyes unfocused. “What…what should I write?”

    Mu Tao thought for a moment. “Just write, ‘I sincerely want to marry Mu Tao.’”

    Li Yu nodded and clumsily wrote the sentence on the paper.

    —I sincerely want to marry Mu Tao.

    “Finished,” she said, looking up. “Should I leave my fingerprint now?”

    “No, no.” Mu Tao frowned, looking at the messy handwriting, both surprised and displeased. “That’s not how you write it, Master!”

    Li Yu: “Why not?”

    Mu Tao pointed at the sentence. “—’I sincerely want to marry Mu Tao.’ This ‘I’ isn’t clear, who knows who ‘I’ refers to? If you try to deny it later, I won’t have any proof!”

    Li Yu thought for a moment, discarded the paper, and wrote it again.

    —Li Yu sincerely wants to marry Mu Tao.

    This time, Mu Tao’s frown deepened.

    She looked at Li Yu, her eyes reddening. “You wrote it wrong again, Master!”

    Li Yu: “What’s wrong?”

    Mu Tao: “Your name, you misspelled your name! Are you doing this on purpose?”

    Li Yu looked confused. “It’s correct.”

    Mu Tao: “No, it’s wrong!”

    “It’s not wrong!” A hint of impatience appeared in Li Yu’s eyes. “That’s how you write it.”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Mu Tao persisted, “Look again, Master, are you sure it’s not wrong?”

    Li Yu tilted her head, examined the characters carefully for a long moment, then said, “Oh, it seems I did make a mistake.”

    “Then write it again, Master.” Mu Tao sniffled, placing another sheet of paper before her.

    Li Yu picked up the brush and thought for a long, long time, until Mu Tao was almost in tears again, then she finally wrote, her gaze unfocused,

    —Li Yu and Mu Tao’s bond is not just that of master and disciple. Li Yu sincerely wants to marry Mu Tao.

    She pressed her finger into the ink paste and stamped her fingerprint beneath the messy handwriting.

    She looked up at Mu Tao, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Is that better?”

    Mu Tao: “…”

    Li Yu: “Why do you still look unhappy?”

    She seemed to think for a moment, then playfully smudged some of the red ink paste on Mu Tao’s nose. “Little crybaby.”

    Mu Tao’s eyes widened.

    For a fleeting moment, there was a spark of clarity in her master’s gentle eyes.

    Li Yu wiped the remaining ink paste on the discarded papers.

    Then, her voice no longer as emotionless, she said, “Keep this safe. I’m only writing such an embarrassing thing once in my life.”

    That fleeting expression, that tone, as if they had never truly existed.

    When Mu Tao looked again, she only saw the usual vacant stare.