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  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 317

    Chapter 317: Marshmallow

    Xiao Ai wasn’t a mischievous child. Or rather, she was definitely well-behaved in front of Adele. But even the most well-behaved child would have moments of “mischief,” right? Moreover, it couldn’t be considered entirely “mischief.” At least, Adele didn’t think it was mischief when she was being lovey-dovey with other girls. But if the object were Xiao Ai, then Adele would probably have to start considering whether she should be imprisoned for three years or five.

    However, Adele forgot that even if she could control herself, Xiao Ai couldn’t control herself! And according to the law, it seemed that regardless of whether Adele took the initiative, as long as a certain fact was established…even if it was the little girl who did that, the responsibility would lie with Adele. However, this verdict was only given when an adult had the ability to resist but didn’t. If Adele could prove that she was sleeping like a log and couldn’t resist Xiao Ai at all…could she be exonerated?

    Unfortunately, agonizing over this was meaningless because Adele was indeed sleeping like a log! And Xiao Ai, as an elf-like girl, didn’t need sleep. Or rather, she obediently acted as a pillow for Adele, purely out of closeness and dependence. But it was precisely for this reason that, during the long night, to pass the time and unable to resist Mama’s charm, Xiao Ai easily extended her sinful little claws towards Adele.

    Don’t misunderstand Xiao Ai as a girl with impure thoughts. Her thoughts were pure, wanting to hug Adele, get close to her, and smell the fragrance of her body. So for a long time, Xiao Ai acted like a clingy kitten, rubbing her nose and cheek against the girl’s arms and shoulders.

    But soon, such simple acts of affection couldn’t satisfy Xiao Ai’s uneasy yet excited heart. She no longer cared whether Adele would wake up. A small figure emerged from under the covers, panting. Jet-black hair cascaded down her slender body, making Xiao Ai look even more dreamlike under the hazy moonlight. Like an angel who had fallen to the mortal world, or an elf from a fantasy.

    But perhaps such a description wasn’t appropriate, because both angels and elves were creatures that existed in this world. So, one could only say that Xiao Ai’s beauty surpassed these two races. Like the offspring of a deity, innately pure and flawless. But it was this pure and flawless little girl who was heading down the path of a rebellious daughter, never to return!

    The air conditioner was always on in the bedroom, so there was no need to worry about the cold winter temperature. Xiao Ai lifted the thin blanket covering Adele, revealing the girl’s slightly unladylike sleeping posture. Her head tilted, legs apart, hand lifting a corner of her pure white nightgown, revealing her smooth, flat stomach, rising and falling slightly with each breath.

    The skin around the girl’s navel had a faint pink glow. Just seeing this scene made one’s heart race. Xiao Ai was no exception. She pressed her flushed cheek against Adele’s stomach, like a curious child observing something interesting. She could clearly see the fine, downy, snow-white sheen on Mama’s belly under the moonlight. She could smell a warm fragrance, like rich milk and blooming flowers. But even more eye-catching was Adele’s… that which throbbed gently with each breath.

    Xiao Ai instinctively felt the urge to be closer to her mother like this. Just looking wasn’t enough. So she pressed her cheek against Adele’s stomach… She could hear some strange gurgling sounds, very interesting. And, of course, the heartbeat.

    Thump! Thump!

    Was this Mama’s heartbeat just for her? It seemed like a rather self-centered thought. But that’s exactly what Xiao Ai thought and hoped for.

    The next moment, she did something surprising. Xiao Ai turned her face and moved closer and closer to the girl’s stomach. Closer and closer… She actually kissed a certain spot on the girl’s stomach. Although separated by skin and flesh, Xiao Ai felt that it was the place where life could be nurtured.

    “Mmm~” Even Adele, stimulated by this, couldn’t help but moan in her sleep. Her toes wiggled, as if trying to resist the rising excitement. But even so, the girl still didn’t wake up. Just how deeply asleep was she? And she had absolutely no defenses against Xiao Ai…

    After her initial success, Xiao Ai not only didn’t stop but became even bolder. This was in line with Adele’s personality…Could it be that she really had some kind of inextricable connection with Adele?

    Adele’s nightgown had buttons, but she never buttoned or unbuttoned it properly. She just pulled it over her head from the hem. It didn’t matter if it was tight or not, brute force always worked. In the end, she managed to put it on. It could be said that the buttons were merely decorations for her. But for some people…it wasn’t the case.

    For example, Xiao Ai, whose eyes now clearly showed excitement. She extended her sinful little hands, swallowed, and slowly reached for the first button on Adele’s nightgown. Finally touching it, the cool, smooth texture and gem-like luster were impressive. Then, she slipped her finger through the gap and undid the button. It was a simple task, even for a child.

    Soon, one button after another was undone. The area of the girl’s exposed skin continued to expand, like spreading milk, her snow-white body entering Xiao Ai’s view.

    “Mama…beautiful.”

    “So…pretty.” Xiao Ai’s vocabulary was limited, but she used all the words she knew to praise her “mother.”

    The sleeping Adele finally reacted. Her body unconsciously twisted, and her breathing became rapid. Xiao Ai froze, her hand stopping in mid-air. The little girl didn’t have any memories related to punishment yet. But she wasn’t foolish enough to think this was allowed. So Xiao Ai naturally didn’t want to be discovered. But it was a pity to stop just like this. She clearly…wanted to see more.

    After a complex internal struggle, Xiao Ai buttoned Adele’s nightgown back up. But the resulting regret became something that Xiao Ai felt she had to make up for from elsewhere.

    So, she did something bold. Something she guessed Mama had done with that sister named Seraph while her eyes were covered. Xiao Ai climbed onto the girl, using her knees to support herself on the bed so as not to put pressure on Adele. Or rather, even if Xiao Ai really lay on Adele, she would probably just feel like a light, soft pillow. After all, Adele had endured First Snow’s cat-like weight many times.

    Speaking of which, why did cats like to sleep on people’s stomachs so much? Was it because it was the warmest place…or was it the closest place to the person they liked?

    Whatever First Snow’s reason, Xiao Ai now vaguely understood her feelings. She nestled her cheek against Adele’s chest. Although not very ample, it still felt wonderful. But if Xiao Ai knew that a kitten had occupied this spot in Mama’s heart before her, would she be jealous?

    That remained to be seen. Xiao Ai was already eager to try Adele’s lips, those alluring, cherry-pink “berries.” In Xiao Ai’s heart, she didn’t really understand what a kiss meant. She just wanted to try it. She wanted to taste Mama~

    Perhaps in human ethics, this wasn’t allowed. But who could say for sure what Xiao Ai’s true nature was? Her apparent age was meaningless to her. No one knew how long she had existed, or whether she had just been born. She seemed to be the thirteenth drop of blood of the god who created the True Ancestor. But Seraph called her the “creation of a false god.” Even her calling Adele “Mama” was just her wishful thinking, coupled with Adele’s accepting embrace out of concern.

    So, not to mention human ethics, even vampire ethics couldn’t bind her. A mere kiss was completely irrelevant. And Xiao Ai wasn’t a girl who would care about such things.

    So, under the cover of the quiet night, Xiao Ai clutched her heart and, blushing and heart pounding, planted a kiss on Adele’s sleeping face, imitating Seraph. It was the softest, sweetest thing she had ever experienced. Addictive. Just touching it felt like she had become a marshmallow, gently melting under Adele’s touch. Xiao Ai didn’t know the art of kissing. She thought that just this touch of lips was already the happiest thing.

    But the little one never expected that Adele’s lewd instincts would react even in her sleep. The next moment, Xiao Ai’s eyes widened, her pupils trembling and flickering with a strange light. Because…something soft and wet pried open her mouth.

    “Mmm!” Adele was a natural “first kiss” thief. How could she even react like this while sleeping!? Originally, Xiao Ai was the one taking the initiative. But after being forcefully invaded…not only her mouth and tongue, but also her heart and body were completely captured.

    W-What was this!? So powerful… She was going to…break!

    Long after the deep kiss ended, Xiao Ai lay on Adele, limp and unable to escape, nor willing to leave. The end of the kiss had nothing to do with Xiao Ai’s will, but with Adele’s stopping. When she finally regained some strength, Xiao Ai quickly retreated to her own side of the bed and tucked Mama in. She spent the rest of the night blushing, reminiscing about the deep kiss that had shattered her worldview.

    Until morning, when Adele was about to wake up, Xiao Ai pretended to wake up at the same time.

    “Good morning, my little Xiao Ai~”

    “…Good morning, Mama.”

    “Your face is so red, are you feeling a little hot?” Adele innocently moved closer to Xiao Ai’s face.

    Xiao Ai involuntarily covered her mouth, her eyes spinning like pinwheels.

    “Eh! What’s with that reaction?” Adele asked curiously. Why did Xiao Ai look like she was afraid Adele would do something to her cherry lips? Really, how could that be? How could she possibly do anything to Xiao Ai’s soft, cherry-like lips…

    But even as she said this, Adele suddenly wondered why the memory of last night’s dream suddenly surfaced in her mind. In the dream, Adele was tasting a sweet marshmallow…or rather, “devouring” it would be more appropriate. But what did marshmallows have to do with Xiao Ai?

    Still, that dream felt so real. The only regret was that the “marshmallow” was a bit too delicate~

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 138p1

    Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Eight: Keep an Eye on Mommy p1

    “Whoosh—”

    Soft light shone on Lin Xiwan’s face. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and then she opened her eyes.

    After exhaling gently, Lin Xiwan breathed in an incredibly fresh “grass” smell.

    It was a smell of earth mixed with a bit of moisture and sunshine, which made people feel refreshed and happy.

    This was the second sleep in Kun City. Every time she woke up, Lin Xiwan felt that Kun City was really suitable for living.

    Lin Xiwan slowly looked at her sister in her arms. At this time, her sister was closing her eyes and looked like she was sleeping soundly.

    Why could she tell that she was sleeping soundly?

    Because drool was flowing from the corner of her mouth!

    “How old are you…” Lin Xiwan gently wiped the drool from the corner of her sister’s mouth with her finger and said with a smile.

    She naturally didn’t know that this was because her sister couldn’t control the opening and closing of her mouth after fainting, and coupled with the fact that she was lying on her side, she couldn’t control the drool from flowing down.

    It made it seem like she really dreamed of something delicious.

    Lin Xiwan gently laid her sister’s body flat, let her rest her head on the soft pillow stacked with vines, and then looked at the next bed, but did not see Huayibai’s figure.

    Where was Huayibai?

    Seeing that her sister was breathing steadily and still sleeping peacefully, Lin Xiwan quietly got out of bed, did not put on her shoes, and walked directly out of the dormitory.

    The ground was basically covered with vines or moss, and there were no sharp objects. Walking barefoot would actually be more comfortable.

    Most importantly, the sisters’ shoes had been torn to pieces in one battle after another, and they were basically no longer in the shape of shoes. It was better to go barefoot.

    After walking out of the dormitory, Lin Xiwan saw a white figure sitting in front of a big tree not far away, not knowing what she was doing.

    “Huayi…”

    Just as she was about to call Huayibai, she suddenly remembered that her sister was still sleeping. Lin Xiwan quickly stopped her voice and slowly walked behind Huayibai.

    “Good morning, Sister Xi.” Hearing the footsteps behind her, Huayibai leaned her waist back, tilted her head up, and called out sweetly.

    But Huayibai, who was sitting, leaned back a little too far and fell straight backwards. Fortunately, Lin Xiwan stretched her calf forward in time, so that Huayibai could lean on it.

    “Morning,” Looking at Huayibai’s cute appearance, Lin Xiwan asked with a smile, “What are you doing?”

    “Huayibai is making friends!” Huayibai, who was sitting on the ground, moved her little butt slightly, turned her body halfway, and showed Lin Xiwan the things on her skirt.

    “This is…”

    At this time, Huayibai was sitting on the ground with her legs slightly apart. Her little skirt was propped up between her legs to form a small cloth platform.

    On the skirt, there was a large white object that looked like a white cauliflower at first glance, placed in the middle of Huayibai’s skirt.

    “Hiss…” Lin Xiwan took a slight breath. She could recognize what these things were. Many of them were covered on the vines and building-trees, but it was indeed a bit creepy to see them up close.

    “What is this… white lump?” Lin Xiwan bent her knees slightly, supported her knee with her left hand, and pointed to the thing placed in the middle of Huayibai’s skirt with her right finger and asked.

    “It’s Little Black,” Huayibai stretched out her chubby little hand, touched the white lump, and explained, “It’s a friend Huayibai just met.”

    “Why is it called Little Black? Isn’t it white?” Lin Xiwan asked curiously.

    “Where is it white?” Huayibai seemed a little puzzled. She picked up the white cauliflower and held it in front of Lin Xiwan, saying, “Sister Xi, look, it’s black!”

    After getting closer, Lin Xiwan noticed that this was not a cauliflower.

    These were tiny mushrooms with white mycelium. You almost had to use a magnifying glass to see clearly that they were strands of mycelium supporting the translucent cap on top, and there was indeed a small black dot in the center of the cap.

    “It said it has lived here for a long time. It usually drinks water and occasionally draws a little sap. When there is a fire, it uses a part of its body to extinguish the fire.”

    As Huayibai explained, a small part of “Little Black’s” body began to demonstrate.

    Its translucent cap, like a water droplet, quickly withered, and the black dot in the middle that absorbed nutrients quickly expanded, and then burst with a very small “pop” sound, spraying out a large number of white spores.

    It seemed that the white powder that Lin Xiwan had encountered before when there was a fire, falling from the sky like moths to a flame, was this guy called “Little Black” by Huayibai.

    But more than that, what surprised Lin Xiwan was how Huayibai communicated with such a small mass of non-humanoid mycelium?

    Lin Xiwan directly asked Huayibai this question.

    “Well… it’s just…” Hearing Lin Xiwan’s question, Huayibai gestured with her hands, seeming a little embarrassed.

    She didn’t know how to communicate these topics with humans who didn’t have spores. Logically speaking, those with Mommy’s small spores should know these things by nature.

    Seeing Huayibai’s embarrassment, Lin Xiwan no longer dwelled over this question. She rubbed Huayibai’s head, told her not to stay too far away from her sister, and then got up and left the dormitory.

    While her sister hadn’t woken up, she wanted to see if the car abandoned on the edge of the city before the battle had been burned.

    If it hadn’t been burned, there were still some survival supplies such as food, napkins, and clothes inside. She could bring the car back while her sister hadn’t gotten up.

    Although Kun City was good, it was too “natural”. It still needed to be artificially modified to make some areas more suitable for human survival.

    “Pitter-patter…”

    Just when Lin Xiwan was slightly exercising her muscles and preparing to run towards the place where she entered the city before, she heard the sound of small shoes stepping on the vines behind her.

    Turning her head to look, Lin Xiwan saw Huayibai holding that cluster of mycelium, and holding something in her hand, running towards Lin Xiwan.

    “Sister Xi!” After running to Lin Xiwan, Huayibai raised her head, holding that cluster of mycelium in her right hand like holding a doll, and stretched out her left hand towards Lin Xiwan.

    “This is a gift from a new friend to Sister Xi.”

    In Huayibai’s hand was a small wreath woven from thin vines. There were small white flowers made of white mycelium on the wreath, and there were some thin blood-red flower buds in the center of the small white flowers, looking small and lovely.

    “For me?” Lin Xiwan looked at the bracelet in Huayibai’s hand with some surprise, smiled and took it, and put it on without hesitation, “Thank you, Huayibai.”

    After the desperate joint battle that night, Lin Xiwan’s trust in Huayibai had obviously risen to a higher level, and naturally she would not suspect that Huayibai would harm her.

    After putting the wreath on her right hand, Lin Xiwan smiled and waved her hand, told her to take good care of her sister, and then jumped directly, flashing and moving between the vines.

    Seeing that Lin Xiwan put on the bracelet before leaving, Huayibai nodded slowly.

    That bracelet had no special effect, and it was not a gift from the “new friend” to Lin Xiwan, but something Huayibai made on the spot by pulling a few vines.

    The shape of the vine bracelet and the white flowers were all to make the flower buds composed of Huayibai’s blood-red mycelium in the middle not so strange.

    Mommy valued and liked Sister Xi very much. While Mommy was sleeping, Huayibai had to protect Sister Xi well.

    Simple Huayibai’s thoughts were very simple. She just wanted to protect Mommy and Mommy’s “personal assets”. In Huayibai’s view, Sister Xi was also a part of Mommy’s “personal assets”.

    With Huayibai’s mycelium by her side, even if Sister Xi encountered any danger, Huayibai could notify Mommy immediately and arrive immediately.

    After Lin Xiwan ran away, Huayibai casually threw the “new friend” in her hand to the ground.

    “Sister Xi told me to keep an eye on Mommy, you play by yourself.” After saying that, Huayibai couldn’t wait to take small steps and ran towards the direction of the bedroom.

    Huayibai would definitely live up to Sister Xi’s instructions and protect Mommy in all aspects!

    ……

    Guangkun Highway, 20 kilometers away from the Kunzhou Expressway entrance, a convoy was stationed here.

    A large pot was set up in the middle of the convoy. The canned cabbage soup in the middle of the pot had already boiled, but it seemed that no one was in the mood to serve a bowl.

    Everyone was staring at the leader of the convoy, and the leader was looking at a radio in front of him, puffing on a hookah.

    “Boss…” A middle-aged man couldn’t help it anymore and asked, “Are we… still going?”

    If Lin Xiwan was on the scene, she would definitely recognize who that man was.

    It was the person who thought that their car had overturned a Voodoo Cult convoy that day, and then sold several boxes of pure water to them in exchange for the right to scavenge.

    At this time, this Panlong Square convoy that had been following them was also about to reach the entrance of the Kunzhou toll station, but at this time they stopped in front of Kun City and did not dare to move forward.

    Because just before they were about to reach Kun City, they saw thick smoke and ashes covering almost the sky in the early morning, which seemed to have been burning all night.

    And when they stopped in doubt to rest, they heard the news that the leader of the Voodoo Cult and another B-rank had been beheaded in Kun City.

    This news made them drop their jaws.

    Originally, they thought they were just following a few powerful C-rank Awakened, using them to open the way in front, so that their convoy could safely reach a place to stay.

    But they never expected that they were not following three angels opening the way, but three Yama Kings.

    They could only be thankful that the camp had not shown any hostility to those three from beginning to end.

    This highway went straight, and it must be to Kun City, which meant that the three beautiful girls in that car had entered Kun City before the battle broke out.

    And the towering smoke they saw from afar might be the ruins after their battle.

    Now you radio told them that the three B-ranks of the Voodoo Cult were all killed in Kun City?

    “Gulp—”

    The leading man thought of this, licked his lips that were a little pale due to nervousness.

    It seemed that they had underestimated the strength of those women… They were not three B-ranks, but three combatants who obeyed the organization’s orders to participate in the battle…

    They might have discovered the following of the Panlong Camp long ago, and they might have just been kind and did not stop it.

    The fresh tire marks of the tires crushing the moss on the road ahead reminded the camp leader that the tire marks did come from the car they were tracking.

    Recalling the cold eyes of the woman in the driver’s seat before, he still felt a little chill in his heart.

    “Or… should I go and apologize?” The man who had just asked the leader said tremblingly, “And return the things to them…”

    “Maybe they didn’t even notice us… Maybe we are nothing in their eyes, we can just take a detour to other places…”

    “Yeah, yeah, we don’t need to get involved in the struggles of these big organizations…”

    “Detour? Where do we detour? We will be out of the country if we go further… Or do you want to go to the desert in the west? There are already few resources…”

    “Quiet down.” The leader of the Panlong Camp slowly took a breath and said in a deep voice, “No matter what, this is our fault. Prepare later and take out all the spoils of last time. I will go and apologize.”

    “You alone?”

    “Idiot, can I drive three cars alone?”

    “Oh oh…”

    It was not feasible to return the same way. Counting the losses and food consumption along the way, and the few remaining searchable materials in Fuyun City, at least half of the people in their convoy would starve to death if they returned the same way.

    Not to mention the various unexpected situations that might occur on the road… If it weren’t for the car opening the way before, they would have suffered if they encountered a group of zombie birds on the road.

    But they had another way to go.

    That was to use the name of apology to tentatively request to join that organization…

    They had been listening to the phone radio last night. At least from the negotiations on the radio, the mysterious organization that destroyed the Voodoo Cult was not a cold-blooded organization that would not help those in need.

    Just from the fact that they were broadcasting with the voices of girls or young women, you could feel that the organization wanted to announce to the outside world that they were harmless and released goodwill.

    After all, the voices of girls and young women were the easiest to make people lower their guard.

    Coupled with the attitude of those women after encountering their convoy the previous two times, it also made the leader think that he could gamble.

    The worst result was that the other party would not accept ordinary people, only Awakened. If this result really occurred…

    He could only lead the team out of the country and find a way to survive abroad.

    He didn’t need to join an organization that would abandon ordinary people and let them fend for themselves. He would not abandon the people in his camp.

    In the apocalypse where humanity was lost, being able to maintain a camp, without courage and sincerity to the people in the camp, would have been killed by a hidden gun long ago.

    “Load the car. Those who are willing to go with me, get in the car yourself.”

    After the leader finished speaking, he used the can body of the can to scoop a spoonful of canned cabbage soup from the pot, blew it slightly, drank it all, then put down the can, put away the hookah, and walked towards the car loaded with the Voodoo Cult’s supplies.

    The remaining people who were standing in a circle looked at the city that was almost half ashes in the distance, remained silent for a while, and then some people began to follow the leader’s footsteps.

    Soon, all the Voodoo Cult’s supplies were cleaned up and packed. They drove three cars, slowly bypassed the crowd, and drove towards Kun City.

    The leader of the Panlong Camp was making a big gamble—gambling on the “benevolence” of the other party’s organization.

    Although the feeling of handing over fate to others was not good, if he gambled correctly, the whole camp would have no worries about food and clothing.

    If he gambled wrong, he would only lose three cars of supplies that did not belong to them.

    As for the probability that this organization was cruel, it was not high, because Survivor’s Light was willing to trade with them. An organization that could be endorsed by Survivor’s Light could not be a chaotic and heartless organization.

    “Remember not to talk too much later. The more you say, the more mistakes you make, and the more you do, the more mistakes you make. Let me speak alone. When the time comes, if they want goods, we will unload the goods. If they want the car, we will get out of the car directly. No conflicts are allowed, understand?”

    “Understood, boss, but…”

    “No buts. If we win this gamble, we will be rich and noble. If we lose, we will go abroad to fight…”

    “No, boss, look in the rearview mirror…”

    At this time, the boss sitting in the passenger seat, who was so nervous that his back was all wet, looked in the direction of the rearview mirror.

    Because the road was full of moss and vines, they drove slowly.

    And in the rearview mirror, you could see that the men, women, old and young of the camp had all stood up and followed behind the convoy on foot.

    They all wanted to go voluntarily, but there were no empty seats in the car, so they could only follow on foot.

    The leader looked at the rearview mirror that had been scratched to the point of being almost invisible, his eyes were slightly hot, he suddenly opened the car door, stuck his head out.

    “Are you stupid? So many people are following? Others will think we are going to fight them! Go back and sit down!”

    Under his scolding, the crowd following the three cars slowly stopped and stood in place to see them off.

     

     

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 286

    Chapter 286: Judgment of Light

    The mingled cries of the monstrous fetus and Mavis became an unearthly shriek.

    An invisible shockwave erupted from Mavis, spreading outwards.

    Behind her, Anthea materialized, her spear piercing Mavis’s abdomen and the creature within.

    Anthea sensed a connection to Mavis, similar to the one she felt with Anastasia.

    But another aura emanating from Mavis filled her with instinctive revulsion. She hadn’t held back.

    Mavis’s speed and unorthodox fighting style had initially given her an advantage, but she couldn’t evade Anthea’s surprise attack.

    The pain of the spear piercing her abdomen, the terror of the creature within being impaled, intensified Mavis’s screams, her body convulsing.

    The soundwave rippled outwards, striking Anthea.

    Buzz… crack.

    Anthea’s spear vibrated violently, then shattered.

    The Ghost Valkyrie’s stoic expression flickered. She leaped back dozens of meters, narrowly avoiding the full force of the shockwave, which tore through the ground and floor.

    Qin Chu, standing before Mavis, wasn’t so lucky.

    His body was torn apart by the soundwave.

    Sylph’s eyes widened in horror, a hollow ache in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t describe.

    One thing was certain: she didn’t want to see this.

    But before she could process her emotions, she saw Qin Chu’s shattered form dissolving into motes of light.

    The heart Mavis held in her hand also crumbled to dust.

    The shockwave continued outwards. A muffled groan echoed from the darkness, and Qin Chu’s figure reappeared.

    His face was pale, a trickle of blood staining his lips. He had clearly been affected by the shockwave.

    Sylph’s heart, which had leaped into her throat, slowly returned to its normal rhythm. She didn’t notice the slight upturn of her lips.

    Phantom Speed.

    A high-ranking ability of the Dire Wolf tribe.

    It was the innate ability of Dolgo, Lomond’s most trusted subordinate. Qin Chu had acquired it after absorbing Dolgo.

    The figure Mavis had impaled was merely a phantom. The real Qin Chu had already teleported away, preparing his next attack.

    But he hadn’t anticipated the power of Mavis’s scream, which had forced him out of his invisibility.

    His chest was caved in, several ribs broken.

    Holy Healing activated automatically, instantly mending his injuries.

    Holy Healing was a special ability, not classified by rank.

    But Qin Chu considered it a super-tier ability. While it couldn’t resurrect him, it ensured his rapid recovery from any injury, as long as he wasn’t instantly killed, maintaining him in peak condition.

    Mavis stood motionless, her face pale.

    Anthea’s spear protruded from her abdomen, two gaping holes leaking viscous fluid. Her swollen belly rapidly deflated.

    Terror filled her eyes.

    She clutched at the wound in front, her other hand contorting grotesquely to plug the hole in her back.

    But she couldn’t stop the flow.

    Pain, despair, hatred, and resentment consumed her.

    Her screams grew louder, the cries of the monstrous fetus mingling with her own, a symphony of blasphemy.

    The shockwaves continued to ripple outwards, cracks spreading across the stone floor, then shattering it completely.

    The affected area expanded, forcing Qin Chu and Anthea to retreat further.

    Heloise, Iyeta, and Sylph could barely endure the sound, a piercing pain in their ears, their minds reeling, strange whispers echoing in their heads.

    Heloise and Iyeta’s knees buckled.

    Mavis’s hair, sensing their vulnerability, surged towards them, seeking sustenance.

    “Wind!”

    Sylph called out, summoning a whirlwind that lifted Heloise and Iyeta into the air.

    Despite being equally affected, Sylph’s mental fortitude allowed her to resist the whispers and maintain her composure.

    As the hair, now a writhing mass like a giant serpent, pursued them into the air, Sylph dodged while summoning her emerald bow.

    Wind magic converged on the bowstring, forming a spiraling, greyish-green arrow.

    She released the arrow, and it shot towards Mavis’s face.

    Mavis raised her hand, but crimson chains snaked out from behind her, binding her arms and holding her in place.

    Anthea’s face was grim.

    The chains binding Mavis vibrated, straining against an immense force, a resistance she had never encountered before.

    Mavis strained against the chains, her arms bending.

    Anthea was dragged forward slightly.

    The wind arrow reached Mavis, its trajectory distorted by the sonic waves.

    It grazed her cheek, tearing away a strip of flesh.

    The God-Mother’s scream abruptly ceased.

    The shockwaves subsided.

    Qin Chu appeared behind Mavis, a silver sword, wreathed in holy flames, materializing in his hands.

    Judgment Blade. In the name of the Goddess.

    He had used this blade to purify O’Niens and Karsus, two individuals corrupted by evil.

    It was his most potent weapon against such corruption.

    Swoosh…

    The blade sliced through the air, aimed at Mavis’s slender neck.

    He had promised Anastasia a swift death, but he might have to break that promise.

    Mavis was far stronger than Karsus or O’Niens, even more formidable than the First Prince.

    They had merely been corrupted by an Evil God.

    But the being within Mavis was an Evil God’s offspring, a different level of threat entirely.

    As for using the Devourer to absorb Mavis’s power?

    That thought never crossed his mind. He wasn’t suicidal.

    Seeing the monstrous fetus, wounded but still alive, writhing within Mavis’s belly, trying to escape, Qin Chu knew he had to kill her. If the creature was born, the consequences would be catastrophic.

    Phantom Speed.

    He activated the ability again.

    Six more Qin Chus appeared around Mavis, each wielding a Judgment Blade.

    One blade aimed for her neck, two for her heart, and four for her abdomen.

    She couldn’t dodge.

    Thud… thud… thud…

    The blades struck simultaneously.

    Mavis’s scream died in her throat.

    She froze.

    Her neck was half-severed, her heart pierced from both sides, and the writhing creature within her abdomen was impaled from four directions.

    The seven Qin Chus, including the real one, raised their right hands.

    Snap.

    They snapped their fingers in unison.

    The seven Judgment Blades exploded.

    Holy fire engulfed Mavis, both inside and out.

    Her body became a beacon of light.

    This was the Judgment of Light.

    Holy fire was the most potent poison to the monstrous fetus.

    This time, both Mavis and the creature within her were surely dead.

    “Waaaa…”

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c17

    17. A Glimpse of Brilliance

    The preliminary rounds of the competition spanned two to three days.

    Since Yin Qiushui and Lu Xinyao registered in Yanlie City, they had to win at least three out of five matches in the city’s arena to qualify.

    However, this wasn’t a challenge for them.

    Qiu Shui, already a Return to Origin cultivator, was among the strongest in the preliminaries.

    She only fought three matches, each time conjuring a field of plants and using them to toss her opponents out of the ring.

    Simple, painless, and efficient.

    Those with a fear of heights might have fainted midway, though.

    Lu Xinyao’s approach was more… forceful.

    Although she appeared timid on stage, taking small, hesitant steps, as if she might hide at any moment…

    Looking like a complete novice…

    —She was actually suppressing her Little Heehee persona.

    Little Heehee was different from her. She disliked demonic arts, while Little Heehee wasn’t proficient in fire-type techniques.

    So, this seemingly shy and timid girl, with a perceived combat power of 5, shocked everyone when she unleashed her fire-type spiritual arts.

    In the first match, her opponent was a large, muscular man.

    Without exchanging many words, the muscular man almost became a roasted man.

    Lu Xinyao nearly cooked him alive.

    In the second match, against an “old acquaintance” of the First Prince, Lu Xinyao almost burned the entire arena to ashes.

    After being thoroughly lectured by Gong Yiling, Lu Xinyao decided to tone it down in the third match, pretending to be exhausted from her previous displays of power.

    However, her earlier performance was too impressive. Her third opponent immediately surrendered before the match even began.

    Then, he vanished at the speed of light, not even waiting for Lu Xinyao to speak.

    Three consecutive victories, almost as fast as Qiu Shui.

    The two quickly became rising stars in the Yanlie City division, their impressive performance the talk of the town.

    They even gained nicknames:

    Phoenix Flame and Hundred Herbs.

    Not bad, quite fitting.

    Of course…

    These were just the preliminaries, not even the first round.

    Many were hiding their true strength, not revealing too much too early.

    So, their current fame was temporary. Many were already analyzing their potential opponents in the later rounds.

    Among the matches, a few were particularly strange.

    Especially this one.

    One contestant was petite, with her hair tied in a ponytail, her appearance ordinary and unremarkable.

    Her opponent was a muscular man with white bandages wrapped around his hands and a red cloth covering his eyes.

    His exposed skin indicated he was a body cultivator specializing in physical combat.

    “Fists and feet have no eyes.”

    The bald, blind man stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm. “Young lady, surrender now and avoid unnecessary suffering.”

    The girl looked at him, her lips twitching.

    —*Dude, can you even do a spinning heel kick?*

    But she didn’t retreat, replying calmly, “I will use both hands to fulfill your dream.”

    Yes, quoting the opponent’s lines, leaving them speechless.

    This actually stunned the man.

    Not because she quoted him, but because…

    What did she mean?

    Fulfill whose dream?

    “Since you insist on suffering, then I shall… oblige!”

    The battle began. The bald man lowered his stance, a powerful aura erupting from him, cracking the arena floor.

    “Boom!”

    His fist shot out, displaying his Core Transformation physical cultivation.

    His opponent, however, only seemed to be at… Core Formation.

    Honestly, his Core Transformation strength wasn’t impressive here. A Core Formation cultivator participating in this competition…

    Was just asking to be a punching bag.

    However, the girl simply exhaled softly and threw a punch.

    In this seemingly one-sided clash, the girl’s punch actually repelled his attack.

    And not just that, with this single, simple punch, the body cultivator was sent flying before he could react.

    He landed outside the arena, stunned.

    The unremarkable girl…

    Won!

    “You…!?” The man didn’t even understand what happened.

    She clearly displayed Core Formation cultivation, and her punch was clearly a Core Formation punch.

    Why… why did he lose?

    “I’ll accept your concession.”

    The outcome wasn’t surprising to the girl. She bowed to her opponent and left the arena, disappearing into the crowd.

    In her next two matches, she similarly displayed Core Formation cultivation, ending them with swift punches.

    Her efficiency didn’t attract much attention.

    After all, many hid their true strength, pretending to be weak. Her approach was even considered clumsy among those who played the “hidden boss” trope.

    —If you wanted to act like a newbie, you should at least appear weaker, struggling before winning, to deceive those arrogant disciples from prominent sects and families.

    Away from the crowd…

    The girl removed the high-quality disguise Yan Chuyue had lent her, put on her veil, and turned to her, smiling. “Thanks.”

    “No need for thanks,” Yan Chuyue said, applying her own disguise. “There are many other ways to participate anonymously.”

    “But…” After putting on her mask, Yan Chuyue looked up and asked, “Why did you suddenly decide to participate?”

    Yes, the person who had just dominated the arena was Gong Yiling.

    As for when she signed up—the next morning.

    Partly because it allowed her to test her unique power and the true potential of her unusually wide meridians.

    And…

    The results showed she was invincible at the same cultivation level. However, cultivating the Heavenly Saint Technique was incredibly slow, not even comparable to Qiu Shui’s speed.

    To improve quickly, besides proper training, she needed… a so-called secret realm of a powerful being.

     

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 218

    Chapter 218: Sheltering a Girl, An Unwanted Intrusion

    The sudden appearance of the scholar startled the young woman.

    “Wh-who are you?”

    She hadn’t even noticed him approach…

    Where had he come from?

    But looking closely, she saw that he was a handsome and refined young man, his clothes of high quality, suggesting a comfortable, if not wealthy, background.

    “My name is Lin Tianlu. I’m traveling with this young lady. We’re staying at this inn tonight.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled gently and bowed slightly. “I heard some commotion outside and opened the door to see what was happening. Please forgive my intrusion.”

    “Senior?”

    Hua Shuya peeked out into the hallway, her expression curious. “Shouldn’t you be with Madam? And this young lady…”

    “Don’t worry, I booked another room earlier, in case Miss Yun Yue needed it. It’s currently unoccupied.”

    Lin Tianlu turned back to the young woman and smiled. “It’s a long night. I was just looking for someone to chat with. Your timing is perfect, Miss.”

    “…”

    The young woman lowered her eyes, a flicker of surprise on her face.

    So these two were traveling together?

    But her surprise quickly faded as she looked at Hua Shuya’s beautiful face, then recalled their mention of “Madam,” her mind racing.

    “—Thank you for your kindness, Sir.”

    She curtsied gracefully, her movements delicate and demure.

    She looked up at Lin Tianlu, a sweet and innocent smile on her face, her eyes studying his features, her smile widening slightly.

    “My name is Hu Siqi. You can call me Siqi, Sir.”

    “A beautiful name.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded slightly and gestured towards the next room. “Why don’t you come with me, Miss Siqi? Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be happy to help.”

    “Th-there’s no need, Sir. I just need a place to stay for the night. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”

    Hu Siqi bowed again, her voice hesitant. “Even if there’s no bed or blankets, it’s fine. I can sleep on the floor. I won’t disturb you.”

    “There’s no need to be so formal, Miss Siqi. As a scholar, it’s my duty to help those in need.”

    Lin Tianlu’s smile was enigmatic. “As long as you’re comfortable.”

    “Eh?”

    Hu Siqi was startled.

    She hadn’t expected such a response.

    Hua Shuya was also surprised, but she exchanged glances with Lin Tianlu and nodded, not wanting to interfere.

    “S-since you’re so kind, Sir, I gratefully accept your offer.”

    Hu Siqi’s eyes sparkled with a hidden delight.

    …

    Candlelight flickered, illuminating the empty room.

    Hu Siqi closed the door and sighed in relief.

    She turned to see Lin Tianlu lighting the other candles, dispelling the shadows.

    “Thank you, Sir, for taking the time to accompany me.”

    “It’s no trouble. I have nothing else to do.” Lin Tianlu put down the candle holder and wiped the table and chairs with a cloth.

    Hu Siqi frowned slightly. “I’m still a bit confused, Sir. I heard you and that young lady mention another woman, your wife, who’s in the next room. Why are you…”

    “We’re not officially married yet. The wedding is next month. There’s no need to rush things.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled softly and gestured towards a chair. “Why don’t you sit down, Miss Siqi? You’re not wearing any shoes. You must be tired.”

    Hu Siqi glanced at her bare feet and nodded, her lips pressed together. “Thank you, Sir.”

    She carefully sat down at the table.

    “With your kindness and consideration, Sir, your wife must be very happy.”

    “She’s just a bit shy.” Lin Tianlu chuckled.

    Although they had shared a room in the Lunar Valley, it was mostly to appease Martial Aunt. Now that they were back in Changling, there was no need to sleep together every night.

    “Then…”

    Hu Siqi’s voice was hesitant. “Why did you invite me here, Sir? Is there something you want to talk about?”

    “Just some casual conversation. There’s no need to be nervous, Miss Siqi.”

    Lin Tianlu stroked his chin, his eyes curious. “But it’s already past curfew. Wandering around outside at this hour is dangerous. You might be arrested. Even if you didn’t encounter those thugs, the authorities would have caught you.”

    Hu Siqi’s eyes welled up with tears, and she wiped them with her sleeve.

    “You don’t understand, Sir. My parents are ill, and I have a younger brother to take care of. I have to work to support my family. I have no choice.”

    Lin Tianlu bowed slightly, his expression apologetic. “I apologize for my insensitive question, Miss Siqi. Your situation is truly difficult.”

    “It’s fine, Sir. I’m used to it.”

    Seeing her tears subside, Lin Tianlu continued, “I’m curious, how do you manage to avoid the authorities every night? Once or twice is understandable, but you said you’ve been doing this for a while now. Do you have a secret route, a way to avoid their patrols?”

    “Eh?”

    Hu Siqi was startled.

    After a moment of silence, she nodded quickly. “Y-yes. I grew up in Anshi County. I know all the streets and alleys. I can easily avoid the night watchmen.”

    “I see.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded, as if he understood.

    “But how did you enter this inn?”

    He asked curiously, “I remember clearly that the inn is locked up tight at night. Only the windows on the second floor are open, small enough for a cat to slip through. How did you manage it?”

    “And judging by your slender figure, and the fact that you’re not wearing any shoes, I doubt you possess any special martial arts skills.”

    “I just…”

    Hu Siqi’s face paled, her voice trailing off.

    Even she, slow as she was, could sense the change in the atmosphere.

    This scholar seemed to suspect something. He was testing her, trying to get her to reveal something.

    He hadn’t invited her here out of kindness, but to play with her!

    “…”

    “Why aren’t you answering, Miss Siqi?”

    “You already know who I am, Sir.” The gentle smile on Hu Siqi’s face vanished, replaced by a cold and menacing expression. “There’s no need to pretend.”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled. “I just want to understand the situation.”

    “Do you think you have me cornered?”

    Hu Siqi’s eyes narrowed, and she secretly gathered Yin energy in her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve.

    Her mind was racing.

    From the moment she entered the room, she had been observing this scholar, sensing his aura. He was just an ordinary mortal, not a cultivator or a ghost practitioner. He was weak and frail, easily subdued even by an ordinary constable.

    So…

    “What a pity.”

    A sinister smile appeared on her lips. “You’re too confident, Sir. That young lady with the sword, although she possesses some martial arts skills, she’s too far away to help you.”

    She suddenly stood up and slammed her hand on Lin Tianlu’s shoulder.

    “Hmm?” Lin Tianlu’s eyes widened slightly, staring at her hand on his shoulder.

    Seeing her attack connect, Hu Siqi chuckled, her voice seductive, her demeanor changing completely as she tilted her head and said mockingly, “Silly scholar, you shouldn’t be so kind to damsels in distress. It might get you into trouble. And you’re getting married soon, aren’t you? Yet you’re still flirting with other women?”

    “Your acting skills are quite impressive, Miss.”

    Lin Tianlu sighed softly. “I suspected you were putting on an act, but I didn’t expect such a drastic transformation.”

    “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean. We don’t reveal our true thoughts to just anyone. If we were so easily read, we wouldn’t survive in this world.”

    Hu Siqi walked around the table, her movements graceful, and reached out, her fingers playfully tracing his chin, as if teasing him.

    But Lin Tianlu brushed her hand away.

    “Your words suggest a hidden story, Miss. I’d like to hear it.”

    “How did you…”

    Hu Siqi quickly withdrew her hand, her face filled with surprise and confusion.

    He had been affected by her Yin technique. Even if he was still conscious, his body should have been paralyzed.

    But how had he managed to block her attack?!

    “You thought I was helpless, didn’t you, Miss?” Lin Tianlu chuckled. “A man’s heart can also be a deep ocean. Don’t be so arrogant and overconfident. You might capsize.”

    “You—”

    Crash!

    The door suddenly burst open, and several burly men, their swords drawn, stormed into the room.

    Their bloodlust and menacing auras terrified Hu Siqi, who stumbled back, her face pale.

    “H-how did you find me?!”

    “We’ve been searching for you, demoness! And you thought you could hide in a guest’s room!”

    The leader of the constables stepped forward, drawing his sword, his face grim. “Surrender now! There’s nowhere to run!”

    Clang, clang, clang!

    The other constables also drew their swords, the tension in the room escalating.

    These constables were clearly experienced fighters, their bodies radiating a bloodthirsty aura.

    “I-I…”

    Hu Siqi was terrified, her lips trembling, her mind blank.

    Although she possessed Yin techniques, she couldn’t muster the will to resist, her body frozen with fear.

    She glanced at the gentle scholar sitting beside her, as if seeking his protection, reaching out instinctively—

    But the leader of the constables roared and swung his sword!

    “Aah!”

    Hu Siqi screamed and covered her head with her hands.

    But the descending blade suddenly stopped in midair.

    Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal. The middle-aged constable’s eyes widened in surprise.

    A woman stood before him, her sword blocking his attack.

    Where had she come from?!

    There was no one else in the room, nowhere to hide!

    “Hiss—”

    As they saw her face, the constables gasped, their expressions filled with awe. The middle-aged constable instinctively lowered his sword and stepped back.

    Under the flickering candlelight, the woman’s beauty was breathtaking, her skin flawless and radiant, her aura ethereal and captivating. But there was also a chilling coldness about her, a sense of power that kept them at bay, like a master cultivator, inspiring both awe and fear.

    The leader of the constables sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully.

    “M-may I ask who you are, Master?”

    “I was resting in the next room when I heard the commotion. So I came to intervene.”

    Hua Shuya lowered her sword, her voice calm. “Your attack was reckless. You almost injured this young lady and Master Lin. That was quite rude.”

    “M-Master Lin?” The constables were confused.

    Lin Tianlu stood up and bowed slightly. “Officers, you should be more careful. Don’t accidentally injure innocent people. It would reflect poorly on your superiors.”

    “This…”

    The middle-aged constable was speechless for a moment.

    But he quickly regained his composure and bowed respectfully. “Please forgive my rudeness, Sir. I was too hasty, eager to capture this demoness. I almost injured you. I hope you won’t hold this against the authorities.”

  • My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 55

    Chapter 55: It Wasn’t Me, I Didn’t Do It!

    “Yes, the traffic is a bit heavy, but don’t worry, we have medicine prepared here.”

    As soon as Xiao Luohan opened her eyes, she heard a familiar voice.

    She followed the sound and saw a long-haired woman, who resembled her elder sister, talking on the phone. Beside her, a curious girl was staring intently at her.

    Meeting her gaze, the girl blinked and touched her forehead with the back of her hand.

    Xiao Luohan recognized her and remained motionless, letting the slightly cool hand test her temperature.

    “She still has a fever. We need to take her temperature and see if she needs fever reducers.” After checking her forehead, Xie Xitong didn’t withdraw her hand, but instead shook the person beside Xiao Luohan. “Hey, wake up! Your Xiao Luo has crossed over!”

    Xiao Luohan instinctively looked over and saw Jiang Xue groan as Xie Xitong shook her. The first thing she said after opening her eyes was to ask Xiao Luohan, “How are you feeling? You were coughing up blood just now! You need to take your medicine!”

    “Coughing up blood?!”

    Jiang Xue’s words brought Jiang Mei over as well. “Rinse your mouth first, and when Dr. Qi arrives, we’ll have her take a look. If it’s not good, we’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up!”

    “Dr. Qi is coming too?!” Jiang Xue was shocked. “Doesn’t she always take time off during the New Year’s holiday?”

    “We discussed this beforehand.” Jiang Mei explained while sending a message to Dr. Qi. “She’s very happy to be involved in anything related to Xiao Luo. We also asked her to help with Xiao Luo’s identification documents.”

    Jiang Xue paused, recalling the conversation she had overheard a long time ago:

    —”Okay, if she can really come over, I’ll find someone to help immediately.”

    —”Thank you.”

    —”Don’t mention it. This is more interesting than a medical miracle. Just consider it my own selfish curiosity.”

    So that’s what her older sister and Dr. Qi were talking about!

    She breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to get out of bed to help, but her limbs were sore, not from exhaustion, but just a general weakness.

    “You’re just startled,” Uncle Seuss said, entering with a kettle of hot water. He had overheard Jiang Xue’s description. “You might have nightmares for a few days, which is normal. Ordinary people experiencing this kind of thing, in more serious cases, would have PTSD. Your symptoms are mild. We’ll ask Dr. Qi to prescribe some calming medicine later.”

    Even though, for Jiang Xue, killing the Crown Prince had happened in a dream, she had still witnessed his death up close, and before Xiao Luohan had acted, she herself had thrown a porcelain jar at him, diverting his attention.

    Uncle Seuss wanted to come in and see his new “niece,” but Jiang Mei stopped him at the door. “Xiao Luo needs to rest!”

    Actually, rest was only one reason. They had noticed that Xiao Luohan, after crossing over, was only wearing a plain white undergarment. Her wedding dress and jewelry were gone, although her makeup was still intact.

    Jiang Xue had helped Xiao Luohan sit up, and she was now leaning against the headboard, wrapped in a blanket, sipping warm, slightly salty water.

    “Perhaps knowing that I dislike the Crown Prince’s things, Elder Sister took them all away,” she explained softly in response to their puzzled looks. “It’s for the best, otherwise, Uncle Seuss would have to deal with more trash.”

    The Crown Prince was dead, and she had arrived in a new world, so she should look forward.

    Twenty minutes later, Dr. Qi arrived in a hurry. After hearing Jiang Mei report Xiao Luohan’s temperature, she sat down, took out her stethoscope, listened for a while, then checked her tongue coating, examined her eyes, and finally, took her pulse.

    “Your illness is the same as Second Miss’s, just that it hasn’t been properly treated for so many years, so it looks more serious.” Withdrawing her hand, Dr. Qi said, not surprised, “But let’s treat the cold first. We’ll take it slow with the other treatment.”

    She took out some traditional Chinese medicine for relieving cold symptoms from her medical bag and skillfully wrote down the dosage. “We need to do a skin test for common anti-inflammatory drugs to see if you’re allergic. Tonight, just take these with fewer side effects. I’ll come back and check on you tomorrow.”

    “Thank you,” Xiao Luohan bowed to her, then looked at Jiang Xue. “Jiang Xue wasn’t feeling well after leaving the dream. Could you please take a look at her too?”

    Dr. Qi smiled and agreed, but when she turned to Jiang Xue, her eyes were filled with reproach.

    Jiang Xue: …

    She wanted to shout “It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!” Besides doing her best to help Xiao Luo, she hadn’t done anything wrong!

    But she didn’t want to discuss this with Dr. Qi in front of Xiao Luohan, so she changed the subject with a deadpan expression. “Uncle Seuss said I was just startled.”

    Knowing that they had been through a lot before crossing over, Dr. Qi quickly examined her, prescribed some calming medicine, and left, reminding everyone to rest well tonight.

    Jiang Xue had already slept for a whole day. Besides being hungry and a little sore, she wasn’t tired at all.

    Sitting at the small dining table by the bed, eating the beef clear soup noodles Jiang Mei had made for her, she said to Xiao Luohan, “You go to sleep. I’ll watch over you. Tell me if you feel uncomfortable.”

    To ensure there were no problems with this transtemporal rescue, Jiang Xue had taken leave from school. After the three-day New Year’s holiday, she still had four days to help Xiao Luohan recover from her cold and adapt to the new world.

    Anyway, the most important thing this semester was the final exam. The main events were the final selection exam in April and the college entrance exam in June. As long as she kept up with her studies, it would be fine.

    Xiao Luohan replied with an “Mm,” but just looked at her quietly.

    She was wondering if it would be inappropriate to bring up the matter of repayment now.

    Jiang Xue might use “focus on recovering first” as an excuse, but that wasn’t the response she wanted to hear…

    “You have something you want to tell me,” Jiang Xue said with certainty before she could even voice her thoughts. “Just say it. My sister, A-Xi, and I also sometimes have things we’re hesitant to say, but after thinking about it, they’re not a big deal. There’s nothing we can’t talk about.”

    But before Xiao Luohan could speak, she quickly added, “Of course, if you don’t think it’s the right time yet, then don’t say it. It’s entirely up to you. Don’t force yourself to please me!”

    Personalities needed time to adjust to each other, and she didn’t expect Xiao Luohan to completely abandon her original personality and become as outspoken as herself.

    Moreover, Xiao Luohan was someone she had rescued from another world. As the saying went, “Excessive kindness can be a burden.” She didn’t want this kindness to become a shackle, restricting this girl.

    …Despite saying this, seeing Xiao Luohan pause, smile faintly at her, and reply with an “Okay,” without elaborating, she still felt a little regretful.

    It was just like when she had given her the dictionary!

    So, what did Xiao Luo want to tell her?!

    All night, Xiao Luohan rested peacefully, and Jiang Xue watched over her, gazing at her serene sleeping face, her mind filled with this question.

    In the middle of the night, she finally couldn’t take it anymore and opened Xie Xitong’s chat window on her phone.

    【Yu Xue: I think I missed an opportunity to get closer to the truth…】

    【XiXi No Xixi (Senior Year Version): What silly thing did you do again? Tell me~】

    Jiang Xue recounted the events.

    Then she was bombarded with various laughing emojis from Xie Xitong.

    【Yu Xue: You don’t have to laugh so hard!!】

    【Yu Xue: [cat punching you.gif]】

    【Yu Xue: So, do you have any ideas?】

    【XiXi No Xixi (Senior Year Version): Revealing the answer directly wouldn’t be any fun!】

    Jiang Xue: …

    Because of the Crown Prince, she was now a little allergic to “riddle people.”

    But she knew her best friend’s personality since childhood. And it was precisely because she couldn’t figure it out and had to find an answer that she had wanted to vent to someone she knew. So she didn’t ask further.

    She would wait. Anyway, they were now in a peaceful and safe world. If Xiao Luo wanted to wait for a suitable time to talk, then she would let her.

    In the dream, Xiao Luohan was back in her “mindscape.”

    The furnishings hadn’t changed, even the traces left by Jiang Xue were still there, not disappearing because of her crossing over.

    The only change was outside the window.

    It had originally been the scene Xiao Luohan wanted to see, but now it had become a distant view of a city.

    But she recognized it at a glance—it was the capital of Beiliao.

    Had Elder Sister changed her mindscape? Could she… could she meet Elder Sister again here?

    With this thought, she couldn’t help but walk to the window.

    The distant view suddenly zoomed in, the light flickering and changing, then everything stopped.

    She was surprised to see Shizhu. Shizhu was kneeling in front of her mother, and her mother was holding her letter, as if asking Shizhu to rise.

    The scene changed again, and she saw her elder sister’s aunt—the late Empress’s younger sister—taking her mother and Shizhu away from the cold palace.

    …Having left the cold palace, where were they going?

    Just as she thought this, the scene shifted to the Jiang family’s residence.

    Her mother had changed into different clothes and was sitting across from her elder sister’s aunt, talking seriously. Shizhu, also in the clothes of a Jiang family servant, was standing beside her mother, listening quietly.

    Xiao Luohan couldn’t hear what they were saying, but just by looking at her mother and Shizhu’s clothes and their complexions, she knew things must have improved.

    She breathed a soft sigh of relief and tried calling out “Elder Sister.”

    No one answered, and the red fox didn’t appear, but the next moment, the scene outside the window changed again.

    She saw a rifle leaning against a wall, then rows of targets standing in the sun.

    The rifle looked like the one in the materials Jiang Xue had sent. When she saw her elder sister’s aunt holding the rifle, aiming at the targets, Xiao Luohan finally relaxed completely.

    It seemed that Elder Sister’s dream-sending was also going smoothly.

    She thought for a moment, then ground some ink in the mindscape, spread out a sheet of paper, and left a message for her elder sister.

    【Elder Sister, I hope this letter finds you well.

    I have arrived in Jiang Xue’s world. She, her family, her best friend, and her family doctor are all very kind to me. Please don’t worry.

    My only concern now is how to repay their kindness. But I also know that I shouldn’t rush this and should let things take their natural course. I will just live here and adapt to the new environment for now.

    May Elder Sister also achieve her wish soon.】

    As soon as she finished writing, the paper was lifted by a gust of wind, floating out the window and transforming into a gyrfalcon, soaring into the sky.

    When Xiao Luohan woke up from the dream, it was already early morning.

    Soft breathing sounds came from beside the bed. She turned her head and saw Jiang Xue lying on the edge of the bed, fast asleep.

    Even though the heater was on in the room and she wouldn’t get cold, Xiao Luohan didn’t want her to sleep in such an uncomfortable position. She got out of bed, intending to help her onto the bed.

    Jiang Xue, half-asleep, suddenly felt a source of warmth and instinctively snuggled closer, unconsciously clinging to it.

    She didn’t know how long she slept, only waking up when she was startled by a knock on the door.

    …She felt that she had woken up the wrong way.

    Why, why had she, who had clearly been sleeping on the edge of the bed, woken up in bed with Xiao Luohan, clinging to her like a koala?!

  • Friend(GL) 112

    Chapter 112: If

    You Ruxu spent a long time feeding Zhou Tianzui, whose appetite wasn’t good, eating the porridge in small, hesitant bites. She said to You Ruxu, “You go eat.”

    “I’m not hungry yet.” You Ruxu said, “Are you done?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m full.”

    You Ruxu looked down at her, Zhou Tianzui’s face pale, making her eyes seem even brighter. Usually so talkative, she was unusually quiet now. Zhou Tianzui looked up, meeting You Ruxu’s gaze, “What’s wrong?”

    “Nothing.” You Ruxu looked down. “I’m going to eat.”

    She returned to the table. Yu Qiao had finished eating and was clearing the dishes. She said, “I’m not staying tonight.”

    Zhou Tianzui, thinking it was because of their embrace earlier that Yu Qiao was leaving, didn’t try to persuade her to stay, just told her to be careful. After Yu Qiao left, You Ruxu picked at her cold food, her appetite gone.

    A message notification. She glanced at her phone, her eyes falling on the previous message.

    She scrolled up and clicked on it.

    She put down her chopsticks.

    Zhou Tianzui, hearing this, asked, “Are you full?”

    You Ruxu said, “Yes.”

    She cleared the table, scraping the leftover food into a container, putting the trash in a separate bag, then went to the bathroom to get a warm towel for Zhou Tianzui, helping her wash her face. Zhou Tianzui adjusted the bed slightly, still lying down, trying to move, when You Ruxu said, “Don’t move.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s not that bad.”

    You Ruxu said, “It still hurts.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “What about you? Don’t you hurt?”

    You Ruxu said, “I’m fine now.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Then get up and walk around.”

    Hitting a sore spot.

    You Ruxu said, “At least I’ll be able to walk before you.”

    They bickered like children, deliberately avoiding the topic of Zhou Qiming, their work, the news online, like two turtles retreating into their shells, shutting out the outside world, their conversation light and meaningless.

    Zhou Tianzui, after washing her face, seeing You Ruxu still working on her laptop, said, “Not going to sleep?”

    You Ruxu said, “Just a couple more emails.”

    Zhou Tianzui watched her work. You Ruxu was often busy when they lived together, but they deliberately avoided each other’s work. So, whenever she saw You Ruxu working, she would go to her room, read some articles or medical journals, and wait until You Ruxu came to bed.

    Recently, however, she often watched You Ruxu work.

    Her focused attention, the quiet intensity, a comforting warmth.

    She said, “Come here.”

    You Ruxu looked up at her.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Bring your laptop over.”

    You Ruxu hesitated, then placed the laptop on her lap and wheeled herself over to Zhou Tianzui’s bed. Zhou Tianzui moved over slightly. The bed wasn’t big, there would be no space left if they both lay down side by side. You Ruxu, worried about Zhou Tianzui’s wound, shook her head.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Get up here.”

    You Ruxu, unable to refuse, lifted the blanket, supported herself with her hands, and sat on the bed. She opened the small table attached to the bed, placed the laptop on it, the perfect distance. You Ruxu’s slender fingers flew across the keyboard. Zhou Tianzui listened to the rhythmic clicking, her head resting near You Ruxu’s waist, inhaling her scent.

    She hadn’t felt sleepy before, but now, she wanted to sleep.

    She closed her eyes.

    You Ruxu, after sending the emails, looked down at Zhou Tianzui, her eyes closed. It had only been a few days, yet Zhou Tianzui seemed to have lost weight, not just physically, but her usual energy also seemed to have diminished. She gently brushed Zhou Tianzui’s bangs away from her forehead, and Zhou Tianzui’s eyelids fluttered open.

    Still a light sleeper.

    You Ruxu said, “Go to sleep, I’ll move to the other bed.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t go.”

    You Ruxu placed the laptop on the bedside table, closed the small table, and lay down beside Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui held her hand, their palms slightly sweaty. You Ruxu’s leg was still uncomfortable. Zhou Tianzui said, “Put it on my leg.”

    “No.” You Ruxu said, “Your leg will go numb.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s fine.”

    You Ruxu carefully placed her leg on Zhou Tianzui’s, then after a few seconds, took it back. They lay side by side, the narrow bed leaving no space between them, the railings on both sides like a protective barrier, enclosing them. You Ruxu turned slightly, half lying on Zhou Tianzui, listening to her rapid heartbeat, “You’ll never fall asleep like this.”

    You Ruxu said, “Then let’s not sleep.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked down at her, “What do you want to do if we don’t sleep?”

    You Ruxu said, “Talk.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “What do you want to talk about?”

    You Ruxu said, “Are you still going to be a doctor?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “We’ll talk about it after our trip.”

    You Ruxu asked again, “Are we still going on that trip?”

    Zhou Tianzui didn’t answer this time, just held You Ruxu’s hand tightly beneath the blanket, their fingers interlaced. You Ruxu snuggled closer, her hair brushing against Zhou Tianzui’s face. She brushed it away and said, “I’ve been thinking lately.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “Thinking about what?”

    “About when we first met.” You Ruxu said, “You hadn’t been at the hospital for long then.”

    Zhou Tianzui had transferred from another hospital, shortly before You Ruxu came for the interview. The director had asked her to pick You Ruxu up, and later, when You Ruxu went to their office, several people had tried to convince her to assign the liaison task to them.

    Zhou Tianzui could have easily taken the opportunity to curry favor, but she hadn’t.

    You Ruxu said, “I was very happy.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “About what?”

    You Ruxu said, “You said, you would be my contact person from now on.”

    She hadn’t understood her feelings for Zhou Tianzui back then, just that the decision made her happy, Zhou Tianzui said, “You had a crush on me back then?”

    A half-joking, half-serious question.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “You were quite reserved.”

    She hadn’t shown any signs, if she hadn’t said it now, Zhou Tianzui would never have guessed. You Ruxu said, “It wasn’t about being reserved.”

    She hadn’t wanted to impose on Zhou Tianzui’s life.

    She didn’t know about Zhou Tianzui’s sexual orientation, and even if they were both interested, their professions presented a huge obstacle. But people were strange, these issues, after she found out who Zhou Tianzui was, no longer seemed like obstacles.

    Perhaps she needed a reason to stay by Zhou Tianzui’s side.

    And atonement was the perfect excuse.

    She sometimes felt Zhou Tianzui wasn’t cruel enough to her, she wanted Zhou Tianzui to torment her, yet also to love her, but when Zhou Tianzui truly showed her affection,

    She couldn’t believe it.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “You’re so complicated.”

    You Ruxu chuckled, looking up at Zhou Tianzui, “Aren’t you complicated as well?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m not complicated, when I make a decision, it’s final.”

    You Ruxu was speechless.

    After a long moment, she asked, “When did you start liking me?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Why do you want to know?”

    You Ruxu said, “Can’t I ask?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “You can.”

    You Ruxu asked again, “When?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I don’t remember.”

    You Ruxu, lying on top of her, looked into her eyes, so close that she could see her own reflection in Zhou Tianzui’s clear, bright eyes, she remembered how those eyes looked when she smiled, when she cried, when she was happy, when she was angry, like images etched in her memory, You Ruxu’s face appearing every time she closed her eyes.

    You Ruxu said, “Forget it then, if you don’t remember.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Hug me tighter, maybe I’ll remember.”

    You Ruxu wanted to laugh, but tears welled up in her eyes, “Am I not hugging you already?”

    “That doesn’t count.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Hug me tighter.”

    You Ruxu hugged her tighter, her body half draped over Zhou Tianzui’s, one leg resting on hers, her head turned to the side, Zhou Tianzui’s arm around her shoulder, You Ruxu’s soft breaths warm against her ear.

    They embraced for a long time.

    You Ruxu said, “Do you remember now?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Almost.”

    You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, their eyes meeting. A faint blush colored the corners of Zhou Tianzui’s eyes, a stark contrast against her pale skin, her long, thick eyelashes casting shadows, dark circles under her eyes, her expression tired and vulnerable. You Ruxu, seeing the change in her eyes, their color softening as they gazed at her, her lips parted slightly, her head tilted back, Zhou Tianzui hesitated for a moment, then lay back down on the bed.

    You Ruxu asked, “What’s wrong?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “It hurts.”

    You Ruxu said, “Then don’t move.”

    Zhou Tianzui, her arms still around You Ruxu, “I won’t move, you cooperate.”

    Before You Ruxu could ask what she meant by “cooperate,” Zhou Tianzui shifted slightly, their faces now close. You Ruxu, her eyes widening slightly in surprise, felt Zhou Tianzui’s lips on hers.

    Soft lips.

    A light, fleeting touch, then she pulled away.

    You Ruxu’s eyes reddened, one arm still around Zhou Tianzui, her other hand gently cupping Zhou Tianzui’s face, she returned the kiss.

    Closing her eyes, tears welled up, dampening their hospital gowns.

    It was unclear whose tears they were.

    The kiss was soft and lingering, You Ruxu’s hands gently cupping Zhou Tianzui’s face, as if she couldn’t get enough, leaning in again when Zhou Tianzui pulled away slightly.

    Taking the initiative, so unlike her.

    After a long moment, You Ruxu released Zhou Tianzui. They lay side by side, looking at the ceiling.

    You Ruxu said, “I’m doing the anonymous interview tomorrow.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay, come back early after you’re done.”

    You Ruxu smiled faintly.

    She heard Zhou Tianzui also chuckle softly.

    They didn’t look at each other.

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “If you hadn’t found that notebook back then, would you still have come to Jindu?”

    You Ruxu looked at the fluorescent light above, its white glow tinged with other colors, a dazzling sight, and said, “No.”

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “What would you have done?”

    You Ruxu said, “I don’t know, probably listened to my mom and joined the court system?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “That would have been nice.”

    You Ruxu then asked, “What about you?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I would still be a doctor.”

    You Ruxu said, “That would have been nice too.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “But there’s no ‘if’.” She looked at You Ruxu, “You came to Jindu, and we met.” You Ruxu turned her head, her eyes, still slightly red from crying, clear and bright, reflecting the light.

    Reflecting Zhou Tianzui.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “A Ran, let’s try again, okay?”

    You Ruxu looked into her eyes, then after a few seconds, wrapped her arms around Zhou Tianzui, burying her face in her embrace, holding her tightly.

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 504

    Chapter 504: “A Couple of Flat-Chested…”

    Unlike the Elven Homeland, the Tegor Forest at night was terrifying and eerie.

    There was no light.

    There was no scenery.

    There was only a forest shrouded in darkness.

    The moonlight and starlight were blocked by the tall trees.

    There were no sounds of birds, beasts, or insects, only a suppressed magic power and ominous aura.

    The only ones active in the Tegor Forest at this time were nocturnal monsters.

    And nocturnal monsters were usually carnivorous, ferocious, and sinister. Moreover, this was the depths of the Tegor Forest, where the lurking monsters were all high-level. Even legendary-level experts needed to be extremely cautious here.

    However, under such circumstances, a little girl, a mysterious small beast, and a young human noble were strolling through the forest.

    “Hum hum~ hum hum~ hum hum hum~~~”

    Millu, walking at the front, skipped and hummed a strange tune, completely out of sync with the eerie surroundings.

    “Haaa~~~”

    Lid, lying on Millu’s head, yawned continuously, seemingly more bored than sleepy.

    “…”

    Shien followed them with narrowed eyes, silently telling himself not to mind, not to mind. If he complained, he would lose.

    But Shien did regret it.

    He regretted following this pair out of the Elven Homeland.

    “Am I stupid? Isn’t soaking in a natural hot spring more enjoyable? Isn’t looking at elven beauties more pleasing to the eye? Or even going back and playing some wholesome games with Lucy would be better, right? Why did I come out for a night stroll because of a little curiosity?”

    Shien almost questioned his life choices.

    Mainly because he had been following this pair for so long, yet he still didn’t know what they were up to, which made Shien feel a little amused.

    “Could they just be out for a walk?”

    Shien strongly suspected this.

    Even a fool wouldn’t want to take a walk in a place like this in the middle of the night, but this pair, even if they weren’t fools, seemed a bit crazy.

    …Should he find a chance to run away?

    Shien seriously considered this.

    But his thoughts seemed to be seen through.

    “Young man, be patient.” Lid glanced at Shien and said calmly, “You have nothing to do in the Elven Homeland anyway, so why not come out and have some fun with us, right?”

    “Heh.” Shien snorted and said, “Are you sure this will be more fun than staying in the Elven Homeland?”

    Did they not know that he had a fiancée who was the most beautiful woman in the human world?

    As Shien thought this, Lid spoke again.

    “At least it will be exciting.” Lid said, as if patting its chest, “I guarantee you’ll have a good workout, the kind that makes you sweat.”

    …Could he accuse her of innuendo?

    She wasn’t even human, and she could still make innuendos?

    Amazing.

    “Forget it.” Shien sighed slightly and changed the subject. “How should I address you?”

    Before Lid could answer, Millu, who was skipping along, turned around and raised her hand.

    “I’m Millu!”

    Millu said excitedly, like a student called upon by a teacher.

    “Well, just call us by our names.” Lid said nonchalantly. “Since you know Airi and have such a good relationship with her, no one will say anything if you address us directly.”

    “Really?” Shien curled his lip. “Are you sure I don’t need to add an honorific? Princess Millu? Princess Lid?”

    “Mmm~~~” Millu puffed out her cheeks and corrected him. “It’s Millu! Mi! Lu!”

    Meaning, just call them by their names, no honorifics needed, right?

    Lid also gave Shien a meaningful look.

    “It seems you’ve guessed our identities.” Lid said lazily, “Not bad, quite clever.”

    “Heh.” Shien snorted again and said, “It’s not that I’m clever, but there aren’t many in this world who can address Airi directly and possess such magic power and aura.”

    Therefore, it wasn’t difficult for Shien to guess their identities.

    He just didn’t know who they were specifically.

    Among the Three Goddesses, Shien had already met two, and the remaining one clearly didn’t match the appearances and rumors of these two.

    Among the Six Demon Lords, excluding Sara and Airi, there were only four left.

    Who were these two?

    Shien could probably guess Lid’s identity, but he was still observing Millu.

    Whether Lid knew this or not, it looked at Shien with a meaningful expression.

    “I said you’re clever, not because you can guess our identities, but because you know how to treat us.” Lid grinned, its appearance rather ferocious. “A man favored by that girl Airi shouldn’t be afraid of us, let alone our identities and backgrounds. The fact that you can still face us with such a calm and casual attitude after knowing who we are is commendable.”

    “Yes, yes, yes!” Millu nodded vigorously. “Commendable! Commendable!”

    Shien, however, didn’t care about this.

    “Perhaps I’m just disrespectful, clueless, and arrogant.”

    Shien shrugged.

    “You are indeed a bit arrogant.” Lid didn’t deny Shien’s words and said, seemingly trying to scare him, “Knowing our identities, and still daring to follow us, aren’t you afraid we’ll attack you?”

    “Oh?” Shien seemed intrigued. “Will you attack me?”

    Lid didn’t answer but turned to Millu.

    “Do you want to attack him, Millu?”

    Lid asked casually.

    Millu actually started thinking seriously.

    Seeing this, Shien felt a chill down his spine.

    He felt that deep within this seemingly innocent, naive, and childlike little girl was something terrifying.

    And it wasn’t just about power, but something more fundamental.

    Shien had a premonition that if she decided she wanted to attack, she would do so without hesitation, killing him on the spot.

    Fortunately…

    “Millu doesn’t want to attack.” Millu seemed to have reached a conclusion, shaking her head and smiling innocently. “Big brother seems fun.”

    These words dispelled the chill in Shien’s heart.

    “Is that so?” Lid still seemed indifferent, then said to Shien, “I’m the same. I don’t want to attack you unless you’re truly a coward who can’t even face us.”

    It seemed that in their eyes, Shien was at least passable.

    But Shien was certain that if he didn’t meet their expectations, they wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate him.

    “Don’t think we’re cruel.” Lid sneered. “If you want to be involved with Airi, you have to bear this risk.”

    “Yes!” Millu nodded vigorously again and said seriously, “Airi is important.”

    Leaving these words behind, Millu, carrying Lid, continued skipping forward.

    Shien rolled his eyes, seemingly not caring about their words at all.

    Of course, Shien wouldn’t completely ignore their threat.

    He had heard their words, just didn’t take them too seriously.

    “A couple of flat-chested…”

    Shien muttered inwardly.

    “Hmm?”

    Millu stopped and tilted her head in confusion.

    “What did you say?”

    Lid narrowed her eyes, her expression unfriendly.

    “Nothing.” Shien naturally wouldn’t admit it and smiled brightly at them. “Let’s go, shall we continue our walk?”

    “A walk?” Millu tilted her head even further.

    “This isn’t a walk.” Lid retorted.

    “Yes, yes, yes.” Shien still looked unconcerned.

    If it were anyone else, they would definitely be angry by now, but Millu and Lid weren’t. One continued to look confused, the other seemed too lazy to argue, truly a strange and incredible pair.

    They continued forward.

    Until a certain moment, Shien’s eyes narrowed, and he abruptly stopped.

    He sensed a familiar magic power.

    That magic power was somewhat evil, dark, chaotic, and ferocious, making him feel very uncomfortable.

    Shien’s expression turned grim.

    Not only Shien, but even Millu seemed to have a fierce glint in her eyes, baring her teeth like a little lioness.

    “Do you sense it?”

    Only Lid still looked indifferent, looking at Shien with a smirk.

    Shien didn’t say anything, but suddenly accelerated, his figure flashing like a ghost as he dashed forward.

    The sealed Holy Sword at his waist had already been drawn.

    And as Shien drew his sword, a dark figure suddenly lunged out from the depths of the forest ahead, like a beast lying in ambush.

    “Roar!”

    A ferocious roar echoed from its mouth.

    It was a terrifying monster.

    It had a wolf’s head, a snake’s head growing from its chest, six arms, some on its back, some on its legs, and a tail on its face. It had no natural biological characteristics at all, a grotesque and horrifying chimera, making one feel physically uncomfortable just by looking at it.

    Such a creature wasn’t a monster, nor any known life form in this world.

    Yet, Shien knew its name.

    —A [Demonized Being].

    This monster was used as a sacrifice, as nourishment for Demon Lord larvae, born in a magic ritual called the “Demonization Ritual,” formed from monsters and demons driven mad by the ritual, killing and devouring each other, absorbing each other’s flesh and magic power.

    “Roar!”

    The grotesque Demonized Being pounced on Shien like a predator.

    Its speed was so fast that only a blur could be seen, proving its high level and strength.

    But Shien’s eyes flashed coldly as he charged forward without dodging or evading.

    The Demonized Being’s ferocious wolf’s maw opened wide, biting down on Shien’s head.

    “Clang!”

    At this moment, a sword light, like a crescent moon in the darkness, flashed.

    “Swish!”

    The grotesque Demonized Being didn’t even have time to react before it was decapitated by this extremely fast slash, its wolf head flying into the sky.

    “[Bestow: Combustion].”

    Shien chanted the magic spell in a cold voice.

    Astonishing magic power erupted from his body.

    “Boom—!”

    In the dark forest, flames suddenly burst forth, illuminating the surroundings.

    The sudden flames ignited the surrounding forest, burning intensely.

    Shien stood amidst the sea of fire, watching as the Demonized Being was burned to ashes, then finally stopped.

    But his expression was still grim.

    At this moment, Millu and Lid approached him.

    “It seems you really hate this monster.”

    Lid smiled, seemingly satisfied.

    “Burned it! Burned it!”

    Millu cheered repeatedly, running around excitedly in the sea of fire, completely ignoring the flames, moving freely without even a single spark on her.

    Shien turned to Lid.

    “What’s going on?” Shien asked stiffly, “Why is there a Demonized Being here?”

    This question, instead of being answered, was met with a counter-question from Lid.

    “I’d like to ask you, why do you think there wouldn’t be a Demonized Being here?”

    Lid’s counter-question stunned Shien for a moment, then he fell silent.

    Seeing this, Lid nodded.

    “You know, right? The so-called Demonized Beings are the product of rituals performed by the Old Demon Faction, essentially sacrifices and nourishment, monsters formed from demons and monsters driven mad by the ritual, killing and devouring each other.” Lid said with an impassive face, “Therefore, this ritual needs to be performed in a place with many demons or monsters, and the greater their number and level, the better.”

    That’s why the Garibaldi family, who colluded with the Old Demon Faction, targeted the Atlus Gorge, because there were many high-level monsters there.

    And then…

    “The Tegor Forest is the largest monster forest in this world, even containing many legendary monsters that have existed since ancient times.”

    Lid sneered.

    “Such a good place for the ritual, do you think those bastards from the Old Demon Faction’s [Original Demon] wouldn’t have their eyes on it?”

    This was the reason why there was a Demonized Being here.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 118

    Chapter 118: Forming Teams

    Mi Hongdou, perhaps because she lived closer and woke up earlier, was the first celebrity to arrive at the filming location.

    From the county town to the filming location, she estimated it was a little over an hour’s drive. Getting out of the car, she saw the crew members with their cameras, ready and waiting. It seemed they had arrived at their final destination, no more transfers.

    In the distance, she could see some houses, like a small mountain village. Fortunately, Qiao Rubai hadn’t abandoned them in the wilderness as she had feared. Mi Hongdou was relieved, but also a little disappointed about the wilderness survival skills she had diligently studied. In a populated area, her knowledge of building shelters, making fire, filtering water, and setting traps would probably be useless.

    Wenlong Mountain was a designated scenic area, but not very famous at this time, certainly not a popular tourist destination. Many hadn’t even heard of it. Mi Hongdou vaguely remembered that in her previous life, a few years later, a popular reality show, filmed in several lesser-known scenic areas across the country, had boosted tourism in those locations, even turning some previously unremarkable villages into tourist attractions. The local scenery, specialties, cuisine, even the rooms where the celebrities stayed, and the activities they participated in, became tourist attractions.

    Wenlong Mountain had benefited greatly from that show. Firstly, because of its diverse landscape, mountains, rivers, valleys, offering a variety of activities. Secondly, the abundance of local ingredients made for excellent farmhouse cuisine. And thirdly, the beautiful scenery and spacious area allowed for the development of villa-style accommodations, generating significant rental income. Later, investors, seeing the potential, and with the government’s push for tourism development, built a wildlife park and an amusement park, further boosting tourism.

    Mi Hongdou, seeing the houses in the distance, initially thought it was the village from that reality show in her previous life, that Qiao Rubai was planning to develop Wenlong Mountain ahead of time. But after looking around, she felt that it wasn’t quite the same.

    Was it because it was a few years earlier, and the development hadn’t started yet? Or was her memory faulty? As she pondered, the other cars arrived.

    There were eight participants in total. Five from “Imperial Secrets”: Mi Hongdou, Ji Junxin, Jiang Lingling, Zhang Zijing, and Jiang Duo. And three from “Promise in Troubled Times”: Lu Changhuai, Yu Naihao, and Bao Yueqiao…

    Mi Hongdou had only learned two days ago that it was a collaboration between two productions. She had thought it would only be the “Imperial Secrets” cast. And even if she had known, she wouldn’t have expected Qiao Rubai to invite the “Promise in Troubled Times” cast. After all… the relationship between the two films was… delicate.

    Not to mention Director Pan’s dislike for Gu Tiansheng, the director of “Promise in Troubled Times,” they had even held their press conferences at the same venue, one day apart… And both films premiered on the same day… “Imperial Secrets” sparked a yuri frenzy online, while “Promise in Troubled Times” attracted a large BL fanbase… Filmed around the same time, released almost simultaneously, their box office numbers neck and neck, they were competitors.

    Although both films were successful, they were still competing. And for Qiong Yu, “Imperial Secrets” was their major investment, the higher the box office, the greater their profit. As for “Promise in Troubled Times,” they only had Bao Yueqiao in it, its box office success didn’t benefit them much.

    Mi Hongdou didn’t understand Qiao Rubai’s reasoning in bringing the two casts together for a reality show… well, a businessman’s mind was unfathomable.

    But as a participant, she felt… a little strange.

    And she thought Pan Xiang probably felt even stranger.

    Pan Xiang had told her that the films “The Kettle and the Heart” and “Spy Game” were based on her novels. But after discovering Pan Xiang’s Jinjiang page through Jiang Lingling, and reading her novels, Mi Hongdou realized that “Promise in Troubled Times,” currently in theaters, was also based on one of Pan Xiang’s novels. The film had changed the title, and she had only realized it after reading the reviews.

    Pan Xiang was the true winner here. One film adapted from her novel, another mostly written by her, both films having been in theaters for a month, their combined box office exceeding four billion yuan, what an achievement!

    Unfortunately, Pan Xiang’s identity as a writer was still a secret. Mi Hongdou imagined how conflicted Pan Xiang must have felt when Director Pan criticized “Promise in Troubled Times.”

    She was only half right…

    One film sparked a yuri frenzy, the other a BL frenzy, Pan Xiang’s feelings were more than just “conflicted”… she felt like she would never be able to write a proper heterosexual romance again!

    That morning, Mi Hongdou, the first to arrive, eagerly waited for Ji Junxin.

    The second to arrive was Jiang Lingling, followed by an RV, which, according to her, was filled with things Dong Yuannan had prepared for her, so much that she didn’t even know what was in it. She felt it was a bit excessive, bringing so much luggage for a twelve-day reality show, traveling across the country. But Dong Yuannan insisted. Although the show hadn’t forbidden it, Jiang Lingling doubted she would need any of it.

    Mi Hongdou agreed, thinking that Jiang Lingling’s luggage was enough for several people to live comfortably for twelve days, what was the point of the reality show then? The crew probably hadn’t stopped her earlier because they wanted to film it, to create some buzz, they would definitely confiscate some of it later. She herself had brought two suitcases of clothes and necessities, which shouldn’t be confiscated, but she had a feeling…

    As they were discussing the RV and the luggage, the next group arrived.

    Two cars, one after the other. Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao from “Promise in Troubled Times.”

    About three years ago, they had starred in Gu Tiansheng’s “The Kettle and the Heart,” based on Pan Xiang’s novel. The story was about the son of the Wulin Alliance leader infiltrating the Demonic Sect, teaching their young leader a sinister martial art, then developing feelings for him and trying to save him, ending with his own death and the young leader’s suicide.

    Lu Changhuai, then in his early twenties, played the older master, while the fifteen-year-old Yu Naihao played the young sect leader. The film was a hit, thanks to their good looks, their compelling performances, the strong chemistry between their characters, and the tragic ending.

    Gu Tiansheng seemed to have a natural talent for melancholic tragedies, his films always emotionally resonant, his characters unforgettable.

    Before “The Kettle and the Heart,” both Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao were unknown. But the film made them famous, and their on-screen pairing became a popular topic. When Gu Tiansheng was filming “Spy Game,” many hoped they would be in it, but they weren’t. Rumor had it that Gu Tiansheng, worried about their deep immersion in their previous roles, had kept them apart after filming and hadn’t invited them for his next project. Many were disappointed, but Gu Tiansheng didn’t change his mind.

    Now, after almost three years, they were reunited in his new film, “Promise in Troubled Times,” which, initially, had been even more anticipated than “Imperial Secrets.” Even now, their fan base was much larger than the newly formed “Sweet Red Bean Soup” group.

    Mi Hongdou had naturally seen “Promise in Troubled Times.” It was very different from “Imperial Secrets.”

    It was a story about a corrupt dynasty, warring factions, and the rise of a new empire. Yu Naihao played the son of a rebel leader. During their uprising, he found and saved an injured stranger. The amnesiac stranger, played by Lu Changhuai, stayed with the rebel army out of gratitude. His martial arts skills made him a valuable asset, and he formed a brotherly bond with Yu Naihao. But after the dynasty’s fall, the seemingly united rebel factions turned on each other, fighting for the throne. And then, the foreign army at the border started to invade. Amidst this chaos, Lu Changhuai’s character, by chance, encountered someone from his past, his memory returned, and he discovered his true identity as a foreign prince. He was persuaded to return to his kingdom, took command of the army, and invaded, defeating several rebel factions. Then his father died, and he ascended the throne, his campaign even more aggressive.

    Until… he encountered Yu Naihao’s father’s army, and Yu Naihao, the scholarly, unarmed young man, standing at the front lines. After a night of peaceful discussion, Lu Changhuai, now the emperor, agreed to support Yu Naihao’s father’s claim to the throne. The terms of their agreement, however, remained a secret.

    The war resumed, then quickly ended. Yu Naihao’s father became emperor, then abdicated three days later, making Yu Naihao the new ruler. Lu Changhuai, having formed a peace treaty with Yu Naihao, retreated to the border, his army not harming a single person or taking a single thing.

    He was praised for his honor and righteousness.

    But the audience, seeing him standing at the border, gazing longingly towards the new kingdom, were heartbroken. Such a tragic separation!

    Mi Hongdou also felt the same. Gu Tiansheng, even without killing off any of the main characters, still managed to create such a heartbreaking story, it was a new level of emotional torture. No wonder the box office numbers were so high.

    As a fellow member of a currently popular film’s CP fandom, Mi Hongdou naturally paid more attention to Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao.

    Lu Changhuai seemed much the same as during “The Kettle and the Heart.” Yu Naihao, however, had changed drastically. He was only fifteen then, now eighteen, transformed from a cute teenager to a handsome young man. One strong and resolute, the other refined and gentle, standing together, they did have chemistry… Mi Hongdou thought, looking at the two.

    Compared to her and Jiang Lingling, newcomers with just one film, Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao were already quite famous. But they still politely greeted Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling. However, not being close, they stood apart, chatting separately.

    Then Zhang Zijing arrived, greeting Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling with a smile. They responded politely, just like during “Imperial Secrets,” and then the conversation died. Zhang Zijing’s smile stiffened, but he maintained his composure and went to talk to Lu Changhuai.

    “So that’s what a third wheel looks like,” Jiang Lingling said to Mi Hongdou, glancing at the three men exchanging pleasantries.

    Hey! This is a 24/7 live stream!

    Mi Hongdou was both amused and exasperated. Although she knew that everything they said would be broadcast, she still had to stop Jiang Lingling before she said anything more.

    “Ahem, we’re being recorded, you know…” she whispered.

    But Jiang Lingling didn’t care.

    “It’s okay, I think the audience agrees with me!” she said, looking at the nearest camera and smiling. “What do you think, everyone?”

    Jiang Lingling’s live stream page was flooded with the number “1,” a sign of agreement.

    Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao’s pages were filled with comments criticizing Zhang Zijing for interrupting their “pink atmosphere.”

    And Ji Junxin’s page… although she was just sitting in the car, looking out the window, the comments were full of encouragement: “Xinxin, fighting! Hurry up!” “Don’t be overshadowed by the lovebirds next door!” “The young Empress is waiting for you!”

    If Mi Hongdou wasn’t being filmed, but watching the live stream, she would have understood Qiao Rubai’s intentions. Two productions, one yuri, one BL, with both in her hands, she had the world…

    With most of the cast having arrived, Mi Hongdou was getting anxious. It had been over a day since their last contact, had something happened to Ji Junxin? … Had she cancelled at the last minute?

    Jiang Duo’s arrival rescued Zhang Zijing from the awkward small talk. The six of them, having exchanged greetings, naturally formed three groups of two, their relationships evident.

    Just as Mi Hongdou’s anxiety intensified, Jiang Lingling asked about a “three highs” diet. Mi Hongdou, remembering Dong Yuannan’s health problems in her previous life, put aside her worries and patiently explained.

    Just then, Bao Yueqiao and Ji Junxin arrived, one after the other. And Mi Hongdou, engrossed in her explanation, didn’t notice until the director’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker.

    “Everyone’s here! Line up, line up, yes, by the small yellow flag, line up. We’re about to start filming!”

    Everyone’s here? Ji Junxin is here too? What yellow flag? Mi Hongdou looked around, confused, then realized that they were all… standing in pairs, by a flagpole. The small yellow flag was right there. She was about to look for Ji Junxin when the director spoke again. “Okay, everyone’s here, let’s begin!”

    She saw Ji Junxin, separated from her by Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo.

    Annoying! Those two are the worst!

    With the cameras rolling, she couldn’t stare at Ji Junxin. After confirming her location, Mi Hongdou looked away, missing Ji Junxin’s resentful glance.

    Hmph! She didn’t even look at me! Ji Junxin, also having missed Mi Hongdou’s glance, was unhappy.

    Always playing with Jiang Lingling! No loyalty at all! Her inner complaints were endless.

    The eight celebrities lined up. From left to right: Lu Changhuai, Yu Naihao, Jiang Lingling, Mi Hongdou, Zhang Zijing, Jiang Duo, Ji Junxin, and Bao Yueqiao.

    “So, before we enter the world of , let’s form teams. Two people per team, free choice.”

    As soon as he finished, Mi Hongdou instinctively took a step forward, then stopped as the director continued, “Okay, let’s start from the right. Bao Yueqiao, who do you want to team up with?”

    Bao Yueqiao, petite and delicate, looked around nervously. The space to her right was empty, so her gaze landed on Ji Junxin.

    Ji Junxin had a bad feeling.

    Bao Yueqiao smiled sweetly. “Sister Junxin.”

    No… Ji Junxin’s carefully maintained smile almost cracked. Yueqiao, you are making it difficult to be friends!

    “Haha, Ji Junxin, I knew you didn’t want to be with Bao Yueqiao!” the director said, his voice full of amusement.

    We’re from the same company, why are you doing this to me?

    The director’s words were too much, was he even from Qiong Yu? Ji Junxin couldn’t agree with him, especially seeing Bao Yueqiao’s crestfallen expression. She said weakly, “That’s not…”

    “Okay! Based on both your choices, Bao Yueqiao and Ji Junxin, Team One! The contract is now in effect!” The director’s voice cut her off.

    Wait! Ji Junxin was stunned. She had just been trying to be polite, and he had just assigned them like that!

    Mi Hongdou felt a blow. What was this! Where was the “free choice”? No time for discussion, just randomly assigned! Qiao Rubai, where are you, is this director crazy!

    Jiang Lingling clicked her tongue. “That girl, Bao Yueqiao, not only did she steal Zhang Zijing’s attention, but she also broke up a CP, she’s going to lose fans.” What a hero among single dogs, I salute you! Or perhaps she’s not single? Doesn’t matter, I salute you on behalf of all single dogs! And I got the little chef, even if they confiscate my luggage, it will be worth it. Jiang Lingling’s barely concealed excitement didn’t escape Mi Hongdou’s notice. “So, who are you teaming up with?” she asked, her tone dark.

    “You, of course,” Jiang Lingling said, as if it were obvious.

    “Heh.” Mi Hongdou chuckled meaningfully and looked away.

    Jiang Lingling, after a moment, realized what Mi Hongdou was laughing about.

    “No, I didn’t break up the CP! I just… took advantage of the situation. No, I’m planning to take advantage!” she quickly clarified, looking at the camera.

    The viewers agreed, they needed several screens just for their favorites, but Jiang Lingling seemed interesting, she deserved her own dedicated camera. Four camera angles per screen weren’t enough! Time to buy more computers!

    “Okay, Jiang Duo, who do you choose?” The director continued.

    Jiang Duo knew her own unpopularity in the “Imperial Secrets” crew. She had initially wanted to team up with Bao Yueqiao, since she didn’t know the two male leads from “Promise in Troubled Times,” and breaking up a CP was taboo. But Bao Yueqiao had been chosen first, and she had even broken up the currently popular Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou CP… Now, Jiang Duo’s options were limited… Jiang Lingling and Mi Hongdou were both hostile towards her…

    “I choose… the Emperor, of course.” She thought that since two crews were invited, it must be for cross-promotion, so she would play along.

    “The Emperor? We have three emperors here, which one? Only two people per team, you can’t have all three.” The director’s voice boomed.

    Everyone, including the online viewers, heard the virtual slap in the face.

    Although those who had seen “Imperial Secrets” knew which emperor she was referring to, her “of course” sounded incredibly arrogant, the director’s retort well-deserved.

    Even Mi Hongdou, who was annoyed with the director, had to give him credit.

    “Aiya, I’m getting second-hand embarrassment…” Jiang Lingling leaned forward, glanced at Jiang Duo, then quickly retreated, shuddering.

    The viewers agreed, they needed two dedicated cameras just for Jiang Lingling’s reactions!

    “Of… of course, it’s the Emperor from our film, Zhang Zijing,” Jiang Duo replied, forcing a smile.

    Zhang Zijing’s face burned. He hated being called “Emperor,” especially since his role in “Imperial Secrets” was a minor one, mostly confined to the harem, with few battle scenes, and his character was even a bit of a scumbag. And being called “Emperor” in “Imperial Secrets” was one thing, but being compared to the two emperors in “Promise in Troubled Times”… he had some self-awareness, unlike Jiang Duo.

    The director, letting Jiang Duo go, now targeted Zhang Zijing. “Look, our Jiang Duo’s Emperor is blushing, must be the thrill of being chosen. Zhang Zijing, you wouldn’t reject your Noble Consort, would you?”

    I would, in a heartbeat!

    But remembering Dajin Entertainment’s instructions to maintain a good relationship with Jiang Duo during this reality show, Zhang Zijing, his face burning, reluctantly agreed to this disastrous pairing.

    The next two pairings, Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling, Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao, were formed without any drama, well, they didn’t really have any other options.

    Yu Naihao, the youngest, couldn’t help but complain after the teams were finalized, “Choosing in order, where’s the ‘free choice’? The later ones had no options at all.”

    “Oh, Yu Naihao, are you unhappy with your team? Want a chance to switch?” The director’s voice boomed.

    Yu Naihao jumped, grabbed Lu Changhuai’s arm, and shook his head vigorously. “No! I’m not switching!”

    Lu Changhuai, amused and exasperated, patted his head.

    “They’re flirting next door,” Jiang Lingling said, glancing at Mi Hongdou. “Although I just got the leftovers, I think I’m going to lose some fans.”

    “Ask your godfather to buy them back!” Mi Hongdou, also frustrated at not being chosen by Ji Junxin, retorted.

    Jiang Lingling seriously considered it, then looked at the camera. “Don’t lose too many, my godfather might actually do it…”

    Mi Hongdou: “…”

    “Okay, the teams are finalized. Now it’s time for team uniforms.”

    Four covered trays were brought in.

    “Choose freely, it’s all luck,” the director announced generously.

    The four teams each chose a tray. After removing the covers, they didn’t see any uniforms, just small pieces of colored cloth.

    “Okay, you’ve all made your choices. These are the colors of your team uniforms for the next twelve days.”

    Four more people arrived, each carrying a large bundle of cloth, which they handed to the teams.

    Everyone had a bad feeling.

    Inside the bundles, it wasn’t exactly uniforms, but… strange clothing. Ancient-style tunics and pants, made of plain cotton, no buttons, just tied with a sash, the tunic long enough to cover their buttocks, the pants also tied with a drawstring… although single-layered, the fabric was thick, it should be warm enough in this late September, early October weather.

    Ji Junxin and Bao Yueqiao, who had chosen light yellow, examined their clothes. It seemed… acceptable, they just didn’t know how they would look when worn.

    Mi Hongdou and Jiang Lingling’s luck was also good. They got light green, a very pale green that strangely suited the scenery.

    The luckiest ones were Lu Changhuai and Yu Naihao. Two handsome men in flowing white robes, they looked like immortals.

    “Okay, you’ve all seen your uniforms. Now, I have to emphasize one point. You can only bring the clothes you’re wearing underneath, everything else will be confiscated. You have to wear your team uniforms during the day, and we’ll provide matching pajamas for the night.” The director paused. “Now, I’m going to introduce something very, very, very useful! Important things must be said three times.”

    Four more people came forward, their hands open.

    Mi Hongdou, seeing what they held, thought, Qiao Rubai, you’ve gone crazy.

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c37

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 37: Saintess? Protagonist?

    Luo Yuxi looked around Apal, eerily quiet, with only a few people around. Even the Direct Nuns and Punishment Nuns, usually ubiquitous, were nowhere to be seen. And the usual knight guards at the church entrances were missing.

    “Why is it so quiet? And why are there only trainee nuns?”

    Luo Yuxi, feeling her black and white habit stand out even more, ran to the 12 bishops’ meeting hall. The twelve chairs, symbols of their authority, were empty.

    “Sister! It’s great you’re here! The Saintess is on a hunger strike, please go see her!”

    “Hmm? ‘Sister’?”

    Luo Yuxi turned and saw a trainee nun in gray robes, her anxious expression making Luo Yuxi wonder if she was being addressed. Since all the other nuns were gone, Luo Yuxi, as a Direct Nun, was the highest-ranking person here.

    “So she’s talking to me? And what’s this about the Saintess being on a hunger strike…?”

    As Luo Yuxi turned, the trainee nun’s eyes widened, and she rushed over, her eyes sparkling.

    “Pink hair and eyes! You’re Lady Luo Yuxi, the one who single-handedly defeated all the Saintess candidates and then fought the Seven Deadly Sins in the Witch Kingdom!!”

    “Uh… my name is Luo Yuxi, but I don’t know about the rest…”

    Luo Yuxi scratched her head, wondering how such rumors had spread. She had been in the Witch Kingdom, how could she have done all that?

    “But I heard you were ambushed by the Seven Deadly Sins and disappeared. Otherwise, you would be the Saintess now.”

    “Ambushed? I was swallowed by the Gluttony Witch. And there were only three Deadly Sins there, and I was just watching… I don’t know how it turned into me being ambushed, but…” Luo Yuxi realized something was wrong. A new Saintess had been appointed while she was gone.

    “Who’s the current Saintess?! And what about the previous one?”

    Luo Yuxi grabbed the trainee nun’s arm, her voice filled with urgency. The trainee nun, startled, whispered,

    “The Word Spirit Saintess led the Church’s forces to the Holy War. The current Saintess is a silver-haired, golden-eyed girl brought back by the previous Saintess from her travels…”

    “Holy War, silver-haired, golden-eyed…”

    Luo Yuxi felt like she had been struck by lightning, all the twisted plot points snapping back into place. The protagonist, who should have emerged from the Saintess candidates, had been brought back by the Word Spirit Saintess instead.

    “I have to go to the Holy War!”

    Luo Yuxi had wanted to prevent the war. After all, according to the backstory, the Church was the strongest human faction, not only because of their First Order powerhouse, but also because they possessed nearly a third of the world’s high-Order individuals, excluding witches.

    “If the Holy War breaks out, both the Church and the Witch Kingdom will suffer heavy losses, and the border will be undefended…”

    Luo Yuxi started running, but the trainee nun stopped her.

    “Wait, Lady Luo Yuxi! All the Direct Nuns and bishops have gone to the battlefield! And the current Saintess is on a hunger strike, she needs your help!”

    “They all went?!”

    “Yes…”

    “…”

    Luo Yuxi stopped, realizing she couldn’t do anything alone, without Yun Keke and Yu Keke. And such a large-scale war required time for troop movements and strategic planning.

    “Alright, take me to the new Saintess.”

    “Understood, Lady. This way…”

    Luo Yuxi followed the trainee nun to a luxuriously decorated room, the colorful stained-glass ceiling captivating her. Golden bars on the walls, reaching from floor to ceiling, made the room look like a giant birdcage.

    “What a strange decoration…”

    “We’re here. Please go in alone, Lady. The Word Spirit Saintess instructed that only two people are allowed inside at a time…”

    “Understood. Really, it’s just the Saintess position, it wasn’t like this in the game…”

    “Game…?”

    The trainee nun tilted her head in confusion, but Luo Yuxi ignored her and entered the cage-like room, marveling at the extravagant decorations. Gold was everywhere.

    “Although the Holy War isn’t urgent, it’s better to hurry. I can finally meet my in-game daughter, I’m so excited~”

    Luo Yuxi walked through a stained-glass partition and saw a silver-haired girl, her long hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, a picture of serene beauty. As if sensing Luo Yuxi’s presence, the girl slowly turned around, her golden eyes like precious gems, tears shimmering in the corners. Luo Yuxi felt her heart skip a beat.

    “Who are you…?”

    “My goodness, she’s even more beautiful than in the game! My beloved daughter~”

    Luo Yuxi approached, admiring the girl’s milky skin and rosy lips. She understood why witches fell for her at first sight. Even Luo Yuxi was smitten.

    “You must be the new Saintess. I’m Luo Yuxi.”

    Luo Yuxi smiled gently, trying to comfort the teary-eyed girl, who, although hesitant, introduced herself.

    “Xia. That’s my name…”

    …