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

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 40: Negative Luck Value

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Okay…”

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

    “If you say so, I’ll follow…”

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

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

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

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

    “Game? What’s that…?”

    “Well…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

    [Mutated Octopus]

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

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

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

    “Not good! Xia, run!”

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

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

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

    “Eh?”

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

    “This isn’t right! Why me?!”

    [Divine Art: Dust to Dust]

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

    “Eh? What happened?”

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

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

    “I almost forgot how strong you are…”

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

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

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

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

    [Because your previous luck stat was only 8.]

    [Current Luck: -2]

    “???”

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

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

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

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

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

    “I have an idea…”

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

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

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 119

    Chapter 119: Rol Game Coins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Anyone else? This is your last chance!”

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

    Ji Junxin stared at her, surprised.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mi Hongdou suppressed her laughter.

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

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

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

    A covered box was brought in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mi Hongdou: “You’re cooking?”

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

    Mi Hongdou: …Is it my fault?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Okay, we can still be friends.

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

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

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

    This wasn’t good.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mi Hongdou heard Jiang Lingling gulp beside her.

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

    The gulping sound stopped.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The director paused, and everyone waited.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    It… wasn’t her fault!

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

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

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

    Chapter Sixty p1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Jin Xi: “???”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Was it really the compass’s problem?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jin Xi: “???”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Yu Zhao frowned slightly, confusion flashing in her eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Yu Zhao: “?”

    Jin Xi: “?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Yu Zhao snorted coldly: “Too noisy.“

    Bo Chi: “…”

    A miscalculation, she thought this blockhead was jealous!

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

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

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

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

    Bo Chi: “…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jin Xi: “…”

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

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 161

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

    “I can’t enter?”

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

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

    Where was her face now?

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

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

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

    “Then let’s register.”

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

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

    “Wait… no!”

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

    “Let’s go to another auction house.”

    She had almost forgotten to keep a low profile…

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

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

    “Pfft!”

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

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

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

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

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

    Meanwhile, inside the Tianlie Auction House.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “What’s going on outside?”

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

    “I see…”

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

    And she saw a familiar face.

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

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

    “Holy shit!”

    “Yes, yes, that’s her.”

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

    …

    “What a pitiful child, hahahaha…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Enduring… that’s not your style.”

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

    “Miss Mian!”

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

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

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

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

    “Miss Mian, and this…”

    “My younger sister.”

    Nangong Mian quickly said.

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

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

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

    “Hello, Big Sister.”

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

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

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

    “Vivienne, who is this?”

    Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

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

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

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

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

    “Many transactions? More than me?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Several times more.”

    Vivienne replied with a smile.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Oh, that little old man.”

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

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

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

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

    “…How did you know?”

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

    “Hahaha… ah? Cou-, could it be…”

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

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

    In other words…

    “She… she is…”

    Linnard stammered.

    “Her name is Nangong Mian.”

    Vivienne’s last words confirmed her identity.

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

    “Hmm?”

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

    Nangong…

    That was the Empress’s clan…

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

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

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

    “Holy…”

    Hearing this, most of the onlookers immediately dispersed.

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

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

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

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

    “Miss Nangong…”

    “Get lost.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Thank you, Miss Mian, for today.”

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

    “Can we go in and take a look?”

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

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

    “That’s right.”

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

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

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

    “Wow, how nice!”

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

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

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

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

    …

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

    Especially with someone whose identity was already troublesome…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “An old friend?”

    Luo Xue asked.

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

    Anyone who agrees with you, you find them pleasant…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    But why did such a cage exist?

    Luo Xue didn’t know and could only speculate.

    …Bloodline?

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

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

    What exactly happened, to create such a caged world…

    It was still unknown.

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

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

    “Is this… Phoenix blood essence?”

    Luo Xue looked at the label and blinked.

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

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

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

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

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

    “I see…”

    Luo Xue nodded thoughtfully.

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

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

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

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

    She patted her chest and said proudly,

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

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

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

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

    Chapter 53 p1

    Xu Jingyu hated the sea.

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

    So, she never went to the beach.

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

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

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

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

    But Xin Yao was different.

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

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

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

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

    Below that, she couldn’t see.

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

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

    Soft moans echoed through the room.

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

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

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

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

    Whenever Xin Yao protested, Xu Jingyu would…

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

    Like now.

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

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

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

    “My clothes have become your weapons now?”

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

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

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

    “Yaoyao, let’s get married.”

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

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

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

    “No,” Xin Yao’s reply was swift.

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

    “Will you marry me?”

    “No.”

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

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

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

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

    “Don’t bite.”

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

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

    “Yaoyao, let’s get married.”

    This marriage maniac.

    It was practically blackmail.

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

    “Really?”

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

    She seemed momentarily flustered, her usual composure shattered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Then, she got out of bed.

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

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

    “You want to marry me?”

    Xu Jingyu, lovestruck, nodded.

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

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

    “I was just kidding.”

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

    “I’m going for a swim!”

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

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

    She had been completely seduced, completely played.

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

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

    Xin Yao ran downstairs and onto the beach.

    It felt like summer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “Let’s go for a walk.”

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

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

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

    She didn’t like the sea.

    And in that moment, memories flooded back.

    Xu Jingyu was the eldest daughter of the Xu family.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Xu Jingyu had been thrown into the ocean.

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

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

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

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

    The Xu family had been saddened by the news.

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

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

    And there were plenty of other relatives.

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

    And so, their perfect family had been restored.

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

    But Xu Jingyu hadn’t died.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    But they never came.

    So, she had saved herself.

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

    She had returned home.

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

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

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

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

    Two years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Her adopted sister had been terrified.

  • Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 135

    Chapter 135

    Outside the aquarium, after Wen Qiming and Zeng Huanian finished their discussion for the time being, Wen Qiming immediately scanned the few groups of people who hadn’t entered yet.

    Wen Jiangyue was not far away, Wen Qiming quickly spotted her, but his worry didn’t ease, instead, it intensified.

    What was going on! Why were her eyes red! Had she been crying!

    What were they talking about? Why were Wei Maomao and Cheng Tingyan both looking at Yueyue with serious expressions! They looked a bit intimidating!

    Could they be talking about the slippery floor incident yesterday!

    No! He couldn’t wait for the clueless Zeng Huanian to investigate, he had to clarify things with these two little ones!

    Wen Qiming frowned, he quickened his pace, anxious.

    Wei Maomao, hearing the approaching footsteps, instinctively looked towards the source of the sound, the person was already standing before them.

    Killing intent?

    Wei Maomao was stunned.

    Cheng Tingyan, engrossed in her conversation with Wen Jiangyue, wasn’t as alert as Wei Maomao, she was still lecturing with a stern expression, completely oblivious to the person approaching with a dark expression.

    “Maomao already peeled it a bit, it fell on the ground, you can’t eat it anymore!” Cheng Tingyan said seriously, her face stern.

    “But I picked it up quickly, they said on TV that it’s fine to eat if you pick it up within five seconds. And it still has the shell, it’s fine.” Wen Jiangyue said softly. “You guys specially saved it for me…” It was still the one she dropped on the floor because of her crying.

    “You cried for more than five seconds! It was already a long time when you picked it up, you can’t eat it!” Cheng Tingyan said sternly. “You’ll get a stomachache! I’ll get you another one when we go back, don’t eat this one!”

    “But…” Wen Jiangyue said, clutching the quail egg, reluctant. This wasn’t just a snack they saved for her, it was also a symbol of their reconciliation, without this quail egg, they wouldn’t have called her over, she wouldn’t have known they believed her, then she would still be sad for a long time… Wen Jiangyue couldn’t bear to just throw it away.

    The approaching tiger, descending the mountain with a fierce expression, hearing what the little ones were talking about, his anger instantly dissipated.

    Well scolded, brilliantly scolded, perfectly scolded!

    “Ahem… Yan Yan is right. We’ll buy another one next time.” Wen Qiming said, clearing his throat, he reached out and took the quail egg from Wen Jiangyue’s hand.

    “Dad!” Wen Jiangyue said, surprised and delighted, she had just noticed Wen Qiming standing behind her.

    Wen Qiming, his leg hugged by his soft daughter, his heart also softened, he even couldn’t help but reflect on whether he had entered the “strict father” mode too early, maybe he should wait until she was a bit older before being strict.

    Wen Jiangyue didn’t know that Wen Qiming could think about such profound matters in just a second, she tugged at his hand, making him bend down, then whispered in his ear, “Dad, you said you would give me the candy on the bus? Can you give it to me now?”

    Just as Wen Qiming was taking out the candy, he heard another even softer voice.

    “Dad, they know it wasn’t me!”

    Wen Qiming’s hand, reaching for the candy, paused, he looked at his daughter in surprise, he realized that although her eyes were red, she must have cried, but now, her eyes, looking at him, were bright and sparkling, the previous gloominess and dejection gone.

    The three little girls happily shared the candies and, hand in hand, followed the guide, who was waving a small flag, into the aquarium.

    The tiger, who had been descending the mountain with a fierce expression, now, holding a dirty quail egg, awkwardly became a cat with its tail between its legs.

    How should he put it… Was his expression too dark when he came over earlier? Little Maomao seemed to be stunned… Ah, he was so impolite, so ungentlemanly…

    Wen Qiming, as he reattached his microphone, reflected on his behavior, feeling ashamed, he followed the little babies.

    Giant glass walls reaching the ceiling, a transparent tunnel, a blue ocean, fish and treasures coexisting.

    Listening to the guide tell stories about the fish, interacting with them through the glass, racing with them, joy filled the faces of most of the little babies. Each Polaroid photo captured the beauty they wanted to preserve.

    Mmm…

    Most of the little babies.

    Except for Cheng Rongrong.

    The trap she had meticulously set, using all her brain cells, was ruined by a certain little chubby menace who was desperate to poop.

    Even though that little menace fell, she still felt a bit satisfied.

    Even though the program team, as she had expected, couldn’t see through the “Rashomon” situation, they glossed over it, turning it into an accident without any further investigation, she wasn’t implicated at all.

    Cheng Rongrong was still… very angry!

    Now the program team had separated the families again, Cheng Tingyan was always clinging to the Wei family, she barely had any opportunities. Even if Cheng Tingyan came back to live with them, she couldn’t use the same trick twice. And most importantly, with the families separated, she didn’t have a scapegoat anymore.

    Qin Sichao was so close, was she just going to watch as Cheng Tingyan caught his attention again and got that amazing opportunity!

    It was all Jin Youliang’s fault.

    That plan, after just one failure, he refused to try again, later, he didn’t even bother to pretend, he just used being busy as an excuse and cut off contact. If he had been more capable, if he had succeeded, if he had become the head director, there would be so many more opportunities for her to manipulate things! She wouldn’t be so passive, limited to just a bathroom!

    A good hand, played terribly, he deserved to never become a head director.

    Hating this, hating that, there were too many people and things she hated, the resentment condensed in her heart, the anger suppressed under her emotionless silence, even the magical underwater world and the beautiful fish couldn’t move Cheng Rongrong.

    On the large projection screen, Cheng Rongrong, half-heartedly taking pictures of the fish, didn’t look happy at all.

    On the sofa across from the projection, Bai Lei had the same unhappy expression as she sipped her coffee.

    In the past few days, Bai Lei had barely watched Cheng Rongrong’s live broadcast, and she only occasionally glanced at the other channels.

    But today was different.

    Early this morning, the gossip about Shi Dingshan, the show’s head director, exploded on social media.

    Even Bai Lei was a bit interested, she browsed through several live broadcasts, wanting to see the director’s current state of mind through the camera.

    Of course, initially, it was just out of boredom, pure gossip that she knew was useless.

    But as she watched, she noticed something.

    What was going on?

    It seemed like the families were doing the task individually, the children were running around excitedly in the aquarium, doing their tasks, gathering and dispersing, dispersing and gathering. In each individual live broadcast window, people from other families would often appear.

    But!

    In Cheng Feiying and Cheng Rongrong’s live broadcast window, it was always just the two of them.

    Bai Lei, for comparison, even brought her laptop and tablet, opening several live broadcast windows to watch side by side, in addition to the projection.

    Then she watched as Wen Qiming, taking Wen Jiangyue, was walking towards the tunnel ahead, she even saw Cheng Feiying and Cheng Rongrong also walking towards that direction, logically, the two families should have walked together in the tunnel for a while.

    But Wen Qiming suddenly stopped and turned around, pulling Wen Jiangyue with him.

    He didn’t even turn at a corner, he just turned back directly.

    If it were just one family, it could be a coincidence.

    But Bai Lei saw that Wei Chengli, taking Cheng Tingyan and Wei Maomao, also encountered Cheng Feiying and the others, and they didn’t even try to join them. Of course, they seemed a bit more polite than Wen Qiming, they didn’t turn around and leave immediately, they just stopped, in an empty spot with no fish, and only continued walking after Cheng Feiying and the others were gone.

    As for Shen Jianghe and Wen Xiang, they were even more polite, they would greet and chat for a bit when they encountered them.

    But… with so many windows open, the contrast was obvious.

    Whether it was Shen Jianghe, Wen Xiang, Shen Zilin, or Wen Dongyu, their attitudes towards the other families and towards their family were completely different. The adults’ enthusiasm and politeness might require closer observation, but the children… Whether they greeted from afar, ran over to join them and look at the fish, or just casually responded when they were right in front of them, it was too obvious.

    The most outrageous one was Wang Zhizhi, he just responded with a single sentence, then turned and walked away, his back to them, even his dad couldn’t stop him.

    Bai Lei looked at Cheng Rongrong, who didn’t look happy at all in the live broadcast, then at Cheng Tingyan, who was always being held by that stinky Maomao, chatting and laughing with those annoying children wherever she went.

    Why!

    Why was Liu Qiongfang’s child living so happily, even happier than her child!

    At 10:43 AM, Zhang Jin, looking at the tenth missed call on his phone, sighed deeply, he finally answered the call when it rang for the eleventh time. After these past few days, he understood, this person truly didn’t understand what a silent rejection was, as long as he didn’t answer, she would keep calling until his phone died.

    Cheng Feiying, that wall between him and the devil, how many more days until he came back!

    There was no one else in the room, Zhang Jin placed the phone on the table and turned on the speaker, this was the last bit of distance he could create between himself and evil.

    “What’s going on, why do I always have to call so many times before you answer?”

    “If your phone is broken, then get a new one, are you out of money?”

    “What did she say? Where are we meeting today?”

    …

    The relentless barrage of questions was followed by increasingly less politeness with each passing day.

    Not receiving a response, Bai Lei, who was lying on the sofa, kicked a pillow in frustration and said angrily, “Are you there?”

    “Yes… Who are you talking about? Who are we meeting today?” Zhang Jin asked, pretending to be confused.

    “Who else could I be talking about, the other agent I called yesterday at noon?” Bai Lei said coldly, sitting up. “What, is Liu Qiongfang afraid to meet me?”

    Zhang Jin took a sip of tea and said perfunctorily, “Oh, oh, you mean her. What, you really want to meet her? I thought you were joking.”

    “So you didn’t ask her?” Bai Lei asked, after a pause. “What, with Cheng Feiying’s current situation, you, his agent, are just going to watch? Not to mention the future, he’s earned you a lot of money these past few years, right? You’re just going to watch, not even willing to make a phone call?”

    “It’s not something Liu Qiongfang can solve…” Zhang Jin said, frowning, his tone less perfunctory, but he was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

    “I’m not going to beat around the bush. Now, the negative comments about Cheng Feiying and Rongrong online, it’s all because of Cheng Tingyan’s portrayal of her unhappy life in our family during the live broadcast. But happy or not, what does a six-year-old child know? Her mom is disabled, she can’t afford to raise her, we took over her custody, we feed her, clothe her, send her to school, isn’t that good enough? We’ve been paying for her mom’s treatment, again and again, there’s no end in sight, isn’t that good enough? Good or not, it’s not up to her, it’s not up to us, let Liu Qiongfang come out and say it.” Bai Lei said patiently, explaining everything to Zhang Jin, then sneered. “If even her own mother, whom she keeps mentioning in the live broadcast, says she’s lying, who would believe her?”

    The silence on the other end of the phone lasted for a while before Zhang Jin, startled and holding his breath, finally recovered, he took a few deep breaths, but it couldn’t dispel the chill that had spread throughout his body.

    “This… This is useless.” Zhang Jin said, quickly reviewing the things he had seen on the live broadcast. “It’s not just Cheng Tingyan’s portrayal. There’s also Cheng Feiying himself, the mushroom incident, the chicken leg incident, his temper is getting worse, he’s scolding the children, he was clearly biased towards Cheng Rongrong during the grading, and also…”

    Zhang Jin tried his best to list examples, proving that the current negative public opinion about the Cheng family wasn’t entirely because of Cheng Tingyan.

    But before he could say more, Bai Lei’s cold voice came from the phone again.

    “Heh, mushrooms… What’s wrong with mushrooms? Yan Yan loved eating them when she was little, she just became picky when she grew up. What’s wrong with chicken legs? She never liked eating them, she suddenly started liking them and didn’t even tell us, how would we know? Raising children is stressful, it’s normal to have a bad temper, Liu Qiongfang’s temper was even worse when she was raising Yan Yan. Favoritism? We can fabricate a hundred stories about him being better to Cheng Tingyan.”

    Initially, when he heard the first part of Bai Lei’s explanation, Zhang Jin was a bit surprised by the truth, but after hearing the end…

    “You’re saying… you made all this up? You want me to arrange a meeting with Liu Qiongfang, so she can lie for you? Are you… Are you okay? That’s Cheng Tingyan’s biological mother, not your puppet. How could she possibly listen to you and go against her own daughter? Are you planning to hypnotize her when you meet?” Zhang Jin felt like he was wasting his time answering this call. He didn’t have a solution for this chaotic situation, but what Bai Lei was doing wasn’t even trying to find a solution, it was delusional!

    Bai Lei glanced at her newly manicured nails, gently scratching the sofa. “How I’m going to persuade her is none of your business. Call her and arrange a meeting for us. Or give me her number, I’ll contact her myself.”

    “This… Forget it, I’ll ask for you.” Zhang Jin said, giving up on arguing with this person with a shocking thought process, he decided to pretend to be rejected later and end this ridiculous situation.

    “Don’t mention what I want her to do. Just tell Liu Qiongfang that Cheng Feiying’s online reputation is very bad now, you need me and her to work together to change the public opinion, so you want to meet and discuss the details. She helped Cheng Feiying this time, he will definitely be grateful, after he comes back from that damn show, he’ll definitely thank her properly.” Bai Lei said patiently, instructing him.

    Zhang Jin: “… “ Thank her properly? By remarrying her?

    Zhang Jin couldn’t help but feel that Bai Lei’s tone, when she said those last few sentences, was a bit… mocking? As if she was talking about a plaything… a toy… a sense of control…

    The meaning behind her words also sounded strange, as if Bai Lei knew… that Liu Qiongfang still cared about Cheng Feiying.

    What was going on?

    He was the one who handled all the contact between the Cheng family and Liu Qiongfang these past two years, and he had only found out about it recently, how did Bai Lei… Was this a woman’s intuition?

    Zhang Jin suddenly felt that Bai Lei might not be as brainless as he thought.

    If…

    If Liu Qiongfang was truly fooled, then indeed… Cheng Feiying’s almost ruined reputation could still be salvaged.

    But…

    Cheng Tingyan would…

    Zhang Jin clenched his phone, which had dimmed, he was once again standing at a crossroads of human nature.

    Bai Lei had no idea what kind of dilemma she had created for Zhang Jin.

    After the phone call, Bai Lei finally felt a bit relieved, looking at Cheng Tingyan, who was being amused by the little chubby menace imitating a fish on the live broadcast screen, it didn’t sting as much anymore.

    Keep smiling, let’s see if you can still smile after I meet your mom.

    A six-year-old child, unhappy with her dad and stepmother, lied about her life at home. Her biological mom, unable to stand it, would expose her lies. She wanted to see how many people would still like this lying child, how happy she could still be.

    Bai Lei looked at Wei Maomao, who was circling around Cheng Tingyan, her mouth wide open like a shark, making “aww, aww” sounds. Heh, even this little chubby menace, who was always clinging to Cheng Tingyan, wouldn’t like her anymore. Even if that little chubby menace was brainless, would that Director Wei allow his own child to be friends with a liar?

    By then, outside the live broadcast, Liu Qiongfang’s words would be spread, while inside the live broadcast, Cheng Tingyan, still oblivious, would continue walking on her lonely but strong path.

    That would be truly interesting.

    Bai Lei, as she thought about it, chuckled.

    After the meat was gone, the bones could still be used to lure the dog.

    “See, this is also my miracle.” Bai Lei said, looking at the French windows not far away, the blue sky and white clouds outside, distant, like another life.

    Her words of triumph echoed in the empty room, the person who should have seen and heard them was already gone.

    Bai Lei suddenly felt a bit bored.

    This wasn’t a good sign, the show was about to begin, how could she feel bored already?

    People needed to eat when they were hungry, take medicine when they were sick.

    When they felt life was meaningless, when they didn’t want to live anymore, they had to find something interesting to do, to be able to continue living.

    She had already tried the substitutes, the person who should be stepped into the mud was about to be stepped on, what else…

    Bai Lei paced around the room aimlessly, then finally stopped in front of Cheng Rongrong’s bedroom door.

    The heart of a watermelon, the yolk of a salted duck egg, the meat inside a zongzi…

    The most delicious part was saved for last.

    Let her see, this little cupcake she had been saving for so long, what did it taste like?

    The little miracle she brought into this world, it should bring her a bit more amusement, right?

    Life always brought unexpected little surprises.

    Some people, unable to hold back anymore, opened the door to peek at the secret they had been suppressing their curiosity about.

    Some people, torn between their conscience and money, once again “struggled” to choose the path of money.

    And some people…

    “Yueyue, why don’t you get a sea otter plush too? We can connect them!” Wen Dongyu said in the aquarium’s cafeteria, while waiting for their food, he held up his sea otter plush and approached the other little babies who were playing with theirs, adding one more to the sea otter squad.

    “I… I used my vouchers for something else.” Wen Jiangyue said, glancing at the five connected sea otter plushes with envy, one’s left paw holding another’s right paw, it was like they were holding hands, so cute…

    “What did you get?” Shen Zilin asked, looking at the shopping bag in Wen Jiangyue’s hand. It was the smallest size, about the size of their palms, it looked very light.

    “I got…” Wen Jiangyue said, about to take it out.

    “I need to go to the bathroom.” Wei Maomao said, getting up and running off.

    “Maomao! Don’t run!” Cheng Tingyan said, chasing after her, worried.

    Wen Jiangyue also stood up anxiously. “Don’t run, be careful, it’s slippery!”

    In a flash, Wei Chengli, who was waiting for food at the dads’ table, also rushed out.

    “Don’t chase after her, Uncle Wei is already going. If you keep chasing each other, you’ll get lost.” Wang Zhizhi said, stopping Wen Jiangyue, then asked curiously, “What did you say you got earlier?”

    Wen Jiangyue: “… “

    The three, Wei Maomao, Cheng Tingyan, and Wei Chengli, left quickly and came back quickly.

    Wen Jiangyue, looking at the brand new sea otter plush held up by the little chubby paw, blushed and stood up, flustered.

    “Now you can connect yours with ours!” Wei Maomao said, stuffing the sea otter into Wen Jiangyue’s hand, she then took Wen Jiangyue’s hand and connected her sea otter to the squad, six little sea otters on the table, their paws linked together.

    Mmm… Actually, Wei Maomao didn’t know how it had come to this. Initially, it was just her and Cheng Tingyan buying the same one and having the two little sea otters hold hands. Then Wen Dongyu saw it… He bought the same one to join the chain, then Shen Zilin… Wang Zhizhi…

    Wen Jiangyue, who had run off somewhere, didn’t see it and didn’t get one. But seeing the little girl’s envious gaze earlier, and thinking about her being wrongly blamed and sad last night, Wei Maomao had to get her one.

    She used up a small keychain she had redeemed before, it didn’t matter, she could buy those again later.

    A little girl’s childhood, it only happened once.

    Wei Maomao, satisfied, watched as Wen Jiangyue happily hugged the sea otter plush.

    Then, in the next second, she was confused by what happened next.

    “What did you say you got?” Wei Maomao asked, staring at the two cards Wen Jiangyue took out, shocked.

    “Yours, and Yan Yan’s.” Wen Jiangyue said, pushing the cards towards them. “Little Mermaid dress-up photos, they’ll provide the clothes and makeup, we can take pictures after lunch!”

    “Boss, isn’t it amazing! You guys ran off too quickly, you didn’t see Shen Zilin’s shocked expression when he heard Yueyue got these for you!” Wen Dongyu said excitedly.

    “I wasn’t shocked!” Shen Zilin said, his face flushed red. “And call me Boss! Employees can’t badmouth their boss!”

    “That wasn’t badmouthing.” Wen Dongyu said, raising his chin stubbornly. “It was honesty.”

    “You… don’t like them?” Wen Jiangyue asked weakly, noticing that neither of them reached for the cards, her initial excitement vanished.

    “I like it.” Cheng Tingyan said, taking the card.

    “I like it…” Wei Maomao said, forcing a smile, she reached out her chubby paw and pressed it on the card. “Yueyue, aren’t you taking pictures? You and Yan Yan should take pictures together.”

    “I’m not taking pictures.” Wen Jiangyue shook her head. Some of the photos she took were incorrect, she only had enough vouchers for two.

    “Yueyue, take pictures with Maomao and Yan Yan. I have two program vouchers left.” Shen Zilin said, glancing at the food tray that had just been brought over by the staff. “I want to eat shrimp rolls, Yueyue, I’ll use my voucher for the photoshoot, you give me your shrimp rolls, how about that?”

    Of course… It was a great deal!

    Wen Jiangyue swiftly pushed all the shrimp rolls, pork ribs, and diced chicken from her plate to Shen Zilin, she only stopped after Shen Zilin took away his tray, scared.

    “We can take Little Mermaid photos together now.” Wen Jiangyue said with a beaming smile.

    “… “ Wei Maomao looked down at the Little Mermaid photo in her hand, a mermaid tail skirt, fins, and it was all sparkly. She had opened that box of bunny pajamas to make Yan Yan happy. So now, to make Yueyue happy, she… had to become a sparkly fish?

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2-63p2

    Chapter 63: Miss Knight, This is Called Getting Even p2

    Now, with Eve’s body completely under her control, replicating a new Eve based on this body wasn’t difficult for Luo Ling. It would only take a little time.

    Memories and emotions were even less of a problem. Read would reveal everything. As long as it wasn’t a relationship like Stasha and Alyssa’s, the fake Eve Luo Ling created would be perfectly realistic.

    In this way, Luo Ling could even closely monitor the Company’s movements and protect her other two teammates at critical moments. It was killing several birds with one stone.

    The objective conditions were met, but… the thought of impersonating a friend and mingling with other friends felt strangely awkward to Luo Ling.

    “But besides this, there doesn’t seem to be any other way…”

    Luo Ling scratched her silver hair, the scattered strands quickly rearranging themselves into a neat style. After pondering for a while, she sighed.

    “Fine, I’ll just treat it as cosplaying as a maid lady.”

    “Huh?”

    Elsa, who was tidying the clothes of her unconscious teammates to prevent indecent exposure, looked up, a question mark appearing above her head.

    “Nothing…”

    Luo Ling twitched the corner of her mouth and began to sculpt a life-sized replica of Eve, even perfectly replicating the sword wound, leaving her with just a breath of life.

    At the same time, she also created an Elsa replica—which she would destroy later as proof that Elsa had also died in the assassination, so there was no need for it to be too detailed, just adding some torn clothes and such.

    As Luo Ling sculpted the figures, Elsa curiously peered over and saw the crudely made Elsa replica on the ground. She curiously poked it, then pinched her own arm.

    “Wow, amazing, it’s exactly like me…”

    A smile appeared on Elsa’s lips, then she watched as the crude replica exploded, blood and flesh nearly splattering onto her face. She froze in place.

    “Uh…”

    Why did it explode with just a poke?

    Elsa’s brain was still buffering.

    “Move aside, Elsa,” Luo Ling said, amused. “I’m setting the scene.”

    She had to arrange everything carefully to steer the play towards the ending the Company expected.

    After setting up the murder scene, Luo Ling moved the sealed Eve to a nearby house. The Puppet Ballad’s fungal threads would sustain her life until she fully recovered.

    It had to be said that in Luo Ling’s hands, the Puppet Ballad’s Silent Demise ability was more versatile than even a Myriad Path ability…

    “Almost done.”

    Luo Ling clapped her hands, satisfied with her work.

    The closing scene of “The Death of the Twintails Team” was complete!

    At the same time, Elsa finally came to her senses, looking at the shattered remains of herself on the ground, her face aggrieved.

    “Is everything taken care of?”

    A familiar, cold voice sounded, accompanied by the clang of armor.

    “Enemy?”

    Elsa was instantly alert, but looking up, she saw pieces of armor clattering to the ground. A blonde woman she had never seen before, dressed in simple cloth clothes, walked towards them.

    Hearing the familiar voice, Luo Ling paused, then nodded.

    “Yes, it’s done.”

    She was about to turn to look at the newcomer when she was suddenly embraced in a warm, firm hug, soft pressure against her back.

    Elsa’s eyes widened instantly, as if witnessing something unbelievable.

    “Linna…”

    Luo Ling, in her White Witch form, was indeed excessively petite compared to the knight, looking like a delicate doll that could be held in one’s hand.

    “Don’t turn around, Miss Luo Ling. Just let me hold you like this for a while.”

    Linna’s breath tickled Luo Ling’s neck, carrying the scent of blood and dust, her voice tinged with tears. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Perhaps for you, our meeting wasn’t that long ago.”

    Luo Ling opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but all the words turned into a soft,

    “Mmm.”

    Luo Ling knew that the flow of time within a Kingdom was unstable. Linna’s “so long” might not be a few years, but possibly decades, or even… centuries.

    The body Luo Ling had given Linna could sustain eternal life, and the time they had been apart was long enough for Linna to seize a Kingdom.

    The current Starry Victoria.

    After an unknown amount of time, Linna finally released the delicate, silver-haired girl from her embrace. “Alright, Miss Luo Ling, you’ve repaid the hug you owed me all these years.”

    “Hmph, when did I owe you one?” Luo Ling grumbled, standing on tiptoe and reaching out to rub Linna’s cheeks vigorously. “This is called getting even.”

    Linna let Luo Ling pinch her face, only smiling.

    “Who… who are you!”

    Sensing the heavy, sorrowful atmosphere had dissipated, Elsa finally seized the opportunity, approaching cautiously and looking at Linna warily. Even she hadn’t hugged Miss Luo Ling like that.

    Although it was because she was also small…

    However, Elsa sensed something unusual about Linna, a sense of danger.

    Not that Linna was dangerous, but… a certain unspoken danger to her relationship with Miss Luo Ling.

    “Me?”

    Linna was about to answer when Luo Ling spoke, “Right, Linna, send these people back to the real world first. Business first.”

    “Mmm.”

    Linna nodded, then said, “You should activate your Kingdom first. Otherwise, directly opening the Kingdom entrance might be detected by the Company.”

    The Company and the Harbingers were constantly monitoring Victoria. Opening a small Kingdom entrance in secret was fine, but this place was now the focus of Victoria, definitely under heavy surveillance by the Company.

    A Kingdom was most vulnerable when its entrance was open. Without Luo Ling’s Kingdom as support, it might be invaded.

    Luo Ling nodded slightly, quickly activating her Kingdom, transferring the carefully arranged murder scene and her team back to the real world.

    After arranging everything, Luo Ling and the others re-entered Starry Victoria and deactivated the Kingdom.

    Even the oblivious Elsa understood what she had just witnessed. She looked at Linna in shock, and after a long silence, said, “Miss Luo Ling, when did you… secretly find another Apostle without telling me?”

    Indeed, Elsa recognized this familiar and dangerous aura.

    This blonde older sister named “Linna,” like her, was Miss Luo Ling’s Apostle!

    When…

    Had she ceased to be Miss Luo Ling’s only Apostle?

    Was her most unique relationship gone?

    Thinking about it, Elsa felt aggrieved, her eyes welling up with tears.

    She knew it was wrong to feel aggrieved, but she couldn’t help it.

    “Apostle?”

    Linna was taken aback.

    “Without telling you?”

    Luo Ling was also stunned.

    “I am not Miss Luo Ling’s Apostle,” Linna explained.

    “I didn’t hide it from you,” Luo Ling explained.

    The two answered Elsa’s questions in unison, their synchronization making them seem like the same person.

    Before Elsa could ask further, they continued answering.

    “Miss Luo Ling is my master. Everything I have belongs to her, even I am but a part of her,” Linna said, gently patting her chest and bowing slightly.

    “Mainly because you never asked,” Luo Ling said frankly, spreading her hands, then turning to Linna with a slight frown. “Linna, your wording… feels a bit disgusting.”

    “It was you who turned me into this, so you can’t just deny it now, my master,” the knight said with a smile. “But in stories, knights always accompany princesses, protecting them. So would you prefer me to call you Princess or Imperial Princess? I can use either.”

    “…Just call me by my name.”

    Luo Ling had a headache. Linna was still as sly as ever, and she couldn’t handle it.

    “Hmph, even if your relationship with Miss Luo Ling is like that, it definitely won’t be better than mine,” Elsa said, stepping in front of Luo Ling and crossing her arms. “I sleep with Miss Luo Ling every day…”

    “Hello, little master, what’s your name?”

    Linna bent down slightly, trying to meet little Elsa’s gaze, a gentle smile on her lips. A peculiar scent wafted over, a faint bloodiness mixed with the earthy fragrance of soil.

    However, Elsa wasn’t paying attention to this. She focused on how Linna addressed her.

    “Little… little master?”

    “Yes, Miss Luo Ling is my master, so you are my little master. Isn’t that right?” Linna said, puzzled. “Or is it…”

    “Yes, yes, yes, I’m the little master!”

    Elsa’s face quickly lit up, but then she seemed to remember something and tilted her head. “Well… there’s no helping it. Just call me Elsa.”

    “Good, a very easy-going little sister.”

    Linna, maintaining her smile, silently evaluated Elsa in her mind, her smile widening slightly.

    “Alright, little master Elsa, I am also your knight.”

    Linna knelt on one knee, taking Elsa’s small hand and performing a standard noble kiss on her hand, causing the inexperienced Elsa to blush and look at Luo Ling for help, blinking repeatedly.

    “Alright, Linna, stop teasing Elsa,” Luo Ling said helplessly.

    “As you command, my master.”

    Linna released Elsa’s hand, and Elsa quickly ran and hid behind Luo Ling, not daring to look at Linna anymore.

    “…And stop teasing me,” Luo Ling said, rubbing her temples. “How did you deal with Cheng Jianming?”

    “Killed him directly,” Linna replied softly, the faint smile disappearing from her face.

    “That’s it?”

    Luo Ling was stunned. She thought Linna would at least torture Cheng Jianming a bit.

    “Yes, that’s it.”

    Linna understood Luo Ling’s thoughts. She said slowly, “Killing him is the result, everything else is superfluous. I am punishing the wicked, not becoming one.”

    Linna was still the same Linna, even as a Grotesquery, even after spending an unknown number of years in the Grotesquery world. She still adhered to her knightly code.

    “I’ve already dealt with the memories in his soul, according to your wishes,” Linna continued. “They’ve been transferred to the corresponding location in the Realm of Nothingness in the real world.”

    “That’s good.”

    Luo Ling nodded. This was roughly how she wanted it handled.

    “I understand all your thoughts,” Linna said softly. “Even this Kingdom, Starry Victoria, is my gift to you, my dear Miss Luo Ling.”

    “…I told you to stop teasing me.”

    Luo Ling twitched the corner of her mouth. She wasn’t an easily fooled little girl like Elsa, becoming giddy and confused after a few words from Linna.

    Just then, Luo Ling saw the Sacred Tool on Fiona’s back, the long-barreled firearm she had taken from Linna and returned to Fiona.

    Her pupils constricted slightly, and she said,

    “You’ve seen Aunt Fiona? Wait, could it be that you…”

    “Yes, I saved my mother, preventing her from dying at the hands of the Company.” Linna sighed, continuing, “But… her condition isn’t good. Even the Puppet Ballad’s abilities can’t fully heal her.

    “I only recently managed to seize Starry Victoria, at great cost. If I had succeeded earlier, my mother wouldn’t have…”

    Linna didn’t continue.

    Kingdoms were rare and coveted existences for Godchosen and God’s Favored. Seizing one wasn’t easy.

    Even now, Linna still bore many hidden injuries, and the armor she had taken from Frick was almost completely destroyed. That was a top-tier Sacred Tool armor, worth at least 100,000 points in the Company, and usually unavailable even if one had the points.

    “I’ll go see her,” Luo Ling said, a hint of anxiety in her expression. “And tell me what you’ve been through, Linna.”

    Even though their consciousnesses were connected, perhaps due to some unknown reason, Linna hadn’t shared her memories with Luo Ling.

    Looking at the small, silver-haired figure walking ahead, a complex emotion flickered in the knight’s eyes. In the end, she only softly replied,

    “…Alright.”

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 248

    Chapter 248: Trial Marriage

    The so-called courtyard was located in the heartland between Alaye and the Imperial Capital.

    From the perspective of the Empire’s map, Alaye was situated within its borders. However, unlike the Imperial Capital, the thousand miles surrounding Alaye were under the jurisdiction of the Temple.

    Kailun carefully observed the surroundings. He could hear birds chirping, smell the fragrance of flowers and herbs, and see rare and exotic trees encircling the courtyard in a semi-circle.

    After surveying the area, he shifted his gaze to the courtyard itself. A pure white stone table stood in the center, with two maids standing beside it, awaiting further instructions.

    “Please have a seat. This is my private courtyard. You are the first guest to visit this place.”

    Empress Galina gestured invitingly.

    “It seems I’m quite fortunate.”

    Kailun smiled and walked towards the table. One of the maids pulled out a chair for him, allowing him to sit comfortably.

    “You are indeed fortunate, Mr. Kailun, not only for being here but also for receiving the favor of that entity. In fact, if you think about it carefully, there are no irreconcilable conflicts between us. Cooperation can bring us greater benefits, wouldn’t you agree?”

    Galina rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head as she observed Kailun.

    Just a few days ago, she had hated him to the core for the heavy losses he had inflicted on the Empire.

    Many of her plans had been disrupted by Kailun, and the resentment in her heart burned like a raging fire.

    But after her contact with that entity, temporary gains and losses no longer affected her state of mind.

    In Galina’s view, as long as that entity achieved final victory, everything Kailun did was just a pointless struggle.

    However, Fate valued Kailun’s abilities and wanted him on her side, hence the marriage proposal.

    But this was only a secondary reason.

    Kailun was much younger than Empress Galina had imagined. His appearance and demeanor were both impressive, and his manners were impeccable.

    They belonged to different factions, so even though she admired him, she didn’t have any feelings for him, unless he agreed to their demands.

    Kailun’s smile remained unchanged. “Are you sure there’s no conflict of interest? I’m not so sure. I’m curious about what that entity truly desires.”

    “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that.” Empress Galina frowned slightly. “I can only tell you that she won’t harm your interests. I can guarantee that.”

    “Oh, I see.”

    Kailun nodded, his expression unchanged.

    He didn’t believe her words. Frankly speaking, the Empress’s guarantee was worthless.

    Fate could abandon the Holy Temple, and she could also abandon the Empress. Kailun wouldn’t gamble everything on her.

    Moreover, setting aside whether there was a conflict of interest between him and Fate, Carol and Fate definitely had a serious conflict. Even if he didn’t consider himself, he had to think about Carol.

    Now that he had a chance to start over, he wouldn’t be stopped by an Empress.

    Galina sighed. “It seems I can’t persuade you. I can help you contact that entity. I hope you two can have a good talk. Instead of fighting each other, I hope we can negotiate peacefully.”

    “When can I meet this entity?” Kailun’s eyes flickered. His purpose for this trip was to meet Fate.

    “Soon. She promised me she would be here soon. Perhaps she’s almost here.” Galina looked around and replied, “While we still have some time, I want to ask about your thoughts. What do you think of me, for example?”

    Kailun first sensed the changes in his surroundings and then replied, “You’re great, Miss Galina. You’re beautiful, capable, and strong enough to rule a nation. You’re excellent in every aspect. Without any additional conditions, I would naturally be willing to befriend you. But if you’re considering this as a bridge between our factions, I’ll need some time to think about it.”

    This was a rather official and noncommittal response. Kailun didn’t want to anger Galina, nor did he want to deliberately lower her goodwill rating.

    Fate was the key to everything.

    Unfortunately, he hadn’t even seen a shadow of her.

    He indirectly asked some questions about Fate, but Galina didn’t give him any satisfactory answers.

    “Sigh, it seems you’re not willing to take any risks. Alright, I’ll ask her for you.”

    Galina took out her communication device in front of Kailun and wrote a magic letter to Fate without any concealment.

    Kailun sensed the magic fluctuations of the device with his powerful mental power. The distance between them seemed incredibly far.

    This wasn’t good news. Logically, Galina and Fate should be close to each other, at least within the Empire.

    But the distance between them exceeded the Empire’s borders. Kailun felt a sense of unease.

    He couldn’t help but suspect that Fate was using Galina to stall for time. Galina had mentioned “we have plenty of time” several times before.

    His powerful mental perception made him incredibly sensitive. His suspicion wasn’t unfounded.

    About five minutes later, Galina received Fate’s reply. She generously showed the magic letter to Kailun.

    “That entity said that to show the Temple’s sincerity, she can let me have a ‘trial marriage’ with you. If you’re not satisfied, you can refuse anytime. You don’t have to fulfill any responsibilities or sign any contracts. On the contrary, you can enjoy everything you deserve, whether it’s power or resources.”

    Galina first repeated the content of the magic letter, then couldn’t help but comment, “She really thinks highly of you. Even I’m envious. I can’t believe she’s willing to offer me to you. What’s the difference between this and giving me away for free?”

    Kailun pretended to be engrossed in the magic letter, letting his gaze linger on Galina’s face and chest. “That entity is indeed generous. But are there any restrictions on this ‘trial marriage’?”

    Galina looked at him with a helpless expression. “I know what you want to ask. As you can see, you won’t be restricted in any way. As long as you agree to the trial marriage, you can enjoy the intimacy between husband and wife with me tonight. I believe the kind Mr. Kailun wouldn’t use me and then abandon me, right?”

    She rolled her eyes at Kailun and then licked her lips seductively, the pure Pope imitating the poses she had seen in books to tempt him.

    This was her mission. She had to use every means to keep Kailun here.

    Whether it was through force or beauty, as long as she could keep him here, she would have completed her mission.

    Having gathered a lot of information, she knew that Kailun’s strength wasn’t as simple as it appeared. So she chose the path of seduction.

    Kailun was greedy for beautiful women. This information was highlighted in red in the intelligence reports.

    “Who knows?”

    Kailun leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed.

    Things were getting interesting. This entity called Fate was even more intriguing than he had imagined.

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

    65: The Carriage Ride

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    My weak heart momentarily rooted for the dark horse.

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

    “…Do as you wish.”

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

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

    A reasonable outcome, I suppose.

    “Okay!”

    Leticia eagerly came to my side and sat down neatly.

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

    Was this normal?

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

    “I leave the mansion in your care.”

    “Yes. You can count on me.”

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

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

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

    As expected of the ducal family’s servants.

    Ciel boarded the carriage and closed the door.

    “Let’s go.”

    “Yes, ma’am.”

    The coachman replied curtly, and the carriage started moving.

    A moment later, cheers erupted behind us.

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

    This wasn’t a summer vacation.

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

    “Ahaha…”

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

    Ciel sighed softly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    I suppressed my excitement.

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

    Leticia had to learn.

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

    How this country worked.

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

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

    I, the villainous sister, was a stage prop.

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

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

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

    While I inwardly thought, Even her yawns are cute, I maintained a neutral expression. Perhaps misinterpreting my gaze, Leticia blushed.

    “S-sorry. I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep…”

    Saying such things so casually… it would be misunderstood, I thought with an inward sigh.

    If the Capture Targets saw her like this, they would fall head over heels in love.

    Or rather, they probably already had.

    After all, my sister was adorable.

    “Get some sleep. It’s a long journey.”

    “O-okay… excuse me then.”

    Excuse me?

    Just as I was about to ask what she meant, I felt a weight on my shoulder.

    Leticia leaned against me, her body relaxing as she closed her eyes.

    It was the same position as when she had fallen asleep on the bench, with me as her support.

    This was… beyond informal!

    I inwardly screamed, and tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.

    Then, her body relaxed completely.

    …My sister was a sound sleeper.

    “…How nostalgic, Lady Adelheid,” Ciel murmured after a while.

    “Yes… it is.”

    ――I, too, used to get sleepy during carriage rides and would lean on Ciel like this.

    So, she remembered.

    Now, it was my turn.

    There were no [Official Events] between my sister and me.

    But this, too, would become a small, precious memory of our journey.

    ――But this wasn’t very villainous sister-like, was it?

    I was torn between being a good older sister and being a proper villainous sister.

    This time, I prioritized my sister’s sleep.

    …The protagonist’s well-being took precedence over everything.

    Probably.

  • The Saintess Has A Showdown 173-174

    Chapter 173: Ice Soul Cold Star Breaks Through!!

    –Snow Plume City

    Facing the terrifying might of the Rage of the Seas, Snow Plume City teetered on the brink of destruction.

    But at that moment, a blue-haired girl wearing a black crown descended, radiating a pure, yet despairing, water spirit energy that caused the Rage of the Seas to pause, as if stunned.

    The girl’s demeanor was cold and aloof, her beauty breathtaking, her aura almost divine, yet the strange teardrop markings on her face seemed like a peculiar personal touch.

    A small, pink, glowing butterfly fluttered beside her, seemingly conversing with her.

    “I need a more elegant, elemental type. Don’t tell me the Sea Concubine Palace doesn’t even have a single Water Element?”

    “An elemental vessel? How about this one?”

    After a moment of thought, Gong Lianyue summoned a purple, crystalline, ice elemental figure.

    Seeing the purple Ice Spirit, Sacred Water, Lover, was speechless. “A Water Element or an Ice Spirit is fine, but I didn’t expect you to actually send out a low-rank… huh?”

    The pink figure’s words trailed off as it sensed the Ice Spirit’s unusual aura.

    The next second, to its astonishment, a slender, purple leg emerged from the Ice Spirit’s mouth.

    Like shedding its skin, a graceful, alluring, purple, elemental body emerged from the bulky form of the Ice Spirit.

    The solid ice crystals melted into a flowing nebula, the tiny purple sparks on its surface shimmering, a true beauty among elemental spirit beasts.

    Crack!

    The Ice Spirit’s original body shattered, the ice fragments quickly reforming into two massive crystalline arms that floated beside the purple figure.

    Long, flowing purple hair, like a waterfall of stars, cascaded down to its hips, an ethereal, breathtaking sight.

    The Ice Soul Cold Star, a Saint-rank spirit beast!

    “W… T… F…” the pink figure stammered, its eyes almost popping out of its head.

    The Ice Soul Cold Star! This was its ideal vessel, the most desirable elemental spirit beast it could imagine.

    Sacred Water, Lover, circled the purple elemental figure, then glanced at the blue-haired girl, finally believing her promise of letting it beat up Shui Yingge.

    “Then lend me your spirit beast for a bit!!”

    Swish!

    Without hesitation, the pink figure zipped forward, colliding with the Ice Soul Cold Star’s ample bosom and merging with it, like a drop of water.

    Pink light pulsed within the Ice Soul Cold Star’s translucent body, its flow visible from the outside.

    A moment later, Sacred Water, Lover’s, aura vanished, completely absorbed into the Ice Soul Cold Star’s life core.

    The Ice Soul Cold Star also fell silent, its icy eyes closing as if falling asleep.

    “Rage of the Seas, what are you afraid of?! Crush this Dead Sea Stage trash!!”

    A ferocious roar echoed from within the massive, crystalline giant.

    Hearing the woman’s command, the Rage of the Seas, momentarily forgetting its confusion, raised its massive leg and stomped down.

    Its terrifying weight, combined with a destructive hurricane, created a shockwave like a falling meteor.

    It wasn’t using any techniques, simply relying on its superior rank and size to crush the insignificant ant below.

    As the massive, crystalline foot descended, screams echoed throughout Snow Plume City, the city crumbling beneath the pressure, the hurricane’s force tearing everything apart.

    Just as the Rage of the Seas’s attack was about to land, the icy eyes on the Ice Soul Cold Star’s wrists opened.

    Boom!!!!

    The next second, a pink aura erupted from the Ice Soul Cold Star, a violent shockwave that shook the surrounding sea for hundreds of kilometers.

    An overwhelming surge of spirit energy dyed the sky pink, a reverse waterfall of power blasting the Rage of the Seas away.

    Its nearly three-thousand-meter-tall body, thrown off balance, landed in the sea with a massive splash, its expression one of bewildered shock.

    What had just happened…?

    The Ice Soul Cold Star’s aura had completely transformed.

    Two shimmering, pink, heart-shaped butterfly wings sprouted from its back, their delicate, translucent texture thinner than the finest silk stockings.

    And most striking were the heart-shaped bubbles that constantly formed around its body, like cheap special effects from a mobile game.

    A terrifying, seemingly endless wave of spirit energy spread outwards, a massive, illusory wheel gradually materializing behind the purple elemental figure.

    A playful heart at the center of the pink wheel, surrounded by six smaller stars, two glowing pink, the other four dim, rotating slowly.

    At this moment, Sacred Water, Lover, and the Ice Soul Cold Star had become one.

    And the Ice Soul Cold Star’s rank had also ascended to a new level.

    Gong Lianyue, wearing the black crown, felt a sudden tremor, sensing the massive surge of spirit energy within the Ice Soul Cold Star, a bottomless abyss of power.

    A complete breakthrough, mind, body, and soul. The Ice Soul Cold Star was no longer the same.

    Samsara Stage – Second Cycle!!!

    “Alright, let me take a good look at this body~~~” Sacred Water, Lover’s excited voice echoed from within the Ice Soul Cold Star, like a child playing with a new toy.

    A few seconds later, it paused, a puzzled tone in its voice.

    “What? Your talent is still sealed?”

    “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s more than enough to deal with this big guy!”

    “Here it comes!”

    Seeing the Rage of the Seas struggling to get up, Sacred Water, Lover, assumed a battle stance.

    The heart-shaped wings on the Ice Soul Cold Star’s back began to vibrate at an incredible, almost invisible speed, creating a faint breeze.

    At the same time, a pink, illusory, egg-shaped barrier enveloped Gong Lianyue.

    Perhaps as compensation for their inability to act independently, weapon-type spirit beasts possessed innate protective fields, their strength proportional to their spirit energy, consuming no energy to maintain.

    Encased within the pink barrier, Gong Lianyue watched the unfolding battle.

    The Ice Soul Cold Star and Sacred Water, Lover, were at the second cycle of the Samsara Stage. Against a Fifth Cycle, Broken Cycle opponent… what were their chances…?

    Chapter 174: Slaying a Samsara Stage

    For most creatures, the human body is as frail as a piece of plastic.

    Smaller beasts tremble before larger beasts.

    Low-rank spirit beasts cower beneath high-rank spirit beasts, while high-rank spirit beasts fear the aura of Saint-ranks.

    However, after undergoing trials, battles, and evolution, reaching a certain level, spirit beasts shed their primal fear, challenging even stronger opponents.

    The Rage of the Seas wasn’t unfamiliar with battling Saint-ranks. Having reached the powerful Broken Cycle stage, it no longer judged strength solely on aura; however, at this moment, the spirit energy radiating from this butterfly-winged Ice Spirit felt like a vortex, threatening to drag its very will into a dark, despairing abyss, its instincts screaming.

    “Rage of the Seas, snap out of it! Use your battle technique!!”

    For a Samsara Stage spirit beast to be so dazed mid-battle that it required its Spirit Master’s prompting… that was ridiculous.

    Hearing its master’s voice, the crystalline giant snapped out of its fear-induced trance and roared, unleashing a torrent of spirit energy.

    [Battle Technique – Sea-Burning Hammer]

    Dense water spirit energy rapidly converged, forming a massive, illusory warhammer in the sky above, blotting out the sun.

    The oppressive weight of the hammer made their scalps tingle. If it landed, Snow Plume City would be annihilated, reduced to dust.

    Facing this terrifying power, the pink butterfly wings behind the Ice Soul Cold Star vibrated rapidly, creating a faint breeze.

    “Here we go!!”

    Sacred Water, Lover, its voice filled with excitement, echoed within the Ice Soul Cold Star, seemingly unconcerned by the incoming attack.

    For an attachment-type spirit beast like Sacred Water, Lover, merging with a water-type elemental spirit beast was like a master swordsman finally wielding a blade.

    [Sacred Water – Lover]
    [Bloodline Talent: Limit Break (Combines the host’s and its own spirit energy)]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Flashing Wings – Love God – Kiss Mark – ∞]

    Just then, the Rage of the Seas’s attack reached its peak.

    The massive, water-formed hammer in the sky began to fall, hurtling towards Snow Plume City.

    “Hahahaha, try and stop it if you can!”

    Sensing the destructive power of the descending hammer, the woman within the Rage of the Seas laughed maniacally.

    The Nine Nethers, the nine lineages of the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

    These nine lineage masters alone could destroy most of the Sea Region’s factions!!!

    Although far weaker than the Sun and Moon Realm Nine Nethers of a thousand years ago, they were more than enough to deal with the current Sea Region.

    [Battle Technique – Flashing Wings]

    Swish!

    Time seemed to stop, spirit energy distorting.

    As the pink, heart-shaped wings buzzed, a strange ripping sensation filled the air, the flow of spirit energy becoming chaotic and erratic.

    The next second, the purple elemental figure, previously a kilometer away, instantly teleported two kilometers, appearing right before the Rage of the Seas.

    The swirling water spirit energy around it surged, flowing in reverse, defying the natural order.

    Seeing the Ice Soul Cold Star so close, a wave of terror washed over the Rage of the Seas, quickly suppressed by its master’s command.

    “Ignore it! Continue the attack! Let’s see if she’s willing to let Snow Plume City be destroyed just to defeat you!!”

    No matter what tricks the enemy used, if they couldn’t stop this attack, a display of pure power, they would win!

    The terrifying hammer continued its descent, and the icy eyes on the Ice Soul Cold Star’s wrists curved upwards in a subtle arc.

    The next second, a dense, purple, icy spirit energy spread outwards, forming a beautiful, mysterious star that enveloped the hammer.

    A massive, transparent sphere, swirling with deep purple patterns, the surrounding air distorting and tearing.

    [Battle Technique – Death Tribulation]

    “Hahahahaha, useless! I can shatter that barrier with a single blow!!”

    The Nine Nethers woman boasted, her voice filled with arrogant confidence.

    Then, something unbelievable happened, a comical scene that would be recorded in the annals of Snow Plume City.

    Just as the Sea-Burning Hammer was about to strike the star, two massive, heart-shaped, butterfly wings sprouted from its sides.

    [Battle Technique – Flashing Wings]

    Swish, swish————

    The massive purple star vanished instantly, as if it had grown wings and flown away.

    The next second, the Rage of the Seas’s vision was filled with purple light.

    Without warning, the vanished star reappeared directly above the crystalline giant, a terrifying explosion of dust and debris.

    The Nine Nethers woman’s eyes widened in horror as she looked up, watching the purple star and the Sea-Burning Hammer fall together.

    Boom!!!

    Boom, boom, boom!!!

    A deafening roar shattered their eardrums and their vision, a violent tsunami spreading for dozens of kilometers.

    The destructive shockwave, several times more powerful than a nuclear blast, was completely absorbed by the transparent purple star, saving Snow Plume City from annihilation. However, the Rage of the Seas, struck head-on, wasn’t so lucky. Its aura flickered and dimmed, then vanished completely.

    “Hahaha, that’s hilarious!”

    Not only Sacred Water, Lover, laughed, but even Gong Lianyue couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

    So those heart-shaped butterfly wings could not only teleport the Ice Soul Cold Star, but also its battle techniques…?

    Just then, a hysterical shriek echoed from the shattered ocean below.

    “You think you’ve won, you little shit?! I still have another spirit beast!!”

    A black-haired woman, her face pale and contorted, emerged from the shattered water, her soul core clearly injured by the Rage of the Seas’s death.

    As her spirit energy surged, another massive spirit beast began to materialize.

    However, they had had enough fun. The Sorrowful Saintess was in a hurry to return to the Sea Concubine Palace.

    [Battle Technique – Love God]

    Whoosh—

    A magnificent, hundred-meter-long, heart-shaped scythe fell from the sky, grasped by the Ice Soul Cold Star’s two massive, crystalline arms.

    The Love God Scythe, its design extravagant, heart-shaped bubbles constantly erupting from its blade, radiated a terrifying aura.

    At this moment, the combined aura of the two merged spirit beasts reached its peak.

    Aiming at the disheveled woman below, the Ice Soul Cold Star swung the Love God Scythe, a chilling wave of energy sweeping outwards, a long-range attack that sliced through the air.

    And so, she was separated from her beloved…