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  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 502

    Chapter 502: Growing Something You Shouldn’t

    “…!”

    Shien abruptly stood up from the hot spring and turned around, looking in a certain direction.

    There, a little girl had appeared at some point.

    “You…?”

    Shien was stunned.

    He hadn’t expected that voice to come from such a young girl.

    She looked like a beastman, wearing a leather dress, seemingly around thirteen or fourteen years old.

    The little girl held a fluffy, mysterious creature, blinked her big eyes, and stared at Shien from the edge of the hot spring.

    Shien was first stunned by her appearance and age, then his eyes narrowed.

    Because he sensed a terrifying magic power from this little girl, and a ferocious aura that seemed capable of crushing the heavens and earth.

    It felt as if a world-destroying beast had suddenly appeared before him.

    But this little girl with such a terrifying aura simply stood there with an innocent look, seemingly curious about Shien, staring at him.

    Frankly speaking, Shien didn’t dare to look away from her.

    Before she spoke, Shien hadn’t even sensed her presence, which showed how extraordinary she was.

    The current Shien was different from before. His [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] could even perceive the workings of the world, yet he hadn’t reacted to her presence until she spoke. This alone was enough to make him wary.

    Of course, if he had been fully focused, Shien wouldn’t have been completely oblivious. It was mainly because he had been too relaxed and comfortable while soaking in the hot spring, and he had been lost in thought, making him less alert.

    But even so, not just anyone could bypass the detection of [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree].

    Yet, this little girl had done it.

    “Who are you?”

    Shien asked in a deep voice.

    However, the little girl didn’t answer his question.

    “Airi?” The little girl tilted her head, as if thinking about something, muttering, “Airi? Airi? Airi?”

    She kept repeating this name, seemingly very interested in it.

    Shien frowned.

    “What?” Shien asked, “Do you know Airi?”

    Shien decided to test her.

    “Airi?” The little girl was still tilting her head, but seemed to understand Shien’s words and nodded vaguely, then said happily, “Airi! Airi! Airi!”

    The little girl cheered, jumping up and down, and accidentally let go of the mysterious creature in her hands.

    The mysterious creature fell to the ground without a sound, then, as if understanding human behavior, rolled its eyes and flipped over, staying in a prone position.

    However, it stared intently at Shien, a look of scrutiny in its eyes.

    Shien also noticed this mysterious creature, then he realized something.

    The terrifying aura he had sensed earlier, like that of a world-destroying beast, actually came from this mysterious creature.

    As for the little girl, although her aura was faint, she possessed immense magic power, even greater than Lucy’s, stronger than anyone Shien had ever met.

    Just what were the origins of this girl and beast duo?

    Shien subconsciously used [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree], trying to see through their levels.

    However, he couldn’t see anything.

    “This…”

    Shien fell silent.

    Then, an amused voice rang out.

    “Alright, stop looking, human boy. With your power, you can’t see through our level. Don’t waste your energy.”

    It was a voice that sounded young, yet somehow mature.

    Hearing this voice, Shien’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked at the little girl again.

    “Airi! Airi!”

    But the little girl was still jumping up and down, chanting Airi’s name.

    That voice didn’t come from her.

    “Hey, hey, where are you looking?” The voice rang out again. “Here, look at me. It’s me talking to you.”

    The mysterious creature lying on the ground raised a forelimb and waved it in a very human-like manner.

    Shien finally understood.

    “You… you were the one talking just now?”

    Shien asked in surprise.

    “Yes.”

    The little creature readily admitted.

    However, it hadn’t opened its mouth to speak.

    That voice, rather than coming from its mouth, seemed to be transmitted directly into Shien’s mind, like telepathy.

    This stunned Shien.

    “Sigh, that reaction again.” The mysterious creature said faintly, as if bored. “Every time I meet someone new and talk to them, they have this reaction. It’s getting old.”

    Shien resisted the urge to retort, glanced at the cheering little girl, then at the mysterious creature lying on the ground. After hesitating for a moment, he couldn’t help but ask,

    “What are you? A monster?”

    Shien’s eyes were filled with confusion.

    “Heh.” The mysterious creature chuckled, seemingly too lazy to explain. “Just consider me a monster. To you humans, there’s no difference between me and a monster anyway.”

    After saying that, the mysterious creature turned to the cheering little girl, its tone suddenly turning stern.

    “Alright, stop jumping around, Millu. Pick me up.”

    The little girl, called Millu, stopped and obediently picked up the mysterious creature.

    “Lid.” Millu said to the creature in her arms, “Airi, Airi.”

    The word “Lid” seemed to be the creature’s name.

    “I know, I know.” Lid said impatiently. “Really, how much do you want to see Airi? She’s such a spoiled brat, yet everyone dotes on her and lets her do as she pleases. She’ll be spoiled rotten by you all sooner or later.”

    “Hee hee.” Millu didn’t seem to mind Lid’s complaints and giggled happily, seemingly in a good mood.

    Shien’s frown deepened.

    This strange girl and beast duo, it seemed, wasn’t simple at all.

    “Who are you?”

    Shien was losing his patience.

    This made Millu and Lid turn their gazes back to Shien.

    “Young man, be patient, don’t be so impatient.” Lid grinned, its voice still transmitting directly into Shien’s mind. “Don’t worry, we’re not suspicious characters, at least not to you.”

    “Not suspicious, not suspicious.” Millu repeated happily, like an innocent child.

    Shien naturally wouldn’t believe their words so easily.

    Not only because they were suspicious, but also because their behavior seemed strange.

    Therefore, Shien didn’t let his guard down.

    However, considering that his [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] couldn’t see through their levels, and their familiarity with Airi, Shien had a guess about their identities.

    If they were truly who he thought they were, then it would be worth trying to communicate with them.

    Just as Shien had this thought, the voice rang out again.

    “Good, that’s the right approach.”

    The mysterious creature, Lid, said approvingly, then added slyly,

    “Anyway, you should get dressed first, lest Millu stares at that thing of yours for too long and grows something she shouldn’t.”

    These words made Shien’s lips twitch.

    What did she mean by “grow something she shouldn’t”?

    If she meant a stye, then just say so, don’t be so ambiguous.

    People who didn’t know might think it was something else.

    …

    At the same time, in several other locations, quite a few people noticed the situation on Shien’s side.

    “Why are they here?”

    Nadue, waiting outside for Shien to finish his bath, sensed that magic power and aura and was stunned.

    “This magic power…!?”

    In the Queen’s Palace, Sophie, who had her eyes closed, suddenly opened them and stood up from her throne, her eyes filled with shock and even panic.

    In two different rooms in the tree house where Shien and his group were staying, two little girls opened their eyes simultaneously.

    “Miss Lilith?”

    Lasha, who was by Lilith’s side, called out when she saw this.

    But Lilith ignored Lasha, turned her head, looked in a certain direction, then with a “whoosh,” transformed into a stream of evil aura and dashed out.

    Lasha’s eyes flickered slightly, but she didn’t say or do anything, just quietly waiting, as if waiting for the dust to settle.

    Naturally, in another room, Airi also got up.

    “Those two…”

    Airi murmured, sighing, either annoyed or troubled.

    “Appearing here, it seems their bad habits haven’t changed.”

    Saying so, Airi got out of bed.

    The next moment, a pair of dragon wings unfolded on Airi’s back, and she transformed into a gust of wind, flying out of the window just like Lilith.

    A stream of evil aura and a dragon’s shadow flew towards the same direction.

    “…”

    In a clear lake, Lucy, who was soaking in the water, raised her head and saw this scene.

    Around her were laughing elven girls.

    Lucy didn’t move.

    She just stared, her thoughts unknown.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 116

    Chapter 116: Sweet Red Bean Soup

    Perhaps due to lack of sleep, one’s intelligence tends to drop… Mi Hongdou silently deleted the half-finished reply, exited the comment section, and went to Ji Junxin’s Weibo page.

    Ji Junxin hadn’t updated her Weibo in a while, her latest post also the one promoting the premiere. Now, the comments section was exploding with messages like, “Feeling sorry for our Xinxin!” “Wuli Xinxin, don’t cry!” “Don’t cry, Xinxin, we’re here for you!” …

    Mi Hongdou scrolled through the comments. Amidst the outpouring of sympathy, there were only a few comments about yuri, much tamer than the comments on her own Weibo. It seemed Ji Junxin’s fans were more… rational.

    Summer days dawned early. Mi Hongdou, having woken up a little after four, browsed Weibo for a while, and it was already light outside. Thinking about the day’s filming ahead, she reluctantly closed Weibo, intending to get a little more sleep.

    Before exiting, she habitually refreshed the page and glanced at Ji Junxin’s trending comments.

    Her sleepiness instantly vanished.

    Could someone explain why, among all the comforting “Don’t cry, Xinxin” comments, the most liked one was “The Empress is such an idiot!”

    She must still be half-asleep!

    Mi Hongdou closed her phone and lay back down.

    It must be around six o’clock in Japan now, she wondered if Ji Junxin was awake… She turned over, wanting to text her, but remembering the comments on her own Weibo, she stopped. She would wait until Ji Junxin saw them and gauge her reaction first.

    Since Ji Junxin’s sudden departure after “Imperial Secrets” wrapped, their relationship had entered a strange phase. They were friends, yet they could go weeks without contact, their only interaction a brief, silent encounter at the premiere. But since Ji Junxin went to Japan, they texted every day. Mi Hongdou had tried to maintain a comfortable distance, similar to during filming, but she realized that the closeness or distance between them wasn’t entirely up to her.

    It was Ji Junxin who left without saying goodbye. It was Ji Junxin who didn’t initiate contact. It was Ji Junxin who replied lukewarmly. And it was Ji Junxin who suddenly became chatty after going to Japan…

    Mi Hongdou’s current view of Ji Junxin could be described with a popular phrase from online novels: “What a captivating little vixen!”

    Perhaps this was what friendship was like, sometimes frequent contact, sometimes silence, it was normal. Mi Hongdou understood this, although she felt a little frustrated. She hadn’t crossed the line of friendship, maintaining a careful restraint.

    Like now, wanting to text Ji Junxin, she stopped herself. Following Ji Junxin’s lead was safer.

    And now, Mi Hongdou could see that Pan Xiang’s earlier worry had come true. This supposedly heterosexual drama… had been interpreted as a yuri story…

    Mi Hongdou was a little surprised. Although she had noticed during the premiere that, whether due to the filming or the editing, the most profound bond in the film was between the Empress and Miao Qianye. And in the revised script, the Emperor’s devotion seemed more like the shallow affection of a man who wanted both love and power, weakening the heterosexual romance.

    To those unfamiliar with yuri, the deepest emotions in the film were the mutual respect and support between the Empress and Miao Qianye, the Empress’s self-sacrifice, and Miao Qianye’s carefully orchestrated revenge…

    But to those familiar with yuri, like Mi Hongdou, “Imperial Secrets” was… a pretty good yuri film.

    During the premiere, Mi Hongdou, her heart pounding, had watched the entire film. The teary-eyed audience had eased her anxiety, she had thought they hadn’t noticed the yuri undertones… Their reaction had been both a relief and a disappointment. If they didn’t see it, then neither would Ji Junxin… she had hoped Ji Junxin would notice it, and even… be open to it.

    Although she had decided to remain just a friend, she still had this… secret hope.

    But she had been disappointed. Ji Junxin had left early, she hadn’t even seen her reaction.

    And now, with the film officially released, browsing Weibo, Mi Hongdou realized how many people were… open to yuri. But why were most of the yuri comments on her Weibo… while Ji Junxin’s were mostly just expressions of sympathy? Did different auras attract different fans? She liked Ji Junxin, so she attracted yuri fans, and Ji Junxin was straight, so her fans were just comforting her…

    Regardless of Pan Xiang’s potential suffering, Mi Hongdou hoped that when Ji Junxin woke up and checked her Weibo, there would be more yuri comments.

    If only she wasn’t so averse to yuri…

    Mi Hongdou sent Pan Xiang a comforting text message, then, filled with a mix of anxiety and anticipation, drifted off to sleep.

    That night, some slept, while others… didn’t.

    Like… Director Pan, sitting at his table, scrolling through his phone, munching on flatbreads and drinking tea, his expression troubled.

    And Pan Xiang, sitting quietly in a corner, occasionally glancing at Director Pan, who had already devoured several flatbreads and several pots of tea.

    And… Ji Junxin, in Japan, scrolling through Weibo on her phone all night.

    Having left the premiere early, she had gone to Qiong Yu the next day and watched the entire film in Qiao Rubai’s office. Although it lacked the impact of the big screen, it was still satisfying. Miao Qianye’s story had finally come to an end. And the editing was brilliant. The bond between the Empress and Miao Qianye, although clearly portrayed as friendship in the film, seemed… more than friendship after the editing. A distinct yuri vibe… it almost felt like she and Mi Hongdou were truly… together.

    She regretted not seeing Mi Hongdou’s reaction.

    After the premiere, the reviews were mostly positive and complimentary, and Ji Junxin had thought that perhaps it was her own feelings for Mi Hongdou that made her see the yuri subtext.

    At the midnight premiere, while the company waited for the box office numbers, Ji Junxin waited for the audience’s reactions.

    She had two phones, one for her own Weibo, one for Mi Hongdou’s, she could barely keep up!

    This wasn’t her first film, but she had never been this nervous. She read every comment carefully, wishing she had the ability to speed-read and memorize everything. This was her first film with Mi Hongdou, a film filled with her emotions and hopes. She couldn’t confess her feelings to Mi Hongdou directly, but she hoped that someone, after watching the film, would understand, would express it for her. She didn’t need a response, she just wanted… someone to write it, for Mi Hongdou to see… that was enough.

    And the audience didn’t disappoint. Even before the film ended, waves of yuri fans flooded Weibo.

    Ji Junxin was relieved, she sincerely hoped that when Mi Hongdou saw the comments, she wouldn’t be too dismissive.

    She scrolled through Weibo all night, unable to stop even after sunrise. Seeing the increasing number of yuri comments on Mi Hongdou’s Weibo, she felt a sense of… satisfaction. She even created a new account and diligently liked every comment praising the Empress and Miao Qianye’s relationship.

    And the top comment on Mi Hongdou’s latest post, “The Empress is too cowardly, she’s definitely the neko! My Noble Consort is full of tachi energy!” Ji Junxin almost wanted to hire internet trolls to give it a few thousand more likes!

    She hadn’t come to Japan for work, so she had plenty of time to explore Japanese yuri culture. Japan’s yuri novels, anime, games, even real-life idol groups, were far more developed. Not to mention, they were much more… explicit… So, besides sightseeing and enjoying the food, Ji Junxin immersed herself in Japanese yuri culture, from the innocent and pure to the mature and complex…

    If Pan Xiang had opened the door to yuri, then Ji Junxin had now run hundreds of miles through that open door, the door itself a distant memory.

    She now understood the concepts of “tachi,” “neko,” and “reversible,” hmph, although I might be reversible, Mi Hongdou, so clueless, is definitely the neko! Ji Junxin, curled up in bed, diligently liking comments, thought confidently.

    But what puzzled her now, more than the tachi/neko dynamic, which was child’s play to her, was why, after a whole night, most of the yuri comments were on Mi Hongdou’s Weibo, while hers were filled with comforting messages telling her not to cry. Where are my true fans?~ Can’t you see my yuri heart? Well, it was her own fault, she rarely used Weibo, only for official promotions, her posts always formal and impersonal. To her fans, she was an idol, a distant, somewhat aloof figure. Those who stayed up all night to watch the film and then browse Weibo comments, they were her true fans. And even true fans had their reservations! Although the film was filled with yuri undertones, unsure of Ji Junxin’s attitude, they wouldn’t dare to express their “yuri souls” on her Weibo. So, they went to Mi Hongdou’s Weibo instead, which resulted in one side filled with yuri comments, and the other with just a few, quickly buried under the comforting messages.

    If her fans knew that their consideration was causing her distress, they would probably vomit blood.

    So, the night passed, a mix of yuri and comfort, sleep and insomnia.

    The next day, “Imperial Secrets” earned 160 million yuan at the box office, 650 million in four days, and broke 1 billion in a week.

    During that week, Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou continued their usual text exchanges, chatting about Japanese sakura mochi and Shudian radish meatballs, neither mentioning the online comments, or even the film itself.

    Although the two didn’t mention it, the internet was flooded with yuri discussions. There had been successful “unspoken BL” films before, capitalizing on the large fujoshi fanbase. There had also been attempts at “unspoken yuri,” but without much success, yuri being a smaller niche. Now, it was clear that it wasn’t because yuri was niche, but because the previous pairings hadn’t been good enough, cute enough! Doubted it? Look at the one billion yuan box office in just one week!

    With such impressive box office numbers, the investors didn’t care about the audience’s interpretation, profit was the priority! Especially Dajin Entertainment, who had initially complained about Zhang Zijing’s character being underdeveloped and not heroic enough, and Jiang Duo’s character being too villainous, without any redeeming qualities or enough screen time. But after the box office numbers came out, they shut up. One billion in a week, they were laughing all the way to the bank, who cared about character development now? As for the online “Empress and Noble Consort together” frenzy, the investors encouraged it, keep it going, more hype!

    As more and more people watched the film, the online opinions were no longer as unified as during the premiere. Some praised the yuri undertones, others accused the film of forced yuri. Some supported the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing, others preferred the Empress/Wei Xunqin pairing, or even Miao Qianye/Wei Xunqin. Some even thought that in the harmonious world of yuri, there were several other potential couples among the concubines!

    Among them, the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing was the most popular, followed by Empress/Wei Xunqin, and then Miao Qianye/Wei Xunqin. The three different fan groups created fan fiction, fan art, fan videos, competing and trying to prove their pairing was the best. And there were a few who supported the Empress/Consort Zhu pairing, and even fewer who shipped Miao Qianye/Consort Zhu. The three main factions quickly united, eliminating the two “incorrect” minority pairings from the grand world of yuri, and then continued their friendly competition.

    But overall, the yuri fans were more vocal than the heterosexual fans, and the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing remained the most popular. Even before the first week ended, a new fan group emerged, shipping the real-life Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou. They had a strange name, “Sweet Red Bean Soup,” and called themselves “Spoons.”

    Ji Junxin almost spat out her red bean soup when she first saw the name, almost spraying it all over her phone. Clicking on the group’s introduction, she found three even stranger explanations for the name: 1. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Mi Hongdou, who loves Ji Junxin, making a pot of soup.” 2. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou, lovingly stewed together in a pot, inseparable.” 3. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Mi Hongdou, deeply in love with Ji Junxin, stewing herself into a pot of soup, waiting for Ji Junxin to taste.” And the “Spoons,” naturally, were those who stirred and drank the soup…

    Although she found the explanations ridiculous, Ji Junxin, sipping her red bean soup, thought, well, it’s not bad.

    The “Sweet Red Bean Soup” group quickly attracted most of the Empress/Miao Qianye shippers, and a few who just liked the fictional pairing. The group grew rapidly. Mi Hongdou’s Weibo comments, previously filled with yuri praise for the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing, were now flooded with demands for her to film more, complaining about her limited screen time and lack of resources, asking for fan-made MVs and short films using clips from her current projects and Ji Junxin’s previous works.

    These comments almost made the exhausted Mi Hongdou, already working non-stop, collapse…

    With the film’s box office success, the online yuri frenzy, and now even a real-life CP fan group, Ji Junxin should have been happy.

    But she wasn’t.

    She had waited for a week for Mi Hongdou to mention the online comments, but… nothing. She could tell that Mi Hongdou had seen them, but she was avoiding the topic. Did that mean… Mi Hongdou was completely straight, so straight that she was disgusted by those comments?

    She loved those comments, especially those about them as a real-life couple. But the thought that what she liked was what Mi Hongdou disliked made her unhappy.

    Since the wrap-up, Ji Junxin, to detach from the role, had temporarily cut off contact with Mi Hongdou. It had worked, she had successfully detached. But it had been a torment, she couldn’t stop thinking about Mi Hongdou. Her longing to see Mi Hongdou had been fulfilled at the premiere, but then she had gone to Japan…

    Wanting to be with her, yet having to pretend to be just a casual friend, Ji Junxin was frustrated.

    Perhaps because she was in a different country, away from everything familiar, the longing intensified. In China, she could at least tell herself that friends didn’t text each other from morning till night. But in Japan, there were no such restraints. She couldn’t control herself, her hand glued to her phone… texting Mi Hongdou whenever she was free, browsing Mi Hongdou’s Weibo when she wasn’t. After more than half a month in Japan, besides learning about Japanese yuri culture and enjoying the food, Ji Junxin’s typing speed had also significantly improved.

    Although her fingers were tired, every moment was filled with happiness… and perhaps because she was in a different country, her inhibitions lowered, and she, although intending to be just a friend, found herself increasingly drawn to those gentle words and messages.

    Twenty-five days after its release, “Imperial Secrets” broke two billion yuan at the box office. “Reality Online” was starting filming in ten days. Mi Hongdou’s filming for “Divorce, So Be It 2” was almost finished, she should be done a few days before the reality show.

    And Ji Junxin was starting to think about… restraining herself… she would be returning to China soon, and with her current feelings for Mi Hongdou, how could she possibly maintain a platonic friendship…

    Just as she was thinking about cooling down, Mi Hongdou texted her, saying that Jiang Lingling was in Shudian, preparing her restaurant for “Reality Online.”

    So, Mi Hongdou, her filming schedule less demanding, often ate with Jiang Lingling, even joining her in her… schemes. Although she kept Ji Junxin updated, texting her frequently,

    Ji Junxin was jealous! She was in a foreign country, while Jiang Lingling got to see Mi Hongdou every day, eating and playing together, it wasn’t fair! Even as a friend, she had to be Mi Hongdou’s best friend! Ji Junxin’s unreasonable jealousy disguised as a friend’s possessiveness. But as a friend, she couldn’t tell Mi Hongdou, I’m jealous, stop hanging out with Jiang Lingling, only play with me… She had to pretend everything was normal, replying with cheerful messages, even though she was fuming inside!

    Qiao Rubai’s arrangement was for Ji Junxin to return to China just before filming started. During those ten days, Ji Junxin wished she could teleport herself to Mi Hongdou’s side.

    Her possessiveness was overwhelming.

    “Divorce, So Be It 2” wrapped up two days before “Reality Online.”

    At the wrap-up party, Mi Hongdou finally saw Qiao Rubai, who had promised to visit her a month and a half ago…

    The wrap-up dinner was at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant. Qiao Rubai offered to drive Mi Hongdou there and answer her questions from a month and a half ago.

    After a month and a half, Mi Hongdou had assumed Qiao Rubai had forgotten. But she was here, and offering answers, so Mi Hongdou got in the car.

    “You were dead, you didn’t know what happened after. I shouldn’t have been so angry at you for wanting to do another suicide scene for Ji Junxin, I shouldn’t have said those things, I’m sorry,” Qiao Rubai said calmly, looking straight ahead, not at Mi Hongdou, after she got in the car.

    Qiao Rubai was never good at expressing her emotions, not in this life, nor in the previous one…

    “It’s okay. Thank you for telling me. I know you did it for Ji Junxin. I feel the same, we’ll always be on the same page on this. So, thank you. The rest… doesn’t matter.” Mi Hongdou looked at Qiao Rubai sincerely.

    Qiao Rubai’s ears turned red. After a moment, she looked at Mi Hongdou and sighed. “Anyway, although this apology is late, I hope you can accept it.”

    Mi Hongdou nodded. “I accept. Then… can you tell me what happened after? Like… if it’s not too personal… how did you… die… in our previous life?”

    “What do you think of Ji Junxin?” Qiao Rubai asked, changing the subject.

    “What… what do I think?” Mi Hongdou, caught off guard, stammered, thinking of the online yuri discussions, even the “Sweet Red Bean Soup” group.

    Qiao Rubai looked at Mi Hongdou intently. “Okay… I understand…”

    I didn’t even say anything, what do you understand! Mi Hongdou thought. “Ji Junxin? She’s great, she’s my idol, you knew that in our previous life.”

    “Do you like her?” Qiao Rubai asked directly, seeing through Mi Hongdou’s attempt to deflect the question.

    I can’t say I don’t… Mi Hongdou nodded. “She’s my idol, of course I like her.”

    “Do you want to be with her? Like… what they’re saying online?” Qiao Rubai pressed.

    “…” Mi Hongdou’s palms started to sweat. Is she, as her best friend, trying to break us up?

    Qiao Rubai, seeing her nervousness, changed the subject. “Do you know why Ji Junxin left the premiere early and went to Japan?”

    Can you please not change topics so quickly, my heart can’t take it, Mi Hongdou thought and shook her head.

    This time, Qiao Rubai didn’t keep her in suspense. “Her parents were also at the premiere, and during the film, they texted her, saying that the young doctor they wanted to introduce her to was also there, and they hoped she could meet him after the screening. They had tried to set up a meeting several times, but she always said she was busy. So, they brought him to the cinema. Ji Junxin refused, but they insisted, so she left early. They were quite angry, so I arranged for her to go abroad. It wasn’t for work, she’s probably gained weight from all the free time in Japan.”

    “It’s okay… she doesn’t gain weight,” Mi Hongdou mumbled.

    Qiao Rubai raised an eyebrow, surprised. “After all that, that’s what you’re focused on?”

    “What else should I be focused on?” Mi Hongdou asked, a little dejected. “Should I be wondering how amazing that blind date is? If he’s better than Zhang Zijing? Should I be helping you find a suitable partner for Ji Junxin?”

    “He’s a young doctor, a PhD, from a scholarly family, his parents are both teachers, good character, decent looks, the perfect son-in-law in her parents’ eyes.” Qiao Rubai looked at Mi Hongdou pointedly. “Shouldn’t you be wondering why Ji Junxin refused to even meet him?”

    “Because she doesn’t like men who are teachers?” The more Mi Hongdou heard, the more depressed she became. Such good conditions, and a man, and her parents approved, it was terrible.

    Are you stupid? Qiao Rubai wanted to ask, but she sighed. “Okay, so what do you think of Ji Junxin?”

    “You just asked,” Mi Hongdou said, as if Qiao Rubai had Alzheimer’s.

    So clueless… I want to slap her… Qiao Rubai sighed again. “Let’s talk about the blind date. Even if Ji Junxin dislikes teachers, she wouldn’t refuse to even meet him, right? If it were you, would you meet him?”

    “No,” Mi Hongdou blurted out before she could even think.

    Qiao Rubai smiled faintly. “Why?”

    Because I don’t like men, I like Ji Junxin, are you an idiot! Mi Hongdou looked away. “Not interested.”

    Qiao Rubai felt her patience wearing thin.

    “Based on my experience from two lifetimes, and after seeing ‘Imperial Secrets,’ I think you like Ji Junxin.” This time, Qiao Rubai wasn’t holding back.

    Mi Hongdou was stunned.

    “You mean… the Empress likes Miao Qianye?” she asked, trying to play dumb.

    “I have something to tell you, but only if you’re honest,” Qiao Rubai’s expression was serious. “Something you’ll regret not knowing for the rest of your life.”

    Mi Hongdou: “…”

    Are we even friends if you talk like that!

    “It’s about Ji Junxin,” Qiao Rubai added, a tempting bait.

    Mi Hongdou: “…”

    “And I won’t tell anyone about our conversation,” Qiao Rubai sweetened the deal.

    Mi Hongdou took the bait.

    “Okay, ask.”

    “Do you like Ji Junxin?”

    “Yes.”

    “What kind of like?”

    “The kind you’re thinking of…”

    “And what kind am I thinking of?”

    “…”

    “I have a little secret about Ji Junxin, I won’t tell you, I won’t tell you…”

    Just sing it already!

    “The kind that shouldn’t exist.” Mi Hongdou clenched her fists. That bastard Qiao Rubai. From the moment Qiao Rubai started questioning her, she knew she was prepared, almost certain of the answer. She could have denied it, but… something about Ji Junxin that she would regret not knowing… she had to know!

    Mi Hongdou’s face burned after her confession.

    Qiao Rubai, relieved, didn’t press further or tease her. That wasn’t her intention.

    “I’m glad you told me the truth,” she said, relaxing into a smile. “Otherwise, you would have missed out on a secret.”

    “Your secret better be worth it!” Mi Hongdou, having confessed, was now emboldened, her gaze challenging, almost threatening.

    Of course, there would be no fight.

    “In our previous life, Ji Junxin wasn’t with Zhang Zijing. She was with Jiang Duo,” Qiao Rubai said calmly.

    Mi Hongdou was stunned, her ears buzzing.

    “You heard that right. She was with Jiang Duo, Zhang Zijing was just a cover-up. But in the end, Jiang Duo ended up with the cover-up.” Qiao Rubai patiently repeated it.

    After a long silence, Mi Hongdou finally spoke, her voice low and slow, “She… liked Jiang Duo?”

    Qiao Rubai quickly slapped Mi Hongdou’s hand. “Hey, what are you thinking! That was in our previous life. She was blind then. In this life, there’s nothing between them.”

    “Oh… oh…” Mi Hongdou nodded, then, as if suddenly remembering something, grabbed Qiao Rubai’s arm. “Then, I… I…”

    “Slow down, I’m not going anywhere.” Qiao Rubai’s arm was starting to hurt, but she didn’t pull away.

    Mi Hongdou swallowed hard, her trembling hand betraying her anxiety. “Then… when I died… she was like that… was it because of me… because of…”

    Her hand trembled, her eyes reddening, her voice choked with emotion.

    Qiao Rubai shook her head sadly. “I don’t know. After she and Jiang Duo broke up, she kept everything bottled up, so… I don’t know…”

    Tears streamed down Mi Hongdou’s face.

    Qiao Rubai’s secret was indeed something she would have regretted not knowing.

    Two days later, filming for “Reality Online” began. Mi Hongdou, apprehensive, joined the cast. Equally anxious was Ji Junxin, her possessiveness almost overwhelming.

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c29

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 29: Wrath Destroys the Witch’s Castle!

    Luo Yuxi cowered against the headboard, looking nervously at the succubi surrounding her. She remembered a similar “Succubus Nest” trap in the game.

    “D-Doris, get me out of here! Before the other witches arrive, let’s go!”

    “Don’t worry, Master, these low-level creatures are just trash~”

    Doris’s calm demeanor and 2nd Order power were reassuring. Luo Yuxi, although wanting to escape, knew no one had more information than a Deadly Sin Witch.

    “I’ll trust you this once. Kill them when the other witches arrive!”

    “As you wish, Master~”

    Luo Yuxi quickly hid as the succubi approached. Although their individual combat strength was low, they were numerous and had no morals, attacking any female indiscriminately. And their unique magic, combined with their tails, allowed for some… interesting possibilities. Even their magic power was a white, viscous liquid.

    “Doris, can you take me somewhere safe?!”

    “You think you can come and go as you please in this place~?”

    [Unique Magic: Demon Nest]

    Ruo Li pressed her hand against the floor, and a black shadow appeared beneath Doris’s feet, countless pale hands grabbing her. More succubi emerged from the shadows.

    “A woman~!”

    “Such a sweet scent~”

    “I’m going to devour her whole~!!”

    …

    Doris looked at the emerging succubi, all beautiful and alluring, but she remained unfazed, not even glancing at them.

    “Testing my strength with these? Do you think so little of me…?”

    Doris’s casual remark made Ruo Li uneasy. She melted into the shadows just as a powerful force erupted from Doris, shattering what remained of the castle.

    “Are you crazy?!”

    Ruo Li emerged from the shadows. She had only wanted a simple test of strength, but Doris had used a powerful attack right away. The top floor of the castle was now the roof. Doris casually dusted herself off.

    “Wh-What happened…? I can see the sky…”

    “My dear Master, I hope my reckless actions didn’t frighten you~”

    Luo Yuxi, sitting on the bed, looked at the destroyed room in a daze. Only the area around her bed, within a one-meter radius, was protected by a barrier Doris had created.

    “Don’t ignore me, you idiot!”

    [Unique Magic: Demonic Contract]

    Ruo Li’s hair turned crimson, her horns grew larger, and her tail became a sharp blade.

    “This is getting interesting~”

    [Unique Magic: Power Amplification]

    Doris smirked, her silver hair glowing, her crimson eyes terrifying. She stomped her foot, and the remaining parts of the castle crumbled. She floated in midair, looking down at the ruins.

    “The view is much better from up here. It’s been a while since I’ve let loose~”

    “Finally, a good reason to crush you, you arrogant fool…”

    Ruo Li charged at Doris with incredible speed, the impact creating sonic booms. Doris, unfazed, simply brushed her hair aside and met Ruo Li’s attack head-on. The two figures, one red, one white, clashed in midair, each impact sending shockwaves through the area.

    “Is… is this a 2nd Order battle…? Doris seems more relaxed than when she was fighting Yun Keke and Yu Keke…”

    Luo Yuxi watched the fight, sensing that Doris wasn’t using her full power. She got off the bed and looked at the ruined castle.

    “Doris is even more destructive than a husky. This is not the time to be thinking about this, I need to find something useful…”

    Luo Yuxi searched through the rubble. The once towering castle was now a pile of debris. It was a shame, but then again, the protagonist would have been imprisoned and “trained” here, so perhaps Doris had done a good deed.

    “I can’t tell what’s useful just by looking, let alone find anything specific…”

    [Ding]

    [Magic concentration detected.]

    As Luo Yuxi spoke, the usually silent panel suddenly spoke. There were useful items in the rubble. Luo Yuxi looked at the panel, and the mark on her hand glowed.

    “What’s happening…?”

    Luo Yuxi looked at her glowing hand. Within moments, she saw white dots scattered throughout the rubble, realizing they were points of magic concentration.

    “Great, now I can find the useful stuff! Maybe I’ll find some important documents…”

    Luo Yuxi began digging. With each item she unearthed, the system identified it. Luo Yuxi looked at the black lace panties in her hand and sighed.

    [Pride’s magic-infused black lace panties.]

    “Who needs this?!”

    Luo Yuxi tossed the panties aside and continued digging, finding mostly useless trinkets.

    [Gluttony’s used white stockings x1]
    [Lust’s bath towel x1]
    [Unconscious Succubus x1]
    [Sloth’s pillow x1]
    …

    “All useless junk. Nothing related to the Legion Witch or the Time Witch. Don’t these witches communicate with each other?”

    Luo Yuxi, after searching for a long time, finally found a larger magic concentration point. She could only hope this one was different.

    “It’s like opening a blind box. Hopefully, this one is witch-related…”

    [Sloth x1]

    “????”

     

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c28

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 28: Return to the Scene of the Crime

    Luo Yuxi walked through the house, opening every door, searching for Doris. Doris had said her house was big, but Luo Yuxi hadn’t expected a half-castle bordering the street.

    “Really, so many rooms, where is she?”

    Luo Yuxi kicked a wall in frustration. Although she couldn’t fully trust Doris yet, having her around was safer for gathering information in the Witch Kingdom. Her nun’s habit practically screamed “Church,” her faith radiating outwards.

    “With her by my side, it’ll be safer to investigate…”

    “As you wish, Master~”

    “!!!”

    A voice behind her startled Luo Yuxi. Doris stood there, smiling, dressed in her butler uniform, a monocle on her left eye, looking refined and gentle.

    “Really, can’t you make any noise when you walk? You scared me!”

    “I do make noise, I was just too fast, the sound couldn’t keep up~”

    “You— I’m not just casually chatting with you…!”

    “Shh, I understand~”

    Luo Yuxi was about to reprimand Doris. Although she had seduced her with her beauty, there still needed to be some boundaries. But Doris gently placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.

    “Mmm…!”

    “A clever butler doesn’t need their Master to make requests~”

    Doris snapped her fingers, and the scene shifted. Luo Yuxi found herself in a lounge chair, a glass of freshly squeezed juice in her hand.

    “I… I didn’t ask you to—!”

    “You want me to take you to gather information on witches, right? It’s okay, I understand~”

    Doris snapped her fingers again, and the scene shifted once more. Luo Yuxi was now lying on a soft bed. She angrily threw the glass on the floor.

    “You brought me to a bed to gather information on witches?! I’ve already paid my dues! Don’t even think about it!”

    “But this is the best place to gather information on witches~”

    “What?! What kind of information gathering happens in bed?! I think you just—! Wait, why does this bed look so familiar?”

    Luo Yuxi suddenly realized where she was. The familiar white sheets and ancient stone walls brought back unpleasant memories. She clutched her head.

    “This… this is…!”

    “Master, you have such a poor memory~ This is where we had our first wonderful night~”

    “You! Why did you bring me here?!”

    Luo Yuxi realized she was back in the Seven Deadly Sins Witches’ lair, the room where she was supposed to be kept as a canary. As the scene solidified, her blocked memories returned.

    “It hurts, my head hurts…”

    She remembered Doris’s rough treatment, the marks left on her body, despite her pleas for mercy.

    “I remember now, you were the one who—!”

    “Shh~”

    “Shh, what shh! Don’t think dressing up like a butler will make me forget what you did…!”

    Bang!

    Luo Yuxi turned towards the sound and saw a succubus standing at the door, her legs trembling as she looked at Doris, her eyes filled with terror.

    “L-Lady Wrath, y-you’re back…”

    Doris simply glanced at her, and the succubus collapsed, a puddle of liquid spreading beneath her. Luo Yuxi was shocked. A single glance from Doris had made the succubus wet herself.

    “Get out…”

    “Y-Yes!”

    The succubus scrambled out of the room as if fleeing a monster.

    “Master, there are no more interruptions now. Please continue reprimanding me~”

    “It’s… it’s fine…”

    Luo Yuxi, seeing this, felt a chill run down her spine. She had forgotten how dangerous Doris could be. She had been lulled into a false sense of security by Doris calling her “Master.” If not for her beauty, she wouldn’t stand a chance against Doris, not even ten of her.

    “I should be more careful…”

    “Master, what are you saying~?”

    “Nothing, nothing…”

    Luo Yuxi no longer dared to reprimand Doris. She had lost sight of their power dynamic, seduced by Doris’s sweet words. If not for her beauty, she would be nothing more than a punching bag.

    “If there’s nothing else, Master, you can ask this guest any questions you have~”

    “How sad, being called a guest in my own territory~”

    Luo Yuxi saw the familiar crimson hair and demonic horns at the door. It was Ruo Li, the succubus behind her the same one Doris had just scared away.

    “What’s with that ridiculous outfit? It makes me want to vomit~”

    Ruo Li’s disgust was evident. She had overheard their conversation and knew Doris had betrayed them. She looked at Luo Yuxi.

    “How did this lewd nun manage to seduce a loli-lover like you~?”

    “That’s none of your business. Master has some questions for you, just answer them…”

    “You’re strong, but you think I’m afraid of you~?”

    [Unique Magic: Summon Familiar]

    Ruo Li stomped her foot, and countless seductive succubi emerged from the shadows, their greedy gazes fixated on Luo Yuxi.

    “So what if there are more of you? I’ll just kill them all~”

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 59p1

    Chapter Fifty-Nine p1

    In order to avoid the situation where Yu Zhao would have to wait for her, Bo Chi reluctantly suppressed the urge to slack off, finished all her work in one go, and stood up to pack her things at four or five o’clock.

    When the assistant came in, she was putting on makeup. She looked back and smiled sweetly, her voice soft and sweet: “The documents on the table are all signed, and the evening video conference is postponed to tomorrow morning.“

    The assistant responded, and seeing that she was in a good mood, couldn’t help but ask: “CEO Bo, are you going to a banquet?“

    “No.” Bo Chi looked in the mirror, made sure that the lipstick she applied was very inviting to kiss, and said with satisfaction: “I have a date with Ah Zhao tonight, so I’m dressing up a bit more formally.“

    Assistant: “…”

    This wasn’t just formal, this was dressed up like a little fairy!

    She was just an ordinary worker, why did her boss have to feed her dog food every day!

    The assistant left with resentful eyes, and with the thought of everyone suffering together, she told the other colleagues about this.

    As expected, the colleagues wailed, and just as they were feeling envious and jealous, they saw their CEO’s wife, with her long black hair loose, holding a bouquet of… sunflowers in her arms, looking beautiful and valiant, going to the top floor.

    Bo Chi was quite happy when she heard the door open, but when she saw the sunflowers presented to her, her eyes became confused: “Why sunflowers?“

    Although roses were cliché, she liked them!

    Yu Zhao said frankly: “Because your appearance, to me, is like a little sun dispelling the darkness, and I am one of the thousands of sunflowers, only able to look up and follow you. Now I’m giving you the sunflower that represents me, I hope you can receive it and accept me.“

    Bo Chi was stunned, and after listening, she blushed a little, took the bouquet, and said shyly: “Are you confessing?“

    Yu Zhao shook her head and then nodded: “This is only part of the confession, it’s the opening ceremony of the date.“

    She gently held Bo Chi’s hand, and added: “And the sunflower also implies my most passionate love for you.“

    Bo Chi’s eyes sparkled: “What is it?“

    Yu Zhao looked at her affectionately, and said seriously: “When I see you, I want to fuck you.“

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Although Yu Zhao was telling the truth, she still angered Bo Chi.

    The embarrassed and angry Bo Chi threw the sunflowers back into her arms, and went downstairs angrily.

    Yu Zhao chased after her in a few steps, her expression a little innocent. Seeing Bo Chi walking to the car, she hurriedly opened the car door and said with a smile: “Please.“

    Bo Chi glared at her, but because the tips of her ears were pink, this glare didn’t have any deterrent effect, but instead looked like a lover’s anger.

    After getting in the car, Bo Chi was still angry when she suddenly smelled a strong floral fragrance.

    She was stunned for a moment, and saw Yu Zhao sitting beside her, but she didn’t drive immediately. Instead, she turned her head to look at her, gestured to the back seat with her hand, and said with a smile: “Look back?“

    Bo Chi turned her head and looked back, and saw that the empty back seat was now filled with roses, the layers of petals covered with crystal water droplets, making the already gorgeous roses look even more delicate and charming.

    There was also a string of colorful lights on the edge of the flowers, twinkling, perfectly hitting Bo Chi’s girlish heart.

    She blinked, her eyes sparkling, but she still said arrogantly: “Childish.“

    “Hmm?” Yu Zhao raised her eyebrows and looked at her: “You don’t like it?“

    Bo Chi endured it for a while, but in the end, she couldn’t help but throw herself at her, her eyes curved into crescents, kissing her cheeks, and saying sweetly: “I like it!“

    Yu Zhao hugged her waist with satisfaction, enjoyed her wife’s reward for a while, and then officially started driving.

    She didn’t take Bo Chi home, but turned left and right, and came to a simple restaurant.

    The restaurant had obviously been open for some years, and the signboard and storefront were very old. For Bo Chi’s class, it was the kind of place that would make their eyes dirty just by looking at it.

    Yu Zhao’s heart was nervous, she slightly tightened her hand holding Bo Chi’s, and her eyes were always fixed on her. As long as she frowned, Yu Zhao would immediately take her away.

    But Bo Chi didn’t show any disgust, but instead asked curiously: “What are you doing here? Eating?“

    Yu Zhao nodded, and seeing that she wasn’t uncomfortable, she took her into the private room on the second floor, and explained: “When I was very young, a provincial top scorer came out of the orphanage. At that time, many reporters came to interview, and many people donated to the orphanage. The director was very happy, and one night, she specially took us here and ordered a table of sumptuous dishes that I had never seen before.“

    “That was the first time I understood what ‘delicious’ meant.” Yu Zhao recalled the past, lowered her eyes and smiled: “Later, I thought, when I grow up, when I have money in the future, I will also bring my favorite, best friend, to share the treasure I’ve been hiding until now.“

    As she spoke, the waiter came in and served the dishes that had been ordered in advance one by one.

    Bo Chi’s curiosity was piqued by Yu Zhao, and she couldn’t help but pick up her chopsticks and start tasting.

    Yu Zhao also picked up a chopstick full of nostalgia, and after putting it in her mouth, she froze.

    This wasn’t the taste in her memory.

    In her memory, the dishes in this restaurant were clearly uniquely delicious, and the decoration also made her envious and intimidated…

    Thinking of the signboard and storefront that hadn’t changed for decades, Yu Zhao suddenly realized.

    It wasn’t the restaurant’s problem, it was her problem.

    She had grown up, and was no longer the ignorant child in her memory, and she could no longer taste the happiness of the past from these ordinary dishes.

    Yu Zhao’s heart suddenly tightened, and she looked up at Bo Chi, wanting to apologize, but she saw Bo Chi smile first, her cheeks puffed up as she chewed, and gave her a thumbs-up, praising her profusely: “You’re right, this restaurant is really delicious!“

    Yu Zhao froze, and then her eyes became sore, she hurriedly lowered her head to cover her abnormality.

    She picked up another chopstick and put it in her mouth, tasting the bland and tasteless food, and slowly softened her eyebrows and eyes, and said softly: “Thank you… for liking it.“

    **

    After dinner, it was still early. Bo Chi thought that Yu Zhao would take her to other places, but the car stopped at the entrance of the residential area.

    Bo Chi suddenly felt a little disappointed.

    Wasn’t this a date?

    It was over just like that?

    Tsk, as expected, straight girls were unreliable. Next time, she had to be the one to prepare the surprise!

    Yu Zhao didn’t know what she was thinking, opened the car door for her, and asked: “Do you want to carry a bouquet of roses upstairs?“

    Bo Chi looked at her faintly, shook her head, and picked up the sunflowers.

    Yu Zhao was stunned, and then her heart trembled. She couldn’t help but bend down and lean into the car, pressing Bo Chi down and kissing her again and again.

    Bo Chi’s breathing was uneven from the kiss, her black hair slightly messy, and she asked in confusion: “Why are you suddenly in heat?“

    Yu Zhao sighed against her neck: “Sorry, because I like you too much, I really like you, I like you all the time.“

    Bo Chi’s face flushed, and she pushed her: “We’re still outside, what nonsense are you talking about?“

    Yu Zhao held her hand, lowered her head and kissed it: “Okay, I’ll tell you when we go back.“

    The two went upstairs intimately, and after opening the door, Bo Chi stepped in, then froze, and said in confusion: “Did we go to the wrong door?“

    The originally warm and ordinary little home had completely changed.

    Balloons of various colors were floating in the house, colorful ribbons fluttering in the wind, and the balloons were covered with words of love, each one different. Rose petals were scattered on the ground, extending to the bedroom. There were lit candles and a diary on the table.

    Bo Chi curiously picked up the diary and blinked at Yu Zhao: “What’s this?“

    Yu Zhao’s eyes were bright: “This contains my whole life, I want to share my past with you.“

    Bo Chi curled her lips and said arrogantly: “Smooth talker… Then I’ll take a look?“

    Yu Zhao nodded readily.

    Bo Chi’s eyes were smiling, and she casually flipped to the middle, and saw a paragraph written on it.

    [May 17th, sunny.]

    [Today a fool named Bo Chi wanted to keep me, I think she’s sick.]

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Yu Zhao beside her was oblivious, and said with burning eyes: “My love for you is all written in my life.“

    Bo Chi: “…Thank you.“

    She was speechless for two seconds, and felt that she should change the subject: “I’m very satisfied with today’s date, it’s getting late, shall we rest early?“

    Yu Zhao shook her head, raised her hand and flipped through the diary in her hand, all the way to the last page, then pointed to the diamond ring hanging on the page, her eyes curved, and said: “You haven’t seen my confession and proposal yet, how can the date end?“

    Bo Chi followed her hand and saw two sentences written above the diamond ring.

    [This diary has recorded the first half of my life.]

    [Are you willing to write the rest of my life with me?]

    Bo Chi’s almond eyes widened, she looked at the diary and then at Yu Zhao, who was close at hand, and finally threw herself into Yu Zhao’s arms like a small firecracker, and shouted: “I do!“

    Yu Zhao chuckled and hugged her tightly, took off the diamond ring, then carried her and walked towards the bedroom, her voice hoarse: “Okay, then I’ll put the ring on you.“

    Bo Chi asked foolishly: “Why do we have to go to bed to put on the ring?“

    Yu Zhao said meaningfully: “Guess?“

    **

    After the confession and proposal were completed in one go, Bo Chi and Yu Zhao completely became the professional dog food dispensers in the company.

    During these two months, Yu Zhao came and went with Bo Chi every day, their behavior intimate and natural, most of their gazes falling on each other, as if other people were air.

    During this period, Ming Songrui and Xu Zhidie also came to visit. They came under the name of the company, and Bo Chi had no reason not to see them, so she could only look at them with dead fish eyes.

    Probably because Bo Chi hadn’t changed her mind after so long, Ming Songrui became visibly anxious, and even softened her attitude in private, begging Bo Chi to return to her side for the first time.

    Bo Chi found it funny at the time, and replied bluntly: “We were never together, were we? Miss Ming, don’t confuse love with unwillingness, they are not the same.“

    She rejected Ming Songrui, and then was pestered by Xu Zhidie.

    Xu Zhidie’s personality was rather extreme, but she had never harmed Bo Chi. Bo Chi couldn’t do anything to her, so she could only listen to her: “I’m only temporarily cooperating with Miss Ming, CEO Bo. As long as you’re willing to coax me, even if it’s just to deceive me, just one word, just one word, and I’ll abandon everything and return to your side.“

    Bo Chi smiled, didn’t say anything more, and under Xu Zhidie’s hopeful gaze, she gave a tactful and generous blessing: “I wish you a pleasant time at your new job.“

    The light in Xu Zhidie’s eyes was suddenly extinguished.

  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 51p2

    Chapter 51 p2

    Just as Lu Duanjing was about to ask what was wrong, one of the children suddenly knelt down and bowed, his forehead touching the ground.

    It was a gesture he had often used while begging, a desperate plea for food, a gesture that often earned him nothing but a kick from some uncaring passerby.

    But today, this kind lady had given them meat! He had to show his gratitude!

    The other children, mimicking his actions, also knelt down, their foreheads touching the ground, their small bodies bowing repeatedly.

    Lu Duanjing, startled, rushed to help them up.

    “What are you doing?!”

    But they continued to kowtow, even the two women looking at her with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

    Seeing their unwavering devotion, Lu Duanjing, unable to stop them, clenched her fists, her voice slightly raised.

    “Stop bowing!”

    Thinking she was angry, the children froze, their movements ceasing.

    Lu Duanjing walked over to them, helping them up, one by one.

    “We’re all equal. No one bows to anyone here. Don’t bow to me, and don’t bow to the heavens. Stand tall and live for yourselves.”

    One of the little girls, her eyes filled with tears, said, “Niang Niang, if I grow up, I’ll earn lots of money and repay you.” [Niang Niang – a term of respect for a queen or goddess]

    Lu Duanjing’s eyes reddened slightly. Even these children, so young, knew that their lives were precarious.

    “You will grow up,” Lu Duanjing said softly, patting the little girl’s shoulder, then, wanting to change the subject, she asked, “But why do you call me ‘Niang Niang’?”

    Her question sparked a flurry of responses.

    “Because you’re like a goddess!”

    “You’re even better than a goddess! You give us food and a place to live!”

    “Because you’re the kindest person in the world!”

    “I’ll definitely repay you someday!”

    Their words, their innocent gratitude, made Lu Duanjing’s heart ache. She knelt down, looking at their small faces.

    “Don’t call me ‘Niang Niang.’ Call me ‘Lu Jiejie.’” [Older Sister]

    “And I’ll make sure you have meat every week. You don’t have to repay me.”

    Her words made the children exchange confused glances. If they didn’t have to repay her, then they were useless. What could they do?

    Seeing their expressions, Lu Duanjing thought for a moment.

    “If you really want to repay me, then…”

    She smiled, her expression gentle in the soft light.

    “Then study hard. Learn everything you can.”

    It was then that Wen Sigu arrived.

    She had helped Lu Duanjing set up the orphanage, finding the location and providing support.

    After all, as the Lu family’s eldest daughter, Lu Duanjing couldn’t be seen venturing into the slums too often.

    Now that the orphanage was running smoothly, she had come to visit, but a last-minute errand had delayed her.

    As she arrived, the evening sun casting long shadows, she saw Lu Duanjing, her smile warm and encouraging, urging the children to study hard, to change their lives.

    She stood there, bathed in the golden light, her presence radiating a quiet strength and beauty.

    Wen Sigu’s heart skipped a beat, her gaze fixed on Lu Duanjing’s face.

    They didn’t leave until late, walking side by side through the narrow alley near the orphanage, Lu Duanjing still buzzing with excitement, her usual quiet demeanor replaced by an almost childlike enthusiasm.

    “I never realized how difficult it was to simply survive. I always thought my life was hard, but I’m actually so fortunate.”

    “I can’t just provide for these children. I can’t support them forever. I have to teach them, give them the knowledge and skills they need to survive.”

    “I can’t be here all the time, so I’ve asked my cousin to help, to teach them how to read and write. And later, when they’ve learned more, we’ll hire a teacher.”

    “You wouldn’t believe how eager she is to learn! She comes to me every day for lessons!”

    “She’ll be so surprised! And so happy! She’ll probably think, ‘Wow, I, Zheng Qiu Yan, can actually be a teacher!’”

    “I can’t wait to see her face!”

    As Lu Duanjing chattered excitedly, Wen Sigu listened patiently, her eyes soft and warm, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

    Lu Duanjing continued, ticking off her plans on her fingers.

    “There’s so much to do! Selling my jewelry isn’t a long-term solution.”

    “I think I need to find a source of income. I’m thinking of opening a small shop in the city. I can’t believe I’m actually starting a business without my father’s permission!”

    “Sigu, you’ve inspired me so much!”

    She looked up at Wen Sigu, her eyes shining with excitement.

    And in that moment, their gazes met.

    Wen Sigu’s eyes, soft and warm in the orange glow of the setting sun, were fixed on Lu Duanjing’s face, their intensity making Lu Duanjing’s heart race.

    Lu Duanjing, flustered by her gaze, looked down, her cheeks burning.

    They walked in silence, the setting sun casting long shadows, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

    Wen Sigu’s fingers, hidden in the folds of her skirt, twitched, then retreated.

    She hesitated, her palms sweating, then, finally finding her courage, she gently brushed her pinky finger against Lu Duanjing’s.

    Lu Duanjing didn’t pull away!

    Emboldened, Wen Sigu’s fingers intertwined with hers, their hands clasped together, their palms warm and slightly damp.

    They walked in silence, their gazes fixed on the path ahead, their joined hands a silent language.

    Wen Sigu, usually so rational and composed, looked up at the sky, at the narrow alley stretching before them, a childish wish forming in her heart.

    She wished the alley was longer.

    Because when they reached the end, they would have to part ways.

    The scene had been filmed during the golden hour, the last rays of sunlight painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

    Director Gao, a perfectionist, had insisted on multiple takes, pushing the crew to their limits, finally finishing just before nightfall.

    As the light faded, the world was bathed in a soft, blue twilight.

    Xu Jingyu, stepping out of the car, was about to go find Xin Yao when Xue Ning, her agent, approached her.

    “Ms. Xu, your fans are here. They arranged a visit a few days ago. They’ve come a long way. Would you mind seeing them?”

    Director Gao’s strict rules were well-known. No visitors were allowed on set before the film was completed. It was practically a closed set.

    Paparazzi were strictly forbidden, and even fans were discouraged from visiting.

    And Xu Jingyu, notoriously reclusive, rarely interacted with her fans, avoiding interviews, variety shows, and fan meetings.

    So, this rare opportunity for a fan visit had been highly anticipated.

    While Xu Jingyu wasn’t exactly known for her warmth and approachability, she couldn’t refuse.

    She looked at Xin Yao, about to say something.

    But Xin Yao spoke first, smiling gently. “Go ahead, Ms. Xu. I’ll go remove my makeup. We can meet in the dressing room later, and then have dinner together, okay?”

    Xu Jingyu, after a moment’s thought, nodded and went to meet her fans.

    Xin Yao returned to her dressing room alone.

    Just as she sat down, Chen Jia knocked on the door, her head poking inside.

    She glanced at Xin Yao’s face, her gaze hesitant.

    After all, Ms. Xu had fans visiting her, while Xin Yao didn’t. It was bound to make her feel a little down.

    Seeing her assistant’s concerned expression, Xin Yao smiled.

    “Don’t worry. Maybe one day I’ll be famous too! Then I’ll have lots of fans visiting me!”

    Seeing her positive attitude, Chen Jia relaxed.

    “It’s not like no one cares about you. We received a fan letter today!”

    “Huh?” Xin Yao, surprised, her earlier good mood momentarily forgotten, “A fan letter? For me?”

    “Yes!” Chen Jia nodded.

    After the recent scandal, many of her fans had abandoned her, and the few letters they received were usually filled with hate.

    Worried that this one might be the same, Chen Jia had opened it first, her heart aching as she read it. She had decided to give it to Xin Yao anyway.

    Xin Yao took the letter, assuming it was a message of encouragement.

    But as she opened it, she froze, her eyes scanning the elegant handwriting.

    [Dear Sister Xin Yao,

    I don’t think I’ll see spring again.

    I’m very sick, so sick that my parents cry every time they see me.

    Lately, my mother has been crying even more, and the pain has gotten worse. I know I’m probably going to die soon.

    I really wanted to see spring again.

    Because that’s when I met you, Sister Xin Yao.

    I wasn’t sick back then. I went to a film set with my friend, to see her favorite celebrity.

    There were so many people, and I don’t like crowds. I got separated from my friend and felt so lost and alone.

    And then I bumped into someone, spilling coffee all over myself, and I fell, right in front of the celebrity, in front of everyone. It was so embarrassing.

    It was the most humiliating moment of my life.

    Everyone was staring at me, but you came over, helped me up, and gave me your coat, asking gently, “Are you okay?”

    It was a long time ago, and you probably don’t remember me.

    But for me, so lost and alone at the time, it was like a ray of sunshine, making that spring day so beautiful.

    So, when I saw the news online, I didn’t believe it. You’re not that kind of person, Sister Xin Yao.

    But my voice is too small, and no one believed me.

    And I don’t have much time left. I thought I should at least tell you.

    Sister Xin Yao, there are people in this world who believe in you. Please don’t give up.

    I’ll always love you, until the very end.

    —A devoted fan]

    The letter wasn’t long, but Xin Yao read it several times, her mind still reeling from its contents long after she had finished.

    Xu Jingyu, having finished meeting her fans, returned to Xin Yao’s dressing room, but she didn’t see her.

    Just as she was about to leave, she heard a sound behind her.

    She was about to turn around when she felt something hard pressed against her lower back.

    Slowly, she turned her head, a smile playing on her lips.

    Standing behind her was a person in a white cat costume, its fluffy fur and small size making it look like a cuddly kitten.

    And the kitten was holding a plastic gun, its barrel pressed against Xu Jingyu’s back, its voice a playful growl.

    “Don’t move! You’ve been captured by the Cat Bandit!”

    Xu Jingyu raised her hands in mock surrender.

    “I give up.”

    Huh?

    The Cat Bandit, slightly disappointed, lowered its gun.

    “That’s no fun. Why did you give up so easily?”

    “Because,” Xu Jingyu lowered her hands, “I was captivated from the moment I saw you.”

    She walked towards the Cat Bandit and lifted the head of the costume.

    As expected, it was Xin Yao, her hair slightly disheveled.

    Xu Jingyu, unable to resist, leaned down and kissed her, her eyes soft and warm.

    “What’s this about? Why are you wearing that?”

    Xin Yao didn’t answer directly.

    She put the cat head back on.

    “Come with me. You’ll see.”

    “Where are we going?” Xu Jingyu asked.

    Xin Yao took her hand, leading her out of the dressing room.

    “Hmm…”

    “To see spring, perhaps.”

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c62-1

    Chapter 62: Starry Sky p1

    Grotesquery Sequence 49, High-Risk Grotesquery, the White Witch of Silent Demise.

    An S-rank bounty target of the Company, she single-handedly annihilated the 400,000 residents of Jiangcheng County. Were it not for Jiangcheng County’s remote and insignificant location, such a horrific disaster, even outside Victoria, would have been enough to trigger a Boundary collapse.

    As an Origin Point, Victoria was, in a sense, quite fragile, prone to Boundary collapses.

    Yet, it was also incredibly resilient. Compared to other regions, Boundary annihilations were rare, with only a few small-scale annihilations in countless years.

    The Company’s apprehension towards the White Witch stemmed from the fear that she might cause a disaster of similar scale in Victoria. Even a smaller scale event would be a catastrophic tragedy.

    As the bounty description stated, the White Witch appeared to be an excessively beautiful, white-haired young girl. It was hard to imagine this ghostly figure as the perpetrator of a massacre of 400,000.

    Regardless, as the most prominent terrifying existence in recent times, the first High-Risk Grotesquery to completely annihilate a Sequence Grotesquery and take its place, the White Witch, no matter how harmless her appearance, was absolutely not to be underestimated.

    “However… it’s merely Sequence 49 of the Grotesqueries.”

    After the initial shock and confusion, Cheng Jianming quickly regained his composure, standing with his sword, exuding a sharp aura, his expression returning to its initial sword-like indifference.

    “I am… not incapable of fighting it.”

    Cheng Jianming’s confidence wasn’t unfounded. His reliance stemmed from the sword in his hand, a companion through countless battles, as close as any comrade.

    The Sacred Tool, “Time.”

    It was a three-foot long sword, with black and white colors swirling within its blade, its spectral edge untouched by any dust.

    Even though this sword had slain countless beings, it carried no trace of blood, like an immortal detached from the mortal world.

    “Time” had an even more prominent reputation. It was one of the four Authority-level Sacred Tools held by the Torchbearers, its Authority derived from a High-Risk Grotesquery.

    Grotesquery Sequence 22, Sui of Chaos, the embodiment of Time.

    Although it didn’t contain the complete Authority, Time’s power ranked among the top five of the twenty or so Authority-level Sacred Tools in Victoria, only slightly inferior to those held by the three Company directors.

    Dividing time, altering day and night, the passage of years lay within a single swing of Time.

    Since obtaining this Sacred Tool, Cheng Jianming had carried it with him almost constantly, treating it with the respect of a comrade, seeking the recognition of the Time Authority within the sword.

    Using an Authority and possessing an Authority were two different concepts, a common understanding in the Awakened world. But in Cheng Jianming’s view, the gap between the two wasn’t insurmountable.

    Over the years, Cheng Jianming had become increasingly proficient in using Time, even earning the praise of the Company directors: “Even those who possess Time might not be able to achieve this level of mastery.”

    Cheng Jianming had even participated in a crusade against a High-Risk Grotesquery ranked in the thirties in the Republican era Boundary, fighting alongside Fiona and Lu Fangling.

    In the end, it was Cheng Jianming who personally killed the Grotesquery, sending it into Silent Demise.

    It was this battle that allowed Lu Fangling to obtain the Authority-containing Sacred Relic from the Grotesquery, which Fiona then crafted into a Sacred Tool, making Lu Fangling the nineteenth High-Order Awakened One in the Company to possess an Authority-level Sacred Tool.

    This was why Cheng Jianming and Fiona were present in the Boundary where Jiangcheng County was located. They had accompanied Lu Fangling.

    After slaying that Grotesquery, Cheng Jianming’s sword heart had reached its peak, giving him the courage to face the White Witch with his sword, not to flee.

    The White Witch was only Sequence 49. Even against a Sequence 30 Grotesquery, Cheng Jianming would have the courage to draw his sword. Against Sequence 49, he was even more confident.

    “Time Domain, Realm of Ages, activate.”

    Cheng Jianming whispered, his black and white sword carving out a domain. On the ground, a black and white yin-yang fish seemed to swim and play. Under the influence of the Realm of Ages, the flow of time around them subtly shifted.

    A mere Authority Domain, he possessed one as well.

    Cheng Jianming slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on Elsa, his eyes narrowing.

    Both the Company and the Torchbearers knew that Elsa was special in two ways. First, she was a well-known experimental subject of Scientist.

    Second…

    She was the person who had the most contact with the White Witch, and they seemed to have a good relationship.

    Even the codename “White Witch” was given by Elsa, her own codename being the matching “Scarlet Witch.” It was hard to believe there wasn’t some connection between them.

    For various reasons, this information had been strictly suppressed by the Company. Only a small group of people in Victoria knew about it.

    Initially, they suspected a connection between Elsa and the White Witch, but after examinations and the first newcomer mission, “Eliminating the White Witch’s Incubation Barrier,” they dismissed the suspicion.

    Until now, her hidden identity was completely exposed to Cheng Jianming.

    Although the Company’s previous examinations had failed to uncover this, the answer was now obvious: Elsa… was the White Witch’s Apostle.

    Slaying the White Witch might be difficult, but if it was just killing her Apostle…

    Cheng Jianming was confident.

    Confident of a sure kill.

    Cheng Jianming raised his sword, pointing it at the red-haired girl behind the ghostly figure, and softly uttered,

    “—Fleeting Dream.”

    Fleeting Dream, a lifetime condensed into a brief dream, the scale of time shrinking, turning three seconds into the blink of an eye, unstoppable.

    The sword glint appeared before Elsa, aimed directly at her heart, ready to bloom another blood-red rose.

    “Even a High-Risk Grotesquery of Silent Demise cannot stop the mighty force of fleeting time. All existence will eventually turn to dust under the changing tides of time.”

    At the same time, the sword glint carried another ability granted by the Authority.

    “—Rotten Ke.”

    Rotten Ke, a dream of a game between immortals in the mountains, while the mortal world undergoes drastic changes, a fleeting moment stretched into decades of time.

    A faint smile appeared on Cheng Jianming’s sharp face. Even Silent Demise… let’s see how you save your Apostle under the power of time.

    As long as he could worsen Elsa’s injuries in the blink of an eye, before the White Witch could heal her, even a god couldn’t save her.

    “Is that so?”

    As if seeing through the meaning behind his faint smile, the ghostly girl’s grey eyes looked at Cheng Jianming with a hint of pity, as if lamenting his ignorance.

    “Ahh!”

    Elsa was startled by the sword glint appearing before her and quickly covered her head.

    But after waiting for a while, she saw the sword glint stop about an inch in front of her, not moving any closer.

    No, wait…

    It wasn’t stopped, but slowed.

    The originally swift sword glint was now as if in slow motion, inching towards Elsa at a speed measurable in millimeters per second.

    At the same time, Cheng Jianming was horrified to find countless streaks of grey appearing in his hair. Looking down, the handsome young man had become a decrepit old man.

    “What’s… going on?”

    Having used Time for so long, Cheng Jianming knew this was the power of Time. But why… could the White Witch use it?

    Wasn’t the White Witch a Grotesquery of the Silent Demise Path? Why could she use an Authority belonging to the Chaos Path… Wait, could it be that she hadn’t mastered the Time Authority, but…

    Cheng Jianming looked at his sword.

    “Strange, isn’t it? Why did Time suddenly stop obeying?” Luo Ling said faintly. “I told you, this is my Kingdom.

    “Where my Authority reaches, is my Kingdom. Those within my Authority’s reach are my servants.

    “Surely you didn’t think… that the Time in your hand wouldn’t be subject to my Complete Control?”

    Luo Ling raised her hand. Cheng Jianming heard his Sacred Tool tremble violently, fungal threads spreading and entwining around Time. His once trusted comrade now… seemed to have betrayed him.

    “Impossible! This is my Sacred Tool, my Authority!”

    Years of built-up confidence crumbled at this moment. Cheng Jianming’s mind, along with Time’s trembling, became disordered, teetering on the edge of collapse.

    “It’s not your Authority,” Luo Ling sneered. “It’s merely an Authority you stole.”

    Possessing an Authority and using an Authority were two different concepts. It had always been this way.

    The gap between the two was as vast as a chasm, difficult to cross.

    Moreover… the so-called Time that Cheng Jianming used wasn’t complete, its effectiveness significantly reduced.

    As for the High-Risk Grotesquery he had slain before, whether it was truly slain was debatable.

    Cheng Jianming’s eyes widened, desperately gripping the struggling Time, pouring all his strength into reclaiming control, freeing it from the White Witch’s domination.

    “Damn it, damn it…”

    Finally, as Cheng Jianming’s inspiration neared depletion, Time finally stopped trembling, all the entwining fungal threads severed by the sword glint.

    Cheng Jianming could sense that the Realm of Ages was back under his control.

    But… his mind couldn’t recover, sinking even deeper, as he clearly saw more fungal threads emerging from the ground, gradually consuming and dominating his body.

    With his inspiration depleted, Cheng Jianming couldn’t resist this domination. The pure white fungal threads took root in his flesh, controlling everything.

    Cheng Jianming’s consciousness remained clear, but he could feel his soul and body, under this domination, gradually losing themselves, becoming a cage imprisoning his consciousness.

    …He had miscalculated.

    Time’s betrayal had robbed Cheng Jianming of his reason. He had given everything to reclaim his comrade, the Sacred Tool Time, to free it from the White Witch’s control.

    He had succeeded.

    But the price was himself.

    A soft scraping sound echoed, the sound of bare feet stepping on the gravel, gradually approaching him as he knelt on the ground.

    Cheng Jianming struggled to raise his head. He clearly saw the dark sky of the Purgatory Incubation Barrier inevitably receding, replaced by a crimson crescent moon.

    Under the blood moon, the ghostly girl’s grey eyes held no emotion. She casually held a short sword Sacred Tool, approaching him step by step.

    “Continue, struggle,” her childish voice, usually endearing, now sounded like an echo from hell, a devil’s whisper, filled with terror. “Let me see what else you can do.”

    At the same time, Cheng Jianming saw the Sacred Tool in the White Witch’s hand. It was a translucent black, like the deepest ice blue, a distinctive Sacred Tool he had seen recently.

    It belonged to the Luo Ling he had shattered.

    Considering the relationship between Luo Ling and Elsa, and Elsa and the White Witch…

    And all the other details…

    Cheng Jianming seemed to realize something, his eyes widening slowly. He realized a misjudgment by the Company, a mistake that could cost them everything.

    The White Witch was Luo Ling.

    Luo Ling was the White Witch.

    …She was a Grotesquery in human form.

    A rogue element had entered the Victoria chessboard.

    And she could overturn the entire game.

    “I see, I see…”

    Cheng Jianming murmured, quickly regaining his composure.

    This was crucial information. No matter the cost, he had to relay it, to inform the Company. Otherwise… the Awakened, and even all of humanity, would face utter ruin.

    He stared at Elsa, who was making faces behind Luo Ling, his expression turning sorrowful. “Traitor to humanity, you will soon learn the tragic consequences of following a Grotesquery.”

    As his voice fell, a malicious aura emanated from the sword Sacred Tool in his hand. At the same time, a ritual composed of complex patterns appeared in his pupils.

    “As expected, a backup plan.”

    Luo Ling stopped, quietly watching Cheng Jianming.

    In fact, this battle was also quite challenging for Luo Ling. She wasn’t a High-Risk Grotesquery specializing in direct combat.

    Moreover, because Luo Ling suppressed the Puppet Ballad’s instinct for unlimited expansion, she was still in a larval state, like Miss Iris’s beloved sapling, incomparable to her older “sister.”

    However, a complete Authority still held a certain degree of suppression over an incomplete one. Coupled with the vast inspiration gained from devouring the Boundary, Luo Ling forcefully dominated Time, causing Cheng Jianming’s two ability activations to malfunction.

    Of course, Luo Ling hadn’t anticipated Cheng Jianming’s subsequent breakdown. She had expected him to abandon Time and fight her directly.

    If that were the case, Luo Ling wouldn’t be able to directly use Time either. All she could do was disrupt Cheng Jianming’s use of it.

    The result was the current situation.

    Of course… anyone whose trusted comrade of many years suddenly betrayed them at a critical moment would likely react no better than Cheng Jianming.

    Now, the reason Luo Ling hadn’t immediately used Absolute Blade to end Cheng Jianming’s life was partly because using Complete Control on a Ninth-Order Awakened One, even one with depleted inspiration, required time.

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 158

    Chapter 158: Mother and Daughter Reunion, An Old Friend Named Xue 

    The next morning.

    The rules of the palace were strict, even the schedule was rigid.

    Luo Xue had been forced to go to bed early under the watchful eyes of the palace maids, and before dawn, she was woken up to get dressed.

    It was equivalent to sleeping at 7 pm and waking up at 4 am… such a healthy schedule, Luo Xue had never experienced this in any of her lives.

    Luo Xue had thought it was just because of yesterday’s coming-of-age ceremony banquet, but it turned out to be her daily routine…

    Fortunately, she had gone to bed early last night, and after her mind gradually adjusted, Luo Xue wasn’t as disoriented today and felt much better.

    After washing up, the palace maids helped Luo Xue get dressed.

    Speaking of which, after so many lifetimes, Luo Xue hadn’t worn makeup.

    There were no such conditions in the post-apocalyptic world, and after embarking on the path of cultivation, the Innate Realm would reshape one’s body, an effect far superior to any makeup.

    Watching the palace maids skillfully applying various tools and powders to her face, Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel that this was a novel experience.

    Then, she looked up at the mirror and was instantly startled, almost cursing.

    “I—”

    …Who was this?

    She didn’t finish her sentence. The maids, thinking Luo Xue was dissatisfied, immediately knelt down and said in low voices,

    “This servant is at fault, please forgive me, Your Highness.”

    “It’s fine, continue…”

    Luo Xue calmed herself slightly, signaling them not to panic.

    But these palace maids seemed like cold and emotionless robots. After receiving Luo Xue’s reply, they simply nodded, stood up, and continued dressing her.

    Luo Xue continued staring at her reflection in the mirror. The more she looked, the more certain she became that although there were some similarities, this face… wasn’t hers.

    It was a delicate, almost overly fragile face, every expression evoking pity.

    Luo Xue’s own features were more heroic, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.

    Looking closely, her facial features didn’t seem to have changed.

    But the overall impression was as if they had been slightly adjusted, drastically changing Luo Xue’s temperament.

    From a heroic young woman to a frail beauty.

    “Even my face has changed in this life?” Luo Xue touched her cheeks. “Could it be that the collapsing space-time of the deep space behemoth also came with plastic surgery…”

    The only time her appearance had changed was in her first life in the nine provinces and four domains, when she was burned to death.

    But this life… this inexplicable minor plastic surgery was too strange.

    However, there were already too many strange things in this life, so Luo Xue just kept it in mind, planning to investigate later.

    “Your Highness, it’s time for your morning lessons.”

    A palace maid reminded Luo Xue, who was lost in thought.

    “Oh right, morning lessons…”

    Luo Xue’s expression drooped slightly.

    She hadn’t expected to return to student life after so many years…

    The buried memories of past traumas were assaulting her.

    Morning lessons were usually about court etiquette, taught by the elderly etiquette official who had been with Luo Xue yesterday.

    She was a personal maid of the Empress, and her status among the palace attendants was very high, second only to the Immortal Emperor’s personal attendants.

    Actually, teaching the little princess shouldn’t be her responsibility. Imperial Concubine Min also had trustworthy personal maids.

    It seemed that this was a deliberate arrangement by the Empress, to let Luo Xue interact with her.

    Luo Xue didn’t mind. The etiquette official was just strict and serious, but she was actually a kind-hearted person.

    If the etiquette official knew that she had been labeled a “good person” by the little princess, she wouldn’t know what to think…

    “No need, today… there are no morning lessons.”

    Just then, the etiquette official appeared at the door.

    She first bowed to Luo Xue, then signaled for the palace maids to leave.

    After the maids left, she looked at Luo Xue with a complicated expression and said slowly,

    “Your Highness, your mother… wants to see you.”

    Mother?

    Luo Xue quickly realized that her “mother” referred to Imperial Concubine Min, her biological mother in this life.

    All princes and princesses had to address the Empress as their mother, while their biological mothers could only be called “Mother Concubine.”

    However, even if her mother in this life wanted to see her, there was no need for the etiquette official to have such an expression, right?

    “Okay.”

    To be cautious, Luo Xue just nodded slightly, her expression unchanged.

    Seeing this, the etiquette official was slightly relieved. She had been worried that Her Highness’s reaction would be too emotional.

    It seemed that Her Highness had grown up…

    The etiquette official thought for a moment, then added,

    “After seeing your Mother Concubine, Your Highness, please try to speak less, to avoid gossip.”

    “Hmm? Oh…”

    Luo Xue blinked, thinking how strange this was, meeting her mother was like meeting a prisoner…

    Wait?

    …Prisoner?

    There was indeed a place in the palace equivalent to a prison, and the concubines inside were no different from prisoners.

    That was… the Cold Palace.

    Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively,

    “Is Mother Concubine… doing well there?”

    “…”

    The etiquette official was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said,

    “Your Highness, you will know when you go… This time, it’s a special permission from the Empress. Otherwise, even this old servant wouldn’t be allowed to enter.”

    Related to the Empress again?

    It was probably the Empress who had her imprisoned in the Cold Palace…

    These palace power struggles were truly troublesome, even in an immortal dynasty.

    Or perhaps even more so, since the Immortal Emperor didn’t have absolute authority.

    Since the Empress’s strength wasn’t that much weaker than the Immortal Emperor’s, it was more accurate to say that they were two emperors, rather than an emperor and an empress.

    Because of this, the Immortal Emperor didn’t have many concubines, including the Empress and Imperial Concubine Min, less than a handful.

    “When can I meet Mother Concubine?”

    Luo Xue asked, feigning calmness, but her slightly trembling voice betrayed her anxiety.

    After all, one needed some acting skills in life.

    Since her memories hadn’t fully merged yet, Luo Xue hadn’t experienced Princess Xue’s life, so she couldn’t empathize with her Mother Concubine and could only pretend.

    As long as she looked the part, it was fine.

    “Now,” the etiquette official said, “but you have to leave… before dawn.”

    She hesitated for a moment, then said, “This is already a long time, after all, your Mother Concubine…”

    As if feeling that saying these things would be too disrespectful to Her Highness, the etiquette official didn’t continue.

    Luo Xue actually wanted her to finish. Why did these people always like to only say half of what they meant? She didn’t even know what her Mother Concubine had done to be imprisoned in the Cold Palace.

    And if she was imprisoned, why did the Empress treat her, Imperial Concubine Min’s daughter, so well?

    “Let’s go, this old servant will take you there.” The etiquette official extended her withered hand and said softly, “Let’s hurry, the chances for you to meet… are few.”

    “Okay.”

    Luo Xue could only nod and place her small hand in the etiquette official’s.

    She had thought the etiquette official would lead her to the Cold Palace, but the next moment, the etiquette official formed hand seals, creating a teleportation formation with her bare hands.

    “???”

    Luo Xue’s eyes widened in shock.

    Could a Nascent Soul cultivator do this?!

    Luo Xue didn’t know much about the realms above Nascent Soul, but as far as she knew, Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t create teleportation formations without any materials.

    And the key point was, without any materials.

    This meant… the etiquette official had probably comprehended the Law of Space, and her understanding of formations was also very deep.

    Luo Xue suddenly felt that she might have misunderstood the power levels of this world.

    But the etiquette official seemed to find this very normal. She still held Luo Xue’s hand respectfully and said softly,

    “Your Highness, the first time using a teleportation formation might be a bit uncomfortable. Please bear with it. I’ll have them prepare the Thousand Souls Life-Nourishing Soup to soothe your soul.”

    Luo Xue almost twitched her lips. Although she didn’t know what Thousand Souls Life-Nourishing Soup was, any medicine that could nourish the soul was a top-grade treasure. Using it to alleviate the discomfort of a teleportation formation seemed a bit wasteful…

    However, having come this far, Luo Xue was more interested in the legendary Imperial Concubine Min.

    After all, she was her biological mother in this life…

    Much closer than Luo Huaxin, her convenient mother.

    The etiquette official didn’t delay and quickly sent Luo Xue into the teleportation formation, but she didn’t enter herself.

    The Cold Palace… wasn’t a place one could enter and leave casually.

    After a familiar moment of disorientation, Luo Xue opened her eyes again, her mind instantly clearing.

    This level of teleportation formation naturally had little effect on Luo Xue. After all, she had recently traveled through space-time torn apart by a deep space behemoth…

    Upon entering the Cold Palace, Luo Xue couldn’t help but shudder.

    The Cold Palace… was really cold…

    It wasn’t the temperature, but the atmosphere. Everything felt cold and desolate.

    Especially now, in the early hours of the morning, without any lights, the dim environment and the loneliness made her feel a chill down her spine.

    The layout of the Cold Palace wasn’t much different from an ordinary palace, just more dilapidated.

    The small courtyard outside hadn’t been tended to in years, the overgrown weeds looking almost sinister.

    Luo Xue carefully avoided the unknown plants and walked towards the entrance.

    “Creak…”

    The rusty hinges made a harsh sound, and Luo Xue suspected that with a little more force, she could tear down the entire door.

    Just then, a faint voice, like a ghost’s, weak and ethereal, came from the depths of the palace.

    “Xue’er… is that you…”

    “Xue’er… have you come…”

    It was Imperial Concubine Min.

    Luo Xue composed herself, replied softly, and followed the voice.

    “It’s me, Mother Concubine.”

    “It’s you… cough…”

    Hearing the reply, the gentle voice seemed to become more agitated, followed by a coughing fit.

    Luo Xue quickened her pace and finally saw Imperial Concubine Min after passing through the corridor and entering the inner hall.

    The first thing she saw was a head of withered, white hair, lifelessly clinging to the ground.

    A thin, sickly woman in white leaned against the bed, her lifeless eyes looking at Luo Xue with surprise.

    Although her appearance was haggard, perhaps due to illness or something else, one could still see traces of her former beauty.

    “That’s good, she didn’t lie to me… your illness… is really cured…”

    Imperial Concubine Min wasn’t depressed by her own condition, but happy to see Luo Xue healthy.

    “Mother Concubine!”

    Even without any memories of this woman, Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache seeing this.

    She quickly walked over, helped Imperial Concubine Min up, and sat her on the bed.

    “It’s good that you’re okay, it’s good that you’re okay…”

    Imperial Concubine Min seemed a bit dazed, just muttering these words repeatedly.

    “I’m… fine.” Luo Xue’s eyes flickered. “You rest first, I’ll go find some medicine for you.”

    As Luo Xue turned to leave, Imperial Concubine Min reached out and grabbed her hand.

    “Don’t go, Xue’er.” Imperial Concubine Min seemed to have regained some clarity, looking at Luo Xue with pleading eyes. “Just… stay here with Mother… okay?”

    “But you’re…”

    Even without any medical knowledge, Luo Xue could sense the weakness of Imperial Concubine Min’s life force, almost extinguished.

    “It’s… no longer necessary.” Imperial Concubine Min shook her head and said slowly, “Xue’er, my time is running out… I shouldn’t bother you, but I was so worried…”

    Luo Xue didn’t speak, but turned around and sat beside Imperial Concubine Min.

    She gently held Imperial Concubine Min’s hand and said softly,

    “Okay, I’m here.”

    “That’s good…”

    A happy expression appeared on Imperial Concubine Min’s face, but in this cold palace, it seemed even more desolate and painful.

    “Xue’er, do you know?” Imperial Concubine Min looked intently at Luo Xue, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes. “Do you know… why Mother named you ‘Xue’?”

    Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, then said,

    “Father said it was because of the auspicious snow that fell the year I was born…”

    “Yes, that’s the reason I gave him.” Imperial Concubine Min murmured softly. “But actually, it was to commemorate an old friend…”

    “An old friend?”

    Luo Xue was stunned.

    A bad premonition suddenly arose within her.

    Imperial Concubine Min, still lost in memories, said faintly,

    “This old friend’s name was…”

    “Luo Xue.”

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 245

    Chapter 245: Not Sweet

    Although he had declared that all the plundered wealth would be confiscated, Paul, harboring ulterior motives, secretly stashed away a portion for himself.

    The sweeping raid went unhindered by the Pope, as if she were oblivious to it.

    The residents of Alaye were filled with resentment, fearing the rebel army’s blade would fall upon them.

    They had initially believed that the rebels represented their interests, but they soon realized that the rebels only cared about their own gains. Their goals were completely different.

    Anxious and fearful, they prayed for someone to step forward and take control, even if it were the Empress. At the very least, their lives would be spared.

    The situation in Alaye was changing too rapidly. They feared that someone might lose their mind and perform a terrifying sacrifice, dragging everyone down with them.

    Similar events had happened before, just not in Alaye.

    Many people stayed up all night, unable to sleep peacefully. As soon as they lay down, they would hear exaggerated cries for help.

    It was truly terrible. The Temple had become a chaotic mess.

    By seven in the morning, the rebel army had completed another round of purging. Paul returned to his seat and started writing his report. Huallomen and the others, sitting below him, were also writing their reports, creating a comical scene.

    The eighth-rank bishop, the only true rebel among them, had been excluded from the core group. He was the one doing all the dirty work.

    Although he sensed something was amiss, he never thought that everyone else was on the Pope’s side. It was too absurd.

    Paul sent his completed report to the “Pope” via magic letter and then sent messengers to the Cardinals who were rushing to Alaye, extending an olive branch.

    He promised them promotions and raises once he became the Pope. He also highlighted the strength of their forces, making it seem like all the notable Cardinals in the Temple had pledged allegiance to him.

    Many hesitated. They had heard of this Holy Son, but their impression was that he was just an ordinary Holy Son with rebellious intentions.

    They hadn’t expected Paul to become the leader of the rebel army in the blink of an eye. The situation was truly unpredictable.

    After some deliberation, some Cardinals first accepted the Temple’s summons and entered Alaye, then found an opportunity to sneak away and join the rebel army.

    This number wasn’t small, accounting for over forty percent of the arriving Cardinals.

    For a moment, Paul’s power seemed unprecedentedly strong. If all of this were true, he could indeed threaten the Pope’s position.

    Unfortunately, it was all an illusion. The one truly “illuminating” the land from above was Kailun.

    For some reason, Paul wanted to see Harry again, but he could only return after completing his mission.

    Thankfully, his strength had reached an unprecedented level, now equivalent to two and a half ordinary ninth-rank mages. Suppressing Charles wouldn’t be a problem.

    Perhaps sensing Paul’s gaze, Charles looked up and met his eyes. “Don’t have any unnecessary thoughts. Both “he” and I are watching you.”

    The “he” he referred to was the Pope. As rebels, they couldn’t mention her name directly.

    “What are you talking about? You’ve misunderstood. I just wanted to ask if you’re hungry. After we take down the Papal Palace, I’ll treat you all to a feast.” Paul said casually.

    Charles returned his attention to his report. “Sure, I’ll sit at the kids’ table.”

    …….

    “The Cardinals will arrive in Alaye in a few hours. It’s estimated that over half of them will join the rebel army.”

    In a spacious living room, Helena reported the latest data to Kailun.

    Over the past day, Kailun had recovered from his mental exhaustion with Afra’s help and was now back to his normal state.

    He had further refined his plan, and all that remained was to tie up loose ends.

    “Speaking of which, does the Pope want to personally deal with those rebels?”

    Kailun looked down at Meggie Liran, who was peeling an apple for him.

    “Snap!”

    Meggie Liran cut the peeled apple in half.

    She was furious.

    She had witnessed the Temple falling apart under Kailun’s manipulation, unaware that Paul and the others were still under his control.

    Deep down, she still held onto a sliver of hope, hoping that Charles and the others had realized that Kailun was a fake and that the rebellion was a ploy to rescue her.

    But she also knew that it was just wishful thinking. Everyone was playing according to Kailun’s script. Even her more loyal subordinates had been tricked into signing new contracts under his influence.

    Although the previous contracts still held some power, those people couldn’t reach her anymore.

    Seeing that Meggie Liran didn’t reply, Kailun continued, “You can’t even peel an apple properly. You’re truly useless. You should know that I won’t stay in Alaye for long, so I still need a proxy Pope. I originally planned to give you this position, but now it seems I’ll have to reconsider.”

    Kailun walked over to Meggie Liran, took half of the apple, and ate it. He turned to Helena. “Helena, do you have any suitable candidates?”

    Helena glanced at Meggie Liran and then at Kailun. She pointed at herself. “How about me?”

    Kailun chuckled.

    Helena sighed. “I think Chrissy is a good choice. She’s familiar with the Temple’s affairs and should be able to complete any task you assign her.”

    “That probably won’t work. Chrissy needs to stay by my side. I’ll be taking her back to the Xiya Kingdom. But your suggestion reminded me of my wine server, Queen Rose. I’m sure she’s getting impatient.”

    Kailun deliberately brought up Rose.

    Whether Rose was truly suitable was irrelevant. His main goal was to pressure Meggie Liran.

    Surely the proud Meggie Liran wouldn’t allow a mere wine server to ascend to the position of Pope, right?

    As expected, Meggie Liran’s expression became conflicted and pained after Kailun mentioned Rose.

    Unfortunately, this pain was far from despair. Otherwise, Kailun might have taken it a step further.

    Based on his understanding of Meggie Liran, the only way to completely break her and maximize her goodwill rating was through Chrissy. However, having given up once, Kailun naturally wouldn’t try again.

    Meggie Liran cut the remaining half of the apple into several pieces. “Appointing someone unfamiliar with the Temple as Pope will only harm everyone.”

    “It doesn’t matter. I don’t need a powerful Temple. I need a powerful force under my control that can do my bidding. Does Your Holiness understand?”

    Kailun took another piece of apple and ate it. “But I’m also willing to give you a chance. It depends on whether you want to change. Last night, Chrissy was lying in my arms, saying good things about you. She said you’re capable of handling great responsibilities. Do you know how much Chrissy has sacrificed to ensure you have warm food and decent treatment?”

    He took a larger piece of apple from the plate and forcefully stuffed it into Meggie Liran’s mouth.

    “Mmm~”

    Meggie Liran put down the fruit knife and struggled against his actions, her mouth stretched wide by the large piece of apple.

    “Uncomfortable, right? It should be uncomfortable. This is Chrissy’s daily routine. Now you know how much she has sacrificed for you?”

    Kailun released his hand and pushed the hesitant Meggie Liran again.

    He needed someone obedient, not someone who constantly plotted against him.

    “Let’s go, Helena. It’s time to meet the bishops working in various kingdoms.” Kailun stretched and led Helena out of the room.

    After a while, Chrissy entered the room and walked behind Meggie Liran, patting her back. “Kailun is truly despicable. I’ll talk to him tonight and ask him not to bully you anymore. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I should have made it clear beforehand.”

    Meggie Liran wiped her mouth, swallowing the apple. “You don’t have to comfort me. I’m not an idiot. I know what he wants. I can see that he wants to control everything, that he’s waiting for me to submit. In the past, I would rather die than bow to him, but seeing you suffer like this is unbearable.”

    She sighed and continued, “Don’t worry about me. I know what I have to do. I just need some time. Both you and the Temple need me. I won’t break down in front of Kailun. The demon can’t defeat me. He can only make me stronger.”

    Hearing Meggie Liran’s self-analysis, Chrissy smiled meaningfully. “Okay, I’ll listen to you. I hope we can fight alongside each other one day, that we can go back to how things were before.”

    Meggie Liran smiled. “Yes.”

    ……

    That afternoon, Kailun, disguised as the Pope, clashed with the rebel army several times. Both sides were mainly testing each other and didn’t engage in a full-fledged battle.

    The remaining bishops had all arrived in Alaye and chosen their sides. Through the gathered intelligence, Kailun obtained a precise list of those who needed to be dealt with.

    He glanced at it. About four-fifths of the bishops had to be eliminated. It was safe to say that the Temple was rotten to the core.

    If it weren’t for their powerful military might, they would have been overthrown long ago.

    Kailun sent the list to Charles and Paul for review, asking them to separate the people on the list. When the time came, he would let the “tumors” on both sides fight each other.

    It would be a real battle, but the only casualties would be these expendable “tumors.”

    It was worth mentioning that the Empress had sent another invitation, asking Kailun to join her for lunch.

    Yes, the Empress’s second invitation specifically mentioned Kailun’s name, not the Pope’s.

    This meant that she knew the current Pope wasn’t Meggie Liran, but Kailun.

    Kailun naturally accepted the Empress’s invitation.

    But before that, he had a special visitor.

    After dinner, Kailun was alone in the library, studying high-level magic books. Meggie Liran walked in with a plate of fruit and sat down across from him.

    Facing his puzzled look, she asked directly, “What do you want me to do to get the Pope’s position back… I mean, the position of acting Pope will do.”

    After spending some time together, the Pope had clearly figured out Kailun’s temperament. Being forceful would only excite him.

    Meggie Liran wanted to change. She couldn’t remain stagnant.

    She had lost Chrissy, lost the position of Pope, lost the prestige she had accumulated over the years… If this continued, she would only lose more.

    She wanted to bite Kailun to death, but she couldn’t. The slave collar around her neck had turned her into an ordinary person.

    If it weren’t for Chrissy, Meggie Liran might have gone to extremes. A fight to the death would have been the natural outcome.

    But it was Chrissy’s existence that stopped her from going down that path, giving her a glimmer of hope, allowing her to deceive herself into lowering her proud head before Kailun.

    “Your Holiness, you still don’t understand. It’s not about what I want you to do, but what you want to do. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

    Kailun glanced at her and then returned his attention to the magic book.

    Women would only hinder his learning progress. Meggie Liran alone couldn’t excite him. Perhaps with Chrissy, it would be different.

    After all, with Chrissy’s addition, Meggie Liran would gain a new identity: a young and pure mother.

    It was a bit strange, but definitely stimulating.

    In terms of figure, Meggie Liran was superior. She had everything Chrissy had, but the former was more youthful and lively, while the latter was mature and sophisticated.

    Meggie Liran had a stronger aura of authority, which might add a sense of conquest.

    When she looked up just now, Kailun noticed that she had changed into a new outfit, probably her usual Pope attire.

    Grand, dignified, and luxurious. The pure white color made her look holy and inviolable. If she used white light to create a hazy effect, her charm might even increase further.

    His rich experience sparked many interesting ideas in his mind. The once intriguing magic now seemed dull.

    As expected, women really did affect his learning speed.

    He looked up again and saw Meggie Liran, her expression conflicted. “I don’t know what to do. Chrissy just told me to change into my usual clothes and come see you. She said you would teach me the rest.”

    Kailun: “Teach you what?”

    Meggie Liran looked at the fresh fruit on the table. “She didn’t say what to teach. She only said you would feed me fruit.”

    Kailun chuckled. “So you brought a plate of fruit to see me?”

    Meggie Liran’s expression was awkward. “Uh… yes.”

    “Hahaha, you’re so interesting.”

    Kailun laughed heartily, not caring about his image. He wondered if the Pope was truly clueless or just pretending.

    He felt it was probably the latter. This was a form of self-deception. She was still unwilling to face reality.

    He remembered she had once told him, “If you want my body, come and take it yourself.” Now, it would be difficult for her to admit defeat voluntarily.

    “Forget it, I’ll fulfill your wish to be fed today.”

    Kailun pointed under the table. “Come closer, like last time. And remember to bring a few bananas.”

    “Can I sit next to you?”

    Meggie Liran looked troubled. She didn’t want to kneel under the table. She was the Pope, not a dog.

    Kailun smiled gently. “Of course… not. If you’re unwilling, you can go back. I have to cherish my reading time. There’s still a difficult character waiting for me to deal with.”

    He had almost finished reading the Temple’s high-level magic books, and his strength had further increased.

    Now, the existing magic circles couldn’t contain his vast sea of mana. He could only allocate the excess attributes to other areas.

    He wanted to create magic that defied common sense, but he lacked the experience.

    “I… alright.”

    Meggie Liran cursed silently. She grabbed two bananas and walked over to Kailun.

    He extended his right hand and gestured for her to stay below.

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    She resisted the urge to run away, and the urge to tear him apart, and reluctantly crouched down, crawling under the table.

    As a “mother” who had regained Chrissy’s trust, she couldn’t bear to see her suffer alone. She wanted to share the burden of fate’s injustice with her.

    Even though it was painful, she had no other choice.

    Was there any way to deal with Kailun?

    She felt that no one could suppress that demon anymore.

    She had given up, completely given up.

    “Thud!”

    She knelt under the table, her knees aching.

    “It seems Your Holiness has made up her mind this time.”

    Kailun took a banana from her hand and peeled it slowly. “I’m actually quite reasonable. As long as you behave today and sign a new contract, I can make you the acting Pope. The term can be one month, or even a hundred years. What do you think?”

    They had signed a contract before, acknowledging Kailun’s authority as acting Pope. But that contract had many loopholes. Even after the one-month term expired, it wouldn’t affect him.

    Meggie Liran hadn’t expected things to come to this. Now, she was the one being restricted by Kailun.

    Meggie Liran: “Compared to the promise of being the acting Pope, I hope you can treat Chrissy well and stop bullying her. She’s a good girl. It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, she might be living a happy and carefree life.”

    Kailun brought the peeled banana to her lips. “That’s not certain. I think she’s very happy and fulfilled every day. You can’t imagine her happiness.”

    “Hmph!” Meggie Liran snorted and took a large bite of the banana.

    The “feeding” was still relatively normal for now. But soon, Kailun made a new request. “Close your eyes.”

    Meggie Liran closed her eyes without hesitation. Unable to change reality, she had resigned herself to her fate.

    But that wasn’t all. Kailun made more requests: take smaller bites, use your tongue more, occasionally nibble with your teeth… countless strange requests.

    Meggie Liran obeyed like a puppet, not even caring when a piece of fruit fell onto her ample bosom.

    After finishing the first banana, Kailun fed her the second one. The process was slow.

    Fortunately, the taste was good, and Meggie Liran could barely tolerate it.

    After an unknown amount of time, she finished the second banana, and Kailun brought her a third one. But this one was scorching hot.

    “Not sweet…”

    Meggie Liran licked it.

  • The Saintess Has A Showdown 167-168

    Chapter 167: The Tyrant Nether Empress, Upheaval in the Sea Region

    “For a thousand years, I’ve pondered a single question.”

    “How can humanity possibly defeat a legendary being?”

    Above the Pool of Hidden Secrets palace, a woman in a dark robe stood in the air, a violent spirit energy, like a bottomless abyss, swirling around her.

    The Nether Empress gazed at the endless azure sky, realizing she could no longer recall the color of the sky from a thousand years ago.

    A thousand years frozen in ice… How long, how distant, how painful, how agonizing. In the mortal world, countless dynasties would have risen and fallen. Even for a Spirit Master in the Sea Region, it was an unimaginable length of time.

    Defeating a legendary being?

    It sounded like a distant dream.

    The life level of a legendary being was on a completely different plane!

    The limit for human Spirit Masters and Saint-rank spirit beasts was the Sun and Moon Realm. Throughout history, no non-legendary being had ever surpassed it. It was the ultimate peak of evolution for ordinary life.

    However, the realm of legendary beings was different. They could reach even greater heights!

    A realm unseen by humans, unattainable by humans, unnamable by humans.

    Having never reached it, they couldn’t even comprehend it.

    Legendary beings were born above mortals, human efforts as insignificant as dust.

    There was no such thing as fairness in this world. The stars in the sky varied in brightness, the mountains and seas rose and fell. Those who sought to reach the realm of legends would only find despair.

    “Phew~~~”

    The woman loosened her long, black hair, exhaling a frosty mist, her eyes darkening.

    After a thousand years of contemplation, she was finally close to the answer…

    The Snow Monarch. This grudge, this hatred, she would have her revenge!

    Whoosh—

    A black vortex of water, like swirling ink, erupted behind the black-haired woman, engulfing the surrounding area.

    The azure sky was instantly painted a dark, oppressive black, a terrifying aura approaching.

    A few seconds later, several graceful figures emerged from the black vortex.

    Their bodies alluring, their appearances stunning, their auras terrifyingly powerful.

    Nine girls, dressed in strange attire, looked around curiously, their faces filled with wonder, like monkeys entering a bustling city for the first time.

    All of them wore the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ distinctive black robes, the character [Nether] emblazoned on their backs.

    “Is this the real world? The sky and the ocean are so beautiful!!”

    “That woman passing by is so pretty!!!”

    “Eh, why are there so many low-rank spirit beast auras?”

    “Heh, I heard that outside Spirit Masters treat spirit beasts as friends and don’t just burn them for food.”

    “By the way, Ancestor, is the Snow Monarch really that strong? Could it really freeze you for a thousand years with a single breath!?” The girls chattered excitedly. One of them tugged on the black-haired woman’s skirt.

    “A single breath…?”

    The black-haired woman’s expression turned distant. That hadn’t been a casual breath.

    After breaking free from the ice, what puzzled her most was this: how had the Sea Region survived?

    Day and night, every moment, whenever she recalled the Snow Monarch’s fury, she shuddered, her body drenched in a cold sweat.

    Because of a mere Frost Snow Woman, a legendary being had been enraged to that extent?!

    And yet, the Snow Monarch, in its fury, hadn’t destroyed the Sea Region?

    Yes, if the Snow Monarch had truly unleashed its power, it could have frozen the entire Sea Region with a single breath. That… hadn’t even been an attack. Something had forced it to suppress its power and rage, limiting its attack to the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

    There must have been something else in the Sea Region at that time, something that had stayed the Snow Monarch’s hand…

    The answer to defeating the Snow Monarch… must lie within this mystery!

    “…”
    “…”

    Just then, a girl covered in black, crescent moon tattoos abruptly opened her eyes, her chilling gaze fixed on a distant point.

    “Ancestor, I sense four Sun and Moon Realm Spirit Masters approaching. They must be envoys from the Sea Region factions.”

    “Very well. You may begin, Nine Nethers.”

    As the Nether Empress spoke, the nine girls vanished instantly.

    Like black meteors, they streaked across the sky towards various locations in the Sea Region, sonic booms echoing in their wake.

    At the same time, four women with cold, elegant auras entered the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ territory.

    The Ice Empress of the Ice Shield Palace.

    Shui Yingge, the Water Emperor of the Sea Concubine Palace.

    The Jade Emperor of the Cold Court.

    The leader of the Sea Region Alliance, from the Winter Floating Sky.

    They didn’t stop the departing girls. Their attention was focused on the black-haired woman.

    This woman radiated an incredibly powerful spirit energy, beyond their comprehension.

    This was a being from a thousand years ago, the Nether Empress of the Pool of Hidden Secrets…

    Before the four women could speak, the Nether Empress shook her head, her expression cold. What were these insignificant creatures?

    After a thousand years, had the Sea Region declined to the point where they no longer even had Sun and Moon Realm experts? Only these… flickering stars remained.

    “Nether Empress, could you tell us the purpose of those nine girls?”

    The leader of the Sea Region Alliance, from the Winter Floating Sky, asked anxiously. She had noticed their destinations seemed… strategic.

    Based on their trajectories, they were heading towards the Winter Floating Sky, the Cold Court, the Sea Concubine Palace, the Ice Shield Palace, the Water Wish Pavilion, the Tide Pavilion, the Azure Stream Palace, the Snow Fairy Mansion, and the Jade Pot Palace, the nine major powers of the Sea Region.

    The four Emperors exchanged uneasy glances.

    The black-haired woman, her beautiful face expressionless, her deep eyes filled with indifference, slowly spoke.

    “Before we talk, I must first assess whether the current Sea Region is even worthy of conversing with me.”

    “Let’s see how many of your factions can withstand the Nine Nethers.”

    “As for those who cannot… consider them casualties of a random spirit beast attack.”

    “…”

    “What?!?!”

    The four women’s faces hardened.

    Such arrogance, challenging all the Sea Region factions the moment she emerged?

    And if a faction couldn’t defeat one of those girls, she would simply… annihilate them?

    Chapter 168: Trick Gong Lianyue into Bed 100 Times in One Night?

    The Nine Nethers, dispatched by the Nether Empress of the Pool of Hidden Secrets, were wreaking havoc across the Sea Region, targeting its major powers.

    Having lost the protection of their Sun and Moon Realm experts, the Sea Region was about to face an unprecedented catastrophe.

    However, at this very moment…

    Tens of thousands of kilometers away from the Sea Concubine Palace, deep within the Sea Region, lay the territory of the Snow Fairy Mansion.

    …

    Snow Fairy Mansion, Snow Plume City

    Snow Plume City, the most prosperous city within the Snow Fairy Mansion’s territory, attracted countless Spirit Masters every year, seeking leisure and relaxation.

    Perpetually covered in snow, the city was a vast expanse of white, the temperature bitterly cold.

    Unlike the tense atmosphere of the outer regions, there were no resource wars or power struggles here, only peace and laughter.

    It was like a… beach resort… from Gong Lianyue’s previous life.

    The young Spirit Masters here dressed… skimpily, their beauty renowned throughout the Sea Region.

    The colder the weather, the less they wore.

    “Phew~~~~”

    Inside a large, snow bear-drawn carriage, a blue-haired girl with striking makeup exhaled a puff of frosty air.

    She wore a short, white skirt, her soft blue hair styled in a bun, her slender, milky-white legs incredibly smooth and delicate, inviting a… certain kind of attention.

    Squeezed inside the five-person carriage, Gong Lianyue felt a little nervous.

    This was the first time she had dressed like this, the first time wearing a skirt that didn’t reach her knees. It felt… drafty.

    Although uncomfortable, this was the fashion in the inner regions of the Sea Region. You wouldn’t find a single Spirit Master in a robe here. It would be considered out of place.

    Thanks to this… peculiar custom, the Snow Fairy Mansion was among the weakest factions in the Sea Region, second only to the Jade Pot Palace, which had defected from the Storm Realm.

    Gong Lianyue was determined to keep her identity a secret!

    If anyone discovered that the Sorrowful Saintess was secretly dressed like this… her reputation would be ruined!

    Ever since the Ice Soul Cold Star had released the seal on her body, Gong Lianyue’s figure had become… distractingly alluring.

    Longer legs, larger breasts, a more mature and beautiful face…

    Her appearance had captivated the other four girls in the carriage, the most… enthusiastic… of them practically drooling.

    After a long, awkward silence, a girl with braided hair finally spoke.

    “Um, are you also heading to Loving Heart Spring Station?”

    “Loving Heart Spring Station…?”

    Gong Lianyue paused, then nodded blankly.

    She vaguely remembered seeing that name somewhere in the information she had gathered.

    Her dazed expression delighted the other girls. With her naive, village girl appearance, they could easily trick her into bed a hundred times in one night.

    “What’s your name, little sister?” a cute girl with twintails asked.

    “Shui Qingyue,” the “village girl” Gong Lianyue replied honestly.

    “We’re all apprentice members of the Snow Fairy Mansion, going to Loving Heart Spring for our qualification exam. Are you just sightseeing?”

    “Mm…”

    Hearing the smugness in the twintailed girl’s voice, Gong Lianyue didn’t have the heart to correct her.

    The Snow Fairy Mansion’s Spirit Masters did hold a high status within the inner regions, attracting numerous gold diggers, creating a rather… unsavory atmosphere.

    Simply by revealing their affiliation with the Snow Fairy Mansion, they could easily find… companionship…

    Seeing Shui Qingyue’s indifferent expression, the twintailed girl was disappointed.

    Truly a clueless village girl, not even understanding the prestige of the Snow Fairy Mansion!

    The girls from the Snow Fairy Mansion began to chat amongst themselves.

    “Last time I had dinner with the Saintess, I heard she’s been trying to subdue Loving Heart Spring for three years, dressing up and offering tributes every day, but it hasn’t responded.”

    “I heard from Elder Xueyi’s private tutoring class that the Saintess’s current state of mind isn’t mature enough. If she advances further, she might be able to subdue Loving Heart Spring.”

    “But if the Saintess subdues Loving Heart Spring, no one will come to visit anymore! My family’s carriage business will go bankrupt!!”

    “Yeah, yeah, my family’s inn near Loving Heart Spring will also go out of business!!”

    As the four girls chatted, their gazes kept drifting towards the blue-haired girl.

    Gong Lianyue, however, was lost in thought, completely missing their pointed remarks, much to their annoyance.

    Loving Heart Spring, a high-rank, elemental, mysterious-type spirit beast.

    It was said that this spirit beast could make two strangers fall in love.

    Loving Heart Spring resided in the central area of Snow Plume City. Having remained unsubdued for hundreds of years, it had become a popular tourist attraction.

    The Pure Saintess of the Snow Fairy Mansion, determined to subdue it, had spent three years dressing up and offering tributes, but to no avail.

    This wasn’t surprising…

    The Pure Saintess was unsuitable…

    No, the entire Snow Fairy Mansion was clueless!

    The information on wild Saint-ranks provided by the Sea Concubine Palace clearly stated:

    [Saint-rank, Weapon-type, Attachment Type – Sacred Water (Lover)]

    [Usually disguised as the high-rank Loving Heart Spring, residing in the Snow Fairy Mansion’s territory. Purpose and reason unknown. Favorite food: Water Tangerine Peach.]

    [Shui Yingge, the current Palace Master of the Sea Concubine Palace, attempted to subdue it seven years ago, but after insulting its appearance, negotiations broke down, and she resorted to violence, injuring it.]

    [Since then, Lover disappears whenever it senses a Sea Concubine Palace member, seemingly a display of… human-like sulking.]

    After reading this information, Gong Lianyue was speechless.

    A hidden Saint-rank right under their noses, and the Snow Fairy Mansion was completely oblivious!

    And yet, the Sea Concubine Palace, tens of thousands of kilometers away, knew the truth about Loving Heart Spring…

    In that case, she wouldn’t be so polite as to refuse this gift.

    A Spirit Master could only summon a limited number of spirit beasts at once. Blindly pursuing powerful, offensive types wasn’t always the best strategy.

    It was like playing a game without support or healers, a team of damage dealers charging in, only to be instantly wiped out by the boss.

    This was why, among the three wild Saint-ranks, Gong Lianyue had chosen Sacred Water, Lover.

    The other two water-type offensive spirit beasts couldn’t replace the Ice Soul Cold Star. Contracting with them would only waste a valuable slot.