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  • Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 136

    Chapter 136p1

    “Baby, look here, smile, raise your right hand, higher, higher, you can almost touch the shark.”

    Wei Maomao stared at Wei Chengli, who was a few steps away, holding the Polaroid camera and directing her poses, with an emotionless expression.

    Enough was enough! Even the professional photographer at the studio didn’t have this many demands!

    Thinking that she still needed this guy to go to Shi Dingshan and put their plan into action, Wei Maomao sighed, raised her right hand, then forced a smile, and continued to cooperate.

    “Baby, you’re not tall enough, raise your hand a bit higher, just a little bit. Baby, you’re truly… a bit short…” Wei Chengli said, dejectedly, accidentally revealing his true thoughts as he almost lay on the ground, trying to capture the shot of the little chubby mermaid grabbing the shark’s face using forced perspective.

    “Dad, you don’t have a baby anymore!” Wei Maomao said coldly, she lowered her hand, abandoned her stupid dad, and ran towards Cheng Tingyan, who was taking a photo with a group of fish around the corner.

    “Hey, hey, hey…” Wei Chengli said, scrambling to his feet and reaching out to stop her.

    But the short, little chubby dumpling, dragging her sparkly mermaid tail skirt, had already run away.

    Wei Maomao stopped behind the photographer who was taking pictures of Cheng Tingyan. The same sparkly dress, the same shiny crown, Cheng Tingyan looked so pretty wearing them, standing among the floor-to-ceiling aquarium with a school of fish, she sparkled like a real little mermaid princess.

    It was so good. Yan Yan, she should be like this, happy and carefree.

    Just as Wei Maomao was watching with satisfaction, completely forgetting that she was also a fish waiting to be photographed, Cheng Tingyan, under the photographer’s instructions, turned around and saw the little chubby bunny.

    “Maomao, let’s take a picture together!”

    The beautiful little mermaid princess, lifting her skirt, ran towards her, her bright eyes filled with joy and anticipation.

    Wei Maomao was momentarily stunned, she was pulled to the front of the large glass window.

    “Okay, both of our little mermaid princesses, look this way, stand closer, the chubby… mmm, the smaller mermaid princess, raise your scepter.”

    The photographer’s instructions came clearly, Wei Maomao, as she raised her scepter, looked down at her slightly protruding belly and instinctively sucked in her stomach.

    During lunch, Wei Maomao thought she had to become a sparkling fish to avoid making Wen Jiangyue sad.

    It turned out that her self-awareness wasn’t accurate enough.

    What sparkling fish…

    It should be a sparkling… chubby fish!

    Why was this little mermaid dress so tight!

    She couldn’t let the beautiful little mermaid princess take a photo with a chubby fish… Wei Maomao, absolutely unwilling to leave a chubby fish in Yan Yan’s childhood memories, tried her best to suck in her stomach.

    And so, hidden from Wei Maomao’s view, the beautiful little mermaid princess and a cute, red-faced chubby fish left a precious photo together.

    Wei Maomao’s efforts were witnessed and remembered by the viewers in the live broadcast room, they turned into laughter, tears of joy, and red hands from slapping the table too hard.

    “Oh my god, hahahahaha, is this still our CEO Mao, who always runs around with messy hair? The three-year-old CEO Mao has finally awakened, is she starting to care about her image?”

    “Truly adorable! I’m going to set this screenshot of Little Mermaid CEO Mao secretly sucking in her stomach and tiptoeing as my desktop wallpaper, it’ll be my motivation for 996, hahahahaha!”

    “Our CEO Mao doesn’t need to do this! Let go of your little belly! Pretty little mermaids are all the same, I love the unique and adorable little chubby fish!!!”

    “I also love the little chubby fish, I can’t stop taking screenshots, hahaha, but I disagree with ‘pretty little mermaids are all the same’! When Yan Yan came out in her costume, that turn, that flick of her tail, that shy and innocent glance, my heart melted! No matter how many pretty little mermaids I see in the future, I’ll never forget that glance, my precious baby!”

    “Yueyue is also hilarious, after Yan Yan and Maomao changed into their costumes, Yueyue couldn’t come out of the changing room for a long time, I thought she couldn’t put on the clothes properly. But then she peeked out, looking all sneaky, and said she was embarrassed because the back was backless, hahaha!”

    “As expected of our CEO Mao, she immediately turned around, showing her chubby fish back, making Yueyue laugh so hard that she forgot about her embarrassment.”

    “Speaking of which, I think Yan Yan was also quite embarrassed when she first came out, until she saw our little chubby fish, hahaha, her expression immediately changed.”

    “How did it change? From a shy little mermaid to a hungry little shark, hahaha! Speaking of which, both Yan Yan and Yueyue are quite suitable for this Little Mermaid costume, one is beautiful and delicate, almost ethereal, the other has this cute contrast of going from a serious scholar to a fairy tale character, and then CEO Mao, hahaha, CEO Mao is truly adorable, it’s just… compared to a mermaid princess, she looks more like a meal for a shark.”

    “!!! What shark meal! She’s clearly an adorable Hakimi! Princesses are high and mighty, people look up to them, Hakimi is short and chubby, people want to pet her~~~”

    *Hakimi(哈基米) : slang for cute cat*

    “Hahaha, with that explanation, Hakimi and shark meal aren’t that different! Are you guys even being polite! If you continue like this, CEO Mao will expel you from the bunny fandom!”

    …

    Wei Maomao, immersed in managing her image, trying to make the photo look better, was oblivious to the joy online.

    Solo shots, duo shots, trio shots… Photos with sharks, photos with octopuses, photos with schools of fish… Photos with the floor-to-ceiling aquarium, photos in the underwater tunnel, photos with specimens… Indoors, outdoors, outdoors, indoors…

    By the time it was over, Wei Maomao, who had been sucking in her stomach and tiptoeing, was… exhausted.

    Truly, beauty came at a price.

    On the bus ride back, Wei Maomao, as soon as she sat down, without even saying a word, she leaned her head against the seat and fell asleep.

    Some people slept peacefully, even snoring softly.

    Some people… their eyes were red with anger, but they couldn’t close them.

    Cheng Feiying glanced at his daughter, who was sitting upright next to him, her lips pursed, she hadn’t spoken much since lunch, her expression serious, he kindly opened a bottle of water and handed it to her. “Drink some water.”

    Cheng Rongrong shook her head, refusing.

    “Then play with this doll you just redeemed.” Cheng Feiying said, picking up the mermaid doll from the bag next to him and handing it to her.

    Cheng Rongrong looked at the little mermaid doll, it was delicate and cute, wearing… the same dress as those three, she felt even angrier, she snatched it and stuffed it back into the bag forcefully.

    Cheng Feiying knew why Cheng Rongrong was angry, but whose fault was it?

    Today, the vouchers were distributed based on the number of qualified photos the babies took. It was her who didn’t take the pictures properly, during the tallying, many of her photos were either missing the head or the tail, obstructed, or blurry… She didn’t even have enough qualified photos to redeem one voucher. And he had to go back with her, find the locations again, and retake the photos. By the time they got enough for one voucher and redeemed this doll, the other families were already eating in the cafeteria.

    That was when they found out that the other three girls had all redeemed that photo-taking package.

    Not to mention anything else, that package required two vouchers to redeem, even if they returned the doll, they wouldn’t have enough.

    Either they had to retake the photos after lunch, reach the next tier, then return the doll and go take the pictures together, or they had to visit the other exhibits with the remaining babies and head back together after they were done.

    At that time, Cheng Feiying saw that Cheng Rongrong seemed a bit frustrated, she also seemed to want to take the pictures, so he kindly suggested that they go and retake the photos. After all, the voucher redemption was tiered, each tier required fewer photos than the previous one, they wouldn’t need to take many more photos to redeem another voucher.

    Cheng Rongrong refused, so Cheng Feiying didn’t say anything more.

    After all, he was also tired from walking around, if Cheng Rongrong didn’t want to retake the photos, he definitely wouldn’t force her to work, right?

    It was her own inefficiency, her own choice, she didn’t get to take the Little Mermaid photos, what was she angry about now?

    Cheng Feiying glanced at the doll that Cheng Rongrong had stuffed back into the bag, he was starting to feel apathetic. Since she wasn’t grateful, he wouldn’t bother anymore, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, trying to rest.

    Cheng Feiying’s perfunctory parenting was clearly displayed on the tablet in Bai Lei’s hand.

    But Bai Lei didn’t even look at it.

    All her attention was on the two phones in front of her.

    On the newer phone screen was the security footage that Bai Lei was constantly rewinding. The footage showed the room she was currently in.

    Soon, Bai Lei found what she was looking for in the zoomed-in footage.

    The older phone next to it was turned on, the latest password entered, the screen unlocked.

    Bai Lei, her beautifully manicured fingers hovering between two icons, hesitated for a moment, then finally clicked on the notepad.

    This phone, she had seen it countless times on the security footage. She had seen it being used, being hidden, being carefully moved from one place to another, she had seen it being unused for days, then being secretly used every day…

    During those days of waiting, to avoid spoiling the fun too early, she always squinted, holding the phone far away, not peeking at the content inside.

    Now, life had finally become so boring that she had to unravel this miracle.

    Then let her see, how interesting this little one truly was.

    In the Cheng family’s car, Cheng Feiying was silent, his eyes closed, the quietness made Cheng Rongrong feel… lonely.

    Cheng Rongrong didn’t understand.

    She had prepared for so long, from the first day of this variety show, she had worked hard to build good relationships with the other babies, to gain their favor, and then isolate Cheng Tingyan together. But those ungrateful brats, they still gravitated towards Cheng Tingyan bit by bit, now it was her who was being isolated.

    They started eating before she even reached the cafeteria.

    The other three girls all got to take Little Mermaid photos, no one called her.

    Why!

    Was this the female lead’s halo?

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 320-321

    Chapter 320: Blue Pill Magic

    The poor eggs had cracked…boiling them on high heat for too long would cause this. The correct way to boil eggs was to bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for eight to ten minutes. If you didn’t boil them for that long, you would get so-called “soft-boiled eggs.” But Adele didn’t like the texture of soft-boiled eggs, so she would try to boil them longer to solidify the yolk. But not this long!

    Adele looked at the pot, the water almost completely boiled away, and felt dizzy, as if there were mosquitoes buzzing around her head.

    “A-Anyway…let’s just take them out.” Adele muttered to herself, scooping the eggs out with a slotted spoon and putting them in the sink to cool down, while also washing away the solidified egg white that had leaked out from the cracks. Although they looked a bit sad, they were still edible.

    After peeling them, Adele gave one to First Snow and one to Xiao Ai. One of them was originally meant for herself, but now she gave it to First Snow. When spoiling children, it was important to be fair. So Adele treated them equally. Of course, Xiao Ai couldn’t eat First Snow’s cat food. Correspondingly, Adele would buy some snacks to compensate her.

    Cats could eat eggs, so First Snow ate hers with relish. As for Xiao Ai, everything about humans was new to her. Even cracked boiled eggs wouldn’t change in taste fundamentally. So the little one’s eyes instantly lit up. Then she opened her mouth and kept saying “Ah…ah…”

    First Snow stared at Xiao Ai with a “silly little girl” expression. She thought that Sister Adele’s new goddaughter seemed a little foolish, not very smart. The complete opposite of Sister Adele. In First Snow’s heart, Sister Adele was always intelligent, cunning, and lewd… Adele thought, I would appreciate it if you didn’t add that last word…

    First Snow probably didn’t understand what was happening, but the quick-witted Adele immediately understood. She thought of the words “delicious” and silently recited them. The next moment, Xiao Ai blinked her beautiful pink eyes and shouted, “Delicious!”

    “Yes! Very good, Xiao Ai!” Adele didn’t skimp on her praise. Although this seemed strange to First Snow, who was watching from the side. Why was saying “delicious” so great? The cat-girl tilted her head, her fluffy ears twitching.

    “Delicious!” She imitated Xiao Ai and gave her own evaluation.

    Adele saw right through what the little cat was thinking. So she smiled gently and reached out to pat the girl’s hair and fluffy ears. As expected, First Snow became happy and purred.

    The scene before her was so heartwarming that Adele truly felt the joy of raising daughters. And not just one, but two. First Snow had the potential of an older child, obedient but with her own thoughts. Xiao Ai was the pampered younger daughter. However, when the two little ones were arguing and playing in a language she couldn’t understand, Adele couldn’t help but feel a little troubled.

    Although it was during the holidays, and Adele was lazy—the kind of person who, if no one urged her to do anything, would procrastinate until the last minute and then rely on a burst of speed to finish it—she had decided to finish her tasks early so she could relax and play games or do whatever she liked. But when faced with the same situation again, Adele would probably repeat her mistakes.

    No, I can’t go on like this. A mysterious force made Adele firmly resolve in her heart. She had to give up the game in front of her and do something serious and meaningful. It wasn’t because she had been on a losing streak! Even if it was…it was only a small part of the reason.

    Adele suddenly pushed the table in front of her, and her wheeled gaming chair rolled back as expected. Using her toes on the ground, Adele controlled its direction and accurately turned it to face First Snow and Xiao Ai, who were playing Gomoku. Looking at the scene before her, the girl sincerely thought, It’s so nice to have company, to do fun things together. And neither First Snow nor Xiao Ai would be lonely like before. She didn’t need to watch them all the time. Because one might not be able to take care of herself, but two together could naturally support each other. First Snow, who had awakened her “big sister” consciousness, might gradually mature and take care of the younger Xiao Ai.

    Besides, Gomoku was also very interesting. Although with First Snow and Xiao Ai’s intelligence and talent, they would probably soon discover the great offensive advantage of the “first move,” and for some, getting the “first move” meant certain victory, before that, they would still feel genuine joy and excitement from the strategic battle on the board.

    “Mama?” Xiao Ai, having just placed her piece, was the first to notice Adele. First Snow, deep in thought, even though her fluffy ears twitched and she clearly heard the sound of Adele turning her chair, didn’t immediately turn around to look at her.

    “It’s…here!”

    “Xiao Ai, you lose!”

    “Huh!?” Xiao Ai turned around in a panic. She began searching the board for First Snow’s winning move, and of course, for any loopholes to make a final counterattack. Currently, First Snow had created a situation where one piece was the endpoint, extending three pieces in two directions. It was a classic tactic where the opponent couldn’t block both sides at the same time and would lose.

    The clever Xiao Ai realized this, clenched her small hands tightly, and began searching for other weaknesses on the board. Because that was her only way to win. To force First Snow to block her with one four-piece line after another, and in the process, find a glimmer of hope that she hadn’t noticed before.

    Adele wasn’t in a hurry and watched with interest. First Snow was initially smug. But soon, the girl’s expression turned serious. Because she found that there were too many places where Xiao Ai could form a four-piece line, meow! She kept blocking, but more and more kept appearing…

    Fortunately, First Snow persevered until the end. No miracle happened, she still won against the younger Xiao Ai. That was because Adele didn’t give any hints. Otherwise, Xiao Ai could have easily won against First Snow. But it was also fortunate that she didn’t, otherwise the game between the children would have lost its meaning.

    “Yay! I won, meow!”

    “The winner has the right to use Sister Adele for a day, meow~”

    “???”

    “Are your stakes already this high!?”

    “No, the point is, you didn’t even ask for my consent for this bet!”

    First Snow smiled playfully. Xiao Ai blinked and looked at Mama in confusion. Now Adele realized that she had been tricked by First Snow. There was no such bet; First Snow was just joking. She smiled helplessly and pulled First Snow into a hug. Although there was no “right to use her for a day,” Adele was still willing to give First Snow a winner’s hug.

    But wait…didn’t that “right to use her for a day” sound a bit wrong? Well, whatever, both First Snow and Xiao Ai were so innocent, how could they have thought of that?

    “What is it, Sister Adele, meow?”

    “Nothing, I’ve just had enough of playing!” It’s definitely not because I’m losing my mind.

    “So I was thinking of learning some magic from you. The Kitty Paw Strike you taught me last time was quite useful~”

    “Hmph, that’s a secret technique I created after a long time, meow~”

    “So what magic do you want to learn, Sister Adele, meow?”

    Hearing this, Xiao Ai also came closer, seemingly curious about magic. As for how she understood the meaning of “magic,” she learned it by reading Adele’s mind.

    Adele pondered for a moment, gently touching her chin with her finger.

    “Is there a kind of…”

    “Like…where you can reach into the screen.”

    “And then slap someone far, far away!?”

    Chapter 321: The Little Thief Cat

    “How could there be such a thing, meow!” First Snow exclaimed. She was just a talented kitty, not a kitty who could create portals with her bare hands! Even Xiao Wei might not be able to do such a thing. Maybe she could, but it would take a lot of effort, and the portal would be unstable and risky. A screen wasn’t a portal; it was a combination of matter, not magic, so it was even more impossible. Only a god could do such a thing. But why would a god do such a boring thing, reaching out from a screen just to slap someone? Unless Sister Adele became a god, then she might do such a nonsensical thing, meow.

    Adele playfully stuck out her pink tongue, trying to cover up her silly question with cuteness. But what she didn’t expect was that her cute act made both First Snow and Xiao Ai gulp. They wanted…to kiss her. Such a cute Sister Adele/Mama.

    “I’m just kidding!”

    “First Snow, just teach me any magic you know.”

    Xiao Ai blinked and suddenly spoke, “Magic! Teach me!” She was also interested in magic!

    “Ugh, you’re so bossy, meow…” First Snow complained. But she was already somewhat familiar with Xiao Ai’s temperament. She was just a human child, nothing special. At least, she hadn’t found anything special about her yet. At most, a little smart, a little cunning?

    “Does Xiao Ai want to learn too?”

    “Then I’ll leave it to First Snow. I’ll pay you with tuna cans as a reward!”

    “Okay, meow!” Although First Snow would get those cans even if she did nothing, just lazing around on the windowsill, wagging her tail and basking in the sun, being able to do something for the person she liked was a happy thing in itself.

    “Maybe we should change locations,” Adele said.

    First Snow blinked. “The magic training ground, meow?”

    “That’s right.” Otherwise, using magic at home would probably result in some damage. Then Adele would have to compensate the school.

    “But it’s vacation, it’s not open, meow.”

    Adele suddenly leaned closer to the cute kitten’s face, narrowing her eyes like a mischievous older sister, making First Snow’s ears turn red. They said bad boys attracted girls, but First Snow felt that Sister Adele was most attractive when she was being mischievous.

    “First Snow, who do you think has the key to the magic training ground~?”

    “Xiao…Xiao Wei?”

    “That’s right, the Headmistress definitely has it, and it’s in her office.”

    “Sister Adele, you mean…you want me to steal it!? Meow!” First Snow cried pitifully. Clearly, she was a good kitty, a law-abiding kitty. So stealing was a no-no.

    “How can it be stealing!?”

    “A scholar’s actions can’t be called stealing…it’s called being eager to learn, understand?”

    “I’m just saving Headmistress Winona the trouble. Otherwise, if I formally asked to borrow it, saying I wanted to practice magic, guess what kind of expression she would have?”

    “She would definitely be surprised and say, ‘You’ve finally seen the light! Here’s the key, return it when you’re done practicing,’ or something like that!” Adele imitated Winona’s tone quite accurately.

    First Snow thought about it carefully. It seemed…that was indeed the case. Xiao Wei liked diligent students. She wouldn’t hesitate to lend the magic training ground to them. Sister Adele’s idea was to avoid troubling Xiao Wei, just go to her office and “take” it.

    “…Okay, if Xiao Wei isn’t there, let’s do that, meow.” First Snow agreed to Adele’s request.

    Xiao Ai nervously shrugged her shoulders. She stared at Adele with wide eyes, blinking. Perhaps she wanted to say something, but found she didn’t have the necessary vocabulary. So she hoped “Mama” could understand her meaning.

    Adele was stunned for a moment before realizing, “Xiao Ai, are you worried…about being seen by others!?”

    “!” Xiao Ai nodded vigorously. Because she realized that her existence seemed to be a bit troublesome for “Mama.” Except for the girls close to Adele, Adele didn’t want anyone else to discover Xiao Ai’s existence. But if Xiao Ai also wanted to learn magic, she couldn’t transform into the “blood jade” form. She had to appear in broad daylight in her current state.

    “It’s okay, there’s no one in the training ground now.”

    “And silly, you just have to call me ‘Sister’ in front of others.”

    “I’m so clever, you have to learn more from me, don’t be so honest!”

    Adele was right. If Xiao Ai called her “Sister,” no one would suspect their relationship. And although Adele had gained some fame, her low Sequence still limited her future. So most people would pay some attention to her, but not too much. And even less attention to Xiao Ai beside her.

    Xiao Ai nodded as if she understood. Then she called out in a crisp, sweet voice, “Sister~”. It made Adele’s heart melt. Great, whether she’s my “daughter” or “sister,” she’s great, meow!

    As for Xiao Ai, her feelings were a bit complicated. So besides “Mama,” there was also “Sister.” It felt…Xiao Ai couldn’t describe the feeling. But if it were Adele, she could express it. In layman’s terms: Interesting gameplay added!

    However, Adele was completely unaware of what was hidden in Xiao Ai’s heart. She asked the two little ones to wait in the dining room while she cooked the remaining noodles. One big bowl and two small bowls of noodles. All eaten clean. First Snow didn’t mind human noodles. As for Xiao Ai, she instantly fell in love with this delicious food!

    Happiness was finding joy and satisfaction in the small fragments of daily life. And the happiness that food could bring was undoubtedly the most direct and intense. Adele was originally lazy and didn’t like cooking. But if she could see Xiao Ai’s surprised and cute expression every time they ate, she might fall in love with cooking and baking.

    After breakfast, the three of them left the dorm and headed towards Headmistress Winona’s residence. If the Headmistress was there, Adele would honestly ask her for the key to the magic training ground. If Winona wasn’t there, hehe, then it was time for the little “thief” cat, First Snow, to make her appearance.

    Xiao Ai was wrapped in a red coat with a hood. From afar, she looked like Little Red Riding Hood with black hair, pink eyes, and fair skin. Extremely cute. If there was a comic convention nearby, she would definitely be the center of attention.

    There were still some students on campus during the holidays, but not many, and they were busy. So few people noticed the trio. They arrived smoothly outside the castle where Headmistress Winona and First Snow lived. First Snow was like at home here. She easily flew inside, unaffected by the defensive magic array Winona had set up against intruders. She arrived at a window on the second floor and, with a flash of golden light, teleported inside.

    “Xiao Wei really isn’t here, meow, then let me think…where is the key to the training ground?”

    Headmistress Winona had been quite busy recently. It seemed that something big had happened in the magical world.

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 138p3

    Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Eight: Keep an Eye on Mommy p3

    …

    “Clatter—”

    Lin Xiwan dragged the blood crystals and corpses, and quickly traveled between the building-trees, running towards the university where the seed bank was located.

    Fortunately, she was not a road idiot. Under the return trip, she quickly ran back to the dormitory building.

    At this time, Lin Jiayao had already woken up. At this time, Lin Jiayao was looking at the virtual panel in front of her, frowning and struggling.

    「Please keep your evolution」
    「1、【Hunting Rhythm Lv.1 (Gold): You are always in the best hunting state】」
    「2、【Perfect Form Lv.1 (Gold): You can evolve the most suitable offensive and defensive forms according to your own evolution】」
    「3、【Super-Sensory Hunt Lv.1 (Gold): Consume mental power and blood crystals to enter a wide-area or regional super-sensory state and obtain super-sensory vision】」

    Annoying…

    She wanted to choose every one of them…

    Before seeing the others, Hunting Rhythm was the skill Lin Jiayao wanted most.

    Not only because it was a passive, but also because it could greatly increase her mental power and combat ability.

    Lin Jiayao had experienced the difference between having Hunting Rhythm and not having Hunting Rhythm. The difference in battle was really too great.

    Without Hunting Rhythm, there were many things to think about in battle, and the consumption of mental power and blood crystals was not particularly accurate.

    But with Hunting Rhythm, all the control of the body and abilities and the control of the rhythm of the battle seemed to become her instinct, allowing her to directly dominate a battle.

    In extreme cases, it could even turn a evenly matched battle into a one-sided slaughter.

    If the system could have any way to tease a B-rank Awakened with a C-rank posture and still get away with it, then only Max’s Hunting Rhythm was the option.

    But in addition to Hunting Rhythm, the other two abilities were also more powerful than the other.

    Form transformation… super-sense… all were super strong abilities experienced in A4. It was really difficult to choose.

    Couldn’t she have them all?

    “Sigh…”

    Without the principle of choosing gold if there was gold, Lin Jiayao could only consider from the direction that she was most lacking in now.

    Super-sense… She didn’t have enough mobility and attack methods. Even if she consumed a lot of blood crystals or tree sap to enter the super-sensory state, her attack would be like scratching an itch—this was assuming the imaginary enemy was a defensive B-rank like No. 5.

    That was to say, now super-sense would not be of much use to her who already had a fixed residence.

    And the second Perfect Form was very strong, had very high growth potential, and was also of the infinitely growing type.

    As long as you had more evolutions, your perverted combat form would also become closer to perfection.

    Of course, the premise was that there were enough evolutions.

    Now Lin Jiayao had more than twenty evolutions, and the ones that could be used for offense could be counted on one hand. No matter how these abilities were integrated, the strength would probably not be too high.

    This was an evolutionary ability that the more evolutions you had, the stronger you would be after choosing.

    It was still Hunting Rhythm. At least it could prevent her from fainting directly after logging into a B-rank, and it could maximize the development of the combat skills of her existing abilities.

    In Kun City, Lin Jiayao was not short of blood crystal consumption. Hunting Rhythm could well make up for Lin Jiayao’s lack of combat skills and endurance.

    After choosing Hunting Rhythm, this evolution was very different.

    There was no familiar warm current pouring into the body, but a bone-chilling coldness emerged from the heart and gradually spread to the whole body.

    After the evolution was over, Lin Jiayao slowly exhaled a cold breath, slowly opened her eyes, and there was no emotion in her eyes, a dead silence.

    Lin Jiayao felt the improvement of her mental power, and various perceptions were rising. Even the pain perception of her body could be slightly lowered, just like when she was in the Training Grounds.

    Reducing the sense of pain could better maintain rational thinking during battle.

    “How long are you going to hang on it?” Lin Jiayao opened her eyes and looked at Huayibai, who was spreading her arms on the wooden board of the upper bunk of the bunk bed and sticking herself on it, and asked.

    Now Huayibai, with her arms spread out in a big character, was hanging on it, her eyes wide open, staring at Lin Jiayao’s eyes, and said aggrievedly:

    “Mommy’s eyes were so scary just now…wuwu… It felt like you were going to eat Huayibai…”

    “Okay… come down.”

    Lin Jiayao shook her head helplessly, and then opened her arms to Huayibai, who was stuck on the bed board.

    “Woo~”

    Huayibai cheered when she saw Mommy’s embrace, and directly stopped using mycelium to stick to the wooden board, and fell straight into Mommy’s arms.

    Huayibai’s body was very light. Even Lin Jiayao could easily catch her without feeling pain, or maybe Hunting Rhythm was instinctively helping her block it.

    “Why did you climb up there?” Lin Jiayao reached out and touched Huayibai’s head, and asked.

    “Sister Xi told me to keep an eye on Mommy,” Huayibai said proudly, “Huayibai has been watching carefully.”

    “Uh… not bad,” There was nothing wrong with what Huayibai said, and Lin Jiayao didn’t know how to refute it, so she changed the subject and asked, “Where did Sister Xi go?”

    “Sister Xi… Huayibai will see… Sister Xi is coming back soon!” Huayibai closed her eyes and felt for a while, and quickly replied.

    As expected, not long after Huayibai replied, the sound of running and dragging came from the door.

    After Lin Jiayao put Huayibai, who was being held, on the ground, the vines covering the dormitory door were lifted by a “black hand”.

    “Yao, Yao, something happened! Something big!” Lin Xiwan, who entered the door, directly put down the things in her hands, and the blood crystals were scattered all over the ground. She quickly walked to Lin Jiayao and said.

    “Sister…” Looking at her sister who was almost covered in ashes, Lin Jiayao blinked and asked, “Is there a coal mine nearby?”

    “Coal mine?” Lin Xiwan subconsciously asked back, “Where is there a coal mine?”

    Coal mines were rich resources. As long as there were, then energy…

    After a few seconds, looking at her dark, ash-covered hands, Lin Xiwan reacted.

    Was she making fun of her sister!

    “Mining, right! I’ll mine you right now!” Lin Xiwan directly pinched her sister’s soft face with her hands covered in black ash. Only when her sister’s face was pinched red and her sister repeatedly begged for mercy in pain did she release her hands.

    “Okay, okay, I was wrong… So what’s the matter?” Lin Jiayao looked at her sister curiously and asked, “The big thing you said just now.”

    Looking at the things that her sister put down just now, she could see that her sister had just gone to “open the treasure chest”, that is, to search for the spoils of war that she hadn’t had time to search after the battle.

    But what did the big thing refer to?

    “Someone came to seek refuge with us,” Lin Xiwan said straightforwardly, “It’s the camp that exchanged water with us before, the one we met in Fuyun City. They seem to have followed us.”

    “Oh?”

    Lin Jiayao was also a little surprised when she heard this.

    So soon a camp came to test the waters?

    Accept them or not? She didn’t seem to have anything prepared here.

    Although her sister in front of her was covered in ashes, she was also looking at herself expectantly.

    Sitting Lin Jiayao, touched the dew on the vines, and then used her hand to help her sister wipe her face.

    While rubbing her sister’s face, Lin Jiayao looked at her sister who was squatting in front of her waiting for an answer, and slowly said:

    “If they don’t mind, let them stay in the ash area outside the building-tree range for a while. We can think about it for a few more days.”

    “That’s fine too.” Lin Xiwan thought for a moment, nodded, and felt that her sister’s idea was good.

    The consideration time was too short. They hadn’t even found a resource point that could be used for a long time, and they really couldn’t support so many people.

    Lin Jiayao originally thought that she would consider accepting people at least when the first batch of food matured, but now it was obviously too early.

    Let them stay in the ash area for a few days first. If there was really no other way, then help them get some clean water and let them leave, which could also be considered humanitarian.

    “You’re so dirty, you can’t wash it clean, go to the pool to wash.” Lin Jiayao said, habitually opening her arms.

    Lin Xiwan also very smoothly, when her sister just opened her arms, directly held her soft body with both hands, looked in the direction of Huayibai and asked:

    “Does Huayibai want to go together?”

    “Huayibai wants to!” Huayibai nodded happily. Huayibai was still very happy to go play in the water.

    Lin Jiayao, in her sister’s arms, rested her chin on her sister’s shoulder, and the system interface appeared in front of her eyes again.

    At this time, a red exclamation mark appeared in the upper right corner of the Hideout affix, seeming to indicate that there were new things that could be built inside, or that there were old creations that could be evolved.

    I wonder if there is anything else new besides the Waypoint that will make people’s eyes light up…

    Lin Jiayao thought so and clicked on the Hideout.

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 288

    Chapter 288: A Hair from the God’s Right Hand

    The passage leading to the underground chamber was riddled with traps and wards, at least a hundred in total.

    Each one was deadly.

    Even Wadsworth had to proceed with extreme caution.

    Finally, he reached the chamber at the deepest level, a vast, cavernous space that stretched beneath the entire palace, perhaps even the entire Imperial City.

    Who living above would suspect the ground beneath their feet was hollow?

    A large, translucent barrier shimmered within the chamber.

    It was the final ward, not designed to kill, but to contain the aura emanating from the colossal object within.

    Without the barrier, the aura alone would have been enough to pulverize the entire city.

    Wadsworth had seen this before, but even so, the sight still filled him with awe and dread.

    Thump… thump…

    His heart pounded in his chest.

    It was a giant arm… a right arm!

    Said to be the remains of a god.

    Wadsworth was a large, powerfully built man, but compared to this colossal limb, he was smaller than a fingernail.

    A thousand years ago, this arm had fallen from the sky, crashing into the Imperial City, creating a massive crater.

    Buildings had been destroyed, countless lives lost. The devastation was said to be comparable to a meteor strike.

    The ancestor of the Aberchian family had sealed the site and built the current palace over it.

    He had silenced all witnesses, making the arm a secret known only to the Aberchian family.

    They sensed the immense power within the arm. If they could harness it, they would be invincible.

    Not just in the Heavenly Continent.

    Even ascending to godhood might be within their grasp.

    This secret had been passed down through generations, known only to the Emperors.

    In the following millennium, the Auville Empire had seen dozens of Emperors, each a remarkable individual, possessing exceptional talent and strength.

    They had conducted countless experiments, trying to harness the arm’s power.

    But their efforts had ended tragically.

    Over ten Emperors had lost their minds, their consciousness consumed by the arm’s power.

    Three had exploded, their bodies unable to contain the immense energy.

    Two had even died in the traps leading to the chamber…

    After becoming Emperor, Wadsworth had studied his ancestors’ research.

    He hadn’t intended to approach the arm so soon. Even through the barrier, he could sense its overwhelming power… but now, he had no choice.

    The Hero’s strength and rapid growth were alarming.

    Too many secrets surrounded him. Wadsworth knew that after the Demon Beasts were dealt with, the Hero would become his greatest enemy.

    By then, he would be like an ant before the Hero’s might.

    He needed to become stronger.

    Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his fear and deactivated the barrier.

    Buzz…

    An immense pressure slammed into him.

    Wadsworth’s legs buckled, and he fell to his knees.

    Despite being one of humanity’s strongest, he couldn’t withstand the pressure. It was far greater than even the Demon King Nagath’s aura.

    Pain filled his eyes as the aura, like needles, pierced them. Blood trickled down his cheeks.

    He saw the arm as if it were alive.

    Despite the passage of millennia, it showed no signs of decay.

    The hairs on the arm swayed slightly.

    It seemed as if it could break free at any moment, bringing ruin to the Heavenly Continent.

    He roared, his fists clenched, struggling to rise.

    But the immense pressure pinned him to the ground, his head lowering towards the cold stone.

    Crack…

    The stone beneath his knees cracked under the pressure.

    He refused to yield, trying to lift his head.

    He crawled towards the God’s Right Hand, his fists and knees scraping against the stone.

    Thud… thud… thud…

    Each movement was a struggle.

    The pressure intensified with each inch he gained.

    Finally, he reached it.

    He extended his trembling hand.

    Crack, crack…

    His fingers broke under the pressure.

    But Wadsworth’s willpower was astonishing. He seemed oblivious to the pain, stretching his arm, a guttural growl escaping his throat.

    Finally… he touched it.

    He grasped a single, thick hair and pulled with all his might.

    Snap.

    The hair broke off.

    Then, he retreated.

    He didn’t aspire to study the entire arm. A single hair, containing immense power and knowledge, would be enough for a lifetime of study.

    He reactivated the barrier.

    The pressure subsided.

    He collapsed, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

    His body, drained of strength, lay on the ground, gasping for breath.

    He was covered in blood.

    The pressure had ruptured his blood vessels and shattered his bones.

    This was the power of a god. Even before a mere fragment of a divine being, humans were as insignificant as ants.

    But Wadsworth’s eyes shone with excitement. He looked at the hair clutched in his hand, a mad grin on his face.

    If… if he could absorb the power within this single hair… he would become the eternal ruler of the Heavenly Continent.

    …

    Meanwhile, at the abandoned church.

    The Goddess’s Hair restrained the monstrous fetus.

    The sapling, now a towering tree, absorbed its power.

    The creature’s energy was immense. It would take the sapling some time to fully digest it.

    Qin Chu walked towards Mavis, who still lay writhing on the ground.

    The so-called God-Mother was barely recognizable, her body charred black.

    But she still crawled towards the creature.

    “Give up,” Qin Chu said, frowning.

    Mavis’s body trembled. Her empty eyes fixed on him, her voice raspy and dry, like scraping metal: “You killed Lance… and now you want to kill my other child.”

    “Why?”

    “I just wanted a child, a family.”

    “Why take even that away from me?”

    Mavis’s life had been tragic.

    This was the fate of the Ice Duchy’s princesses.

    For a thousand years, they had been forced to marry strangers, living out their lives in a foreign land.

    Those who found kind husbands were fortunate.

    But the Emperors of the Auville Empire were always wary of their Ice Duchy brides. They granted them status and privilege, but never love.

    Their social interactions were restricted, their influence limited.

    After the birth of the heir, they were neglected, forbidden from bearing more children.

    Their fate was a lonely life, essentially widows in all but name.

    To the Emperors, they were merely tools for producing powerful offspring.

    Mavis’s voice was filled with anguish and despair.

    Qin Chu watched her silently. After a long moment, he spoke:

    “Your life is tragic, but what does that have to do with me?”

    Truly a cold and heartless man.

    “It doesn’t justify harming Angelica.”

    “And you’re directing your hatred at the wrong person. I never provoked Lance.”

    “He challenged me to a duel.”

    “I didn’t force him to embrace the power of an Evil God.”

    “And I didn’t kill him. Wadsworth did. So, you have no reason to hate me.”

    “Wadsworth executed him, but who truly led him down that path? The father of your second child. He corrupted your son, turning him into a mindless monster.”

    Mavis wanted to cry, but she couldn’t.

    Driven by loneliness and despair, she had sought solace in the worship of a Void entity, believing it would bring her salvation.

    But now, the Hero was telling her that this very entity had destroyed her son?

    Her years of indulgence and depravity… what had it all been for? Her faith crumbled.

    “I promised Anastasia I would grant you a swift death,” Qin Chu continued.

    “Anastasia?”

    Mavis repeated the name, then seemed to smile: “I held her in my arms when she was a child…”

    “It seems Anastasia is more fortunate than I.”

    Qin Chu shook his head: “No, she’s not more fortunate. She’s stronger.”

    “Is that so…”

    Mavis sighed, her empty eyes looking towards the creature. After a long moment, she closed them.

    Qin Chu knew it was time.

    “One last question. Who is the leader of the Witch Society?”

    “I don’t know.”

    He didn’t press further. He ended her suffering, severing her neck and engulfing her body in silver flames.

    Reduced to ashes. Perhaps this was the most merciful death for Mavis, sparing her body from further indignity, from being displayed as a cautionary tale, the fallen Empress.

    The holy fire consumed all traces of corruption.

    And ended the tragic life of a lonely woman.

    Meanwhile, the monstrous fetus’s cries ceased.

    The Goddess’s Hair retracted, and the towering tree shrunk back into a sapling.

    A new leaf had sprouted, but it was a strange purplish-red, an ominous hue.

    It would take the sapling a long time to purify the evil it had absorbed.

    The commotion had drawn the attention of the entire city.

    At the entrance to the cathedral of the Earth Mother Goddess, Saint Monique gazed into the distance, her expression grim.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c19

    Chapter 19: I Roast Myself

    Since the competition format allowed teams of two or more, it was designed to handle ties in average scores.

    As long as there was trust, theoretically, the more members a team had, the better their chances, even with some participants consuming scores.

    So, on the surface, it looked like Gong Yiling was clinging to two strong teammates, but actually—no!

    In reality, she chose to team up with them to ensure the two girls could steadily advance to the top eighty, instead of trying to consume scores on her own.

    “Why should we trust you?” Qiu Shui was still wary.

    Although the woman’s words made sense, it didn’t necessarily mean they could cooperate.

    “You can choose not to trust me.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Four hundred people, each with a card. Getting a total of 15 points isn’t easy.”

    “You two can aim for 14 points, and you don’t have to tell me your score. I’ll aim for 15.”

    If their scores were different, score consumption wouldn’t be possible. And each person only had one chance to request it from the judges. If they used it up without being able to consume any scores, they lost the opportunity.

    Seeing Qiu Shui’s hesitation, Gong Yiling decided to provoke her.

    “Opportunities and challenges coexist. If you two lack the courage, it’s only natural for you to stop here.”

    “You…!”

    Qiu Shui and Lu Xinyao glared at her, feeling a surge of competitiveness.

    But it wasn’t a hostile competitiveness, more like a desire to prove themselves, to refute her words.

    They exchanged glances, confirming each other’s thoughts, then turned to Gong Yiling. “We agree.”

    “Being provoked so easily isn’t a sign of maturity.”

    Gong Yiling chuckled, then turned and waved dismissively before they could reply. “Thank you for your generosity. See you tomorrow.”

    She left gracefully, but her words had a significant impact on the two girls.

    Later that evening, they were still sulking when Gong Yiling noticed.

    “I heard the rules for tomorrow’s competition have been confirmed.”

    Gong Yiling casually mentioned it while eating the late-night snacks Yan Chuyue brought them. “Is there something wrong with the rules? You two don’t seem happy.”

    Qiu Shui mumbled, “It’s not the rules.”

    “Then what?”

    Little Heehee immediately chimed in, “We met a very annoying person.”

    “Annoying person?”

    “Yes!” Little Heehee said indignantly. “That bad person said Qiu Shui and I lack courage and aren’t mature!”

    Gong Yiling feigned surprise. “How could she say such a thing? That’s outrageous!”

    “Yes,” Little Heehee stuck out her tongue. “But we still let her join our team. We’ll show her we’re not like what she said.”

    Gong Yiling nodded. “Yes, you should teach her a lesson. That clueless idiot! I hope her food has no seasoning!”

    “Pfft—”

    Yan Chuyue burst out laughing.

    Qiu Shui and Little Heehee looked at her, puzzled.

    “What’s wrong?”

    “Nothing, nothing.” Yan Chuyue waved her hand dismissively. “I just remembered a funny story.”

    “What story?”

    “There was once a pig. When asked what pigs looked like, it said pigs were stupid.”

    Was… that story funny?

    Qiu Shui and Little Heehee exchanged glances, confusion in their eyes.

    Of course…

    Just because they didn’t understand didn’t mean Gong Yiling didn’t.

    Miss Gong rolled her eyes at Yan Chuyue, grabbed another skewer, and stuffed it into her mouth…

    “What the hell is this? No seasoning! Negative review!!!”

    —

    —

    The next day, all the participants were taken to a suburban area outside the city.

    It was the royal hunting grounds, the Yanxing Great Forest.

    Blessed with favorable natural conditions, it was ideal for cultivating various herbs and was home to many unique demonic beasts.

    It was only open to the public once or twice a year, either for competitions like this or for the royal family’s spring and summer hunts.

    Therefore, the plants here had at least six months of recovery time, and there were still many rare items to be found.

    And…

    If one were lucky enough to find one of the hidden secret realms, it would be more than just a small fortune.

    “The rules have been posted yesterday, and those with questions have received explanations,”

    The man standing at the front of the group was another influential figure of the Heartflame Empire.

    Prince Changning, Shangguan Yaochang.

    He was the current Emperor’s younger brother and a former contender for the throne. The previous Emperor supposedly favored him.

    However, he had voluntarily withdrawn from the competition, accepting the title of prince and some insignificant responsibilities.

    Even now, many were puzzled by his decision.

    But only he knew his true intentions.

    Now, this stern-faced man was explaining the final rules.

    “This Yanxing Great Forest is eight times the size of Yanlie City, divided into an outer and central area.”

    “You are only allowed in the outer area. There’s a clearly marked barrier between the two.”

    “In the outer area, besides collecting number cards, you can also search for treasures. You have twelve hours, and anything you find during this period belongs to you. The Heartflame Empire won’t claim any of it.”

    Hearing this, everyone was excited.

    Even if they lost their number cards, they could still earn some travel expenses. What a great perk!

    Then, someone asked, “What about… the central area?”

    “The central area?” Shangguan Yaochang sneered. “If you can break through the Earth-grade barrier and enter the central area, I won’t stop you.”

    “However, if you wish to withdraw from the competition in the outer area, crush the crystal I’ll give you, and you’ll be protected until someone escorts you out.”

    “But in the central area, you’re on your own.”

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 220

    Chapter 220: Ambush and Attack, Visiting the Magistrate

    The demon was terrified, his mind reeling.

    —What was going on?!

    How had this frail-looking scholar appeared beside him so suddenly?

    And who was that powerful being in the next room, who had effortlessly dispelled his formation and forced him to reveal his true form?

    Had his actions been seen through from the beginning? Had he been playing right into their hands?

    Panicked, the demon’s face darkened, and he swatted Lin Tianlu’s hand away, preparing to flee.

    This inn was too dangerous. If he stayed any longer, he might not survive!

    He would retreat for now, regroup, and gather his—

    “Huh?”

    The demon stumbled, his shoulder suddenly lighter, almost falling to his knees.

    He stared at his right arm, his face filled with confusion.

    The arm he had just been using to attack… was gone, only a wisp of Yin energy dissipating into the air.

    “Couldn’t you have just talked to us nicely?”

    Lin Tianlu dusted off his sleeve, his expression exasperated. “You hurt yourself, and we haven’t even done anything yet.”

    “H-how is this possible—”

    The demon’s eyes widened in horror, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

    He hadn’t even seen what had happened… No, had his arm simply vanished because he touched this man’s hand?

    What kind of monster was this?!

    “Don’t even think about running.”

    A clear and ethereal voice echoed through the hallway.

    The demon turned to see a beautiful woman with silver hair emerging from the next room, her movements graceful as she raised her hand, creating ripples of energy in the air.

    Although her actions seemed effortless, to the demon, it was a death sentence. He was trapped, surrounded by an inescapable web of Yin techniques!

    “Tell us who you are, what your purpose is, and the names of your accomplices.”

    Mao Ruoyu’s voice was cold and sharp.

    Although she hadn’t left the room, she had heard their conversation and knew what was happening.

    “You—”

    The demon’s face twisted in rage, realizing he had no escape. He prepared to fight to the death.

    “Now, now, demon friend. Do you really want to resist?”

    Lin Tianlu approached him, a playful smile on his face. “I think we can resolve this peacefully if we just talk.”

    “Stay… back!” The demon roared, unleashing a torrent of Yin energy, a shadowy maw appearing, ready to devour Lin Tianlu whole.

    But…

    “Huh?”

    The demon’s ferocious expression froze, his narrowed eyes widening in shock.

    The light in his eyes faded, replaced by an abyss of terror and despair.

    In an instant, an overwhelming force, like heavenly retribution, crushed his soul, his body dissolving into mist before he could even utter a word.

    “Ah…”

    Lin Tianlu was stunned, a strange expression on his face. “That works too?”

    He hadn’t even attacked yet, and this demon had… scared himself to death?

    “He was truly foolish, trying to resist.”

    Hua Shuya sheathed her sword and walked into the hallway, her gaze fixed on the spot where the demon had vanished.

    “It’s a shame we didn’t get to question him.” Lin Tianlu sighed.

    If he had known the demon was so fragile, he would have just talked to him directly, instead of setting up this elaborate trap.

    “I apologize for disturbing your rest, Ruoyu.”

    “I had just fallen asleep. It’s nothing.” Mao Ruoyu smiled gently, smoothing her hair.

    “Th-this—”

    The constables stared at the scene, their minds reeling.

    The terrifying demon, who had seemed so powerful just moments ago, had been annihilated effortlessly by this seemingly ordinary scholar.

    What kind of power did he possess?!

    Hu Siqi collapsed to the ground, her body trembling with relief and a lingering fear.

    She had been so foolish, trying to rob such a powerful individual…

    She was lucky to be alive!

    “Officer, when you return to the county office, please inform your Magistrate Ma about this.”

    Lin Tianlu turned to the constables, his voice calm. “Those demons and ghosts are not to be trifled with. If you intend to fight them, you can’t be careless or arrogant. You might fall into their traps.”

    The middle-aged constable’s expression turned serious, and he regained his composure, bowing deeply. “Thank you for saving us, Master. If it weren’t for you, we would have all died here tonight.”

    The other constables also bowed respectfully, their previous arrogance gone.

    They had faced demons and ghosts before and knew how dangerous the situation had been, far beyond their abilities. Recalling the gruesome deaths they had witnessed, they couldn’t help but shudder.

    Lin Tianlu smiled. “Now do you believe me, officers? That young lady hasn’t killed anyone. She’s just a petty thief. There’s no need for such harsh punishment.”

    “We’ll keep that in mind, Sir.”

    The middle-aged constable hesitated for a moment, then bowed again. “We were blind and ignorant, not recognizing your extraordinary power, Master. You’re practically a divine being. We’re truly humbled.

    But we have a request… Please come with us to the county office. Magistrate Ma would be honored to meet you!”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled. “Is Magistrate Ma not busy anymore?”

    The constable’s face paled, and he said quickly, “He’s not busy! Not busy at all! Please forgive my earlier rudeness, Master! If I offended you in any way, please punish me as you see fit! I won’t resist!”

    “There’s no need for such dramatics.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled and patted his shoulder. “I was just joking. You’re all too tense. Relax. We’re not monsters. There’s no need to be so formal.”

    “Th-thank you for your generosity, Master.” The constable’s face was filled with gratitude.

    “Since you’re all unharmed, take me to Magistrate Ma.”

    Lin Tianlu turned to Hua Shuya and Mao Ruoyu, who had joined them. He smiled. “Why don’t you two rest here at the inn? It should be safe now. And please keep an eye on Yun Yue… She seems to be undergoing some kind of transformation.”

    Mao Ruoyu nodded slightly. “We’ll take care of everything here, Sir. And we’ll repair the damage to the inn with Yin techniques, so no one will notice.”

    Fortunately, the demon’s formation had also contained a sleep-inducing effect. Almost everyone in the inn, including the innkeeper and the guests, was still asleep. It had been meant to prevent them from interfering, but now it was preventing chaos and panic.

    And with the Moon Shadow Breath and the newly learned Moon Shadow techniques, Mao Ruoyu’s control over Yin energy had increased significantly.

    Even if there was chaos, she could easily restore order.

    “Please come back soon, Senior.” Hua Shuya frowned slightly. “But is Miss Yun Yue really alright…?”

    “Don’t worry.”

    Lin Tianlu tapped his forehead. “I sense something. It’s not harmful. In fact, it’s beneficial. We just have to wait.”

    He had sensed a change in Yun Yue before leaving the Lunar Valley.

    It was as if she had formed a connection with the ethereal Mount Taiyi within him, their souls resonating, a faint stream of spiritual energy flowing into her body.

    “Alright, then Madam and I will wait here.” Hua Shuya’s worry subsided.

    After their trip to the Lunar Valley, she had a better understanding of Lin Tianlu’s true power. There was no need for her to worry about his safety.

    “Th-then I…”

    A weak and hesitant voice came from behind them.

    They turned to see Hu Siqi, her face pale, her body trembling as she clung to a chair for support. “Can I go home now…?”

    “No.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled gently. “Even attempted theft is a crime, Miss. You have to go with these officers to the county office. You might not be executed, but you’ll still be punished.”

    “…”

    Hu Siqi’s legs almost gave way, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

    But she forced a smile, chuckling nervously.

    She was now even more terrified that if she dared to disobey, she would suffer the same fate as that demon, annihilated without a trace.

    …

    It was past the second watch, and the night was dark.

    But the county office in Anshi County was brightly lit.

    Lin Tianlu, escorted by the constables, looked around curiously.

    It was late, yet the county office was still bustling with activity, constables coming and going, still busy with their work.

    It seemed that the situation in Anshi County was still unstable.

    “This way, Master.”

    The middle-aged constable gestured respectfully. “I’ve already sent someone to inform him. Magistrate Ma is waiting for you in his study.”

    “Alright.”

    Lin Tianlu, followed by the trembling Hu Siqi, entered the county office and saw the grand and imposing main hall.

    “Th-this—”

    Seeing the various torture devices displayed in the hall, such as the tiger head guillotine and the tiger bench, Hu Siqi’s face paled, and she almost turned and ran.

    She was a thief, why would she willingly enter a county office?!

    The sight of those instruments of torture, imagining them being used on her, made her legs tremble.

    But Lin Tianlu noticed her fear and patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Miss Siqi. You haven’t killed anyone. Even if you’ve stolen a few things, you’ll just spend a few months in jail. It’s better than living in constant fear, running and hiding.”

    “I-I understand.” Hu Siqi took a few deep breaths.

    “This way, Master Lin.”

    The constable led them through the building.

    …

    They walked through a winding corridor, finally reaching the study.

    Although the door and windows were closed, they could still see the flickering candlelight and a faint silhouette inside.

    Creak

    The door opened, and Lin Tianlu and Hu Siqi entered.

    “Magistrate Ma, we’ve brought the woman you asked us to capture.”

    The constable bowed respectfully. “And this is Master Lin, the man we mentioned earlier. He possesses extraordinary power, capable of destroying powerful demons with a single strike. He could be a great asset to Anshi County!”

    “I’m aware. You can leave now.”

    A deep, raspy voice came from behind a translucent screen. The figure inside remained motionless.

    The constable hesitated for a moment, then bowed again and left the room.

    After the door closed, the magistrate’s voice echoed again.

    “I heard from the constable that you effortlessly destroyed a demon of the Evil Spirit Realm, Master Lin?”

    “It was just a fluke.” Lin Tianlu bowed slightly, his voice calm and steady. “I wanted to capture him alive and question him. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned.”

    “Truly… remarkable.”

    A hand reached out from behind the screen, pulling it aside and revealing a hunched figure, an elderly man with a withered face, his hair and beard white, his eyes deep and ancient, as if they had witnessed countless lifetimes.

    And…

    Lin Tianlu’s eyes narrowed, sensing something strange.

    A deep and bitter resentment emanated from this man, an aura of malice even stronger than that of the demon they had just encountered!

    “Now that I’m looking at you closely, Master Lin, you truly are as impressive as the constable described, your appearance and aura quite extraordinary.”

    Magistrate Ma’s voice was filled with a hint of admiration.

    Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “You’re also quite impressive, Magistrate Ma.”

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 43

    Chapter 43: I Like You Very Much

    “—Besides Zaozao, have you given the original version of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to anyone else?”

    “—Who?”

    These two sudden questions, like a perfectly fitting key, unlocked the long-sealed shackles of memory.

    As her thoughts raced, Ming Fei was pulled back to a snowy night many years ago.

    The first snow of the year fell on the border of the Ole Empire.

    Thirteen-year-old Ming Fei had just met her third set of adoptive parents.

    Compared to the previous two, her first impression of the third set was gentle, like the melodious sound of a zither on a drizzly night.

    But the two previous bad adoption experiences made her resistant to entering another family.

    When the dean came to talk to Ming Fei, she originally wanted to refuse directly, but after hearing about the orphanage’s financial difficulties and various predicaments, and seeing the dean’s hopeful gaze, she relented and agreed.

    The third adoptive parent’s name was Shu Hui, a 35-year-old female beta, and also an inheritor of the orchid drum craft. Her partner, also a beta, was named Li Xianxiao. They ran a dessert shop together, owned a house and a car without any loans, and lived a relatively comfortable life.

    On Ming Fei’s first day in their home, Li Xianxiao prepared a beautiful flower cake for her.

    It was the first time Ming Fei had eaten such a beautiful, soft, and sweet cake. She was both careful and reserved, her slender figure like a sapling battered by the wind and snow outside the window.

    Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao noticed her apprehension and caution.

    They spent nearly half a month patiently building a closer relationship with Ming Fei, including but not limited to setting up a cozy bedroom for her, converting a small guest room into her study, taking her to bustling shopping malls to buy clothes, a communicator, and so on.

    They even prepared small gifts for her every Monday and Friday.

    Half a month later, Ming Fei took the initiative to share interesting stories from her classes with them for the first time.

    Both of them smiled, their worried hearts finally at ease.

    A month later, Ming Fei took the initiative to go for a walk in the park with them and used her free time on the weekend to cook dinner for them according to their tastes.

    The two were overjoyed, as if they had found a treasure.

    It was also on the thirtieth day after arriving at her new home that Ming Fei registered on “Supporters of the Rose,” a platform developed by supporters of the Mehertaer faction.

    Because her peers at school had mostly undergone differentiation predictions arranged by their families, and joined the frenzy of domestication based on the prediction results.

    As a supporter of the Mehertaer faction, Ming Fei couldn’t understand the Ole Empire’s alienation and training.

    Therefore, although she was polite to others at school, she mostly kept to herself, not participating in any group’s implicit training.

    When registering on “Supporters of the Rose,” she chose a white dog avatar, then used the name of a tree from a certain book as her nickname. After that, she logged in and started browsing the latest news from the Mehertaer faction.

    According to the rules of “Supporters of the Rose,” new registrants would have a separate page for communication on the day of registration.

    Ming Fei saw a nickname on that page.

    [One Raccoon Hill]

    She immediately guessed where this nickname came from.

    —It was from the same book as her nickname, “Records of Ancient Mountains,” and her nickname, Tree of Mystical Jade, was the divine tree that grew on One Raccoon Hill.

    Ming Fei, sitting in her study chair, blinked, thinking, what a coincidence.

    But she didn’t bother the other person. Even though she didn’t have many friends at school or in life, she didn’t prioritize making friends. She registered on “Supporters of the Rose” just to stay updated on the latest news from the Mehertaer faction.

    Besides, she was already used to being alone.

    On the fortieth day after arriving at her new home, Shu Hui taught her how to make orchid drums. She had nimble hands and learned how to make drums in less than a week.

    On the sixteenth day after registering on “Supporters of the Rose,” Ming Fei, after finishing her homework and reading, washed up and logged in again.

    She focused on the public page, intently browsing the analysis posts on the Mehertaer faction’s activities and liking the posts.

    As she was about to exit, she accidentally touched the nearby recommendations, and saw a familiar nickname among them.

    [One Raccoon Hill]

    This second encounter piqued Ming Fei’s rare curiosity.

    She stared at the other person’s orange cat avatar, struggling internally. She flipped a coin, and when it landed in her palm, seeing that it was heads, representing “yes,” she mustered the courage and clicked on the other person’s profile.

    One Raccoon Hill was very mysterious.

    The personal page was blank, with only a system-generated message.

    [Today is the sixteenth day since One Raccoon Hill registered on Supporters of the Rose. Nice to meet everyone ^^]

    Looking at the zero likes on the post, Ming Fei hesitated for a moment, then lightly touched the like button, successfully changing the number to one.

    A gust of wind howled past, and the chill seeped in through the window cracks.

    Ming Fei, who had been afraid of the cold since childhood, immediately got up and closed the window, making sure the crack was completely sealed before looking down at the display screen of her communicator.

    [22:47, December 27, user One Raccoon Hill liked your post ^^]

    Ming Fei was a little surprised. She clicked on the details page of the system message and found that One Raccoon Hill had also liked her system-generated post.

    Although she had been abandoned as a child and then experienced two more abandonments, Ming Fei had always been a polite child. Following the principle of reciprocity, and considering the shared origin of their nicknames from the same book, she followed the other person.

    The next moment—

    A new message from One Raccoon Hill popped up.

    [One Raccoon Hill: Hello, do you also like to eat pears?]

    Ming Fei, who was somewhat socially anxious, widened her eyes.

    Her brain even froze for a moment, like an old robot suddenly malfunctioning, staring at the display screen without blinking.

    It wasn’t until the malfunction was automatically repaired that her brain started working again at high speed.

    After typing and deleting several times, Ming Fei replied politely, also explaining the meaning behind her nickname.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: What a coincidence, hello, pears are delicious. The Tree of Mystical Jade is a divine tree that grows on the top of One Raccoon Hill, representing freedom and courage. Its branches and leaves are made of jade and crystals. I chose this nickname because my name happens to have a character related to jade and crystals ^^]

    One Raccoon Hill replied quickly, and after replying, politely ended the conversation.

    Ming Fei didn’t dwell on this small interlude. She continued her daily life, going to school, eating, resting, and sometimes even taking the initiative to cook dinner for her two adoptive parents, and after finishing, riding her electric scooter to deliver it to their dessert shop.

    As time went by, she gradually got used to this new home and got along better and better with Shu Hui, at least no longer feeling as awkward and uneasy as she had at the beginning.

    Another month later, she independently made an orchid drum unlike any other on the market. Although a small accident occurred during the making process, because of this accident, she dyed the drum surface a light purple that was only visible in sunlight.

    This was her unique creation, and she named this orchid drum—the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.

    Because of the joy and excitement of her first design, Ming Fei shared photos of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum on her “Supporters of the Rose” account.

    After posting, Ming Fei went to the living room for dinner. Two hours later, when she returned to her room, because she hadn’t logged out of “Supporters of the Rose,” a new message from One Raccoon Hill popped up on the communicator’s display screen.

    Ming Fei was a little surprised to receive a message from One Raccoon Hill after a month.

    [One Raccoon Hill: Hello, may I ask where you bought this drum?]

    After reading the message, Ming Fei’s surprise gradually turned into happiness, because this sentence felt like affirmation and recognition.

    To confirm her guess, she flipped a coin again, and after getting “yes” again, she typed and asked,

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: Hello, do you like it?]

    The other party’s subsequent messages all expressed their love for the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum without reservation, which made Ming Fei even happier, her round almond eyes curving into crescents, and the small dimple on her right cheek appearing as the corners of her lips curled up.

    She briefly introduced the making process of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to One Raccoon Hill, and after sending the message, she received generous praise from One Raccoon Hill.

    [One Raccoon Hill: You did very well.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: When you grow up, you will definitely become a world-renowned drum maker.]

    This was the first time Ming Fei had received such straightforward and grand praise.

    Most of the time, she was overlooked because of her shy personality, and few people praised her like this.

    She was a little embarrassed, her eyelashes fluttering as she replied.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: Thank you ^^]

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: You just asked about my age, if it’s convenient, could you tell me how old you are?]

    [One Raccoon Hill: Three years older than you.]

    Ming Fei looked at the other party’s orange cat avatar, added three cat emojis at the end of the other party’s system default nickname, and replied politely.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: Okay, then I’m three years younger.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: How tall are you?]

    Because of some malnutrition in the orphanage, Ming Fei wasn’t very tall for her age, just over 162 centimeters.

    She replied without hiding anything.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: 162 centimeters.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: I’m taller than you.]

    So, in Ming Fei’s imagination, the image of One Raccoon Hill became a large orange cat.

    They started chatting about the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum, and that night, Ming Fei didn’t even read before bed. Later, as supporters of the Mehertaer faction, they contacted each other more and more often, and had more and more topics to talk about.

    The Ole Empire’s domestication was everywhere. Even the children in the orphanage who hadn’t differentiated yet fully agreed with the Kerry Declaration and strived to differentiate into alphas or omegas.

    Before One Raccoon Hill, Ming Fei had never had anyone to talk to about the wider world. When the frequency of their chats gradually increased to once every two days, she considered the other party her first friend and wrote the nickname One Raccoon Hill in her diary.

    [Many lucky things happened this year. I met people who are very good to me, and I also met my first friend. Her nickname is One Raccoon Hill. I like her very much and hope our friendship will last forever (>v<)]

    Later, when the frequency of their chats increased to once every day and a half, Ming Fei received some news.

    —Shu Hui was pregnant.

    And the reason the two had adopted her was entirely because… the pregnancy rate for two betas was low, and Shu Hui had been in a car accident in her early years, making it difficult for her to have children.

    After learning this news, Ming Fei didn’t have any suspicions. She was happy for the smiles on their faces and also worried about Shu Hui’s health.

    Before going to bed that night, she received a message from One Raccoon Hill.

    [One Raccoon Hill: My seventeenth birthday is next month.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: I’ll be four years older than you soon.]

    Ming Fei blinked.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: Wow~]

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: Then is it convenient for you to give me an address? I want to send you a birthday gift.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: Yes.]

    [One Raccoon Hill: But there must be reciprocity. You also have to give me an address, and I will send you a gift in return.]

    Ming Fei was a little puzzled.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: My birthday hasn’t arrived yet, why should I give a return gift?]

    The other party’s reply was always direct and frank.

    [One Raccoon Hill: Have you ever seen an older sister take advantage of a younger sister?]

    Ming Fei’s gaze fixed on those two words.

    …Older sister?

    One Raccoon Hill actually saw her as a younger sister!

    Her surprise was mixed with happiness, because she had stayed in the orphanage for so long, and before being adopted for the third time, she had become the oldest child there.

    So, she had always taken on the role of a caregiver, accustomed to being tolerant, forgiving, even ignored and neglected.

    Ming Fei repeatedly looked at One Raccoon Hill’s reply and decided to give her a unique Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.

    However, just one day before finishing the drum, she accidentally overheard a conversation between Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao.

    Li Xianxiao said, “Send her back.”

    Shu Hui’s tone was hesitant: “Will this…”

    “Will what?” Li Xianxiao said decisively, “The cost of raising two children is high, especially since your health isn’t good. The birthing costs will be several times higher. Sending her back now is already being benevolent.”

    “But when we adopted her, we said we would always—”

    Li Xianxiao interrupted: “That’s because we didn’t have our own child yet. But now our own child is coming, and we have no reason to raise another orphan. Do you want our child to face a stranger with no blood relation after they’re born?”

    “Or are you happy to be asked by our child why we adopted an orphan before they arrived?” Li Xianxiao continued, “Why let a stranger into our home to compete with them for things?”

    Ming Fei, hiding behind the door, her pupils constricted, her pale fingertips clenching the corner of her clothes.

    After a long silence, Shu Hui finally compromised.

    “—Then send her back.”

    That night, after discovering their true thoughts, Ming Fei was repeatedly awakened by nightmares. After waking up for the third time, she got out of bed with a pale face and started making the drum, working through the night to finish the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum by the next morning.

    Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao went to the hospital for a checkup. Ming Fei left this home that never belonged to her and sent the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to the address One Raccoon Hill had given her.

    After completing this crucial task, Ming Fei walked silently along the lakeside path.

    The path was filled with couples or families of three walking hand in hand. Only Ming Fei was alone, all the way to the end of the path.

    She walked slowly, each step seemingly heavy, her face pale. After returning to the starting point of the path, she sat on a stone bench like a homeless wanderer.

    At noon, back in the house, Shu Hui confessed to Ming Fei alone.

    Her eyes were filled with guilt, sadness, and helplessness, but mostly with determination and relief.

    Relief that Ming Fei was an obedient child.

    Relief that Ming Fei said it was okay after hearing the news.

    “It’s okay.” Ming Fei repeated softly, as if comforting herself, “It’s okay.”

    She calmly accepted the final outcome and agreed with them that she would leave tomorrow. She didn’t cry when the door closed.

    But when she logged into her account to send a message to One Raccoon Hill, her vision blurred with tears.

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: I’m a little sad.]

    [Tree of Mystical Jade: …Jiejie, I feel terrible today.]

    A whole night passed, and One Raccoon Hill didn’t reply. And when she packed her things and logged into “Supporters of the Rose” again, she found that One Raccoon Hill’s account had been deleted.

    Without any warning, completely disappearing from her world.

    The tears Ming Fei had been holding back finally fell. She tried searching again, repeatedly checking if there was a problem with her own account, but no matter what she did, the system kept reminding her—there was no mistake, the other party had really deleted their account.

    The constantly flashing red words made her burst into tears.

    She cried silently, thinking she had already gotten used to it, that she could be indifferent, not attached, not lingering. But her tears told her that wasn’t the case. She was just forced to get used to it, forced to be indifferent.

    In this vast world, she was once again abandoned by everyone, left alone, walking alone in the wind and snow.

    Therefore—

    Nearly thirteen years later, facing Zhu Yiqiao’s question, the now 25-year-old Ming Fei, 183 centimeters tall, after a brief hesitation, answered softly,

    “A friend.”

    After saying that, she paused, thinking that this answer might not be comprehensive enough, and then thought of a more appropriate answer.

    “An… online friend I knew before.”

    Zhu Yiqiao, who had asked the question, remained calm and collected, like a chess player in control. Only the pheromone bracelet on her wrist flickered.

    —The surging pheromones revealed her… concern.

    She looked at Ming Fei and asked, “Just an online friend?”

  • Friend(GL) 114

    Chapter 114: It’s Not

    Wu Xiulian, seeing You Ruxu, froze. She rushed over, her eyes wide with surprise, “Xu Xu, you…”

    You Ruxu said, “Aunt, let’s go home.”

    She stopped Wu Xiulian from going back inside with a look, holding her hand, knowing she wanted to explain to Yu Qiao, but Wu Xiulian had done this for her, for her…

    Wu Xiulian paused for a moment, then quickly helped You Ruxu take off her soiled jacket, covering her with her own. You Ruxu’s hair was a mess, her face stained with food, yet her expression was calm, as if nothing had happened, “Auntie has every right to be angry.”

    Wu Xiulian only noticed the cut on You Ruxu’s hand after cleaning her up.

    She looked at You Ruxu.

    You Ruxu pulled back her hand slightly, “It was an accident.”

    “Xu Xu.” Wu Xiulian’s voice choked with tears. “I’m so sorry!”

    You Ruxu said, “It’s not your fault, Aunt.” She said, “Let’s go home, Chen Xiang is waiting for me.”

    Wu Xiulian’s eyes were filled with tears. She nodded and helped You Ruxu into the car.

    It had been a long time since You Ruxu had been home. During her stay at the hospital, she missed the apartment she shared with Zhou Tianzui. Wu Xiulian stood in the living room, looking around, the apartment clean and tidy. You Ruxu went to change. Wu Xiulian, holding the first-aid kit, cleaned and bandaged You Ruxu’s wound when she came out. You Ruxu seemed numb, her expression blank and impassive.

    Wu Xiulian looked at her, putting the first-aid kit aside after she finished, and called out, “Xu Xu…”

    “Aunt,” You Ruxu said, “Zhou Tianzui and I will work things out.”

    This child…

    Wu Xiulian looked down.

    You Ruxu said, “Should we go to the TV station?”

    Wu Xiulian drove her there. Chen Xiang, seeing them, was surprised, “Teacher You, what happened to your hand?”

    “It’s nothing, just a small accident. Have you prepared everything?” You Ruxu looked at Chen Xiang, a faint smile on her pale face, like a white rose blooming in the winter wind, delicate yet resilient, a quiet strength beneath the fragile exterior.

    Chen Xiang couldn’t help but stare.

    She thought You Ruxu was truly blessed, beautiful, with a captivating voice, even looking stunning when sick, it was unfair! And most importantly, her work ethic, clear and pure, her talent undeniable, truly deserving of the nickname, You Jiaoyue (You Bright Moon).

    You Ruxu looked at her, “Chen Xiang?”

    Chen Xiang returned to her senses, “Yes?”

    She smiled, “Then let’s go.”

    The other colleagues were curious, but knowing the rules of an anonymous interview, they suppressed their curiosity, watching as Chen Xiang wheeled You Ruxu out. On the way, Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, is there anything wrong with the interview script?”

    You Ruxu took the script, having read it once before. Chen Xiang had made some minor adjustments last night, “Why did you change this part?”

    “I thought the question was too harsh.” Chen Xiang said, “I tried to put myself in her shoes. The interviewee was only four or five years old back then, her mother had just died, it was a traumatic experience, if she wasn’t thinking clearly and said something, it’s understandable. And the blame shouldn’t be entirely on her, even the police didn’t convict anyone, it was just the public outcry…”

    Partly because of the media’s sensationalized reporting, exaggerating the story, combined with the irrational public, that had blown the incident out of proportion.

    You Ruxu said, “Wrong is wrong, being young isn’t an excuse.”

    It was precisely because of the lack of evidence that they couldn’t press charges back then, her words becoming the final straw, her “accusation” the only “evidence” during the height of the scandal.

    Although her statement wasn’t officially used by the police, the damage was done.

    Chen Xiang said, “But…”

    “Change it back.” You Ruxu said, “And this part too.”

    Chen Xiang said, “Okay.”

    You Ruxu looked down at the script, then as they reached the interview location, she said, “Let’s change the location.”

    Chen Xiang was surprised, “To where?”

    You Ruxu said, “To my apartment.”

    Chen Xiang thought for a moment, “Is it because the interviewee doesn’t want to come here?”

    You Ruxu said, “Something like that.”

    “Okay.” Chen Xiang said, “As long as the interview happens, I don’t mind.”

    After all, the news was already out, if the interviewee backed out now, she would be in trouble, so even changing the location ten times wouldn’t be a problem.

    Chen Xiang turned the car around and drove towards You Ruxu’s apartment. On the way, she asked, “Teacher You, what does this interviewee do?”

    You Ruxu looked out the window, “A reporter.”

    “A reporter?” Chen Xiang paused, “A colleague? Still working in Jindu?”

    You Ruxu said, “Yes.”

    Chen Xiang’s surprise was evident. Her curiosity about this interviewee intensified. When they arrived, You Ruxu held her bag, and Chen Xiang said, “Let me carry that…”

    You Ruxu said, “It’s okay, it’s not heavy.”

    “But your hand and leg are injured.” Chen Xiang said, “I don’t want you to overexert yourself!”

    You Ruxu smiled faintly. Chen Xiang carried the bags and followed You Ruxu into the elevator, “Why is she at your apartment? Teacher You, did you two know each other before?”

    You Ruxu said, “You’ll find out soon.”

    Chen Xiang couldn’t contain her curiosity, “Is it someone, I also know?”

    You Ruxu looked down, not answering.

    Chen Xiang swallowed, her heart pounding, she felt like she was on the verge of discovering the truth, just waiting for the door to open.

    The door opened.

    No one was inside.

    Chen Xiang looked around, puzzled, “Teacher You, where is she?”

    You Ruxu looked at her and said, “She’s right in front of you.”

    “Where? Isn’t it just…” Chen Xiang’s voice trailed off, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at You Ruxu, speechless.

    “Teacher You, why did you come to Jindu?”

    “Teacher You, why did you become a reporter?”

    You Ruxu just looked at her quietly.

    Chen Xiang stood there, frozen.

    She was stunned, having covered countless news stories, but this was definitely the most shocking. After a long moment, she finally managed, “You?”

    You Ruxu nodded, “It’s me.”

    Chen Xiang’s mind was in a whirl, a thousand questions, a thousand words, but she didn’t know where to begin. Finally, she asked, “Then, does Dr. Zhou know?”

    You Ruxu pursed her lips.

    Zhou Tianzui lay in bed, Yu Qiao hadn’t visited all morning. She frowned and looked at her phone, it was just past ten o’clock. There was a noise at the door, and she looked over, Yu Qiao walked in, carrying a bag.

    Yu Qiao’s face was grim as she placed the thermos on the table. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

    “Nothing.” Yu Qiao said, “I made you lunch, have you eaten breakfast yet?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, why didn’t you answer my calls this morning?”

    “I left my phone at home, I was out shopping.” Yu Qiao said, “I’ll pour you some chicken soup, let it cool down a bit.”

    Zhou Tianzui watched her busy herself around the room.

    Yu Qiao seemed to have aged considerably in the past few days. She used to dye her hair whenever she saw a gray strand, not wanting Zhou Tianzui to think she was old, worried about her. Now, her temples were gray.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, don’t bother, just rest for a bit.”

    Yu Qiao placed a bowl of soup on the table and sat down on the chair beside her bed. It was a single room converted into a double, the beds separated but without a curtain. Yu Qiao sat between the two beds, looking at Zhou Tianzui.

    Zhou Tianzui could move a little now. She tried to sit up slightly, and Yu Qiao adjusted the bed’s height. Zhou Tianzui lay back down. The ward was quiet, neither of them speaking, the silence stretching, until Zhou Tianzui finally said, “Mom, you should lie down on the other bed if you’re tired.”

    “I’m not tired.” Yu Qiao asked, “What did your director say?”

    The director had visited again this morning. He had initially disapproved of her resignation, and now, with the work journal surfacing, he disapproved even more. The hospital also knew about her father’s case, the commendation and the raise still stood.

    Yu Qiao said, “You can’t resign.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, we’ll talk about this later.”

    “Later?” Yu Qiao sat on the edge of her bed, her face grim, “Then what do you want to talk about now?”

    Zhou Tianzui looked at her.

    Yu Qiao said, “About Shi Ran?”

    Zhou Tianzui’s expression changed slightly.

    Yu Qiao said, “You thought you could hide this from me forever?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I didn’t.”

    She and You Ruxu had agreed to tell Yu Qiao after the interview, she hadn’t expected Yu Qiao to find out first, “Did she tell you?”

    “She came to our apartment this morning.” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian, you did well, you did so well.”

    Zhou Tianzui was speechless.

    Yu Qiao said, “Seeing me being so kind to her, all these years, how did it make you feel?”

    Yu Qiao continued, “It made me sick to my stomach, Xiao Tian, forgetting about your father, making a fool out of your mother, all for a woman?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I didn’t forget about Dad.”

    “Didn’t you?” Yu Qiao’s tone was calm, a calmness that was more unsettling than any outburst, “When did you find out, that she was Shi Ran?”

    Zhou Tianzui met Yu Qiao’s gaze.

    Yu Qiao leaned closer, looking at Zhou Tianzui intently, “Just now? Or when you first met?”

    Zhou Tianzui closed her eyes.

    Yu Qiao said, “You knew all along?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I did know, but listen to me, it’s been so many years since Dad’s incident, we’re both tired, now that the truth is out, I don’t want to dwell on the past anymore…”

    “Is it because you don’t want to dwell on the past, or because she’s You Ruxu, that you don’t want to dwell on it?” Yu Qiao’s voice was cold, her words like needles piercing Zhou Tianzui’s heart, “You don’t want to dwell on it, have you even asked me? Do you even remember what we went through all those years?”

    “I remember.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll never forget, I remember what we went through, I know how much you suffered, and yes, it was hell for both of us, but do you think she had it easy? Her pain was no less than ours!”

    Yu Qiao said, “She deserved it!”

    Zhou Tianzui’s anger flared, “Deserved it? She was only a child back then!”

    “Even a child should be held accountable for her actions! She’s the reason your father died without clearing his name!”

    Zhou Tianzui’s voice rose slightly, “Dad wasn’t the only one who died!” Her eyes reddened, “Her mother also died!”

    Slap!

    Zhou Tianzui’s head snapped to the side, a red mark appearing on her pale cheek.

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 506

    Chapter 506: A Bloody Magical Feast

    Shien ended up going with Lid and Millu.

    Although being forced into this made Shien a little unhappy, he agreed with dealing with the Old Demon Faction and the Demonized Beings.

    Even though the Demonic Refining Ritual had been disrupted, and the remaining Demonized Beings couldn’t devour others to gain strength, they were still valuable to the [Original Demon].

    Therefore, Shien and the others had reason to eliminate these monsters.

    Of course, trying to find a few remaining Demonized Beings in such a vast forest was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

    Under such circumstances, besides Nadue, who could monitor the entire Tegor Forest, probably no one could accurately pinpoint the locations of all the lurking Demonized Beings.

    Fortunately, there was a method.

    “Demonized Beings are products of the magic ritual, having lost their sanity and only madness remaining.” Lid explained, “They only have one instinct: to continuously attack others and devour their flesh and magic power to gain strength.”

    Even though the ritual itself had disappeared, this instinct would still remain within the Demonized Beings.

    “Therefore, they will instinctively attack individuals with abundant magic power and life force. As long as you release your magic power, the Demonized Beings in the surrounding area will definitely be attracted to you.”

    Lid had been using this method to clear the Demonized Beings in the Tegor Forest. This was also the reason why Millu was constantly emitting a large amount of magic power.

    Knowing this, Shien unhesitatingly unleashed his magic power.

    “Boom!”

    With a sound like a volcanic eruption, terrifying magic power surged from Shien’s body, forming a massive pillar of energy that soared into the sky.

    “Roar!”

    “Awoo!”

    “Groan!”

    At this moment, countless monsters in the Tegor Forest were startled.

    Some fled in terror, while others looked at the soaring pillar of energy with apprehension, choosing to retreat, countless birds and beasts stirring in the night and leaving the area.

    “Roar!”

    “Roar!”

    Only a few grotesque monsters scattered in the forest, sensing the astonishing magic power, were stimulated and, instead of fleeing, charged towards Shien.

    Lid and Millu watched this scene from close by, staring at Shien, whose body was burning with terrifying magic power, a pillar of energy rising from him and soaring into the sky. They were stunned.

    “Such astonishing magic power?”

    Lid was very surprised.

    “So amazing!”

    Millu’s eyes shone brightly.

    Both of them were shocked by the terrifying magic power Shien unleashed so recklessly.

    The fact that Shien, so young, possessed strength comparable to a legendary expert, was already surprising enough. Now, releasing such terrifying magic power, it was impossible for Lid and Millu not to be shocked.

    “Amazing! Big brother is so amazing, Lid!”

    Millu rubbed Lid’s head excitedly.

    “Indeed.” Lid readily admitted, looking at Shien with flickering eyes, and murmured, “It seems he’s hiding quite a bit.”

    A man favored by Airi was indeed extraordinary.

    Lid realized that Shien might be hiding something.

    “Here they come.”

    At this moment, Shien, who was recklessly releasing his magic power as if it was worthless, said these words.

    Lid and Millu then noticed figures silently emerging from the surrounding darkness.

    “Roar!”

    “Roar!”

    The crazed Demonized Beings appeared before Shien and the others, roaring ferociously and staring at Shien as if he was a piece of meat.

    Little did they know that Shien was looking at them as if they were piles of minced meat.

    “Come.”

    Shien beckoned to the surrounding Demonized Beings provocatively.

    His arrogant demeanor enraged the Demonized Beings.

    “Roar!”

    “Roar!”

    Countless Demonized Beings, like a pack of hunting wolves, lunged from the shadows.

    It looked as if ghostly figures were rushing towards Shien at an astonishing speed.

    To this…

    “[Flying Star]!”

    Shien chanted a short incantation, activating the magic he hadn’t used in a while.

    Countless small meteors appeared around Shien, transforming into a meteor shower that bombarded the surroundings like a torrential downpour.

    “Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!” …

    As the meteors struck the ghostly figures, the attacking Demonized Beings didn’t even have time to scream before they were sent flying.

    Some crashed into trees, shattering their trunks, some rolled into the bushes, and some even smashed into the ground, sending dust and debris flying, creating chaos in the surroundings.

    Seeing this power, no one would believe that the magic Shien used was merely meant to suppress enemies, its lethality almost nonexistent.

    But in Shien’s hands, this magic, which had always been quite powerful, was now amplified by [Inner Perception of Heaven’s Decree]. Even though Shien deliberately reduced his magic power output, it still displayed power far greater than before.

    Millu and Lid were surprised again.

    “Stars?”

    Millu blinked.

    “Could that be Celestial Magic?”

    Lid asked in surprise.

    Shien ignored them. Seeing the Demonized Beings being blasted away by the meteors and falling to the ground, barely alive, he made an estimation.

    “Although I reduced my magic power output to less than half of what it used to be, the magic’s power has actually increased. If I used the same amount of magic power as before, the power of this spell would be at least three times greater.”

    Shien made this judgment based on the magic power he consumed and the power of the spell he cast.

    And then…

    “My progress in magic seems to be no less than my progress in close combat.”

    Shien was satisfied with this.

    “Roar!”

    “Roar!”

    As if angered by the smug smile that unconsciously appeared on Shien’s face, the Demonized Beings, who were barely alive, roared and struggled to get up.

    Even with the increased power of the magic, using a non-lethal suppression spell, and a basic one at that, to kill these Demonized Beings was still a bit insufficient.

    Since that was the case…

    “Then I’ll give you a bloody magical feast.”

    Shien vanished from the spot and appeared before a Demonized Being.

    “Teleportation?”

    Lid was surprised again.

    “Ooh!”

    Millu’s eyes also widened.

    Shien, ignoring them, extended a finger and pressed it against the chest of the Demonized Being, who hadn’t reacted yet.

    “[Bestow: Split].”

    Magic power flowed from his fingertip, piercing the Demonized Being’s skin and entering its body.

    “Swish!”

    The next moment, with a tearing sound, the Demonized Being split apart, turning into chunks of flesh and blood that splattered across the ground.

    And Shien had already vanished again, appearing before another Demonized Being, his finger pressing against it.

    “[Bestow: Pulverize].”

    Magic power surged from his fingertip, once again piercing the Demonized Being’s skin and entering its body.

    “Crack, crack, crack…”

    The Demonized Being’s cries stopped abruptly, its body trembling, then cracks appeared all over it, turning it into dust that scattered in the wind.

    “Roar!”

    A nearby Demonized Being, seeing this scene, wasn’t afraid, but roared and pounced on Shien, who had his back turned, unleashing a sharp claw strike.

    Shien, as if he had eyes on his back, his figure blurred, dodged the attack, and appeared beneath the Demonized Being’s outstretched arm, closing in.

    “[Bestow: Burst].”

    Shien grabbed the Demonized Being’s arm with his hand.

    Magic power surged from his hand, like a malignant growth, enveloping the Demonized Being.

    “Bang!”

    The Demonized Being couldn’t even resist before it exploded, turning into countless chunks of flesh that scattered in all directions.

    Blood rained down, instantly vaporized by Shien’s magic power, not a single drop touching his body.

    However, Shien was still holding the Demonized Being’s arm.

    This gruesome scene finally stunned the surrounding Demonized Beings, making them freeze, not daring to move.

    “Wow! Wow! Wow!”

    Millu cheered, her eyes shining brightly.

    “How bloody.” Lid clicked her tongue, a smile unconsciously appearing on her small, beastly face. She muttered, “But I like it.”

    Shien, as if testing his magic abilities, used various lethal Bestowal Magic attributes, slaughtering the Demonized Beings one after another.

    And the magic power he used was only a wisp at his fingertip, yet its power was terrifying.

    Thanks to this, even among the crazed Demonized Beings, a few felt instinctive fear and turned to flee.

    One of them, unfortunately, ran towards Millu and Lid.

    “Roar!”

    The Demonized Being roared, its fangs bared, and lunged at Millu and Lid.

    “Millu.”

    Lid, still on Millu’s head, didn’t move, just called out calmly.

    “Hiya!”

    Millu reacted, looking at the pouncing Demonized Being, not with fear, but with excitement.

    “Whoosh!”

    The Demonized Being’s fangs bit into Millu, but incredibly, they passed right through her small body.

    At this moment, Millu turned around, extended a finger, and, like Shien, pressed it against the Demonized Being.

    No, it wasn’t pressing, but poking.

    Millu poked it hard.

    “Bang!”

    When her slender finger touched the Demonized Being’s back, with a terrifying burst of power, the monster exploded, turning into a bloody mist.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 120p1

    Chapter 120: Team Change Card p1

    After the director’s explanation of the rules, everyone returned to their cars to repack their luggage.

    Since the luggage was personal, the footage of them packing was blurred, the environment darkened, the figures and objects obscured.

    However, the footage of them leaving the cars was clear. Jiang Lingling’s luxurious RV, packed with suitcases and boxes, stunned the online viewers. “I’ve never seen so much luggage! Dozens of suitcases, all brand new, designer brands!” “She even brought a house! Fully furnished!” “What’s with all the crab boxes on the table!” “Since you can’t bring them into the village, send them to me!” Jiang Lingling’s live stream comments exploded. Besides these, the most common comment was: “Rich lady, let’s be friends!”

    Regardless of how much luggage they brought, when they returned, they each carried only a small cloth bag, matching their team’s color, barely large enough for two pieces of clothing.

    The four teams, along with the camera crew and staff, walked towards the village, a small procession.

    The initial meeting point wasn’t far from the village, just a few minutes’ walk. Reaching the village entrance, they realized that the seemingly bustling village, with its smoke rising from chimneys, was actually quite small, only a dozen or so houses.

    “After spending so much time in the city, it’s nice to come to a place like this, to experience the tranquility of a small mountain village,” Jiang Duo said, looking at Zhang Zijing with a hint of excitement. “Don’t you think so?”

    Zhang Zijing nodded politely.

    “This village… doesn’t seem very old,” Jiang Lingling said, touching a wooden pillar at the entrance. “New wood, this was built less than six months ago, right?”

    Mi Hongdou, hearing this, also touched the pillar, but she couldn’t tell. She glanced at Jiang Lingling’s magical hand and decided to trust her judgment. “Perhaps they renovated it for the show.”

    “No, the whole village feels new. It lacks… the feeling of people living here for a long time,” Jiang Lingling said. Having grown up in a village, she was sensitive to its atmosphere. This village felt… empty. Although there was smoke rising from chimneys, and clothes hanging in courtyards, it lacked the feeling of a lived-in space.

    “Perhaps it’s a newly built village,” Ji Junxin, who had been lagging behind, finally caught up and said.

    Jiang Lingling, turning to see Ji Junxin, instinctively looked at Mi Hongdou.

    On their way to the village, Mi Hongdou had been looking for a chance to talk to Ji Junxin, but Ji Junxin had been walking slowly at the back, not even catching up when Mi Hongdou slowed down. With the cameras rolling, Mi Hongdou was afraid that turning back to talk to her would be too obvious, too revealing. Now that Ji Junxin had finally caught up, she could finally ask, “What did you have for lunch?”

    Seriously, is that all you can think of? Jiang Lingling mentally rolled her eyes and moved away, wanting to avoid this topic.

    Ji Junxin, her lips pursed, held up the transparent plastic container in her hand.

    Mi Hongdou looked at the two crucian carp inside, her expression complex. “When you kill the fish later, be careful, stun them first. And be careful of the…”

    “Welcome to Dengjia Village, where you’ll be living for the next twelve days!” The director’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker, interrupting Mi Hongdou’s worried instructions. “You’ll see two large boards at the village entrance: the Supplies Board and the Props Board. The Supplies Board lists the prices for basic necessities, and the Props Board, as the name suggests, lists the prices for special props. For example, the rope on the Supplies Board is for everyday use, not for team challenges or special missions. The colorful rope on the Props Board is a special prop, and after purchasing it, you can use it in challenges and missions. Its function is described on the board, for example, ‘Throw the rope while calling out its name and a person’s name, the named person will be immobilized for five seconds.’ This is very useful in time-sensitive challenges. Of course, props are much more expensive than ordinary supplies. How you balance comfort and strategic advantage is up to you.”

    Two crew members walked past, one holding a regular rope, the other a colorful one.

    “This is interesting!” Yu Naihao, the gamer, said excitedly, running to the Props Board, then glancing at the Supplies Board, before dejectedly returning.

    “A colorful rope… twenty game coins! A regular rope is only one coin!” He complained. “And the prices here are insane! Five coins for an egg, eight for a piece of tofu! Pork is sold by the liang (about 50 grams), ten coins per liang! With our initial fifty coins, even if we don’t spend a single coin, it’s only enough for… half a jin (about 500 grams) of pork! With these prices, who can afford a five-second immobilization prop?”

    “It seems like that steak earlier wasn’t such a bad deal after all,” Lu Changhuai said, trying to comfort him. “Let’s go check how much steak costs now.”

    “A cooked steak like the one earlier is now 120 coins. So, that was indeed a special offer. Although props seem expensive compared to pork, they’re essential for challenges and missions, and the rewards are often more than twenty coins, at least thirty, with hidden bonus drops. And completing daily tasks might also yield ingredients, so don’t worry.” The director, always keeping up with the conversation, added, “And purchases of regular supplies won’t be announced to the other teams. But before each challenge, we’ll announce the props each team possesses and their functions. After all, there are so many props, and it’s easy to forget, which might cost you points during challenges. We’re very considerate!”

    “I don’t find it considerate at all to be immobilized for five seconds by a colorful rope…” Jiang Lingling said, exasperated. “I can’t imagine how ridiculous it would be, colorful ropes flying everywhere during a team challenge.”

    “Don’t worry, you can’t afford that many,” Ji Junxin said, holding the plastic container, her expression indifferent, as she walked past Jiang Lingling.

    Did I just sense some hostility?

    Before entering the village, everyone examined the two boards. The prices were indeed as outrageous as Yu Naihao had described. Both boards were densely filled with items. The Supplies Board even listed different cuts of pork, priced by the liang… six coins for a liang of fatty pork, ten for lean pork or pork belly, not to mention the prices for bones and other parts. They also found the prices for the ingredients they had received earlier: forty coins for a live fish, 180 for a live chicken, 220 for a live goose, 300 for a basket of bullfrogs, and thirty for slaughtering.

    Considering that the reward for winning a challenge was only thirty coins, they felt like after eating the provided ingredients, they wouldn’t be able to afford meat again.

    And the prices for cooked food were even more outrageous. A cooked steak was 120 coins, a roasted chicken over 400… It seemed that if they didn’t cook, they would have to survive on plain rice and pickled cucumbers.

    “Sister… Junxin… do you know how to cook?” Bao Yueqiao asked cautiously, after examining the Supplies Board and counting on her fingers.

    Ji Junxin, also shocked by the prices, looked at Bao Yueqiao.

    “Yes,” she replied calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

    “I don’t know how to cook,” Bao Yueqiao said, relieved, patting her chest. “That’s great, we won’t have to eat just rice and pickled cucumbers.”

    Ji Junxin pointed at the last few items on the Supplies Board. “I only know how to make egg fried rice, and I can’t use a traditional stove. I need a gas stove and these tools.”

    Bao Yueqiao followed her finger. Okay, not being able to use a traditional stove and needing a 3,000-coin gas stove… that’s fine. But why do you need a 300-coin set of measuring cups, an electronic scale, and a whisk just to make egg fried rice?!

    “Sister Junxin…” Bao Yueqiao’s face crumpled. “Are you serious?”

    Ji Junxin thought for a moment. “We can skip the whisk, just the gas stove, measuring cups, and the scale.”

    Bao Yueqiao: “…”

    After seeing the prices on the Supplies Board, except for Yu Naihao, the gamer, the others only glanced at the Props Board. They couldn’t afford anything anyway, so what was the point?

    The director didn’t give them much time to study the boards and urged them to enter the village.

    Meanwhile, the online comments were filled with discussions about the essential tools for making egg fried rice. The viewers were eager to see Ji Junxin cook, especially with such strange requirements, but the prices seemed too high. They complained about the unreasonable prices, and Ji Junxin’s fans demanded that Qiong Yu open a donation system, allowing them to exchange real money for game coins. Don’t worry, Xinxin, we’ll crowdfund for you!

    Just as they were complaining about the prices and demanding a donation system, some observant viewers, constantly refreshing the page, noticed an update.

    In the personal attribute system, each celebrity’s inventory now showed their current ingredients and game coins, labeled “Team.” And Jiang Lingling’s skill bar had a new word: “Rich.”

    Some perceptive viewers seemed to understand the show’s format. The information updated in real time, so they wouldn’t miss anything. And the appearance of Jiang Lingling’s skill suggested that… the audience’s comments could influence the game?

    Their guess was confirmed by the website’s latest update.

    [“Welfare Mission System”: Every day, viewers can submit mission requests for the celebrities on the designated page. The submissions will be reviewed by the show’s staff, and a selection of approved missions will be posted on the website for voting. It’s a crowdfunding system, one yuan equals one vote. The voting ends at 9 PM daily, and the top five missions will be sent to Dengjia Village. The assigned celebrity can choose to accept or reject the mission. If accepted and completed, the crowdfunded amount will be donated to charity. If rejected, the money will be refunded.]

    The “Welfare Mission System” announcement caused an uproar online.

    For the fans, this level of interaction, being able to influence the celebrities’ lives, was incredible!

    And for the general public, like the Ice Bucket Challenge, this charitable aspect was appealing. Fans and concerned citizens flooded the website, their enthusiasm spreading like wildfire.

    This charity-focused reality show also attracted media attention. Entertainment news outlets and online influencers started reporting and reposting about the show. Many who had planned to watch the edited version later decided to join the live stream.

    Unbeknownst to the eight celebrities, as they nervously entered the village, their audience was growing exponentially.

    As Jiang Lingling and Ji Junxin had observed, the village didn’t feel… old. Although the roads and houses looked weathered, the first house they passed, with its chili peppers and corn hanging under the eaves, and clothes drying in the courtyard, seemed… too clean. It felt… deliberately aged.

    This feeling was confirmed when they encountered their first villager.

    A young man, dressed as a scholar, approached them with a smile and a bow… was he cosplaying?

    Of course not.

    Then they saw a woman in traditional clothes, carrying a wooden basin, a wooden hairpin in her hair, a man with a hoe, also in traditional clothes… As they walked through the village, they saw a group of women by the river, washing clothes.

    Recalling their own uniforms, they finally understood. This was a time-travel reality show!

    Of course, they didn’t know that it was actually… a real-life game. The name “Reality Online” was a clue.

    The crew led them through the village, along the right side, to the very end, almost outside the village.

    The houses they had seen earlier, although old, were made of brick and tile, looking relatively clean and spacious. But at the edge of the village, the style changed abruptly…

    Four lonely thatched huts, mud walls, straw roofs, each one seemingly less than forty square meters.

    One, two, three, four… Seeing the four huts, the four teams’ expressions darkened.

    “Ta-da! These are your free accommodations! No need to spend any game coins!” the director announced.

    As expected…

    “You said ‘shelter’! This is all straw, where are the tiles!” Jiang Lingling pointed at the huts angrily.

    “…” The director was momentarily silent.

    Everyone mentally gave Jiang Lingling a thumbs-up. Whether they could sleep under a tiled roof tonight depended on her!

    However… four crew members walked forward, one to each hut, and… placed a single tile on the roof.

    “Okay, free accommodations, with tiled roofs, these are yours. You can go in and check. Don’t worry, they’re all the same, absolutely fair!” the director said cheerfully.

    The four teams didn’t move, stunned by his shamelessness!

    The new viewers, drawn in by the charity aspect, were amused by the crew’s blatant trickery. Those poor celebrities…

    The thatched huts, which looked dilapidated from the outside… were naturally also dilapidated inside!

    A mud bed, a mud table, not even a stool… and even smaller than forty square meters.

    Hmph, what “you can survive for twelve days without earning any coins,” who can live in these for twelve days!

    After a quick look inside, they didn’t bother checking the other huts, they were all the same anyway.

    “Don’t be discouraged! These are just the free accommodations! You can always upgrade with your game coins!” The director said, and a large signpost with a cartoon face appeared, pointing towards a few tiled houses closer to the village center.

    They looked similar to the other houses in the village, brick walls and tiled roofs. Everyone’s expressions brightened.

    “How much?” Mi Hongdou calculated, both her team and Ji Junxin’s still had their initial fifty coins. She hoped the price wasn’t too high. With eggs costing five coins each, they wouldn’t be able to afford a house even after twelve days.

    “Talking about money is so vulgar, let’s take a tour first,” the director said, leading them towards the tiled houses.

    The tiled houses were a definite upgrade.

    There were four, each with a small courtyard, about ninety square meters including the courtyard, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room facing the courtyard, and a small storage shed.

    Everything was covered in dust… filthy. The beds and furniture in the bedrooms were wooden, the beds sturdy, the tables and chairs a little wobbly, the doors creaky, the windows broken. The kitchen had a traditional stove, the bathroom a squat toilet, but there was a shower, a small mercy from the show.

    Jiang Lingling examined everything, even touching and rubbing the dust, then ran back to Mi Hongdou. “The houses and the furniture are new, just made to look old. The dust is fake dirt. This village… it’s newly built, right? Did they build it just for this show?”

    Mi Hongdou looked at the rickety windows. “And they broke the doors and windows too?”

    “Of course,” Jiang Lingling said confidently. “Otherwise, how could all four houses be broken in the same way?”

    How… pointless.

    Having seen the houses, everyone had made their decision. Although the tiled houses were also dilapidated, who would want to live in a thatched hut!

    After the tour came the price: thirty-five coins to upgrade from a hut to a tiled house, non-negotiable.

    Compared to five coins for an egg, thirty-five for a house was a bargain.

    But with only twenty coins left, Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo, and with thirty coins, Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao, couldn’t afford it.

    Ji Junxin, who had suspected that the show was trying to make them spend their coins, although agreeing that they should upgrade, hesitated at the price. After all, they still had twelve days.

    Bao Yueqiao, impressed by Ji Junxin’s earlier frugality, although not wanting to live in a hut, said she would follow Ji Junxin’s decision.

    Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling quickly agreed to upgrade. But Ji Junxin was still hesitating. Mi Hongdou became anxious. Even if it was difficult to earn coins, they couldn’t live in a thatched hut! Remembering that all the earlier offers were limited-time only, she couldn’t help herself and rushed over to Ji Junxin, tugging at her sleeve. “We have to change, we have to!”

    Ji Junxin looked at Mi Hongdou. “Why?”

    Mi Hongdou was stunned, wasn’t it obvious!

    “You’re not on my team,” Ji Junxin said, her head lowered, scuffing her foot on the ground.

    That almost petulant “you’re not on my team” tugged at Mi Hongdou’s heartstrings. So she also wanted to be on the same team… Mi Hongdou felt a sudden surge of affection for Ji Junxin and a surge of resentment towards the director.

    “I…” She wanted to explain, it wasn’t her choice, she had also wanted to be on the same team…

    “We’ll change.” Ji Junxin raised her hand, interrupting Mi Hongdou, then glanced at her reproachfully. “Go back to your team. We’re being filmed.”

    Mi Hongdou, who had almost forgotten about the cameras, swallowed her words.

    The viewers watching their live streams thought… they had only exchanged a few words, but it was so… heart-wrenching! It must be the aftereffects of “Imperial Secrets”!

    Two teams, having paid thirty-five coins each, now had tiled houses. And because of the rule against sharing or trading, the other two teams were stuck with the huts.

    The director reassured them that although there were no team challenges today, they could explore the village and look for tasks to earn coins. Perhaps they could earn enough for an upgrade before bedtime.