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  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c9

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 9 People Can Be Down-to-Earth, But Not…Down-to-Earth

    Simply put, Yan City treated Luo Yan as “a person possessing dangerous power,” and all their measures stemmed from this understanding.

    Lannister, however, regarded Luo Yan as the dangerous power itself, constantly trying its best to avoid contact, lest the “bomb” explode uncontrollably within the city.

    In this accidental encounter… even Norian was constantly breaking out in a cold sweat.

    He was afraid.

    But he wasn’t afraid of his own death; he was afraid of the consequences that Luo Yan’s contact with Lannister might bring.

    This caution wasn’t a problem, because Norian was responsible for the entire city.

    But for Luo Yan herself… it was a little uncomfortable.

    “Actually, there’s no need to worry too much. I know my own situation.” Luo Yan smiled gently, her gaze distant.

    “I was far more dangerous in Yan City… At that time, I was on the verge of losing control. If it weren’t for Nine and One saving me with their lives, I’m afraid I would have had no choice but to go to the depths of the Endless Wasteland.”

    The destination for every demonically infected person, every God’s Chosen, was the depths of the Endless Wasteland.

    From beginning to end, the only thing that could seal the out-of-control body of a demonically infected person was One’s Ice Coffin; there was nothing else.

    If it could be replicated, the other Misters of Dawn wouldn’t have met such tragic ends, one after another.

    Norian was silent for a moment. His views wouldn’t be so easily changed by Luo Yan’s few words.

    For Lannister, he wasn’t willing to take the slightest risk. This was the city he loved, the work of his life.

    So he could only remain silent, even though Luo Yan’s words made sense.

    “Of course, since I am a guest, I will abide by Lannister’s rules,” Luo Yan naturally saw Norian’s attitude. “I’ll return to the apartment shortly. I’ll trouble Magistrate Norian to send someone to take me back.”

    “It’s best that you can understand our difficulties.” Norian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then his expression became slightly serious again. “As for the person who illegally entered the restricted zone and secretly spied on you, Lannister will do its utmost to find them.”

    “Thank you.”

    Luo Yan nodded.

    After the serious matters were discussed, Norian finally couldn’t help but ask the question he had been curious about since Luo Yan revealed her identity,

    “By the way… aren’t you a girl? Why are you now…”

    “It’s a Life Hack.”

    Luo Yan said seriously, her expression solemn, not at all like she was joking.

    But just like everyone who heard Luo Yan say this for the first time, Norian’s expression was one of “Are you kidding me?”

    “It’s just the application of a mental ability.” Luo Yan slightly loosened the influence on Norian’s perception, and the familiar silver-haired girl reappeared in his vision. “Look, it’s very convenient to use.”

    Norian inconspicuously looked away, avoiding eye contact with Luo Yan, and said,

    “However, Miss Luo Yan, since you don’t intend to hide your identity, why did you appear at the banquet in this appearance?”

    If Luo Yan hadn’t told Norian her name, he would never have imagined that this handsome black-haired young man and the mysterious girl he picked up from the forest outside the city were actually the same person.

    If she really wanted to hide her identity, she just needed to not reveal her name.

    “It was my request.” Hua Qingling, who had been quiet all this time, spoke up. “With Miss Luo Yan’s appearance, it would be easy to cause a sensation at the banquet… So, I asked her to change her appearance.”

    “It doesn’t really matter.”

    Luo Yan shrugged. Anyway, she had Life Hacks, and at most, she could just increase the distortion a little.

    Indeed, Hua Qingling wasn’t eye-catching, but that didn’t mean Luo Yan was the same. In terms of appearance, Hua Qingling was far inferior to Luo Yan.

    Regarding Luo Yan’s appearance, back in Yan City, Hua Qingling’s sister, Hua Qiling, and Anna had both given the assessment that “even Miss Chris pales in comparison.”

    In fact, this was still the result of Luo Yan deliberately suppressing her abilities. Back in Ghost Town, when she hadn’t suppressed her abilities, it had directly resulted in all those who looked at her suffering mental damage.

    For such a stunningly beautiful girl with no background to appear at a high-profile banquet, it was hard to imagine the consequences.

    Needless to say, there would definitely be no shortage of noble young men trying to strike up conversations, and there might even be some nobles with dirty minds who would have malicious intentions. Norian didn’t doubt their lack of morals.

    Therefore, Norian was quite frightened after hearing this and secretly marveled at Hua Qingling’s thoughtfulness, raising his opinion of her even higher.

    This young lady was very sensible!

    …However, it would be even better if she were a little more sensible and hadn’t brought Luo Yan out of the restricted zone.

    Of course, this was impossible. Norian knew after a little thought that Luo Yan’s decision to leave the apartment must have something to do with the discovery of being monitored.

    Since things had come to this, he could only leave it at that.

    “Granny Zoya has already set off to investigate this matter at your residence. So, Miss Luo Yan, please rest here for a while, and Granny Zoya will take you back when she returns.”

    Norian quickly made arrangements. He agreed with Luo Yan’s words, but he absolutely couldn’t relax his caution.

    If possible, Norian didn’t want Luo Yan to leave the area under Lannister’s control, not even an inch.

    He really regretted not strongly rejecting the Saint at that time… although the result might not have been any different.

    Norian had lamented this in his heart more than once, but now this feeling was even stronger.

    “Mm, I’ll stay here obediently.”

    Luo Yan nodded, looking quite docile.

    Just then, the grand banquet was about to begin, and all the nobles had arrived.

    Among them were some excessively young faces filled with excitement and nervousness. They were basically the outstanding young talents personally invited by Granny Zoya, subtly forming two separate circles with the nobles.

    Count Spencer gave a speech on stage, melodious music drifting through the hall, played live by a classical orchestra from Noah.

    The long and tedious opening speech was coming to an end, and it was time for Norian to appear.

    Even though Norian hated this cumbersome etiquette, this was, after all, the nobles’ home ground, and since he didn’t intend to fall out with them, he could only comply.

    “Ladies, I must take my leave. May you two… oh, no, Miss Hua Qingling, may you have a pleasant time at this banquet.”

    Then Norian looked at Luo Yan, giving her a meaningful glance,

    “—As for Miss Luo Yan, I can only say that I hope when you visit Lannister again in the future… it will be as an ordinary guest.”

    “…Perhaps.”

    After this brief conversation ended, Norian hurriedly left the bar counter.

    At the same time, many enthusiastic gazes were still lingering on Hua Qingling… Luo Yan, rather unkindly, increased the distortion. Even if someone consciously looked at her, their gaze would shift away.

    But this situation didn’t last long. Soon, these restless Lannister nobles were attracted by another figure who suddenly appeared.

    “It’s Miss Chris! Miss Chris has really come…”

    “It’s rare for Magistrate Norian to attend, and there’s also Miss Chris’s appearance… This banquet is worth it!”

    “Wuwuwu, Miss Chris… take me away… I want to be your dog…”

    There seemed to be some strange words mixed in.

    However, Luo Yan now understood why Chris had been dressed like that when she saw her outside the venue earlier.

    Compared to Hua Qingling, who might only have aroused Magistrate Norian’s slight interest, Miss Chris’s status was obviously more important.

    “Miss Chris seems to be really popular.”

    Luo Yan craned her neck, but still couldn’t see Chris among the moving heads.

    “Not seems, Miss Chris is a top star in the Free Federation, and she’s very rich.” Hua Qingling said with emotion,

    “The place where she treated me to a meal wasn’t particularly delicious, but the prices were so expensive that I wanted to dig a hole and escape. But she ordered everything without batting an eye, without even asking what I wanted to eat. I was so scared I thought it was a scam.”

    Sis, I know you have no image anymore, but please pay attention to your language as a lady…

    As soon as there were no outsiders present, Hua Qingling immediately let loose, making Luo Yan even more certain that this person was indeed Hua Qiling’s older sister.

    Luo Yan touched her chin. She suddenly thought of Chris’s inexplicable hostility towards her earlier, and Hua Qingling’s descriptions,

    “Why… the more I listen, the more I feel like you two are having an affair. Even if it was for buying clothes, there was no need to treat you to a meal, right?”

    “What are you thinking? She just admired my work, I could tell.” Hua Qingling said proudly, hands on her hips. “When I put on the sample for her to see, her eyes were glued to it.

    “Besides, that was the first time I met Miss Chris; we had no interaction before that.”

    “Really?” Luo Yan asked suspiciously. “Could you have remembered wrong?”

    “Heh, Miss Luo Yan, I can see you don’t understand at all,” Hua Qingling tsked. “If Miss Chris were just a popular idol, that would be one thing, but she has another identity.

    “The second daughter of the Lequista family, one of the candidates for the next head of the family… Although it’s highly likely she’s just a backup, it’s enough to show her noble status, even Norian has to take her seriously.”

    Seeing that Luo Yan still looked puzzled, Hua Qingling continued to explain,

    “The Lequista family is one of the ten families that founded Noah with the Saint, and also one of the only three Noah families that have survived to this day.

    “Her ancestors built the city with the Saint. What qualifications do I have to know her? We wouldn’t even use the same toilet!”

    “Sister Qingling, I know you’re trying to illustrate the difference in status, but please change your analogy… Let me keep my last bit of impression of you.”

    Forget about a knowledgeable older sister or something, she was at least a prodigy with the potential to reach “Destruction” level, why did she talk like this in private?

    But it was also understandable. Compared to being a young lady from a prominent family, Hua Qingling had been traveling outside all these years, and the people she interacted with were mostly adventurers and the like.

    Being down-to-earth didn’t seem so incomprehensible anymore…

    “You’ve already seen everything about me, so whatever.” Hua Qingling waved her hand, looking like she had given up.

    “I only know Miss Chris because I make good clothes. She even offered to hire me full-time to make clothes for her, and the salary she offered almost made me kneel.”

    “You didn’t agree?”

    Luo Yan blinked. After Hua Qingling’s persona collapsed, she also learned about this older sister’s extreme lack of money.

    “No, I left Yan City… because I have more important things to do,” Hua Qingling’s expression suddenly became a little serious. “For the future of Yan City, I must keep moving forward… But thinking about all that salary gone, it still hurts.”

    …Originally, in Luo Yan’s mind, Hua Qingling was a strong person traveling everywhere. Now she had gradually become the image of a poor worker wandering around looking for jobs.

    Of course, this was just Hua Qingling’s way of recounting these experiences in a more lighthearted manner. She was indeed imitating the Saint who established the title system, traveling around and growing.

    Not just in combat, Hua Qingling was using her own eyes to observe everything in the New Era of humanity, the achievements of the major mega-cities, thinking about where Yan City’s future should lie.

    Looking at Hua Qingling’s tearful expression, an almost imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of Luo Yan’s mouth.

    “Sister Qingling, since you’re here to attend this banquet, you shouldn’t stay here with me all the time.” Luo Yan said softly. “This is a precious opportunity; the entire upper class of Lannister is gathered here.”

    Hua Qingling shouldered a lot; she shouldn’t stop moving forward for her sake.

    “But you…”

    Hua Qingling hesitated.

    “Do you think I’m a child who can’t leave her parents, Sister Qingling?” Luo Yan raised her glass and smiled. “Or is it that, like Magistrate Norian, you think I’m dangerous and can’t leave your sight?”

    “Of course not. Although Magistrate Norian’s words are not unreasonable, I’m more inclined to believe what happened in Yan City.”

    Hua Qingling shook her head and stood up. “Since Miss Luo Yan doesn’t mind, I’ll leave for a while.”

    If she wanted to see the higher-level landscape of Lannister, if she wanted to know how Lannister had developed to its present state… more detailed than any written materials, the answers were hidden within certain individuals at this banquet.

    For example, Magistrate Norian.

    Hua Qingling’s words earlier weren’t just polite; she greatly admired the “Norian Reform.”

    “Remember not to say anything like digging holes in toilets or kneeling again…”

    Luo Yan kindly reminded.

    “…I won’t!”

    ……

    Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous corner of Lannister.

    Dozens of silent figures were crammed into a small, exquisitely decorated suite.

    Most of them were dressed as commoners: porters, cooks, all kinds of professions.

    But what was even more chilling was that some of them… were wearing Lannister official uniforms.

    These people of different identities gathered together, but their eyes all flickered with a similar light.

    Because they were…

    The Church of the End Gods.

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 72

    Chapter 72

    Just as the atmosphere in the office was about to turn romantic, a knock on the locked door startled both of them. Lin Shuangzhi, recovering first, released Li Wan’s hand and went to open the door.

    Li Wan bit her lip, watching Lin Shuangzhi’s back, and quickly smoothed her hair, although her appearance was still impeccable.

    “What is it?” Lin Shuangzhi, seeing it was one of their team members, glanced outside; it was Friday evening, yet many people were still working overtime.

    “Someone from the Finance Channel is here for Sister Li Wan, they said they need to borrow some materials.”

    “Are we collaborating with the Finance Channel on anything recently?”

    Lin Shuangzhi asked this just as Li Wan reached her side.

    “No collaborations, probably older materials.” Li Wan was also a little puzzled, but it was common for colleagues to borrow resources from each other, helping out when needed, nothing unusual.

    Lin Shuangzhi had only asked as a matter of routine, confirming it wasn’t related to their current projects, she didn’t inquire further.

    “Then go ahead, don’t worry about what we were discussing earlier, just focus on your work.” Lin Shuangzhi reassured Li Wan, afraid her fiery temper might escalate the situation.

    The station directors both valued and feared Li Wan and Qin Qianrou, but the restructuring wasn’t entirely up to them. Lin Shuangzhi, caught in the middle, found it difficult, but she wasn’t willing to compromise her principles.

    Li Wan was slightly disappointed by the interruption, but since it was work-related, she couldn’t complain. She followed her colleague back to her office and saw two people from the Finance Channel.

    “What’s going on today, Sister Chen, you came yourself?”

    Sister Chen was a program director at the Finance Channel and had a good relationship with Li Wan. But she was also known for prioritizing her family, she would often skip lunch to save time, but she rarely worked overtime.

    Sister Chen sighed, her face creased with worry. “What choice do I have? I was almost home when they called me back.”

    Li Wan was surprised. “Called you back with just one phone call? It must be something important then.”

    “It’s that Dongsheng Group matter again, I don’t think there’s a single department at the station, besides your team, that doesn’t treat them like royalty now.”

    Dongsheng Group? Li Wan made a mental note, her expression, however, remaining unchanged.

    “I heard you’re planning a series of reports on Dongsheng, has it started already?”

    “Not yet, there’s been a last-minute change. The interview was scheduled for Monday, but Dongsheng’s director couldn’t make it then, so it’s been moved to tonight.”

    Dongsheng’s director? Li Wan seemed to have guessed who it was, but she still feigned ignorance.

    “Which director is so important that it made you come back to work overtime, Sister Chen?”

    “Zhuo Cheng. I’m probably the only one who’s unhappy about this; all the young girls are excited, they refused to leave when they heard he was coming tonight.”

    She pointed to a young woman outside, chatting with a few colleagues, “She even touched up her makeup when she heard Zhuo Cheng was coming.”

    Li Wan glanced at her indifferently, not paying much attention.

    “So, Sister Chen, how can I help?”

    Li Wan opened her computer files, thinking she didn’t have any recent materials on Dongsheng Group, and even if she did, she hadn’t officially reported anything to the station.

    “I’m not borrowing materials, I’m borrowing you.”

    Li Wan looked at her, puzzled. “Borrowing me? Are you short of a managing editor? This is your program, I can’t steal the credit.”

    Sister Chen knew she was joking and didn’t mind. “Director Liu’s family member is sick, he can’t make it tonight, and we need someone to oversee things. So, I thought I’d ask you for a favor.”

    Li Wan really didn’t want to see Zhuo Cheng, but the mention of Dongsheng Group piqued her interest, she wanted to know more, especially with the station’s upcoming restructuring. The sudden promotion of Director Yu from the advertising department to deputy station director was truly unexpected.

    She recalled Shen Yiqiu’s observation of Shao Qidong meeting with Deputy Director Ding and Director Yu privately on the weekend, which was even more suspicious. She suspected that Dongsheng’s substantial investment in advertising was a way to influence the personnel changes.

    If the station was filled with Dongsheng’s people in the future, investigating them would be even more difficult.

    “Alright, I’ll go.”

    Li Wan was known for being straightforward and efficient, and Sister Chen, satisfied, went to inform Lin Shuangzhi.

    “Team Leader Lin, thanks, I’ll treat you to milk tea another time.”

    Lin Shuangzhi looked up from her pile of reports, watching Li Wan leave, her thoughts, however, on Zhuo Cheng.

    A sense of unease settled over her, the reports before her blurring, she couldn’t focus.

    **

    Shortly after Li Wan arrived at the Finance Channel, Zhuo Cheng arrived as well. He looked tired, probably from overwork recently, which explained why he hadn’t been bothering her lately.

    Zhuo Cheng hadn’t expected to see Li Wan here. He was stunned at first, then smiled warmly and greeted her, “Xiao Wan, I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

    Sister Chen was surprised. “Director Zhuo knows Editor Li?”

    Zhuo Cheng nodded, “We’re old friends.”

    Li Wan suppressed her annoyance, if not for giving Sister Chen face, she would have turned and left. Old friends? Hah! Who gave you such confidence, is it that face of yours, stretched taut like a drum?

    Sister Chen was delighted. “That’s wonderful, it’s always easier working with familiar faces.”

    She thought that with them being acquaintances, the recording would go much more smoothly. Hopefully, they could finish early tonight, so she wouldn’t have to come in to work overtime this weekend.

    While the others prepared for the recording, Zhuo Cheng walked over to Li Wan and said softly, “How have you been lately? I was abroad recently, so I couldn’t contact you.”

    Li Wan didn’t look at him, her arms crossed as she observed the busy crew. She said coldly, “You don’t need to report your schedule to me, we’re not that close.”

    Li Wan’s attitude displeased Zhuo Cheng, but he didn’t show it.

    “Are you free tonight? After the recording, I’d like to invite you for a drink, it’s been a while since we last chatted.”

    Chat? What could we possibly have to chat about? Li Wan instinctively wanted to refuse, but then, thinking about the Dongsheng matter, she decided to use this opportunity to probe and see if he knew about the station’s restructuring.

    “We’ll see.”

    Zhuo Cheng, watching her retreating figure, smiled confidently, Li Wan hadn’t explicitly rejected him, which basically meant she had agreed.

    Although young, Zhuo Cheng was highly capable and adaptable, and with his charming appearance, the recording went smoothly. It was essentially a promotional program for Dongsheng Group, so naturally, there weren’t any difficult questions. Zhuo Cheng cooperated fully, and the recording was a success.

    Li Wan had been observing from the side, not offering much input, only suggesting a few changes to enhance the promotional effect.

    The recording ended quite late, and while the crew continued working, Zhuo Cheng expressed his gratitude and offered to treat everyone to a late-night snack. Handsome, wealthy, and generous, such gestures easily captivated the young women at the station.

    Lin Shuangzhi, at some point, had arrived and watched for a while from the doorway. She had wanted to observe the recording of Zhuo Cheng’s segment and then invite Li Wan for a drink.

    They had been too busy with work lately, it had been a while since they had a proper chat.

    Seeing the crew packing up, Lin Shuangzhi was about to enter when she saw Zhuo Cheng standing in front of Li Wan.

    “Xiao Wan, I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

    Li Wan’s expression didn’t show any joy, but unlike before, there was no resistance either, she simply responded with a quiet acknowledgement.

    She said goodbye to Sister Chen and returned to her office. Most of her colleagues had left, only a few remaining, packing up their things. To her surprise, Lin Shuangzhi’s office door was locked, and the lights were off.

    “Has the team leader left?”

    A colleague, bag in hand, walked with her towards the elevator, “Yes, about fifteen minutes ago. She suddenly came back to get something, then left.”

    Suddenly came back? Li Wan pondered this, feeling something was amiss as they reached the elevator.

    “Where did the team leader go?”

    “She said she was going to check on the Finance Channel.” The colleague seemed to realize something and asked, “Didn’t you see her, Sister Wan?”

    Li Wan shook her head, but before she could say anything more, someone greeted her at the entrance.

    Not wanting to attract attention, Li Wan didn’t waste any time, walking straight to the car and getting in.

    “Let’s go.”

    “Where to?”

    Li Wan, forcing herself to be patient, said, “Didn’t you suggest having a drink?”

    Zhuo Cheng, although slightly stung by her tone, didn’t take offense; this meant she was letting him choose the place.

    The luxury car smoothly pulled away from the curb, but Li Wan felt no excitement.

    She was wondering, The team leader went to the Finance Channel? Why didn’t I see her?

    **

    Li Wan, as usual, subtly inquired about Dongsheng. The atmosphere in the bar was even more relaxed than at the restaurant, and Zhuo Cheng, having had a few drinks, wasn’t as guarded.

    Li Wan asked indirectly, and he answered, thinking he wasn’t revealing anything confidential. These fragmented pieces of information, pieced together, were enough for now.

    Li Wan glanced at the time, it was almost 11 pm. Although she had told her family she was working overtime, she was exhausted and wanted to go home.

    “It’s late, I’m leaving.”

    Just as she stood up, her hand was grabbed, the grip firm.

    She looked down and saw Zhuo Cheng, slightly drunk, looking at her.

    “What do you mean by this?”

    “Xiao Wan, don’t go, okay?”

    Li Wan took a deep breath and repeated, “I’m leaving.”

    Zhuo Cheng didn’t let go, he stood up unsteadily and moved closer.

    “Xiao Wan, I’m sincere about you, after all these years, there’s been no one else in my heart. You’re the best woman I’ve ever met, can you give me another chance?”

    Li Wan was tired of hearing these words, especially from Zhuo Cheng, they meant nothing to her.

    However, who could truly be indifferent to past hurts?

    She could forgive, she could let go, but she couldn’t simply pretend it never happened.

    Her past pain didn’t need to be repaid, but she had truly suffered.

    “Now you realize how good I am?” Li Wan looked at him, her disgust growing.

    “Yes, you’re the best. Xiao Wan, as long as you’re willing to give me a chance, I’ll do anything.”

    Emboldened by the alcohol, Zhuo Cheng didn’t want to wait any longer, a sense of unease growing within him, he felt he was losing her.

    Li Wan pulled her hand away and scoffed, “You realized too late, I don’t want anything to do with you now. Don’t keep bringing up the past, you’re not worthy.”

    Zhuo Cheng felt a tightness in his chest, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He grabbed Li Wan’s hand and tried to kiss her.

    Li Wan, trapped in his embrace, unable to escape, struggled with all her might. She swung her bag, hitting him hard, then, taking advantage of his momentary daze, slapped him across the face.

    This sobered him up.

    “That slap is to teach you some manners.”

    Li Wan turned and left without looking back, ignoring Zhuo Cheng’s embarrassment and the stares of others. She felt disgusted, his alcohol-laced breath repulsive, she couldn’t bear it for another second.

    Then, she felt a wave of grievance, an inexplicable sense of being wronged, her heart aching, desperately needing a comforting embrace, a familiar voice, a familiar scent.

    She took out her phone and saw a message from Lin Shuangzhi, sent half an hour ago, asking what she was doing.

    Li Wan called her directly, and after a long while, the call was finally answered, the background noise unexpectedly loud.

    “Where are you?”

    Lin Shuangzhi put down her glass, the bartender taking it away, and gestured for another.

    This was her third drink, she drank occasionally, but such uncontrolled, consecutive drinking was rare.

    The person on the other end asked again, “Team Leader, where are you?”

    “I’m having a drink, want to join me?”

    Half an hour later, Li Wan spotted the familiar figure at the bar.

    She quickly walked over, and the bartender, familiar with both of them, reported without being asked, “She’s had quite a few tonight.”

    He held up four fingers.

    Li Wan frowned and gently placed her hand on Lin Shuangzhi’s shoulder.

    “Why are you drinking so much?”

    She had had drinks with Lin Shuangzhi a few times before and knew this was her way of unwinding when she was upset. But she was usually more restrained, not like this.

    Lin Shuangzhi, aware of her arrival, felt her frustration easing slightly, but her mind was already clouded by the alcohol, and she mechanically reached for her glass again.

    Li Wan, seeing her continue drinking without answering, felt her suppressed anger resurfacing.

    She snatched the glass away and, almost shouting in the noisy bar, said, “Working so hard every day, and instead of resting after work, you come here and drink so much, do you have a death wish?”

    Lin Shuangzhi finally turned to look at her, her gaze unfocused, wandering for a moment before settling on Li Wan’s face.

    An angry rose, with thorns, yet even more alluring.

    Lin Shuangzhi leaned closer, her body almost touching Li Wan’s.

    The scent of alcohol mingled with Lin Shuangzhi’s light fragrance, like a freshly mixed cocktail, and Li Wan’s face flushed, but her hand instinctively steadied Lin Shuangzhi.

    “Xiao Wan, where did you go tonight?”

    Lin Shuangzhi seemed fixated on this question, she had already asked in her message, and now she was asking again.

    Li Wan, recalling the infuriating scene earlier, said irritably, “I went for a drink with Zhuo Cheng…”

    Before she could finish, her words were silenced.

    The strong scent of alcohol enveloped her, and Li Wan felt instantly intoxicated.

    The soft touch on her lips made her forget to think, and it took her a few seconds to realize she was being kissed.

    Caught off guard, Lin Shuangzhi had kissed her, just like that.

    The noise of the bar faded away, Li Wan’s mind blank.

    She remained frozen, kissed again and again by Lin Shuangzhi.

    After a long while, those soft lips finally parted, but Li Wan didn’t dare to look at the person who had kissed her.

    Her heart pounded, and she felt strangely timid, unable to even respond.

    She was afraid that her overflowing affection would be dismissed as drunken behavior.

    A warm breath by her ear, “Xiao Wan, I’m not drunk.”

    **

    Qin Qianrou, after finishing her work and emerging from the bathroom, saw Shen Yiqiu still awake, sitting on the bed, looking at something on her phone.

    Qin Qianrou composed herself, calmly walked over to the other side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and sat down beside Shen Yiqiu, leaning against the headboard.

    “What are you looking at so intently?”

    Shen Yiqiu put her phone on the nightstand and casually wrapped her arm around Qin Qianrou from behind. “Reading web novels, there are a couple of good ones I’m following.”

    “Weren’t you tired earlier? Why are you still awake so late?”

    Although Shen Yiqiu was holding her, they both felt a little awkward and restrained in bed, not exactly uncomfortable, just a little unfamiliar, after all, sharing a bed was a first for them, they were inexperienced.

    “How can I sleep before my girlfriend arrives?”

    Qin Qianrou, unlike before, wasn’t as calm and composed, especially at this late hour, sitting in bed, leaning against Shen Yiqiu, her words were incredibly alluring.

    “Such sweet talk at such a young age.” She gently tapped Shen Yiqiu’s nose, her tone playful.

    Shen Yiqiu stared, mesmerized, Jiejie without makeup was even more beautiful, and the scent of her shower gel made her feel intoxicated.

    She leaned closer and gently kissed Qin Qianrou.

    Her kiss wasn’t forceful, cherishing Qin Qianrou’s lips, gradually softening into a gentle caress.

    Qin Qianrou, almost breathless, had to push her away.

    Her cheeks flushed, the warmth in her body unsure if it was from the lingering heat of the shower or from Shen Yiqiu’s proximity. Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but marvel at a young person’s energy and passion.

    “It’s late, let’s go to sleep.” Qin Qianrou smoothed her hair, avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s intense gaze.

    Shen Yiqiu was content, being able to kiss Jiejie again before bed, she felt incredibly happy.

    “Mm, together.”

    Shen Yiqiu had thought she would have sweet dreams tonight, her heart filled with joy, but in the middle of the night, the scenes in her dream made her break out in a cold sweat, her body paralyzed, unable to speak or even cry out, she could only watch in helpless terror.

    She was frantic in her dream, terrified yet powerless.

    She felt a familiar, sharp pain in her chest, her precognitive ability.

    But she couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality, she wasn’t sure if the scene she was witnessing was a premonition or just a nightmare.

    Her sleep became increasingly restless, her body tossing and turning, finally waking the person beside her. The dim bedside lamp came on, and Qin Qianrou’s voice by her ear pulled her back from the abyss of fear and helplessness.

    “Bad dream?” Qin Qianrou’s hand gently touched her cold, sweaty forehead.

    Shen Yiqiu, still dazed, simply stared at the person before her.

    “Don’t worry, it was just a dream.” Seeing her like this, she knew it must have been a nightmare, and she had been terrified.

    Qin Qianrou didn’t know if Shen Yiqiu often had nightmares. She thought it might be because they were in Hai City, triggering her memories.

    They had talked quite a bit today, about Yuan Qi, and about their experiences in Hai City. Shen Yiqiu still carried the scars of her past.

    Qin Qianrou mentally scolded herself for being careless, she shouldn’t have discussed the past with her.

    Shen Yiqiu’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Jiejie, I had a bad dream.” Then, she reached out from under the covers and pointed to her chest. “And it hurts again.”

    Qin Qianrou’s expression turned serious, “Is something about to happen?”

    Shen Yiqiu struggled to sit up, her forehead still damp with sweat.

    Her voice was filled with lingering fear. “I’m not sure, I dreamt of you… with someone I don’t know.”

    “What kind of person?”

    Shen Yiqiu frowned, trying to recall the details of her dream. “I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I’m sure it was a man, not very old, around Shao Ze-ge’s age, and he was wearing a bright yellow tie.”

    Qin Qianrou thought for a moment, unable to immediately identify the person.

    “And what were you and this man doing in your dream?”

    Shen Yiqiu’s expression darkened, and she bit her lip, seemingly reluctant to continue.

    Qin Qianrou, sensing her hesitation, gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with her cool hand.

    “If you don’t want to talk about it now, you can tell me tomorrow.”

    Shen Yiqiu, however, had made up her mind, people often said dreams were easily forgotten, now was when the memory was clearest, she might not remember the details tomorrow.

    “I dreamt that you were embracing, and then… he tried to kiss you.”

    Qin Qianrou froze, speechless.

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 60

    Chapter 60: “Mu Tao… There’s No Turning Back…”

    Excellent, ambitious, and full of presence!

    Truly worthy of being the founder of Mount Chao Yao, Qingxuan Revered One, blessed by an ancient god!

    For a moment, Li Yu saw her own boss in Si Qinglan.

    And Weisheng Xuanzhu resembled that overworked colleague, on the verge of collapse after three all-nighters, forced to take a half-hour nap and then dragged back to work.

    Now, the boss wanted to do something big, and the colleague didn’t seem to object.

    But Li Yu felt that “the three of us” was a bit of a stretch.

    With her damaged meridians and depleted spiritual energy, even sitting for too long was tiring. She had to rely on a formation to open the Heavenly Gate; she wasn’t exactly a powerful force.

    Although she could still fight while weakened, she didn’t want to risk her life unless absolutely necessary.

    Besides, how powerful was the black-robed figure?

    He could easily manipulate the human realm, and even the unruly demons obeyed him; he was clearly a far greater threat than anything she had encountered before.

    If she faced him directly, she didn’t know how many moves she could last in her current state.

    As for Si Qinglan, she wasn’t much better off, struggling even against the demons who attacked the mountain gate. Against the black-robed figure, she would probably only be able to cheer from the sidelines.

    Could this truly be considered “the three of us”?

    The black-robed figure’s identity and power were still unknown.

    Li Yu only knew that he could easily break the seal on Suiqiong Cave, and a sliver of his power could kill an Eighth-rank cultivator, meaning even a thousand-year-old demon wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

    And according to Xiang Hanyu, he might even be that ancient god who fell into darkness four thousand years ago.

    Even if they could lure him out, could Weisheng Xuanzhu defeat him alone?

    Li Yu was skeptical.

    Although she had witnessed Weisheng Xuanzhu’s power earlier, she still didn’t have much faith in this character, who barely appeared in the original story and essentially slept until his death.

    Li Yu sighed inwardly.

    Si Qinglan, oblivious to her worries, was excitedly discussing the feasibility of their plan.

    She clearly had great faith in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s abilities.

    After listening for a while, Li Yu couldn’t help but remind her, “That black-robed figure can control the power of the stars.”

    “So?” Si Qinglan asked, turning to her.

    Li Yu: “As far as I know, only the ancient god who fell into darkness four thousand years ago could wield that power. If he truly is that ancient god, can we handle him in our current state?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “…”

    Si Qinglan frowned, then shook her head after a moment of thought. “That’s impossible!”

    Li Yu: “Are you so certain?”

    “Of course!” Si Qinglan said firmly. “Long before we were born, the ancient gods had already entered their ‘burning candle’ phase, their power fading until nothing remained.”

    “Four thousand years ago, wasn’t it because that ancient god, unwilling to accept his fate, coveted the Heavenly Demon’s power, that led to that battle?”

    She took a sip of tea and continued, “Not only was the Heavenly Demon slain by the gods in that battle, but even if he somehow survived, after so many years, he would have been completely burned out!”

    Li Yu bit her lip.

    She understood Si Qinglan’s reasoning, but she also knew that there was one particularly unreasonable entity in this world—the author.

    She suspected that the black-robed figure was a plot hole in the author’s outline, the hidden final boss, but because his power exceeded what the protagonists could handle, he was conveniently killed off to avoid further complications for the protagonist.

    If that were true, then the black-robed figure being that ancient god wasn’t entirely impossible.

    Si Qinglan: “Li Yu, don’t overthink it. You were also there in that battle. We might not know what truly happened, but you do, don’t you?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Coincidentally, she didn’t know at all.

    Si Qinglan: “As long as it’s a power within this world, someone can wield it. The Three Realms are vast; there are countless people and things we haven’t encountered. Why can’t there be another person who can control the power of the stars?”

    Li Yu nodded absently.

    Seeing her disbelief, Si Qinglan sighed and turned to Weisheng Xuanzhu. “Weisheng, what do you think?”

    “…”

    “Is someone spacing out?” Si Qinglan slapped the table like a teacher scolding a student. “Didn’t you sleep well? Can’t you focus?!”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu snapped back to attention and replied with a noncommittal “mm.”

    No one knew what he meant.

    Perhaps he was agreeing with her previous statement, or perhaps he was admitting to his lack of focus.

    Regardless, there was a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

    Whether this displeasure was related to Si Qinglan’s sharp tone was unclear.

    Si Qinglan took a deep breath, gave up on communicating with him, put down her teacup, and muttered, “I’m just worried. That guy has been hiding in the shadows. He acted as soon as Weisheng went into hibernation, clearly wary of him.”

    She frowned. “We did retrieve the Upper Spirit Lamp, but Li Yu was severely injured. That guy isn’t afraid of us; if he dared to attack once, he’ll dare to again… We finally have a fighting chance now that Weisheng is awake. If we don’t take this opportunity to find and eliminate him, how can we ever live in peace?!”

    Li Yu: “But the black-robed figure isn’t stupid either. He knows how to choose his moments. Now that everyone knows…Lingyao Revered One is awake, why would he appear?”

    Si Qinglan: “That’s why we need a plan! If we put our minds to it, we can surely come up with something!”

    Li Yu: “Mm…”

    Although she agreed, thinking, planning, it all sounded so tiring.

    Especially when, after all that effort, the system might just force her down a predetermined path. Just the thought made her entire being resist.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I’m not tired yet. We can discuss this after Cangming Revered One recovers.”

    Si Qinglan nodded. “Alright…”

    She looked at Li Yu, guilt in her eyes. “I was being too hasty. The most important thing now is for you to recover.”

    She stood up and walked to the door. “I’ll go check on the new herbs.”

    Li Yu’s gaze followed her, but the green figure disappeared before she could even react.

    So impulsive, and so quick to act…

    With Si Qinglan gone, only she and Weisheng Xuanzhu remained in the room.

    Perhaps because of their previous unpleasant encounter, Li Yu felt uncomfortable alone with him, a sense of guilt even in silence.

    So what now?

    Si Qinglan only said she was checking on the herbs, not that she was leaving. Would she return?

    Would it be rude if she left now?

    Even if Si Qinglan didn’t mind, Weisheng Xuanzhu had just helped her avoid the heavens’ punishment; leaving abruptly seemed ungrateful.

    Li Yu hesitated, her mind in turmoil.

    An awkward silence filled the room.

    The silence stretched, and just as Li Yu thought Si Qinglan might return,

    Weisheng Xuanzhu spoke.

    His cold voice made Li Yu’s breath catch.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Don’t you have any questions for me, Cangming Revered One?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    His question was confusing.

    Was he seeking concern, or did he have ulterior motives?

    With others, she could try to read their expressions.

    But this guy, with his perpetually icy face and emotionless tone, was impossible to decipher.

    So, what was she supposed to ask?

    To avoid seeming dismissive, Li Yu considered his question seriously.

    And thinking, even for a moment, sparked countless questions.

    Why had Weisheng Xuanzhu suddenly awakened?

    Wasn’t he supposed to either stay awake or sleep for centuries?

    Was he truly awakened by the noise?

    If so, the commotion from opening the Heavenly Gate was far less than the attack on the mountain.

    He hadn’t woken up in the original story, yet this time, he awakened at this specific moment.

    Was it related to the Heavenly Gate?

    After all, the Gate wasn’t opened in the original story…

    And about the Heavenly Gate,

    She couldn’t sense its presence anymore; had he truly destroyed it?

    If so, was it intentional or accidental?

    Finally, about Mu Tao…

    What were his thoughts on the Demon Bone?

    If Mu Tao returned one day, would he try to kill her?

    Li Yu decided to ask the most important question first.

    “If one day, Mu Tao returns, will you…try to kill her?”

    If possible, she didn’t want Mount Chao Yao and Mu Tao to be enemies.

    She knew Si Qinglan’s stance, but Weisheng Xuanzhu’s opinion was also crucial for Mount Chao Yao.

    “Why would I kill her?” he asked in return.

    “You questioned Si Qinglan so much earlier, I thought you were unhappy about us taking her in.”

    “Just surprised…” A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. “…and a bit…ironic, being kept in the dark.”

    Li Yu sighed.

    Working together, yet two of them formed a secret group, anyone would feel slighted.

    She understood.

    Li Yu picked up her teacup, staring at the liquid, lost in thought.

    She didn’t know what she was thinking.

    Perhaps about Mu Tao, how she was doing, what she was like when she was still here.

    Mu Tao hadn’t been gone long, yet it felt like an eternity, as if she had grown accustomed to her absence, yet also like she was struggling through each day without her.

    She had never felt like this before.

    Life was long, people drifted apart, she had close friends, but it was always temporary, she was used to it.

    But she couldn’t get used to Mu Tao’s absence.

    Was it because of the guilt and regret?

    She couldn’t understand, yet she couldn’t stop thinking about it…

    Just like now, completely out of control.

    Li Yu took a sip of tea, trying to regain her composure.

    The tea at Qianlizhu was brewed with flowers, leaves, and fruits.

    Unlike the slightly bitter tea at Chaoxi Pond, these flower teas were fragrant and sweet.

    She quite liked the taste.

    Perhaps she should ask Si Qinglan for some.

    It was a pity Mu Tao never tried it; she would have liked it, their tastes were similar.

    She would ask later; now, back to business.

    “About the Heavenly Gate, there’s something I need to confirm…” Li Yu said directly. “I can no longer sense its presence. Was this your intention, or did you…lose control?”

    “The Heavenly Gate can only be destroyed when it’s open. I didn’t arrive at the right time, so I simply waited.” Weisheng Xuanzhu’s voice was calm, as if it were an ordinary event.

    “You could have simply stopped them, why destroy it?”

    “It’s a matter of the human realm; why let those who abandoned this realm interfere? They haven’t done anything; they have no right to judge you.”

    “…”

    “As long as the Heavenly Gate exists, they will try to open it, and you wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure.” Weisheng Xuanzhu said. “Now that it’s severed, even if the Heavenly Realm wants to repair it, it will take time, granting you some peace.”

    Li Yu took a deep breath.

    Please, tone down the protectiveness, she wasn’t the original owner.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Besides that, I also have…ulterior motives.”

    Li Yu: “Ulterior motives?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I still want…the truth.”

    Li Yu: “…?”

    That sounded ominous.

    Why was he suddenly mentioning “the truth”?

    As Li Yu wondered, Weisheng Xuanzhu’s gaze changed slightly.

    “Li Yu,” he asked softly, a persistent note in his voice, “Even now, are you still hiding the truth from me?”

    That “matter from the past” again…

    Three encounters, and he had asked twice.

    What exactly happened back then? Why was he so persistent?

    Even if she had read the novel carefully, it wouldn’t have helped; there were too many things the original story didn’t explain.

    So, how should she answer?

    Should she just brush it off like last time?

    Or was there a way to get him to reveal what he wanted to know?

    Li Yu: “I don’t understand what answer you’re looking for.”

    Would this work?

    Would he tell her, or at least give her a hint?

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “How long do you intend to deceive me?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    She didn’t know how to respond; talking to a cryptic person was exhausting.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “All I want is the truth. Is that so difficult for you?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Yes, it was incredibly difficult!

    Li Yu swore she had never encountered such a difficult question in her life!

    It wasn’t intellectually challenging, just…directionless, leaving her completely clueless.

    Perhaps out of desperation, she dared to look into his dark eyes.

    She usually avoided his gaze, afraid of being exposed, but hoping to find a clue, she tried.

    It felt like staring into an abyss.

    And within that abyss, only a single, unwavering obsession.

    This was the second time she hadn’t seen any “love” in his eyes.

    Although she had no proof, she suddenly felt that perhaps his feelings for the original owner weren’t as deep as the novel described.

    He seemed fixated on an answer that only the original Li Yu could provide.

    But what was that answer?

    And what did it mean to him?

    As Li Yu was lost in thought, Si Qinglan’s voice came from outside.

    “I’m back!” Si Qinglan entered, her steps as light as a breeze. “The new herbs are growing well. I’ll bring you some in a couple of days.”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu quickly looked away, his expression returning to its usual indifference, as if nothing had happened.

    Li Yu frowned slightly and finished her tea.

    Si Qinglan insisted they stay for dinner.

    The atmosphere at the table was relatively normal, mainly thanks to Si Qinglan’s constant chatter.

    As if afraid they weren’t fully aware of the current situation, she talked nonstop, like a one-person stand-up comedy show, the silence never lasting more than three minutes.

    After dinner, Weisheng Xuanzhu left, saying to Li Yu before leaving, “I’ll deal with those…unpleasant voices. You just focus on recovering.”

    Li Yu didn’t respond, avoiding his gaze.

    She felt something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.

    As soon as he left, Si Qinglan sat beside Li Yu, a gossipy glint in her eyes.

    “He really cares about you.”

    “…Yes, but for what reason was unclear.

    “He arrived so timely, perhaps he sensed your danger in his sleep and forced himself to wake up to help you.”

    “…Unfortunately, his feelings were misplaced. She still couldn’t answer his question.

    “He’s been here for over three thousand years, and you haven’t given him any response, yet he’s still so patient…” Si Qinglan rested her chin on her hands and asked, “I’m increasingly curious, how did you two meet?”

    “…Coincidentally, Li Yu was also very curious.

    She wasn’t just curious about how they met, but also about what happened back then, what lie the original owner told him, or what misunderstanding existed between them.

    Si Qinglan winked at her. “I didn’t dare ask before, but now that we’re so close, tell me!”

    Li Yu sighed deeply.

    Tell her what? She knew nothing.

    Li Yu: “I don’t want to talk about that.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    After a brief silence, Si Qinglan sighed. “Fine, fine, I know, you only want to talk about your little disciple who went to the Demon Realm.”

    Li Yu: “…Do I?”

    Si Qinglan: “She’s the only thing on your mind now.”

    That statement seemed accurate, yet it sounded…strange.

    Si Qinglan: “Don’t even deny it, you’re still wearing your Harmony Bell, even though the other one is broken.”

    Li Yu instinctively touched the bells hidden beneath her sleeve.

    She had only destroyed Mu Tao’s bells at the entrance to the Demon Realm; hers remained intact.

    Without its counterpart, it was now just an ordinary trinket, no longer chiming on its own, no longer allowing her to sense Mu Tao’s location.

    Yet, she hadn’t removed it.

    She didn’t know why.

    Si Qinglan: “I’m really curious, you were so reluctant, what could possibly be so important that you had to abandon her?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Si Qinglan: “I know you won’t tell me, so I’m just curious, is it…very difficult?”

    Li Yu: “Perhaps.”

    Si Qinglan thought for a moment. “How long will it take?”

    Li Yu: “Maybe three years…”

    Si Qinglan: “Then, after three years, will you go to the Demon Realm and bring her back?”

    Li Yu opened her mouth but didn’t answer.

    She knew that after three years, she wouldn’t have to go to the Demon Realm; Mu Tao would return on her own.

    But three years seemed like such a long time.

    She wasn’t an immortal of this world; she couldn’t perceive time as they did, decades passing in the blink of an eye.

    Before leaving, Li Yu asked Si Qinglan for some flower tea and returned to Chaoxi Pond.

    Her days returned to their usual tranquility.

    The mountain gate was repaired, and once the outsiders left, they wouldn’t be able to find their way back.

    Yet, some still lingered, refusing to leave.

    Si Qinglan said that they were still hoping for the Heavenly Gate to open, waiting for Weisheng Xuanzhu to return to his slumber.

    Although their persistence was ridiculous, they were no longer as arrogant.

    Days turned into months; the seemingly unbearable wait passed surprisingly quickly.

    From spring to autumn.

    But Li Yu felt a sense of detachment, the passing time unreal.

    Perhaps wary, the black-robed figure hadn’t appeared again.

    Mount Chao Yao was as peaceful as before, just…missing someone.

    The outsiders who had insisted on staying gradually gave up and left.

    Her injuries were healing, the physical discomfort lessening, her spiritual energy slowly returning, but she still hadn’t fully recovered to her pre-Lingzhou state.

    Even that state was already considered weak for the original owner, but for the current her, it was a milestone.

    During her recuperation, she practiced various spells she hadn’t tried before.

    It wasn’t her imagination; she had access to memories she didn’t possess before.

    These memories weren’t detailed, just vague impressions guiding her as she cast spells.

    It was more like instinct than memory.

    She had gained this instinct after her last severe injury.

    This was reassuring; at least she no longer had to rely on the unreliable system assistance for combat.

    Li Yu had thought these peaceful days would continue.

    Until one day, she heard news about Mu Tao from Si Qinglan.

    The girl had killed someone in the Demon Realm; word had spread.

    In that ruthless world, killing for survival was normal.

    But she had killed the current Demon Lord, the revered leader of countless demons.

    “Mu Tao… There’s no turning back…” Si Qinglan’s voice was filled with worry.

    She said something else, but Li Yu couldn’t hear, her mind reeling from the news.

    Mu Tao had killed the Demon Lord.

    It was a plot point from the original story; she shouldn’t be so surprised.

    But how long had it been?

    Just half a year, and the protagonist had accomplished what took her three years in the original story?!

    This efficiency was terrifying!

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 72

    Chapter 72: Disciple and Wife

    A figure sat in the icy cave, a snow-white bird nestled in her lap, her expression calm and serene.

    Internally, however, a torrent of squeeing threatened to erupt.

    Such trust, to rest its head against her hand in its most vulnerable form, its neck and head exposed, its very life force within easy reach.

    Tao Ning, touching the Shangxi bird for the first time, her movements hesitant and gentle, carefully placed her other hand on its back, stroking its soft, downy feathers.

    The sensation was even better than she had imagined, soft and warm, making her touch even lighter, as if afraid of melting it… forgetting it was a Soul Transformation bird, a powerful creature capable of carrying the moon on its back.

    Her reverence, tinged with an almost childlike wonder, brought a smile to the Shangxi bird’s eyes.

    Once the touching began, it became a nightly ritual. Tao Ning spent her evenings in the Ice Cavern… bird-sitting.

    Without any prompting from Tao Ning, the Shangxi bird, after consuming its daily offering of snacks, would hop into her lap, settling down, its head resting on her arm, its eyes closed.

    Soul Transformation cultivators didn’t require sleep, but Cen Dianshuang’s duties, assigned by her senior sister, kept her busy, leaving little time for cultivation. Tao Ning’s lap offered a quiet sanctuary, a warm, comfortable place to replenish her spiritual energy.

    She hadn’t realized the benefits of this arrangement before: a warm, furry heating pad, and… petting.

    No matter how many times it happened, Tao Ning’s touch remained gentle and hesitant, as if handling a fragile object.

    The Shangxi bird, its initial concerns about feather dust forgotten, relaxed completely.

    Tao Ning, her hand stroking the bird’s back, checked her communication bell for messages, then replied.

    These moments always felt strange to the Shangxi bird.

    Tao Ning’s voice, sweet and affectionate as she addressed her master, complaining about the cold and the silence of the Ice Cavern, while the very person she was talking to was nestled in her arms.

    What was even stranger was that Cen Dianshuang would then have to listen to the message again and respond.

    But she couldn’t relent. Tao Ning’s cultivation habits were reckless. She never consolidated her breakthroughs, always pushing herself to the limit, exhausting her spiritual energy completely. This self-destructive behavior needed to be addressed.

    Today, Tao Ning’s cultivation had taken longer than usual. Waking up, she felt a weight on her lap.

    Looking down, she saw the Shangxi bird, having grown tired of waiting, had settled down for a nap.

    The Ice Cavern was cold, and the bird, its claws tucked beneath its fluffy white feathers, its head resting on Tao Ning’s arm, looked far less elegant and composed than its usual, carefully preened self.

    Unable to resist, Tao Ning reached out, her touch startling the bird awake.

    The Shangxi bird, blinking sleepily, shifted its wings, dislodging something small and round.

    Tao Ning picked it up. It looked like a cherry, but without a pit, its skin glistening with moisture.

    An Ice Dew Fruit, growing only in extremely cold environments, maturing once every five hundred years, a rare and valuable find. The Ice Cavern was the perfect environment.

    Holding the small cluster of fruits before the Shangxi bird, she asked, “Did you pick these?”

    The Shangxi bird, a soft gurgle in its throat, confirmed its contribution.

    Cen Dianshuang, sensing a spiritual fluctuation earlier, had investigated, finding a patch of ripe Ice Dew Fruits and collecting them.

    Standing up, it shook its wings, dislodging a small pouch hidden beneath them. The pouch’s contents, a pile of Ice Dew Fruits, spilled onto Tao Ning’s lap.

    Tao Ning, initially reaching out to catch them, then realizing there were too many, used her skirt instead, her eyes widening in surprise. “So many! I can’t possibly eat all of these.”

    It was usually Tao Ning offering food. This was a welcome change.

    The bird, with a flick of its wings, indicated that she could save them for later.

    Such small, sweet treats were hardly a meal for a creature of its size.

    In her human form, she was indifferent to human sweets and pastries, finding them overly sweet, except for her disciple’s creations. But in her bird form, she couldn’t resist the natural sweetness of fruits and nectar, a trait shared by all Shangxi, even hatchlings instinctively seeking them out.

    It was a primal urge, an inherited instinct.

    Tao Ning’s eyes shone with delight. Gathering her skirt, its folds now heavy with the fruits, she asked, “All for me?”

    The Shangxi bird, peering into her lap, instinctively started to chirp a reply, then stopped abruptly, remembering its new, mature persona.

    “So many… It’ll take a while to eat all of these. I’ll have to store them properly.” Tao Ning, her attention focused on the fruits in her lap, didn’t notice the light drizzle outside.

    The Shangxi bird, relieved, smoothed its ruffled feathers.

    Three months passed quickly. Cen Dianshuang’s visits became less frequent as the other sects began arriving for the disciple competition.

    As a peak master, and the Sect Leader’s most trusted junior sister, she had to maintain appearances, playing the role of the stern, responsible elder, while Lizhu played the affable host.

    But Lizhu had another motive.

    An elder from another sect, leading his disciples, greeted Cen Dianshuang politely. “Elder Cen of Wangshu Peak, I presume? It’s an honor to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

    Lizhu, her smile warm and welcoming, replied, “Oh, have you heard about my junior sister’s recent breakthrough to Soul Transformation? Your sect’s intelligence network is quite impressive.”

    The elder: “…”

    Cen Dianshuang: …This is the price of refusing a celebratory banquet.

    Too much attention.

    Standing on the Viewing Platform, looking towards the Ice Cavern, she calculated the time. Tao Ning should be emerging from seclusion today.

    She summoned her sword, intending to fetch her disciple, when a hushed conversation below caught her attention.

    “Have you heard? The Wanhun Cauldron has already emerged. It’s at the Hanshan Sect.”

    She looked down to see a group of cultivators, their swords of decent quality, their cultivation levels at Golden Core, their conversation shielded by a silencing spell.

    They had forgotten, however, that Cen Dianshuang’s cultivation was far superior. She could hear them clearly.

    A rogue cultivator in grey robes said, “At the Hanshan Sect? But the Sect Leader hasn’t mentioned anything.”

    Another, lowering his voice, replied, “Are you stupid? The Wanhun Cauldron contains Demon Lord Qingji’s life essence. Whoever possesses it will gain immense power. Why would they announce it?”

    “That makes sense… The Hanshan Sect Leader has been stuck at a bottleneck for a while now. She hasn’t been able to find a way to break through.”

    These words, the first Tao Ning heard after emerging from seclusion, brought a smile to her lips.

    “Who told you the Wanhun Cauldron contains Qingji’s life essence? And that using it will enhance your cultivation?”

    The cultivator she addressed jumped, startled. He was a rogue cultivator, hoping to impress the sects during the competition and secure a position as a guest elder.

    Anything was better than wandering the world alone, without the support of a sect.

    Seeing Tao Ning’s youthful appearance and lack of sect uniform, he assumed she was also a rogue cultivator, his expression turning sour.

    “Why are you eavesdropping?”

    Tao Ning: “Your silencing spell is… weak. I could hear you from miles away.”

    Her bluntness only angered them further. They reached for their swords.

    “Are you looking for a fight?” Tao Ning interrupted, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m always happy to oblige. But first, tell me who told you about the cauldron.”

    The cultivator in grey was pulled back by his companion, who hissed, “Don’t! Look!”

    He followed his companion’s gaze, then his own face paled as he saw the Hanshan Sect disciple token at Tao Ning’s waist, which had been hidden by her robes earlier.

    Of all the people to offend…

    Their expressions shifted rapidly as Tao Ning watched, then one spoke, his voice weak. “It’s just a rumor.”

    Tao Ning: “A rumor? So not only do you know, but everyone knows. You were probably all discussing it excitedly before arriving.”

    The three cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. She was right, but her tone…

    Tao Ning looked at them, then at the crowds of cultivators arriving for the competition, their faces smiling, their greetings polite and friendly.

    “So, you’re not just here for the competition, are you?”

    Their silence confirmed her suspicion.

    Tao Ning chuckled, her voice laced with amusement. “Bold.”

    She wanted peace and quiet, a chance to travel the world with Cen Dianshuang on their spirit boat. These… ambitious fools… were an annoyance.

    They weren’t sure what she meant by “bold,” but her words and her demeanor were unsettling.

    It was a humbling experience. They were all at Golden Core, yet they felt… intimidated.

    After Tao Ning left, they couldn’t bear to stay any longer, hurrying towards the mountain gate.

    This place is dangerous. Let’s leave!

    What if those Hanshan Sect disciples decide to eliminate us?

    Tao Ning, watching them flee, turned and walked towards the Viewing Platform, a bright smile on her face as she approached Cen Dianshuang. “Master, I’m out of seclusion! Were you waiting for me?”

    520 sometimes wished its host had pursued a career in acting.

    Her ability to switch personas was remarkable, as if it were ingrained in her very being.

    Perhaps she was a street performer in her previous life, honing her craft for years before realizing a stable government job was more secure, dedicating herself to the civil service exam, finally succeeding on her third attempt.

    520, its mind filled with random thoughts, silently muted itself, not wanting its host to hear its amusement.

    Cen Dianshuang, catching Tao Ning’s arm as she rushed towards her, checked her pulse. “I was about to fetch you from the Ice Cavern, but it seems you were impatient.”

    Tao Ning, her hand still in Cen Dianshuang’s, unable to express her affection more openly with so many people around, simply smiled. “I couldn’t wait to see you, Master.”

    Releasing Tao Ning’s wrist, Cen Dianshuang said, “You’re much better. But don’t do that again. What happened in Shadow City… You have to be more careful.”

    Tao Ning’s fighting style was reckless, all-out offense, no defense.

    Cen Dianshuang tapped her forehead lightly. “If not for your cultivation, you would have demolished the entire city. Your combat style reflects your character. What kind of hardships did you endure?”

    Tao Ning touched her forehead. “I don’t remember.”

    The three cultivators, not daring to fly within the Hanshan Sect, hurried through the crowds, summoning their swords only after passing through the mountain gates.

    A female cultivator, her shoulder bumped by one of the men, turned, frowning. “Watch where you’re going!”

    A voice called out, “Ting’er, come here.”

    “Coming, Master.” Pang Xueting hurried towards her master, her initial annoyance fading as she took in the scenery, her eyes wide with wonder. “So this is the Hanshan Sect, where my savior resides.”

    True Person Chang Xiang hadn’t come as a supervising elder for the competition. Worried about her disciple’s first solo journey, she had requested permission to accompany her.

    The Sect Leader and the other elders would arrive later, traveling separately.

    Dressed in simple green robes, her hair neatly styled, a jade hairpin shaped like a brush adorning her hair, she resembled a scholar if not for her Nascent Soul aura.

    She addressed Pang Xueting. “The senior you mentioned is Tao Ning, the first disciple of Wangshu Peak’s Elder Cen. She’s on the Heavenly Pride Ranking.”

    “I’ve seen the ranking, Master,” Pang Xueting replied, her voice filled with admiration. “She should be first, not tenth. The ranking is wrong.”

    True Person Chang Xiang smiled, not bothering to argue. “Perhaps. The Cloud Soaring Palace, responsible for the rankings, bases their assessments on a cultivator’s accomplishments. Your senior doesn’t seek fame. There isn’t much information about her. The rankings will be more accurate after this competition.”

    Pang Xueting nodded eagerly. “Exactly! She single-handedly defeated three opponents in Shadow City, but the Cloud Soaring Palace dismissed it because True Person Cen was present.”

    True Person Chang Xiang: “Speaking of Shadow City… she saved your life and helped you recover Meng Le’s remains. I should thank her.”

    Meng Le was her deceased disciple, surnamed Qiu.

    She had only taken two disciples: Pang Xueting and Qiu Meng Le.

  • On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 198

    Chapter 198: The Crystal Skull

    “Tsk.”

    Chen Yin looked around.

    …Was that my imagination?

    How could there be anyone here?

    But that unsettling feeling in his gut intensified.

    There was definitely something here.

    He took a deep breath and swung his sword, the gentle arc of its blade clearing a path through the dense swarm of insects. The creatures buzzed angrily, as if considering whether to attack.

    Chen Yin ignored them, his gaze fixed on the center of the valley.

    He could finally make out what was hidden within the swarm of insects.

    A skeleton, sitting cross-legged.

    Unlike the others, this skeleton’s bones were clean and smooth, gleaming like polished jade.

    Its meditative posture radiated a strange sense of serenity, a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness and decay.

    A small, golden Gu worm rested within its ribcage, where its dantian would have been.

    …That’s it. Chen Yin’s eyes narrowed.

    The moment the golden Gu appeared, the surrounding insects went into a frenzy, swarming towards Chen Yin relentlessly.

    At the same time, the shattered bones on the ground began to reassemble, forming skeletons that shambled towards him.

    “Damn it!”

    On the cliff above, the Grand Witch frowned and formed a series of hand seals, a dark green aura emanating from her fingertips, pushing back the insects.

    Beside her, the masked man didn’t hesitate and jumped down into the valley.

    Chen Yin knew the Mother Gu was threatened and had summoned its protectors. He was about to attack when the masked man landed beside him.

    “What are you doing here?”

    Chen Yin frowned. “These insects are dangerous. You won’t be able to withstand their poison.”

    But the masked man just glanced at him and said coldly,

    “…Quiet.”

    “I just don’t want you to get to the Ganoderma first.”

    Chen Yin almost laughed. He was trying to be helpful, and this was how he was repaid.

    He swung his Eternal Light sword. “Then be careful not to die.”

    “You too,” the masked man said coldly.

    They stood back-to-back, then attacked simultaneously.

    The valley was instantly filled with a dazzling display of white and red sword light.

    Chen Yin’s swordsmanship was as elegant and effortless as always, deflecting the insects and precisely bisecting any that came too close.

    The masked man’s style, however, was different.

    His movements were powerful and unrestrained, like a raging inferno, incinerating the insects in his path, leaving a trail of scorched earth.

    As they fought, Chen Yin discreetly observed the masked man’s technique.

    …As expected.

    He quickly looked away, a thoughtful expression on his face.

    Fortunately, most of these insects were mindless, relying on their poison and instincts, their intelligence far below that of true spirit beasts.

    Their attacks were predictable and easily deflected by their combined swordsmanship.

    The real problem was the skeletons.

    Mindless and relentless, they would regenerate even after being shattered, their poisonous bones a constant threat.

    And there seemed to be an endless supply of them.

    Chen Yin patiently advanced, his sword a blur of motion as he dealt with the insects and skeletons.

    The masked man, however, wasn’t faring as well.

    The miasma in the valley was incredibly dense. After just a few minutes, his movements became sluggish, his swordsmanship less precise. He had clearly inhaled too much of the poison.

    Although his face was hidden behind the mask, Chen Yin could tell he was struggling.

    Despite the System’s assistance and the numerous antidote pills he had consumed, the masked man couldn’t completely suppress the effects of the poison.

    His meridians were sluggish, his mind becoming hazy.

    “You’re in danger,” the System warned.

    “Shut up,” the masked man gritted his teeth. “Use your ability. Clear a path for him.”

    “Then I won’t be able to protect you from the insects—”

    “Just do it!”

    The System sighed and was about to activate its ability when it suddenly stopped.

    A refreshing breeze swept through the valley, and the masked man turned to see a brilliant white sword light approaching.

    “Excuse me,” Chen Yin said softly.

    He scooped up the masked man and, with a surge of power from the Eternal Light sword, charged towards the crystal skeleton.

    “Boom!”

    The Grand Witch, who had been watching from the cliff above, gasped as a massive sword energy erupted from the valley.

    “Such… powerful sword intent!”

    “This sword energy…” Even the System was surprised. “How can someone in this world wield such power?”

    The brilliant white light split the valley in two, leaving a deep chasm in its wake.

    Even the residual energy was enough to make the insects scatter in fear.

    The skeletons, shattered by the blast, couldn’t regenerate fast enough, the lingering sword energy destroying them the moment they reformed.

    The masked man was stunned, and Chen Yin, carrying him, leaped across the chasm and landed before the crystal skeleton.

    The moment they landed, the masked man pushed him away and scrambled to his feet.

    “My apologies,” Chen Yin bowed slightly. “I had no other choice. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

    The masked man just stared at him silently, then finally said, “…It’s fine.”

    Chen Yin turned his attention to the skeleton.

    It was strangely resilient. It had withstood his attack without a scratch, as if his earth-shattering sword strike hadn’t even touched it.

    The golden Gu worm within its ribcage seemed to sense the danger and was trembling.

    “Is this the Mother Gu?”

    Chen Yin glanced at the Grand Witch on the cliff above.

    “Wait!” she shouted. “Such a rare Gu worm, I might be able to study it!”

    She hesitated for a moment, then jumped down into the valley.

    She landed beside Chen Yin and reached out, gently touching the golden Gu worm with her fingertip, a drop of blood oozing from it.

    The Gu worm, sensing the scent of blood, eagerly devoured it.

    The next moment, the entire valley trembled.

    All the skeletons shattered, and the countless insects scattered in terror.

    The valley, once teeming with life, was now empty, only bone fragments remaining.

    “It’s done.”

    The Grand Witch waved her hand, and the golden Gu worm disappeared. She breathed a sigh of relief. “That should take care of it.”

    Then she turned to Chen Yin, her voice filled with admiration. “As expected of Immortal Yu Ling’s disciple, that was an incredible display of swordsmanship!”

    Chen Yin looked at her, surprised. “You figured out my identity?”

    “A leader must always be observant.”

    The Grand Witch smiled. “Thanks to you, I’ve obtained such a rare Gu worm.”

    Chen Yin shrugged. His identity wasn’t a secret anyway. He hadn’t bothered hiding it.

    “It seems inviting you to accompany me was a wise decision.”

    “You flatter me. Our friend from Shen Li also contributed.” Chen Yin smiled and glanced at the masked man.

    But the masked man just looked away and said coldly, “I didn’t contribute anything. You saved me. I don’t deserve any credit.”

    Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly.

    “You seemed to be affected by the miasma earlier. Are you alright?”

    “I’m fine. I can take care of myself.” He glared at Chen Yin and turned away.

    Chen Yin shrugged and turned his attention back to the crystal skeleton.

    “Huh?”

    The Grand Witch noticed something strange.

    The skeleton, still in its meditative posture, was trembling slightly.

    A crack appeared on the ground before it, revealing a passage leading downwards.

    “An underground chamber?” The Grand Witch said in surprise. “There’s more to this place?”

    “Hidden so deep, I imagine the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma is down there.”

    Chen Yin nodded. “Let’s go take a look.”

    The Grand Witch nodded and started down the passage.

    The masked figure glanced at Chen Yin, then followed her.

    Chen Yin, bringing up the rear, turned and looked back at the crystal skeleton.

    …Was it his imagination?

    Although the skeleton had no face, its posture…

    …seemed familiar.

    That strange sense of familiarity he had felt when he first saw the barrier was even stronger now.

    The skeleton’s posture…

    …resembled the statue he had obtained in the bamboo forest within the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain.

    That statue was still in his scroll’s space, and it was after obtaining it that the scroll had gained the ability to absorb Heavenly Dao Fragments.

    But he still didn’t know who the statue depicted.

    He was about to reach out and examine the skeleton more closely when the Grand Witch’s voice came from the passage below. “Young Master Chen?”

    …Forget it. We’ll deal with that later.

    Chen Yin shook his head and called out, “Coming.”

  • Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 131p2

    Chapter 131p2

    Their whispered conversation stopped as they reached the second-floor corridor, ending with Qin Sichao’s curse.

    Wei Maomao waited and waited in Wei Chengli’s room on the second floor, she didn’t see Liu Ming, but she did see Shi Dingshan and an unexpected person…

    Shi Dingshan glanced at the bedroom, it was Wei Chengli and Wen Xiang’s room, now there were only three people inside, one adult and two children, Wen Xiang must have left when the doctor came for the checkup.

    “Come here.” Shi Dingshan said, his gaze sweeping past the two little ones, he beckoned Wei Chengli.

    “Come where, just go in.” Qin Sichao said, his mind filled with “what ifs” after walking through the corridor, what if it was Yan Yan who went in earlier.

    Look at that child, so skinny, if she fell, who knew what would happen.

    If something happened to her, he would also be devastated… This was the little girl he had finally found!

    Qin Sichao, filled with worry, pushed Shi Dingshan, who was standing at the bedroom door, aside and entered.

    Shi Dingshan: “… “

    “They’re the ones who should hear this, what’s the point of telling Director Wei?” Qin Sichao said, annoyed, he walked straight to Wei Maomao and squatted down. “Found it, on the floor by Yueyue’s bed.”

    “What did you find?” Wei Chengli asked, confused.

    “Don’t mind him. Maomao, how are you? What did the doctor say?” Shi Dingshan asked, he had been called away by Liu Ming, he hadn’t had a chance to contact the doctor.

    “She’s fine, she didn’t hit her head. We’ll observe her closely tonight, if there are no problems, then she should be fine.” Wei Chengli said, then turned to look at the middle-aged man squatting next to his baby, who seemed to be chatting with the two little ones. He scratched his head, confused. “What did he say he found by Yueyue’s bed?”

    Speaking of which… Who was he? He looked familiar… But he didn’t seem like a staff member…

    A clueless dad, with a child who had good eyesight.

    Wei Maomao also thought he looked familiar when he was standing at the door, and as soon as he squatted down in front of her, she recognized him.

    This… was interesting.

    After Jiang Heye, it was Ni Jinyan, and now Qin Sichao himself… He actually came.

    And even more unexpectedly…

    Wei Maomao looked at Qin Sichao, who was squatting in front of her, ranting and raving, in shock.

    He actually knew everything that had happened, he even went to smell the water bottle and personally touched the floor…

    Okay, judging from Qin Sichao’s angry expression, Cheng Rongrong’s dream of getting a role in his award-winning film was probably shattered.

    The butterfly effect ruining a certain bad person’s good start, Wei Maomao, whose heart had been racing with fear and worry, finally felt a bit relieved.

    Yes, bad person.

    The floor by Wen Jiangyue’s bed, it was a spot she would definitely step on, no wonder the slippers on Wen Jiangyue’s feet also felt slippery.

    Not only did she do something bad, she even tried to frame someone, she was truly evil!

    Wei Maomao cursed inwardly, then silently thanked all the detective novels and films she had read in her previous life.

    Shi Dingshan briefly explained the situation upstairs to Wei Chengli, he looked at Little Maomao, who was becoming increasingly dazed, and couldn’t help but pull Qin Sichao up. “What are you telling the little baby? Don’t scare her.”

    Who was scaring who?

    Qin Sichao glanced at the two unharmed little babies, he didn’t argue, he just hummed.

    “Anyway, that’s what happened, there’s no evidence, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. Everyone be aware, but don’t show it, we’re almost done, we’ll disband after the filming…” Shi Dingshan said, patting Wei Chengli’s shoulder. “All the cameras are off now, you can talk to them properly. But tomorrow, when the cameras are on, don’t mention these suspicions. Just say that Maomao accidentally fell… It was an accident. Otherwise, without evidence, with their family’s style, causing more trouble would be very troublesome. You suffered a loss this time, I’ll make it up to you later.”

    Wei Chengli didn’t answer or object.

    His brain was overloaded. He suspected that Shi Dingshan had just given him a hypothetical script.

    A three-and-a-half-year-old child meticulously planning to harm someone was already… unbelievable.

    And she was even exposed by a three-year-old baby… Even scripts wouldn’t dare to be written like this, right?

    But if it was all true…

    Wei Chengli’s eyes darkened, would it just end like this?

    He couldn’t swallow this injustice!

    “Okay, let’s go. Everyone was startled by today’s incident. Let Maomao sleep with you, the other babies probably also want to sleep with their dads, I still have to arrange the rooms. You guys sleep in this room, I’ll find another place for Wen Xiang.” Shi Dingshan said, glancing at Cheng Tingyan, he added, “Yan Yan, you continue sleeping with Maomao, I’ll have someone inform your dad.”

    “It’s not convenient with only one room here…” Wei Chengli interrupted, his rationality returning amidst his anger.

    “Then you sleep in the small room on the left, let them sleep in this room.” Shi Dingshan said, pointing outside. “There’s also a single bed there, I’ll have someone clean it up for you.”

    Wei Chengli: ???

    Didn’t they say that because of the scare, the baby could sleep with her dad?

    “I have to watch over Maomao, what if she slips again…” Wei Chengli, still traumatized, didn’t want to be separated from his baby for even a second.

    “I won’t slip.” Wei Maomao said, patting Wei Chengli’s leg. “The uncles just said, it was Cheng… Mmm, someone made the floor slippery. If no one did it, I’m always fine, I wouldn’t slip.”

    “No, the uncles didn’t say anything.” Shi Dingshan said, stroking the dirty Maomao’s head. “Maomao, those aren’t evidence. You can’t say those speculative words, people will accuse you of slander. Do you know what slander is? It’s making false accusations. That person will say you’re falsely accusing her, because you have no evidence, many people who don’t know the truth will also say you’re falsely accusing her. Then, if you can’t explain yourself, you’ll suffer a loss. Do you know what suffering a loss means? It means…”

    “I understand, Uncle Shi.” Wei Maomao interrupted Shi Dingshan’s lecture. “I won’t say anything.”

    It was enough, Wei Chengli, Shi Dingshan, Qin Sichao, it was enough, she never expected the whole world to see the truth.

    Shi Dingshan, satisfied, ruffled the little dirty head again.

    A three-year-old baby, so thoughtful~~~

    Shi Dingshan left, taking Qin Sichao, who seemed like he wanted to stay and chat, with him.

    Wei Chengli, his mind still buzzing from the information overload, grabbed the water bottle on the table and gulped down the entire bottle.

    The cold water jolted him back to reality.

    So the question was…

    “Maomao, was everything they said true? That water bottle, the floor, did you figure it all out yourself?” Wei Chengli asked, looking at the little dirty dumpling with a complicated expression.

    “Mmm.” Wei Maomao said casually, focusing on the point she cared about the most. “Dad, there are no bad people here, can I shower by myself?”

    “No!” Wei Chengli said firmly, refusing, then continued, confused, “How did you even think of those things? How do you have such a brain…”

    Completely baffled, Wei Chengli refused to believe that the girl who was still wetting the bed a few days ago had suddenly become Sherlock Holmes baby.

    “Watching more cartoons makes you smarter.” Wei Maomao said vaguely, then quickly changed the subject. “Thank you, Dad, for watching cartoons with me, for explaining them to me. Thank you, Dad, for making my brain grow~~~”

    Wei Chengli laughed in exasperation. “I don’t have that ability, I don’t even have such a brain myself.”

    “Oh, thank you, Dad, for letting your brain grow into mine.” Wei Maomao said, looking at the door. “Where’s Sister Mingming? If she’s not coming, I’m going to shower by myself!”

    “No way!” Wei Chengli said, refusing again without hesitation. His gaze swept past Cheng Tingyan, then landed back on the little dirty dumpling. “You’re so smart… You wouldn’t have known there was a problem inside and still cut in line, right?”

    Since everyone was already speculating, he didn’t mind being impolite and following their lead. Earlier, when he was anxiously waiting at the bathroom door, Su Li had explained the situation, Cheng Tingyan was supposed to be the one showering, but this little rascal insisted on cutting in line to poop…

    Wei Maomao: ???

    At first, Wei Maomao thought Wei Chengli was joking, or being sarcastic. But when she didn’t answer, and Wei Chengli also remained silent, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became eerily quiet, she realized he was actually asking seriously.

    Wait…

    He couldn’t be thinking in this direction.

    In this life, the married Wei Chengli was a normal and loving father. Just now, Wei Maomao almost didn’t notice, he even used the word “cutting in line.” If he misunderstood that she deliberately went in knowing there was a problem, it wouldn’t be good for Yan Yan…

    After all, for many parents, their own children were the most important. If there was a situation that could harm their child, they would choose to stay away, not get involved.

    Wei Maomao’s heart skipped a beat, this wouldn’t do!

  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 50p1

    Chapter 50 p1

    There was a reason Xin Yao rushed off on her first day of being in a relationship, without even properly talking to her girlfriend.

    After more than a month of waiting, there was finally a breakthrough in her mission.

    Liu Nuan Nuan, the system, after spending countless hours online, had finally managed to arrange a meeting with Ying Xi, the elusive fan club president.

    Posing as an important fan in Li Xu’s VIP fan group, Liu Nuan Nuan had created a fuss, claiming that the 1314 T-shirts she had purchased from Li Xu’s brand were all defective.

    She demanded a solution, threatening to return the merchandise and expose the issue online.

    It was a serious matter, and the fan club administrators rushed to appease her.

    Liu Nuan Nuan, seizing the opportunity, insisted on speaking directly with Ying Xi, the president, even flying back to China specifically for the meeting.

    After all, Ying Xi was still officially the president of the fan club.

    Finally, pressured by Liu Nuan Nuan’s persistence, and wanting to avoid negative publicity, Ying Xi, who had been MIA for months, agreed to the meeting.

    They met at a quiet, private cafe in the city center.

    Xin Yao arrived first.

    Despite her current infamy, she was still a celebrity and didn’t want to be recognized by Ying Xi too early.

    So, she was bundled up in a hat, scarf, mask, and sunglasses, despite the warm weather.

    Ying Xi arrived shortly after, a soft knock on the door announcing her arrival.

    Xin Yao took a sip of her coffee and called out, and the door opened.

    A beautiful young woman with long, black hair and a gentle, quiet demeanor entered the room.

    But it was clear that she wasn’t doing well. The dark circles under her eyes, her pale face, her slightly dazed expression, all hinted at a deep exhaustion, both physical and emotional.

    What had happened to her?

    And why had she suddenly disappeared two months ago?

    This young woman was Ying Xi, the fan club president Xin Yao and Liu Nuan Nuan had been searching for.

    The same Ying Xi who, in Xin Yao’s previous life, had been brutally murdered in a cold, dark alley.

    The same Ying Xi who, in this life, might suffer the same fate in just a few weeks.

    Ying Xi walked over to the table and sat down opposite Xin Yao, her voice soft and slightly distant.

    “Hello, Miss Wang.”

    Xin Yao nodded, not bothering with pleasantries, her own voice clear and steady as she pushed the menu towards Ying Xi. “What would you like to drink?”

    “Anything is fine,” Ying Xi shook her head, not even glancing at the menu. “I don’t mind.”

    She seemed to be barely holding herself together.

    So, Xin Yao didn’t get straight to the point, instead making small talk, trying to gauge her emotional state.

    Ying Xi, however, seemed distracted, her responses perfunctory, her gaze unfocused, not even questioning Xin Yao’s suspicious attire.

    She didn’t seem particularly interested in resolving the issue with the defective merchandise.

    She didn’t even recognize Xin Yao, the subject of her online hate, sitting right across from her.

    The system cackled.

    [You’re officially irrelevant.]

    Xin Yao: Nonsense. Even bad publicity is publicity. I could post a single message online and it would go viral.

    Xin Yao could easily guess the reason for Ying Xi’s distress.

    The original owner had believed she was Li Xu’s only girlfriend, only to be dumped when he found a wealthier, more influential partner.

    But Ying Xi’s existence proved that he had been cheating on her all along.

    The bastard had been two-timing them, then, after securing his position with the heiress, had discarded them both.

    And like the original owner, Ying Xi had probably been unaware of the other woman’s existence, believing herself to be Li Xu’s only girlfriend.

    Until the recent scandal, when she had learned the truth about Li Xu’s other relationships.

    It must have been devastating for her.

    But there had to be more to it than that.

    Unlike the distraught Ying Xi, Xin Yao was in a good mood today, eager to finish the meeting and get back to her girlfriend.

    Having observed Ying Xi long enough, she decided to drop the pretense.

    As Ying Xi sat there, lost in thought, Xin Yao removed her mask, hat, and sunglasses, her long hair cascading down her back, her face revealed in the soft light.

    Ying Xi looked at her, then took a sip of her coffee.

    They stared at each other in silence, the air thick with tension.

    Then, Ying Xi’s eyes widened in recognition, her face paling.

    “Xin Yao? It’s you!”

    She quickly understood.

    “You set me up! You were the one in the group chat, pretending to be that rich fan!”

    “This is a trap! What do you want from me? You’re so devious!”

    She grabbed her bag and turned to leave, as if wanting to escape.

    Xin Yao, who hadn’t even said anything yet, raised an eyebrow, watching her go, then spoke, her voice soft yet firm.

    “You know about the fan club’s fundraising activities, right? Do you know what it’s called when you encourage fans to take out loans and invest in your idol? It’s called illegal fundraising.”

    “Have you graduated from university yet? Or do you want to stay a student forever?”

    Her words, seemingly casual, stopped Ying Xi in her tracks.

    She turned around, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

    “What are you talking about?!”

    “I don’t understand,” she said, her voice trembling, her face pale, turning to leave again.

    Xin Yao held up her phone.

    “Think carefully. Do you want to tell me, or do you want to tell the police?”

    “Do you really think I’d be sitting here, so calmly, if I didn’t have proof?”

    “Or do you want to go down with Li Xu?”

    She did have some evidence.

    But Li Xu was cunning and careful, his actions meticulously planned, leaving no trace.

    The evidence she and Nuan Nuan had found wasn’t enough to convict him. He would easily weasel his way out.

    She needed more, and Ying Xi was the key.

    Her words were a bluff, a mix of truth and lies, designed to intimidate Ying Xi.

    And Ying Xi, young and naive, her mental state fragile, was easily swayed by Xin Yao’s confident demeanor.

    Her forehead beaded with sweat, her fingers clutching the doorknob, turning white.

    Finally, she walked back to the table and sat down, defeated.

    “What do you want?”

    By sitting down, she had implicitly admitted her involvement in the fan club’s illegal activities.

    Xin Yao smiled.

    But looking at Ying Xi’s pale, exhausted face, she remembered the news report from the original owner’s memories.

    This young, beautiful woman had died in a cold, dark alley.

    Had it been snowing that day? Xin Yao couldn’t remember.

    But it must have been cold.

    And there had to be more to Ying Xi’s current state than just the scandal.

    Li Xu, having secured his position with the heiress, had wanted to sever all ties with his past, including Ying Xi, who knew too much.

    He had dumped her shortly after the news of his affair broke, and to make matters worse, she had just discovered she was pregnant.

    The timing matched. The child would be about two months old now.

    Xin Yao’s eyes softened with a touch of sadness.

    “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? Li Xu’s child?”

    Ying Xi, still reeling from the shock of being exposed, looked up at Xin Yao, her face paling further.

    She was speechless.

    But Xin Yao’s words had been a statement, not a question, her certainty leaving no room for denial.

    But she hadn’t told anyone!

    Ying Xi finally found her voice.

    “How did you know? What do you want from me?!”

    Xin Yao sighed. “How I know isn’t important. The question is, does Li Xu know you’re pregnant?”

    “You’ve broken up, haven’t you? Do you think he’ll let you keep the child?”

    “Of course he will!” Ying Xi, tormented by Li Xu’s betrayal, their breakup, and her unexpected pregnancy, had forgotten to ask how Xin Yao knew about their relationship. Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice defiant. “I told him! He said he’ll marry me!”

    Still believing Li Xu at this point?

    Xin Yao sighed. “You’re so naive.”

    Ying Xi’s tears spilled over, her voice choked with emotion.

    “Naive? You have no right to call me naive! You’re the other woman! If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have broken up with me!”

    “Firstly,” Xin Yao raised an eyebrow, “I’m also a victim in this. Don’t direct your anger at another woman who’s been hurt. Blame the man who cheated on both of us.”

    “Secondly, while it’s not necessary to establish a timeline, it might be helpful. I started dating Li Xu six years ago. What about you?”

    “You’re a junior in university, 21 years old. Six years ago, you were 15. Li Xu hadn’t even debuted yet. You didn’t even know him, did you?”

    Xin Yao’s words stunned Ying Xi into silence.

    Like many others, she had believed Li Xu’s lies, thinking Xin Yao was the one pursuing him.

    She had thought she was the famous actor’s only girlfriend.

    And now Xin Yao was telling her they had been together for six years?

    What?

    Ying Xi’s expression faltered. She had hated Xin Yao, and now she realized she was the one who had interfered in their relationship?

    And she had been accusing Xin Yao? How dare she?

    Xin Yao, seeing her distraught expression, shook her head.

    “He’s been two-timing us all along, using me for connections, using you for money. Now that he has Mo Yuwei, he has both, so he’s discarding us both.”

    “How pathetic.”

    “I’m not letting him get away with this. And I need your help. You must have some evidence that could ruin him, don’t you?”

    Xin Yao’s words made Ying Xi’s mind race, her emotions a tangled mess of love and hate. She wanted to refuse, but before she could speak, Xin Yao lifted her sleeve, revealing the scar on her wrist.

    In the dim light of the cafe, the scar, long and deep, was a stark reminder of her pain.

    Ying Xi’s eyes widened in shock.

    Xin Yao’s voice was calm and even.

    “Li Xu tried to kill me.”

    “He knew I was emotionally vulnerable, so he pressured me, hoping I would kill myself. He could do that to me, after all these years, do you really think he’ll spare you?”

    “If the fan club’s illegal activities are exposed, he’ll throw you under the bus. Just like he dumped me after finding a richer girlfriend. He discards people he no longer needs.”

    “But now, with a child, you’re even more of a threat to his image, his career, his future.”

    “So, he won’t just try to kill me. He’ll try to kill you too.”

    Xin Yao leaned closer, her eyes, their black and white contrast stark, fixed on Ying Xi’s face.

    “Why should we die, while he gets to live?”

    The scar on Xin Yao’s wrist, and her words, had terrified Ying Xi.

    She had simply fallen in love with the wrong person. How had it escalated to murder?

    Compared to this, her unexpected pregnancy seemed insignificant.

    This was a society ruled by law. How could Li Xu do such a thing? How dare he?!

    Xin Yao, seeing her disbelief, leaned back in her chair, a cold smile playing on her lips.

    “Li Xu is a monster. He’s capable of anything to get ahead.”

    “Ying Xi,” she sighed, “you can recover from a broken heart, but some mistakes are irreversible. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t throw it away.”

    “Do you think I’m making this up? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know something.”

    “Ying Xi, the night is dangerous. And dark alleys, without lights or cameras, are even more dangerous. One day, you’ll notice that the streetlights and security cameras in the alley near your home are broken.”

    She grabbed Ying Xi’s hand, pressing her business card into her palm.

    “My contact information. Call me then. It’s not too late.”

    Ying Xi stared at the business card, tears streaming down her face, her lips trembling.

    It was still early, only 10:30 am, when Xin Yao left the cafe.

    The meeting had left her feeling uneasy.

    But as she stepped outside, the fresh snow crunching beneath her feet, she thought of the previous night, of Xu Jingyu.

    Of her girlfriend. A smile touched her lips, her heart lifting, her steps quickening as she hurried back to the hotel, eager to see her.

    But as she reached the hotel, she was intercepted by Meng Wanqing, who was lurking in the hallway, her arms laden with DVDs.

    Xin Yao, startled by her sudden appearance, exclaimed, “What are you doing?!”

    Meng Wanqing, her legs numb from squatting, jumped up and ran towards Xin Yao, her eyes shining.

    “Yaoyao, you’re back!”

    Seeing her eager expression, Xin Yao instinctively took a step back. “What’s this about? What are you up to?”

    Meng Wanqing grinned, patting the DVDs in her arms.

    “Good stuff. Interested?”

    A question mark appeared above Xin Yao’s head.

    Meng Wanqing leaned closer, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Horror movies. Wanna watch?”

    Xin Yao took a large step back. “Are you crazy? No way! Why would I want to torture myself?”

    “Xin Yao!” Meng Wanqing’s voice was filled with mock disapproval. “As an actress, how can you say that?!”

    “Can you guarantee you’ll never be cast in a horror movie? What will you do then? Run away? Are you even a professional?”

    “You have to practice! Build up your courage!”

    Her words, despite their absurdity, struck a chord with Xin Yao, making her hesitate.

    She was a dedicated actress, after all.

    Meng Wanqing, seeing her hesitation, clasped her hands together, her eyes pleading.

    “Please, Jiejie! I need to practice! I can’t watch horror movies alone! I’ll die!”

    Xin Yao finally relented, her brow furrowing slightly.

    “But I can’t either! I’m terrified of horror movies! How about… we ask Xu Jingyu to join us?”

    “Eww!” Meng Wanqing shuddered. “Watching a horror movie while staring at Xu Jingyu’s ice-cold face? That’s even more terrifying!”

    Her girlfriend being insulted made Xin Yao pause, then she patted Meng Wanqing’s shoulder, a smile playing on her lips.

    “I finally understand why Xue Ning says you’re lucky to be alive.”

    In the end, they did invite Xu Jingyu.

    They were planning to watch the movie in Xin Yao’s room. When the doorbell rang, Xin Yao went to open the door.

    The cool air from the hallway wafted into the room as Xin Yao saw the figure standing outside.

    She was tall, dressed in a simple black dress, her long, dark hair cascading down her back, the color accentuating her pale skin.

    She looked like a creature of ice and snow, her presence chilling.

    It was Xu Jingyu.

    But the moment she saw Xin Yao, her cold, aloof demeanor melted away, her eyes shining with warmth and affection.

    Like ice melting in the sunlight.

    Before they were together, their interactions had been casual and easy.

    Now, on their first official day as a couple, their relationship suddenly more intimate, more significant, Xin Yao felt a sudden shyness, unable to meet Xu Jingyu’s gaze.

    But even as she blushed, her eyes lowered, she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

    They stood there, at the doorway, their eyes locked, the air between them thick with unspoken desire, as if they were about to kiss.

    But they didn’t, the unspoken intimacy of the moment broken as they finally looked away, remembering Meng Wanqing’s presence inside.

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 136p1

    Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Six: Perfect Hunt p1

    “No.1: 【Mask】 (Available) (Estimated Reset 51:41)”
    “No.2: 【Building-Tree Guardian】 (Available)”
    “No.3: 【Goldie】 (Available)”
    “No.4: 【A4】 (Available)”
    “No.5: 【Unnamed】 (Available)”
    “No.6: 🌐 (Available)”

    At this moment, Lin Jiayao, lying on the vine bed, was burying her face in her sister’s chest.

    And her own legs, as usual, were tightly clamped by her sister.

    After finding the most comfortable position, Lin Jiayao opened the login interface and saw the status of the zombies she could currently log into.

    Mask would be back in Xin City in about an hour. Although this speed was not as fast as A4’s, it was still quite fast.

    It was just that Lin Jiayao couldn’t imagine how Mask was running. What had it become after evolving?

    However, Lin Jiayao didn’t want to waste an hour waiting just to see Mask. Right now, there was another B-rank zombie, A4, waiting for her “inspection”.

    Lin Jiayao reached out, her finger tapping on A4, and her consciousness slowly sank into darkness.

    “Whoosh—”
    “Hah—”
    “Whoosh—”
    “Thump—”

    Lin Jiayao’s consciousness had just transferred. Before she could even open her eyes, she heard a cacophony of hundreds of thousands of noises exploding in her ears.

    But this sensation didn’t bring Lin Jiayao any discomfort. Before she could do anything, she had already adapted to this state of heightened senses.

    This was the effect of A4’s original golden evolution, 【Hunting Rhythm】, which could always keep Lin Jiayao in the optimal hunting state, with top-notch self-regulation ability.

    She slowly clenched her fists. It still felt like human fists… but the energy contained within was different from before.

    She still didn’t open her eyes, simply feeling the wind around her and her own strength, and then subconsciously comparing it to her other B-rank zombie, No. 5.

    In terms of agility and speed, it was definitely a complete victory over No. 5.

    But in terms of strength and defense, Lin Jiayao, who had controlled many zombies, could tell from experience that A4 in its current state was far inferior to No. 5.

    “Hiss—”

    Lin Jiayao slowly took a breath and opened her eyes.

    In Lin Jiayao’s eyes, everything around her had lost its original color. Whether it was tall buildings, zombies, or even the flowing wind, they all had different colors and shapes in Lin Jiayao’s eyes.

    This should be the advanced version of Blood Crystal Vision.

    The previous Blood Crystal Vision had a very large limitation. It could only see the location of blood crystals, but it wouldn’t show any obstacles.

    So, at the beginning, A4, which hadn’t evolved Hunting Rhythm, just relied on instinct, bumping into walls like a fool.

    Now, the buildings in her eyes had become grids composed of brown threads, and the zombies staying in the buildings were also outlined by blood-red threads.

    Blue threads of rain were dripping, gray wind was “flowing”, and Lin Jiayao finally understood what the restless buzzing in her ears at the beginning was.

    It was the sound of zombies walking or breathing.

    Lin Jiayao slowly lowered her head and looked at her hands.

    Golden threads formed her hands. As her fists clenched tightly, two huge, sharp blades hooked by golden threads burst out violently from her arms.

    “Buzz—”

    This time, it wasn’t the curved blades of the previous C-rank, but slender, sharp swords that looked like elongated triangles.

    After the golden threads hooked into the shape of sharp swords, they didn’t stabilize within the blade, but uncontrollably spread golden threads around.

    When these threads fell on the brown threads representing the building or the blue threads representing the rain, they would directly cut these threads and grids without any hindrance.

    This was just one of A4’s several forms, a relatively simple attack form.

    “Swish—”

    Standing on the roof, Lin Jiayao, aimed at a corner of a building ten meters away, and flicked her right arm upwards.

    The golden threads burst out with a whooshing sound, directly cutting the brown threads representing the building in half. The cut was so smooth that there wasn’t a single extra piece of rubble. This corner of the building directly slid down along the cut and fell towards the bottom.

    Such a fierce attack power…

    “Hiss—”
    “Crack, crack—”

    Lin Jiayao slowly exhaled, and her whole body began to twist and mutate.

    Since she was going to test it, she might as well try A4’s strongest form.

    “Chila—”

    The blades that originally only extended from the arms to the back of the hands also broke through the flesh at the elbows, forming a curved blade behind the elbows.

    From her shoulders and deltoid muscles, elongated armor plates, also expressed with golden threads, spread out, constantly covering downwards from the shoulders.

    Like a set of armor, the important parts of Lin Jiayao’s exterior were quickly covered by solid armor plates, while her legs were broken and bent.

    Her originally straight legs became two curved arcs covered by exoskeletons, looking like the legs of a Hunter, but more elegant and agile.

    “Crack—”

    And from her back, from the gaps in the armor and the spaces in the shoulder armor, streams of blood-red tendrils sprayed out, forming two wings like a cloak, expressed as red threads.

    In this super-sensory thread perspective, Lin Jiayao could very intuitively feel the changes in her body.

    If she had to find a creature similar to her current form… Lin Jiayao felt it was more like a Starcraft Protoss “Zealot” with a more slender and streamlined armor.

    Or perhaps a “Kai’Sa”(League of Legends) with biological armor that was more aggressive and bloodthirsty?

    After the armor was completely covered, Lin Jiayao slowly held her breath.

    In her eyes, all the threads quickly faded, and that extraordinary perception was also rapidly detaching. Starting from afar, the world returned to a hazy gray color.

    Dark clouds completely covered the dusk sky, and heavy rain poured down. All the threads disappeared without a trace. All that remained in Lin Jiayao’s ears was the pattering of rain.

    Naturally, the golden threads on Lin Jiayao’s body also completely disappeared, replaced by a set of black armor plates with blood-red threads and terrifying, pulsating tendrils.

    Except for the waist and joints that needed a lot of movement, most of her body was covered with this layer of black biological armor plates. The connections of the armor were blood-red tendrils used to transmit energy.

    And the wings behind her were red tendril nets filled with energy, two tendril nets fluttering behind her, like wings or a cloak.

    This mode was A4’s most balanced form. Besides this, Lin Jiayao knew of another berserk form that was extremely damaging to herself, and a speed form that enhanced the wings to pursue ultimate speed.

    It was like an Ultraman transformation.

    But it was undeniable that A4, after evolving to B-rank, could hunt in the city or any terrain with its super-senses and extremely strong physical qualities, becoming a veritable king of hunters.

    If nothing unexpected happened, A4 would still be Lin Jiayao’s strongest zombie in terms of individual combat capability.

    Lin Jiayao took a deep breath and looked down at the building a hundred meters below.

    She was still standing on the roof of the previous building.

    She might as well use this building to test A4’s attack power.

    A scarlet light flashed in Lin Jiayao’s crimson pupils, and the super-sensory state that transformed everything in the world into threads covered the surroundings again.

    But this time, this super-sensory state didn’t spread as wide as before, but only covered a radius of a hundred meters around Lin Jiayao.

    In this fixed-point super-sensory state, Lin Jiayao felt her mental power rapidly draining. The building beneath her feet was already completely wrapped in brown and other colored threads.

    Even the raindrops, symbolized by blue threads, falling from the sky began to slow down, almost to a standstill.

    Of course, this wasn’t time stopping.

    It was that Lin Jiayao’s thinking was accelerated in the fixed-point super-sensory state.

    “Whoosh—”

    In this slow-motion state, Lin Jiayao’s movements were not greatly affected.

    As she waved her arms, the elongated water droplets touched by the golden thread swords were cut in half, and the threads shattered and exploded in slow motion.

    Lin Jiayao’s body had already traced a golden-red intersecting thread, and she stomped down fiercely. The originally stable brown threads of the building began to collapse, and Lin Jiayao’s body also fell in slow motion.

    “Ch—”

    The flesh on her abdomen, not covered by armor, everted, and two bone spikes constructed of white threads ejected, hooking her body and moving it towards the outer wall, breaking free from the influence of the slow-motion fall.

    “Chichichi—”
    “Kakakaka—”

    For a moment, only the sounds of bone spikes bursting could be heard. Lin Jiayao’s body flashed and moved between the buildings, reaching the first floor in less than half a minute.

    But this was only the half-minute that Lin Jiayao perceived. In the world at normal speed, the speed of the raindrops falling was almost the same as her falling speed.

    “Thump—”

    Lin Jiayao landed heavily in front of the building, shattering the ground, and asphalt and stones splashed.

    At this moment, Lin Jiayao turned off the extremely energy-consuming fixed-point super-sensory state.

    “Crack—”
    “Kakakaka—”
    “Swish—”

    Behind Lin Jiayao, a buzzing sound that seemed to be the superposition of hundreds of slashes sounded, and streaks of blood-red blade light flashed from top to bottom of the entire building.

    Even at the end, there were several circular cutting blade lights on the outer wall of the building, as if someone had drawn a blade and slashed in the center of the building.

    “Pitter-patter—”
    “Rumble—”

    This wasn’t thunder, but the sound of rain shattering into smaller water droplets hitting the ground, and the rumbling and cracking of the tall building.

    In just a few seconds, Lin Jiayao, controlling A4, directly chopped a whole building into pieces like cutting tofu with a random knife!

    “Boom—”

    As if to add to the excitement, a thunderclap exploded not far away. Accompanied by the sound of thunder and lightning, the building, which had been broken into dozens of pieces, collapsed.

    And Lin Jiayao, with a few backflips and rolls, moved away from the center of the collapsing rubble.

    “Huff… huff…”

    Lin Jiayao was breathing heavily, and the swords and armor on her body could no longer be maintained and retracted directly.

    Waves of dizziness enveloped Lin Jiayao, but they still couldn’t stop the excitement in Lin Jiayao’s heart.

    Such swift and fierce attack methods, such powerful individual combat capabilities, just hitting a “target” could make Lin Jiayao feel the exhilarating thrill of battle.

    This was a feeling that No. 5’s crushing power, ultimate defense, and the powerful blood crystal pressure released through the vascular network couldn’t bring.

    If No. 5 relied on its size and huge blood crystal reserves, relying on ultimate defense and Debuff (blood crystal pressure) for ultimate crushing.

    Then A4, No. 4, was all about ultimate speed and ultimate flashiness.

    Who wouldn’t like such a flashy and powerful evolution?

    Of course, facing large-sized and group targets, A4 was not invincible, and even seemed a little weak.

    Like the building in front of her, and the brain hive queen that Goldie encountered before, No. 5 could probably flatten them with a single blood crystal pressure, but A4 couldn’t do it so easily.

    Even Wu Hejun’s electromagnetic cannon(railgun), with larger “projectiles”, could easily smash a building.

    It could only be said that each had their own specialty. If it was against small and medium-sized single targets, No. 5 wouldn’t kill as fast as A4.

    One was ultimate group attack, the other was ultimate single-target hunting. Lin Jiayao was starting to look forward to what kind of surprise the B-rank Mask would bring her.

    The building over there was still collapsing, and dust was flying everywhere. After the excitement passed, Lin Jiayao began to look for an Extraction Point.

    She had been having too much fun and almost forgot to extract.

    When Lin Jiayao saw the Extraction Point, she was stunned.

    “Extraction Time 3:51:22”
    【Zhujiang Bridge Interchange Extraction Point: 37.9km】
    【Yuejiang Bridge Extraction Point: 92km】
    【Lion Head Mountain Extraction Point: 56.3km】
    【Beijiang Bridge Extraction Point: 94.4km】

    Four Extraction Points?

    Was she seeing correctly?

    And they were in four different directions: east, south, west, and north.

    The time required for extraction was 4 hours for each, but the distance of each Extraction Point varied greatly.

    Through so many extractions, Lin Jiayao had long understood a rule.

    Excluding the factor of the zombie itself being crippled, under the same time, the shorter the extraction distance, the greater the probability of encountering danger on the way to the Extraction Point.

    “System, why are there 4 Extraction Points this time?”

    Lin Jiayao still had plenty of time to choose, so she asked the system in her heart.

    “Has the host not looked at the Hideout?”

    Uh… she really hadn’t.

    After stuffing two blood crystals into the Zombie Loot Box, Lin Jiayao hadn’t opened the Hideout today, so naturally, she hadn’t noticed the changes in the Hideout.

    “Three of the host’s logged-in zombies have reached B-rank. The Hideout automatically upgraded. All buildings have reached an upgradeable state, and a new building, 【Custom Waypoint】, has been gifted.”

    “【Custom Waypoint Lv.1: Gives you more Extraction Points, and you can choose one of them to extract from. It also marks the specific name of the Extraction Point】”

    …

     

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 281

    Chapter 281: The Will of the Lord of Pleasure

    The… Empress?

    Qin Chu looked at Wadsworth with pity.

    This Emperor’s luck was truly abysmal.

    Two consorts, Angela and Sharon, were high-ranking members of the Witch Society.

    Wadsworth hadn’t even shown him the list, memorizing and destroying it immediately. Why? Besides the fact that it likely contained the names of other consorts, perhaps even sisters or daughters, what other reason could there be?

    And now, even his Empress was a member, the Vice President no less…

    Wadsworth had enough hats to start a millinery business.

    Wasn’t the Empress the mother of the First Prince? And also the princess from the Ice Duchy who had married into the Empire, Anastasia’s aunt?

    Qin Chu frowned, turning to Angelica: “Ange, are you sure? This is a serious matter. Don’t make a mistake.”

    Despite the cautionary tone, his voice was gentle, devoid of blame.

    Angelica frowned, thinking carefully: “Yes, I’m sure. I overheard the consorts’ plot and was about to leave when this woman appeared behind me.”

    “She attacked me. She’s very strong.” She nodded firmly.

    That woman attacked Angelica, nearly killing her, leaving her in this weakened state?

    Even though she was Anastasia’s aunt, this was crossing a line. Qin Chu might have overlooked other transgressions, but harming Angelica was unforgivable.

    Carol, supporting Angelica, didn’t know what to say, looking at her father with concern.

    Wadsworth’s face was pale, his body swaying slightly. The series of revelations had clearly shaken him.

    Mavis!

    The princess from the Ice Duchy, his first consort, the mother of his firstborn son, his Empress for over two decades…

    Although he had distanced himself from her after the First Prince’s birth, he had allowed her to retain her title, but he couldn’t allow her to wield too much influence, especially with her son being the heir apparent.

    Nevertheless, she had always enjoyed the privileges and treatment befitting an Empress. He had never neglected her in that regard.

    With such an exalted position and lavish lifestyle, why would she join the Blissful Witch Society, becoming its Vice President no less?

    Seeing Wadsworth clenching his fists, Qin Chu sighed and patted his shoulder: “Brother, be strong.”

    “Perhaps you should handle Mavis’s matter yourself. I’ll return to the Hero’s Residence.”

    A weak smile touched Wadsworth’s lips as he glanced at Qin Chu. This brother was considerate.

    Knowing the awkwardness of the situation, he was offering to excuse himself.

    Wadsworth closed his eyes, composing himself. After a few seconds, he opened them, his dark face regaining its usual stoicism.

    As Emperor, he couldn’t allow his emotions to cloud his judgment.

    Mavis had possessed considerable strength even before marrying him. Despite neglecting her for years, he couldn’t deny her talent. Coupled with Angelica’s description, she wouldn’t be an easy opponent.

    “No, Brother Qin, come with me,” Wadsworth said.

    Qin Chu didn’t refuse. He was curious about this Vice President who had dared to harm Angelica.

    Wadsworth led them to the Empress’s quarters.

    Upon arriving, Qin Chu frowned, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard. Overgrown weeds reached above head height, a narrow path barely wide enough for a single person leading to a dilapidated building, half of which had collapsed from years of neglect.

    He glanced at Wadsworth. Was this really the Empress’s residence? Had they come to the wrong place? It looked more like a storage shed.

    Wadsworth was also surprised. He had banished Mavis here after the First Prince’s birth, assigning guards and servants to attend to her. He hadn’t visited in over two decades, even forbidding the First Prince from coming here. He had provided her with a generous monthly allowance of 200,000 mana, assuming she lived comfortably.

    Who knew her quarters would fall into such disrepair?

    Even the palace maids lived in better conditions.

    Where were the guards?

    Where were the servants?

    He clenched his fists. The weekly reports had always stated that the Empress was well and everything was normal. Where had the 200,000 mana gone each month?

    Wadsworth’s face darkened. Gritting his teeth, he pushed aside the weeds, walking towards the dilapidated building.

    He didn’t even need to open a door. The collapsed wall provided easy access.

    Inside, a faint human scent lingered…

    The scent of death.

    From the rotting rafters hung a series of corpses.

    Plump maidservants, armored guards, all those assigned to attend to the Empress.

    White silk cords wrapped around their necks, their heads lolling. A breeze blew through the broken walls, swaying the corpses, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

    A single bed remained, its legs rotted and broken, the frame resting on the dirt floor, the bedding tattered and patched…

    A few branches served as clothes hangers, draped with faded, ragged dresses.

    Angelica realized that the woman she had seen wasn’t barefoot by choice, but because she likely had no shoes.

    A metal pot, supported by branches, sat on the floor, containing some boiled roots.

    This was the Empress’s living quarters?

    It was beyond pathetic.

    Wadsworth’s face was thunderous as he looked at the hanging corpses.

    The Empress’s monthly allowance must have been embezzled by the guards and servants.

    Perhaps they had started small, but seeing Mavis’s indifference, they had grown bolder.

    With Wadsworth never visiting, their greed had escalated, until they left her with nothing, neglecting her completely.

    These guards and servants, enjoying their ill-gotten gains, had turned a blind eye to Mavis’s strange behavior, reporting that everything was normal.

    Mavis, in turn, hadn’t wanted new guards, so she had tolerated their theft, maintaining a precarious balance.

    Until now. Knowing her secret would soon be exposed, she had killed those who had humiliated her for over two decades.

    “Ah…”

    Angelica gasped, drawing Qin Chu and Wadsworth’s attention.

    On the wall hung three magical images, resembling photographs.

    The first was of the First Prince.

    The second was of Wadsworth.

    The third was of Qin Chu.

    The First Prince’s image was intact, but Wadsworth’s and Qin Chu’s were riddled with tiny holes, as if someone had repeatedly stabbed them with a needle or ice pick, a testament to a deep-seated hatred, a desire to tear them to shreds.

    It seemed Empress Mavis blamed them for the First Prince’s death.

    It was understandable. Qin Chu had killed him, and Wadsworth’s involvement wasn’t much better.

    On the floor beneath the images sat a wooden statue.

    The statue was grotesque.

    Neither male nor female.

    If you saw it as male, it possessed a leonine masculinity.

    If you saw it as female, it exuded a witch-like allure.

    It was a strange blend of masculine and feminine charm, a captivating, almost corrupting beauty.

    This must be a statue of the Lord of Pleasure, the Blissful Witch Society’s deity.

    Ironically, Mavis still worshipped the entity that had led her son down the path of depravity and destruction.

    The statue hadn’t been here for just a day or two. Yet, the greedy servants, blinded by their ill-gotten gains, had ignored it, allowing the worship of the Lord of Pleasure to fester within the palace walls.

    Creak…

    Qin Chu heard a faint sound.

    He turned towards the source, a chilling sight making his hair stand on end.

    He couldn’t believe his eyes… the wooden statue had turned its face towards him.

    Its stiff lips curled into a smile.

    Buzz…

  • My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 50

    Chapter 50: The Timeline

    While Jiang Xue slept soundly in the first-class cabin, her dream self, in cat form, leaned against Xiao Luohan, letting her brush her fur.

    Perhaps because Xiao Luohan’s interactions with her cat form were limited to brushing and cuddling, Jiang Xue rarely experienced that peculiar tingling sensation during this time.

    She closed her eyes, enjoying the petting, and couldn’t help but ask, “If the mindscape disappears after you come over, do you… want to adopt a cat?”

    Xiao Luo should like cats very much, right? The first time she transformed into a cat to accompany her, Xiao Luohan had sleepily hugged her and tucked her into the quilt. Later, when she came to this world, she also liked petting Xie Xitong’s cat.

    As she asked, Jiang Xue was already recalling the costs and supplies for raising a cat that those cat-related vloggers had posted in their “adopt-don’t-shop” videos. If Xiao Luo wanted to adopt a cat, she would do her research.

    “No,” Xiao Luohan’s answer came without hesitation. “If I want to pet a cat, I can ask A-Xi, or go to a cat café.”

    She had recently read a web novel about a cat café, where the owner, who had the ability to communicate with cats, raised more than ten cats of different breeds. In the words of the novel, it was a paradise for cat lovers.

    Jiang Xue paused, then chuckled. “Are you also a ‘pet, don’t adopt’ type?”

    “I can’t even take care of myself, how can I take care of a cat?” Xiao Luohan explained softly. “Besides… I’m a little reluctant to see a beloved little creature suddenly disappear.”

    “When I was young, a little sparrow was abandoned in a tree in the courtyard. My elder sister and I rescued it and raised it in a small nest Mother made from scraps of cloth and cotton, feeding it millet and corn every day…”

    Recalling this, she still felt a little sad. “I thought that with such care, it would grow up quickly and be able to fly freely in the sky. But after a cold night, it just lay quietly in its nest, motionless.”

    They had no experience raising sparrows. Even though they had provided what they thought was the best food and shelter, they could only watch as it silently passed away.

    Jiang Xue closed her mouth after hearing the beginning and only spoke after Xiao Luohan finished, rubbing against her hand. “Then don’t adopt. It’s good that you have this concern. I also often think that if I can’t be responsible for any unforeseen circumstances, I shouldn’t raise a life. Otherwise, it would be…”

    She didn’t finish her sentence, feeling it was a bit harsh.

    But Xiao Luohan understood what she meant and nodded in agreement.

    Two or three minutes passed quickly. Xiao Luohan, afraid of splashing the sauce from the instant rice packet on Jiang Xue, put the cat aside before tearing open the packet.

    Jiang Xue jumped off the table and transformed back into a human, smiling. “I’ll treat you to Sister Cheng’s specialty Korean bibimbap sometime.”

    Even though this was the flavor she had chosen for Xiao Luo, and she often stocked up on it herself, how could instant food compare to fresh food?

    Actually, she had originally wanted to send Xiao Luohan an airplane meal for lunch. The first-class meals were quite good, but Jiang Mei had said it was best not to let others witness a “supernatural event”—there were cameras on the plane, so Jiang Xue had to give up on the idea.

    Today’s lunch couldn’t be helped, but she still wanted to plan the other meals.

    “By the way, Uncle Seuss usually has dinner around 7:30 PM, which is a bit late, but he likes afternoon tea and has it every day, without fail. I’ll send you some!” she said. “I used to love the grape scones and soufflés Uncle Seuss made…”

    She started listing dishes, describing the ingredients and how to eat each dessert.

    Xiao Luohan ate her mixed rice as she listened, feeling that it tasted even more delicious.

    At 2:10 PM, the plane landed on time at the foreign airport.

    Jiang Xue, dragging her suitcase in one hand and holding the diary in the other, followed Jiang Mei to the parking lot with Xie Xitong.

    Uncle Seuss was already waiting at the agreed-upon spot. Compared to people in their home country, he was more reserved, only greeting the three girls with a warm smile.

    “Get in the car. The roads are clear now. It’ll be worse when school lets out.”

    He casually tied up his shoulder-length brown hair and gentlemanly opened the back door for them before going to the driver’s seat.

    Seeing him take out a pair of glasses from the glove compartment and put them on, Jiang Xue said in surprise, “You’re nearsighted now?”

    “I’m getting old, after all.” Uncle Seuss turned around and smiled at her. Through the lenses, his green eyes did seem dimmer than Jiang Xue remembered from a few years ago.

    On the way to the manor, Jiang Xue updated her uncle on the latest developments.

    Uncle Seuss had already heard about Xiao Luohan’s general situation from Jiang Mei. Back then, he had already decided that the Crown Prince of Daying wasn’t a good person, and even if Xiao Luohan had to stay in the ancient world, she had to find another way out and couldn’t be trapped in the palace.

    Now, after hearing Jiang Xue’s story, he sighed deeply, pushed up his glasses at a red light, and said with a gloomy expression, “If your diary could send your uncle over there, I would sneak into the Eastern Palace tonight and send him straight to hell!”

    Uncle Seuss looked gentle and had a mild temperament, but he was actually skilled in martial arts. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to let Ms. Jiang marry his younger sister—as a fellow practitioner, he could tell a person’s character just by testing their skills.

    If anyone else said this, Jiang Xue would think they were bragging, but coming from Uncle Seuss, she actually felt it was feasible.

    That’s why, when her older sister suggested borrowing a gun from her uncle, she had wanted to come here as soon as possible and learn more from him, so she could teach Xiao Luo.

    “But three days is still too rushed.”

    When the light turned green, Uncle Seuss calmly turned the car amidst the honking, continuing, “Although I’ve been working on a plan these past few days, ‘armchair strategizing’ is different from actual combat… Learn as much as you can.”

    Despite saying this, as soon as the three girls arrived at his house and entered the study, they saw the blackboard covered with plans and various newly printed papers scattered on the floor.

    And the wastebasket by the desk was already half-full of shredded paper.

    “…Uncle Seuss is like this,” Jiang Xue explained to Xie Xitong. “He lists out all the possible plans and potential problems, and improves them bit by bit.”

    She pointed to the paper shredder on the desk. “He discards the completely unfeasible plans.”

    “Indeed, you must be amused,” Uncle Seuss said, taking a sheet of paper from the top of the blackboard and handing it to Jiang Xue. “This is the current plan. There’s only a textual description here. I’ll explain the details in person during the practical training.”

    “If it were A-Xue, the difficulty of assassinating the Crown Prince would be slightly lower, but that little princess is weak and doesn’t seem to have much strength? We need to consider some things more carefully.”

    After saying this, Uncle Seuss left the study. “I’ll be in the courtyard. Come out for afternoon tea after you’re done reading.”

    His tone was calm, as if killing a Crown Prince was as casual as playing a game of soccer.

    Xie Xitong, who had barely met him before, was intrigued, but Jiang Xue and Jiang Mei were used to it.

    “Just think of him as having a severe case of chuunibyou,” Jiang Mei commented.

    Jiang Xue carefully read the plan from beginning to end—she didn’t quite understand it. Her “chuunibyou” uncle’s thought process was erratic, and he used “code words” that probably only he understood.

    Jiang Mei and Xie Xitong also leaned in for a closer look. In the end, the three decided it was better to ask her uncle for practical training directly.

    When they returned to the courtyard, they saw Uncle Seuss grooming his beloved horse.

    But a delicate afternoon tea was already set up on the small round table nearby: two three-tiered cake stands, a glass thermos of hot black tea, and cutlery and napkins placed in front of three seats.

    Uncle Seuss’s afternoon tea depended on his mood. Sometimes it was traditional European style, sometimes a mix of various regional snacks.

    The black tea was “Dianhong” that Ms. Wei had sent from China. It was Uncle Seuss’s favorite.

    Jiang Xue took two grape scones to satisfy her hunger, then filled an empty plate with all the other snacks, greeted Xiao Luohan, and placed the plate on the diary.

    “Is this the medium for transtemporal communication?”

    Uncle Seuss had come over at some point, pushing up his glasses and watching with interest as the plate full of snacks disappeared into the diary. “Xiao Mei told me that this should be the intersection of two parallel worlds, but you haven’t figured out the principle yet?”

    “We can’t. There are too few clues!” Jiang Xue shook her head.

    Uncle Seuss smiled, sat down in his seat, poured her a cup of black tea, and said slowly, “Then let me share some of my current thoughts.”

    “According to some ancient hypotheses, after death, the soul exists independently of our world, and the two worlds don’t interfere with each other, so ordinary people can’t see the souls of the deceased.”

    He looked at Xie Xitong. “But also since ancient times, there have been a small number of people who have so-called ‘yin-yang eyes,’ who can not only see souls, but also things like resentment and vengeful spirits.”

    “That belongs to a realm that ordinary people like us can’t access, but being unable to access it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. After all, there are still many unsolved mysteries in this world that we can’t observe with the naked eye or instruments.”

    He picked up a sandwich. “Combining Xiao Mei’s speculation, I personally think that Xiao Linghan, in her soul state, probably came into contact with a realm inaccessible to the living and saw the possibility of two worlds intersecting.”

    “Driven by strong obsession and resentment, she ‘captured’ the intersection of the two parallel worlds and bound it to her target—Xiao Luohan.”

    “Of course, I’m not proposing a conspiracy theory, just stating a hypothesis. Based on the current information and the red fox’s behavior, I think Xiao Linghan’s motives are pure. We can even roughly construct a timeline based on her experiences.”

    As he ate his sandwich, he picked up a packet of ketchup from the table, tore it open, and squeezed it onto an empty plate, using it to draw a timeline.

    “The war between Daying and Beiliao, Xiao Linghan died in battle—in an area closer to Daying. But if she had been a little luckier, it would have been the Crown Prince who died in that battle. Let’s assume this is part of the ‘earthbound spirit’s’ obsession.”

    “During her seven-day memorial period, she returned to Beiliao to bid farewell to her younger sister and mother. But her mother was poisoned by the Emperor of Beiliao, and her younger sister was about to be sent to Daying for a marriage alliance.”

    “It would take some time for Xiao Luohan to travel to Daying, and the transtemporal diary appeared beside her pillow the day after she arrived—can I assume that when the diary appeared, Xiao Linghan had already successfully established the ‘intersection’ of the two parallel worlds?”

    “Since the intersection has been established, she then needed to strengthen the connection between the two worlds through repeated interactions—that is, the connection between A-Xue and Xiao Luohan—to create a channel for crossing over, to send Xiao Luohan away from the land she hated.”

    “As for the forms and contents of these interactions, I’m sure the two young ladies are very clear about them, so I won’t elaborate. Let me just state the conclusion.”

    At the end of the timeline, Uncle Seuss drew a thick circle with ketchup.

    “If my speculation is correct, then you don’t need to worry about the channel for crossing over.”

    “Xiao Luohan will definitely come over safely. Her elder sister is someone with a deep obsession, willing to pay any price to make this happen.”