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  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 38p1

    Chapter 38: Temporary Marking Doesn’t Work p1

    Inside the pear-scented car, Ming Fei herself also sensed the abnormality in her pheromones.

    The usual sweetness was now tinged with bitterness and sourness, like an unripe pear that had ripened too early, or perhaps overripe and starting to spoil.

    She couldn’t quite understand her current situation, only deducing that it probably wasn’t a full heat cycle, because the high fever that had just subsided hadn’t returned.

    But she was definitely uncomfortable, especially with the burning sensation behind her gland intensifying the pain.

    …What should she do?

    The temporary marking seemed to have stopped working.

    And there were no extra suppressants in the car.

    What should she do?

    Was she just going to be a human air freshener, constantly emitting pheromones?

    Ming Fei couldn’t think of a solution, and the release of her pheromones was accelerating.

    Just as she was about to ask Zhu Yiqiao to speed up the hovercar so she could go back to the hotel and try the suppressants, the familiar high fever returned.

    Eh?!!

    Ming Fei’s eyes widened, and her slender, white fingers clenched the corner of her clothes.

    Realizing the situation was getting worse, she immediately looked at Zhu Yiqiao in the driver’s seat.

    “…Jiejie,” she said, “Could you stop the car and let me out by the roadside?”

    The bracelet on Zhu Yiqiao’s wrist was already set to the highest level of suppression. She showed no outward sign, but her pheromones were constantly trying to surge out, attempting to soothe the pear scent.

    “What are you planning to do?”

    Ming Fei quickly explained, “We are both alphas. I know my pheromones will definitely affect you, but I don’t want that. You’ve helped me so many times, and I have no reason to affect you, offend you, or harm you when I can’t offer you any help.”

    “After I get out of the car, I’ll find a hotel and get a room as an isolation room. Transport robots aren’t as fast as hovercars. If it’s convenient for Jiejie, I would like to… trouble you again to bring me two suppressant injections.”

    Zhu Yiqiao turned to look at her, ripples appearing in her usually calm eyes.

    “—Ming Fei.”

    “Do you know what you’re saying?”

    Ming Fei was already very uncomfortable. The uncontrolled pheromones, the returning high fever, and the burning sensation in her gland made her thoughts chaotic.

    Even though her body was being scorched by hellfire, she didn’t lose control, only slightly furrowing her brows, her red lips pressed into a thin line.

    She replied, “I know.”

    “Have you forgotten the consequences I told you about last time?”

    “But there’s no better solution.” She insisted, “And, I don’t think this is a premonition of a heat cycle, just that the burning sensation in my gland is much more severe than the fever, probably because my gland was injured.”

    “Don’t worry, Jiejie, I can handle it.”

    Zhu Yiqiao, sensing the surging pear scent, was skeptical of her pale explanation.

    …A burning sensation in the gland?

    If the gland was damaged, such an abnormal reaction could indeed occur.

    The effect of the reverse temporary marking was minimal, but it should still be able to alleviate it.

    Thinking of this, Zhu Yiqiao sat next to Ming Fei. Before Ming Fei could react, she took off the pheromone bracelet from her wrist and put it on Ming Fei’s.

    “Let’s try a temporary marking first.”

    Ming Fei, seeing her insistence, was both grateful and at a loss.

    Because her pheromones and her limited knowledge of differentiation told her that frequent temporary markings in a short period would lead to both parties developing illusions of intimacy and dependence.

    Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t her partner and had no reason to go this far for her.

    She couldn’t accept Zhu Yiqiao’s help with a clear conscience, especially since Zhu Yiqiao had already helped her so many times. She already owed her a great debt of gratitude.

    So, she tried to communicate with Zhu Yiqiao, letting her know the effects of frequent temporary markings.

    But just as she was about to speak, she felt an… indescribable burning sensation in her gland. This burning sensation was different from the initial one, causing her pain and discomfort, but also making her lose her rationality and ability to think, intensifying her blurred consciousness.

    But Ming Fei would never allow herself to lose control, let alone cross the line.

    She resisted and endured, and when she found that her condition was worsening, she leaned over and took out a carving knife from the storage compartment on the right side of the car seat, left there by someone.

    As the hovercar passed the statue of Winfella, a symbol of freedom and hope, Ming Fei, without hesitation, cut her palm with the sharp blade.

    Instantly, a wound appeared on her flawless white palm.

    Bright red blood immediately welled up, like a strange blood moon, casting a shadow of suppressed tenderness over this cruel and bloody scene.

    “…Jiejie.”

    The blood and pain made Ming Fei exceptionally clear-headed at this moment. Her first words were still out of consideration for Zhu Yiqiao.

    “…Stop the car.”

    The slight furrow in her brow had smoothed out, her gaze filled with forbearance and gentleness. She even comforted Zhu Yiqiao, who had faced life and death on the battlefield, telling her not to be afraid and promising that she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

    Zhu Yiqiao found this moment utterly absurd.

    She pursed her lips and snatched the knife from Ming Fei’s hand, preventing her from hurting herself again.

    But as she reached for the carving knife, which Xue Xun had left in the hovercar, it fell to the ground with a clang, pushing the strange atmosphere in the car to its peak.

    Instantly—

    The rich pear scent receded like a tide.

    A warm sensation touched her shoulder, a few strands of hair falling onto her dark uniform. Zhu Yiqiao looked at Ming Fei, who had fallen unconscious against her shoulder, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

    Chief Judge Zhu, whom the media described as aloof, indifferent, untouchable, and unattainable, didn’t immediately push the person aside.

    She even took out medical supplies from the first aid kit and bandaged Ming Fei’s wound while making a call.

    Soon, the call connected on the display screen.

    “Boss, calling me during my break, is there something on your mind? Professional love advisor Xiao Lan is here to answer your questions. But the price is double during break time~”

    Zhu Yiqiao’s expression was unreadable: “Return trip.”

    Lan Lubai was a little surprised: “Although everything has been dealt with, aren’t our tickets for tomorrow? Even robots need rest, right? Did something happen?”

    “Arrange my private aircraft, we’re returning in half an hour.”

    Lan Lubai didn’t ask any further questions: “Okay, I understand.”

    “Beep—”

    The door suddenly opened, and the doctors entered the ward, looking at the patient in bed number 3 with pity.

    “Little one, we are very sorry about your differentiation result.”

    “If your gland hadn’t been injured, you would have become the most valued A-level alpha in the Ole Empire, the highest level alpha in the differentiation rankings.”

    “But now, we can only regretfully inform you that you have become a defective alpha with a damaged gland, and your differentiation level is F.”

    In this dream, Ming Fei clearly heard the answer she had given at the time.

    “—Okay, thank you, doctor.”

    The alpha in the hospital bed calmly accepted this fact, without a ripple of emotion in her dark almond eyes, as if it was just an ordinary matter that wouldn’t affect her life at all.

    Perhaps because she appeared too indifferent, the beta nurse who was changing her dressing couldn’t help but ask,

    “Xiao Fei, do you regret it?”

    —Did she regret saving someone who had nothing to do with her?

    —Did she regret that her gland was damaged because of this, and that she was now labeled a disabled, defective alpha?

    —Did she regret the pain in her gland that tormented her to tears every night after the injury?

  • The Vicious Female Lead Doesn’t Want to Do It Anymore 76

    Chapter 76: More Please – I Like All of You

    Even though her DNA was activated, now wasn’t the time.

    Dong Ling’s stomach was still rumbling, the desensitized areas were still swollen, too much of a good thing was a bad thing, it was better to dismiss such thoughts.

    But she still couldn’t bring herself to call Song Mingzhi “Jiejie,” strangely shy, unable to open her mouth, even though she had called her that so naturally in that situation.

    Song Mingzhi was just teasing Dong Ling, seeing her flushed face, she smiled and fed her another spoonful of porridge.

    She knew her little girlfriend was thin-skinned and loved her reactions when being teased.

    Chen Shang Shang sent a “Lost in thought” emoji and didn’t reply. Dong Ling knew Chen Shang Shang was probably thinking, so she didn’t interrupt her train of thought and asked Song Mingzhi the question she was most concerned about.

    “Is Zhong Zhong related to you?”

    Song Mingzhi nodded: “The results took a little longer than I expected that day, based on the DNA sequence comparison, we are related, she should be a close relative, perhaps a cousin.”

    This result was a little disappointing to Dong Ling, but a clue was better than nothing.

    “Then we can find clues by investigating Zhong Zhong’s parents.”

    Seeing her girlfriend’s slightly brightened eyes, Song Mingzhi gestured for her to open her mouth and eat the porridge, then continued: “I’ve already investigated, but the trail seems to have gone cold.”

    “Zhong Zhong was born in Luo City, her father was an ordinary office worker, her mother owned a flower shop. When she was about ten, her father had an accident, and her mother’s shop closed down due to poor business. Two years later, her mother remarried and took her to Hengyan, but her mother passed away from illness not long after, and she lived with her stepfather.”

    “Her stepfather didn’t care much about her, he provided for her until she turned eighteen and then kicked her out, so she didn’t continue her studies after graduating from high school. She entered the entertainment industry because she could make money, and she was also interested in singing and dancing. Because of her looks, even though she didn’t have much money, Dream Machine still signed her for training, and then you signed her.”

    Two paragraphs summarized Zhong Zhong’s upbringing.

    “I wanted to investigate her mother first, but her stepfather sold their house and left, he didn’t return to his hometown, his whereabouts are unknown. As for her mother, the neighbors didn’t have much of an impression of her, they only knew she came from Luo City and could cook some dishes from there.”

    “I’ve already sent people to Luo City to look for the places Zhong Zhong remembers, they just arrived, there haven’t been any leads yet.”

    “Yes, we’ll definitely find some clues, whether it’s Zhong Zhong’s father or mother, and then we can trace further back, I’ll help.”

    Dong Ling placed her hand on Song Mingzhi’s knee, gently squeezing it, and gave her a sweet smile.

    Although she wasn’t familiar with Luo City, she had money and connections, Zhong Zhong’s parents were ordinary people, there shouldn’t be anything hidden, so she could definitely find something.

    “Although she’s not your biological sister, you’re still related, I’ll ask her if she wants to go back to school, I’ll take care of our little sister.”

    Dong Ling thought of the plot in the original novel, although she didn’t know which company Zhong Zhong signed with, it definitely wasn’t a good one, having Zhong Zhong use her resemblance to the female lead to gain popularity, sending her to parties and social events, Dong Ling wouldn’t let those things happen.

    And Zhong Zhong’s face, her agent had taken her to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said it wasn’t a medical issue, it was most likely caused by her upbringing.

    Knowing about her past now, Dong Ling could only sigh inwardly.

    “Baby, you’re so kind.”

    Song Mingzhi put down the food in her hand, sighed, and kissed Dong Ling’s lips.

    She loved the natural kindness in Dong Ling’s words, loved the inclusive “us” she used.

    She loved her pure and kind soul, like a lustrous pearl, shining amidst the grit.

    Dong Ling let her kiss her obediently, then after a while, raised a white flag.

    “No…”

    Dong Ling pushed Song Mingzhi away with difficulty, if this continued, the already swollen areas would become even more so.

    “If the fairy godmother could give us some hints, it would be great, then we wouldn’t have to search for so long.”

    Dong Ling said breathlessly, she really hoped the task system could unlock the next part of the plot soon, it would be much easier for Song Mingzhi to find her family.

    Song Mingzhi just smiled gently at her lover, hoping the so-called fairy godmother would stay dormant for a little longer.

    “Are you still uncomfortable? Do you need me to apply some medicine?”

    Song Mingzhi held Dong Ling’s wrist and asked softly.

    Dong Ling looked at the bite marks on Song Mingzhi’s wrist, coughed lightly, but still nodded calmly.

    Her senses were more sensitive than ordinary people, whether it was pleasure or pain, so her desensitization therapy had gone a little out of control, the sheets on the bed weren’t the same as yesterday’s.

    In a way, she really was in a fairy tale.

    Not Cinderella, but the Princess and the Pea.

    Jiejie wanted to help her apply medicine, and Dong Ling readily cooperated.

    But as she applied the medicine, the situation gradually became more… poetic.

    The moonlight was bright, perfect for Zhang Ruoxu’s “Spring River Flower Moon Night.”

    Not just the spring river tide connecting with the sea level, and the bright moon rising with the tide, but also the winding river flowing through the fragrant fields.

    The next day, Dong Ling contacted Zhong Zhong and asked if she wanted to continue her studies.

    Zhong Zhong’s eyes lit up hearing this, although her face was still expressionless, Dong Ling could sense her excitement.

    “Is that really possible, CEO Dong? I’ll study hard.”

    Zhong Zhong actually knew that she didn’t have much musical talent, just average, and if possible, she still wanted to study.

    “Of course, I’ll have someone arrange a new school for you, and we can sign another contract, a termination contract, you just focus on your studies.”

    Dong Ling sympathized with Zhong Zhong’s situation, what Song Mingzhi told her yesterday was what Zhong Zhong herself said, but Song Mingzhi had actually investigated and found something else.

    Zhong Zhong’s grades in high school were actually quite good, but she was bullied in her senior year, ostracized and isolated. Her difficult living situation and naturally expressionless face and quiet personality made it even worse, her grades plummeted, she didn’t get into a good university, and chose not to continue her studies.

    Zhong Zhong didn’t mention any of this, she seemed to be used to enduring hardship, facing the world with her quiet demeanor, but Dong Ling felt that children should have a happy childhood.

    Zhong Zhong was silent for a moment, then said dejectedly: “Thank you, CEO Dong.”

    “Don’t be so formal, after all, we’re practically family, and this was all arranged with your Song Jie’s support, she originally planned to arrange it herself, but I said you’re with my company, and her sister is my sister, so of course I have to take care of you, and you don’t have to call me CEO Dong, just call me Sister Ling.”

    Dong Ling realized that Song Mingzhi, despite her perceptiveness, wasn’t very good with children.

    Although they were technically sisters, Zhong Zhong was nineteen, and Song Mingzhi was twenty-nine, plus their different life experiences, there was a huge gap between them.

    Zhong Zhong was a quiet child, not very expressive, and didn’t intend to take advantage of this possible connection, Song Mingzhi didn’t know how to talk to her either.

    “Thank you, Sister Ling.”

    Zhong Zhong bowed formally, cherishing this unexpected blessing.

    “I’ll have Yuki take you back to Beihai later, and you can sign the termination contract then, you can choose to live on campus or at home, your Song Jie and I will arrange everything, don’t worry about troubling me, your Song Jie is busy with work, you can contact me or Yuki if you can’t reach her.”

    Dong Ling felt like a responsible older sister, looking at the girl with loving eyes.

    She told Song Mingzhi, who had just returned from filming, about her arrangements and thoughts, and Song Mingzhi chuckled beside her.

    “Then I’ve truly found a virtuous wife, it seems we have to get married soon, with all the proper ceremonies.”

    Song Mingzhi had been filming a historical drama, her words sounded a bit archaic.

    “But we’ve already consummated our marriage in the movie, we’ll just have to make up the wedding ceremony later.”

    Song Mingzhi nibbled on Dong Ling’s delicate earlobe, leaving a faint red mark.

    “I’m already yours, even without a wedding ceremony.”

    Same-sex marriage was still in the experimental stage, but Dong Ling believed that day would come.

    What was important between two people wasn’t a piece of paper, although it was indeed important, but it couldn’t completely bind two hearts together, only love and responsibility were the strongest bonds.

    Lovers in the honeymoon phase were hopeless, Dong Ling didn’t even return to Beihai, staying at Song Mingzhi’s place, even handling work remotely as much as possible, only rushing back when she needed to sign physical documents.

    Song Mingzhi’s filming didn’t last long either, and at the end of October, “The Legend of Liang Jin’an” wrapped up filming.

    Dong Ling didn’t attend the wrap party, but waited for Song Mingzhi to return and cut a celebratory cake for her.

    Song Mingzhi had quite a bit to drink at the party tonight, losing her usual restraint, her elegant and composed face tinged with a childlike innocence.

    She hugged Dong Ling, acting coquettishly, asking her baby to take a bath with her.

    How could Dong Ling refuse? She instantly became a love-struck fool, being pulled into the bathroom by Song Mingzhi.

    She originally thought she could take advantage of the drunk Song Mingzhi, but she didn’t expect that even a drunk Song Mingzhi couldn’t be taken advantage of.

    Song Mingzhi held the showerhead, spraying Dong Ling with water.

    As warm as the water was Song Mingzhi’s embrace, even through the fabric of their clothes, she could feel her body temperature and heartbeat.

    “Ling Ling, I like you.”

    Song Mingzhi smiled, her voice soft.

    Song Mingzhi was usually eloquent and had high EQ, but facing someone close to her, she became reserved.

    She rarely directly told Dong Ling she liked her, but expressed it through her actions, her dependence, and her words of affection, in her world, actions spoke louder than words.

    Dong Ling often heard her say sweet things, but they were always subtle and implicit, revealing her love inadvertently.

    But the drunk Song Mingzhi, without any verbal embellishment, was completely honest and straightforward, like the sun, like the stars.

    “I like your eyes.”

    She kissed the corners of Dong Ling’s eyes.

    “I like your nose.”

    She kissed the tip of Dong Ling’s nose.

    “I like your lips.”

    …………

    “I like all of you.”

    She loved her crescent moon-like eyes, her soft and sweet lips, her pure and gentle heart, her clear and firm choices, and her rose-like soul.

    “I want to watch the stars with you… no…”

    Dong Ling shook her head at Song Mingzhi, then cupped her face and said seriously: “I want to watch you with the stars.”

    The sweetness of wine mingled in their mouths, in her daze, Dong Ling couldn’t tell who was drunk.

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 205p1

    Chapter 205: Fallen Evolution!!! p1

    The Fallen Emperor, Drought!

    The most recent of the Four Great Calamities, its accumulated destruction the lowest, but…

    No top expert in the Moon Soul World would dare challenge Drought.

    Because it was Star Goddess’s Pet Beast.

    And because Sharp Edge Seven King Mother, one of the Shining Bipoles, and Inverse Time, the current Second Guardian, were Drought’s former companions.

    As one of Star Goddess’s former Pet Beasts, Drought, though Fallen, retained a sliver of sanity, intentionally avoiding Sharp Edge Mountain and the Inverse Time Society’s territory.

    It was common knowledge that Drought sought true death.

    “…”

    “…”

    “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!”

    The massive black scorpion tail descended, darkening the sky above Cold Moon Palace.

    Unlike the other Calamities, whose paths deviated…

    Drought had a clear target: it was coming straight for them!

    The moment Replay’s awakening zone dissipated, it swooped down, its endless black tail overturning countless Pet Beast nations and factions as if driven by a deep-seated grudge against Cold Moon Palace.

    The participants who had just exited Replay’s domain were stunned, trembling like insignificant dust beneath the massive scorpion tail.

    Many Emperor-Tier Beast Tamers were witnessing the Four Great Calamities for the first time.

    This incomprehensible size… they weren’t even on the same level as ordinary Emperors…!!!

    Even Huang Li within Silver Dragon struggled to maintain her composure, gasping for breath.

    Witnessing a Fallen Species’ true form firsthand was terrifying, its sheer size crushing any thought of resistance.

    “…”

    “…”

    “What’s going on? Why is Drought here!?”

    Amidst the crowd, the golden-haired girl with twin buns looked up at the swirling scorpion tail, her expression bewildered.

    According to the real-time map Moonwalker had given her, Drought’s flight path and Cold Moon Palace didn’t intersect!

    And where was Cold Moon, the Fourth Guardian…?

    Had she already been defeated?

    As Lian Xing wondered, Jade Maiden and the Grand Concubine also noticed something strange.

    Their Lover channel had been disconnected!

    Back in the Bubble Pet Beast World, their connection had been unilaterally blocked by the Fallen Species’ aura. After all, the Bubble Pet Beast World was tiny, less than a trillionth of a Fallen Species’ size.

    But this was Cold Moon Palace!

    A Guardian’s territory, on par with Cloud Mist Sea!

    Even Flood, the largest of the Four Great Calamities, would take months to traverse Cloud Mist Sea. How could Drought single-handedly disrupt the entire Cold Moon Palace’s signal!?

    “Wait, did Qianqiu simulate this?” Lian Xing asked Jade Maiden.

    Jade Maiden shook her head.

    They, Lover’s Pet Concubines, hadn’t seen Qianqiu recently.

    A woman with stunning features, tired eyes, and low, purple twin tails approached.

    “First Quarter left the Three Saints Palace long ago.”

    “Something seems to have happened at her former master’s grave.”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Qianqiu… had a master?” Lian Xing blinked in surprise.

    She was genuinely shocked.

    Qianqiu was one of the few initial Monarch-Tier Pet Beasts, capable of simulating the future from the moment of her birth.

    She should have already foreseen her master’s fate.

    Yet, she had still chosen to follow her master, reliving their journey.

    This meant her former master must have been remarkable.

    “It was millions of years ago…”

    “I don’t know the details.”

    The purple-haired woman sighed.

    With the Lover channel disconnected, her and Jade Maiden’s Beast Tamer abilities were useless.

    Now, they could only rely on Lian Xing for protection.

    As Lover’s Pet Concubines, they were fearless, except for Fallen Species.

    Fallen Species’ auras could disrupt Lover’s connection. If a region was carried away by a Fallen Species, they would be trapped there forever.

    After all, whether whole or in pieces, it would take millions of years to escape a Fallen Species’ massive body on foot…

    Meanwhile…

    As they conversed—

    “Whoosh!”

    A massive, black scorpion tail, like a torrent of steel, swept towards them with a deafening roar.

    All the Beast Tamers present were horrified.

    “Scorpion tail” sounded slender.

    But Drought’s tail was not only infinitely long but also as thick as a river!

    A single strike could crush billions of Beast Tamers!

    “Splatter, splatter, splatter!!!!”

    Blood splattered, limbs flew.

    Billions of Beast Tamers were reduced to dust in this devastating attack.

    Just in time, Heavenly Maiden’s Illusion Fox Heavenly Garment activated Shining Awakening, narrowly escaping the attack with millions of other Beast Tamers.

    However…

    Lian Xing, standing at the center of the crowd, didn’t move, calmly watching as the black scorpion tail crushed the other participants and approached her.

    “Replay—”

    “…”

    “…”

    “BOOM!!!!!”

    The next second, a blinding, shining light erupted.

    A Moonlight Rabbit, bathed in radiant light, emerged from behind Lian Xing.

    As the countless participants behind them watched in horror, Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal’s Shining aura collided head-on with Drought’s scorpion tail.

    All beings within thousands of miles were instantly vaporized.

    Terrifying shockwaves rippled outwards, like a shining flashbang, sending even the more distant Beast Tamers flying.

    Seconds later, the dust settled.

    Except for Lian Xing, Silver Dragon, Thunder Fly, Tear Heavenly Maiden, Jade Maiden, and the Grand Concubine, who were shielded by the Shining Moonlight Rabbit, the entire area was a desolate wasteland.

    But the black scorpion tail had indeed stopped just a meter from the Shining Moonlight Rabbit, its segments twisted and mangled, unable to advance further.

    The Shining Rabbit, previously incapacitated, had been instantly revived by Replay’s ability!

    All the Beast Tamers rescued by Heavenly Maiden gasped.

    Even Heavenly Maiden’s own pupils trembled.

    The first clash between the Moonlight Rabbit and Drought had killed all the Beast Tamers around her…?

    This wasn’t a joke!

    Heavenly Maiden, though not directly confronting Drought, had saved millions.

    What about Lian Xing?

    Who had she protected?

    Silver Dragon and the others gulped nervously.

    They had thought they were about to die.

    But Lian Xing had shielded them.

    As the twisted black scorpion tail retreated, the golden-haired girl looked up with a knowing smile.

    “Why is Drought here?”

    “Doesn’t matter…”

    “Perfect timing!!!”

    “A chance to make up for letting Storm escape~~~”

    As she spoke, Mist Colt regurgitated a beautifully crafted, silver sphere with mechanical angel wings from her viral world.

    This was…

    Replay, one of the seventy-two Legends, in her true form!

    “Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”

    The silver, angelic sphere radiated a holy light.

    The desolate landscape was gradually covered in garbled data.

    Then, under the incredulous gazes of the survivors, the Beast Tamers who had been reduced to bloody mist began to reappear.

    Though Replay couldn’t affect those killed directly by Drought, she could revive those killed by the shockwaves of their clash!

    Because Lian Xing had granted her “ally” status within her control center.

    One after another, the Beast Tamers reappeared. Lian Xing checked Replay’s level.

    235…

    Good.

    This leveling speed was unmatched by any other Legend.

    Replay didn’t need to defeat enemies; she simply needed to refresh high Pet Essence beings.

    Lian Xing had been wondering how to evolve Replay. Drought had practically delivered herself to their doorstep.

    As Replay continued refreshing, the black scorpion tail suddenly accelerated again, lunging towards the golden-haired girl.

    But this time, Lian Xing wouldn’t hold back…

    “BOOM!!!!!”

    A full moon appeared in the sky, casting a veil of darkness.

    A shining, gaseous force field, like a volcanic eruption, exploded outwards, the shockwaves sending the newly revived Beast Tamers flying again.

    As a massive, full moon satellite descended, Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal entered her Double Awakening state.

    [Shining Awakening]

    [Bloodline Combat Skill—Full Moon]

    A blinding light radiated from her.

    Under everyone’s gaze, the Shining Moonlight Rabbit casually waved her sleeve, and the massive black hole orbiting her was thrown at terrifying speed, colliding head-on with Drought’s black scorpion tail.

    “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!!”

    The black scorpion tail exploded, sending fragments flying!

    The Fallen Species’ aura was shattered by the Monarch-Tier Calamity Sun!

    Facing her former master, Calamity Sun felt a pang of sympathy, but quickly suppressed it, charging forward relentlessly, obliterating everything in its path.

    Meanwhile, Replay revived the surrounding Beast Tamers once more.

    “Huang Li, my combat skills!!” Replay’s anxious voice called out.

    Silver Dragon, startled, finally remembered something, retrieving two Black combat skills from Silver Wing Dimension’s viral world and handing them to Replay.

    Replay equipped them without hesitation.

    Mechanical species were the easiest to fulfill evolution conditions.

    Because they could analyze their own evolutionary paths.

    And it was even easier for part-type Mechanical species; there were few species with lower requirements.

    Seconds after equipping the combat skills, Replay’s body was enveloped in a holy white light.

    Replay, Monarch-Tier evolution!

    “…”

    “…”

    “Whoosh—!!!!!”

    The holy light expanded, like angelic wings unfurling, its ethereal glow enveloping all nearby beings.

    As white feathers rained down, a silver sphere, radiating technological beauty, surrounded by countless rings, floated in the sky, slowly rotating.

    [Monarch-Tier Replay, Mechanical Part, Core of Truth!!!!]

    Under Lian Xing’s satisfied gaze, the massive sphere descended, landing beside the golden-haired girl.

    Replay had kept her promise, evolving into a part.

    “I’m sorry to put you through this…” Lian Xing said softly, placing her hand on the sphere’s surface.

    “As a Mechanical species, I don’t experience ‘sorry’,” Replay replied.

    “But my data clearly shows that by joining your lineup, I have a 99.98% chance of surpassing Myriad-Level, far exceeding my previous realm.”

    As Replay’s mechanical voice faded, her body dissolved into Lian Xing.

    A new evolution began within Lian Xing.

    Great Lord Biluo, Celestial Anchor, was evolving into a Monarch-Tier, gene-modifying Mechanical species.

    Yes, Great Lord Biluo had skipped a rank…

    From Commander-Tier directly to Monarch, bypassing Royal-Tier entirely.

    Since parts couldn’t equip combat skills, she had inherited two Black Mechanical combat skills.

    And by absorbing the Monarch-Tier Legend, Core of Truth, as a part, she had bypassed the Royal-Tier evolution path, becoming a Monarch-Tier Pet Beast!

    As mentioned before, ordinary resets, unlike complete resets, could infinitely inherit rank and level.

    (Mist Colt was a complete reset, unable to inherit levels.)

    (Biluo was an ordinary reset, able to inherit levels.)

    Therefore, the moment Great Monarch Biluo reached Royal-Tier, she had already fulfilled the level requirement for Monarch-Tier.

    Combined with the part and combat skill requirements…

    It would be a travesty if she didn’t evolve!

    [Monarch-Tier · Mechanical · Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring]

    [LV2040]

    [Parts: Bearing Star Mark, Core of Truth]

    [Trait 1: The target of gene modification can place Star Gates at any location they have visited. Star Orders and Star Keys can be used without limit.]

    [Trait 2: The target of gene modification can refresh the state of any target within their line of sight, including life status, location, and evolution stage, but not exceeding their own aura scale by too much.]

    [Trait 3: The target of gene modification inherits the user’s vision and thought process, instantly analyzing targets within a certain range: realm, species, aura strength, combat skill quality.]

    As Great Lord Biluo returned to Monarch-Tier, the effects of the gene modification became apparent.

    A small, intricate, silver halo appeared above Lian Xing’s head.

    It resembled an angelic halo, but it was actually a floating ring composed of intricate, precision-crafted parts.

    The dreamlike halo rotated above the girl’s head as the gears within it turned.

    Seeing the golden-haired girl’s new form, her companions were stunned.

    After a long silence, Jade Maiden finally spoke, her voice filled with disbelief. “Lian Xing, you…”

    “Snap!”

    Before Jade Maiden could finish, Lian Xing snapped her fingers.

    Instantly, all Beast Tamers within thousands of miles vanished without a trace.

    Now, Lian Xing could finally get serious~~~

    This was Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring’s new ability, after merging with Replay.

    Not only life states, but even locations could be freely manipulated!

    Witnessing this shocking display, Heavenly Maiden gasped, her expression stiffening.

    Then, startled by White Abode’s cry of disbelief, she turned her head.

    The millions of Beast Tamers riding on her fox had also vanished. Only she remained.

    “…”

    “…”

    Uh, was Heavenly Maiden still there?

    It seemed the current Unbreakable Heaven’s Ring couldn’t refresh Shining Species…

    Lian Xing glanced at the woman on the white fox’s back, but she had no time for Heavenly Maiden now, focusing all her attention on the battle with Drought.

     

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c7

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 7: A Strange Town

    Doris paced around the empty room, her face dark. She had brought a cake to feed her little pet, but the room was empty.

    “Where is she…?”

    “She ran away~”

    Ruo Li sat on the sofa, two succubi massaging her shoulders. She had also come looking for Luo Yuxi, a late-night snack after dinner. Seeing Doris on the verge of exploding, she watched with amusement.

    “Who let her escape?!”

    Doris punched the wall. After a brief pause, the right half of the castle crumbled into dust, as if it had always been incomplete. Doris’s eyes turned crimson.

    “Oh my, don’t be so angry. Being impulsive makes you miss out on things~”

    Ruo Li calmly sipped her tea, not a single drop spilled despite the destruction. The two succubi behind her froze in fear.

    “Really, I was sleeping so soundly, don’t throw a tantrum~”

    Just as Doris was about to explode, Sloth, hugging her pillow, floated down from the remains of the castle and gently poked Doris’s forehead.

    [Unique Magic: Sage’s Wisdom]

    “Reiss-chan, don’t be so emotional~”

    Doris’s rage subsided, her white hair turning back to black.

    “Don’t use that magic on me! You bastard!”

    Doris felt incredibly calm, a state she hated. Although it was a beneficial spell, this forced calmness was annoying.

    “Well, if you hadn’t blown up my room while I was sleeping, I wouldn’t have had to~”

    Sloth threw her pillow on the bed and lay down, then suddenly sat up, her eyes wide.

    “What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the bed?”

    Ruo Li put down her teacup. Sloth, true to her name, rarely showed such energy. Sloth stroked the sheets.

    “Why is this bed so comfortable…?”

    “?”
    “?”

    Ruo Li and Doris were confused. Doris had thought Sloth had found a clue. But the forced calmness prevented her from getting angry. She sat down beside Ruo Li, while Sloth nuzzled the bed.

    “So comfortable~ And it smells like peaches, so relaxing~”

    “This bed is made of the same material as the one in your room. Don’t act like it’s some rare treasure…”

    Doris’s casual remark made Sloth’s eyes light up. She sat up, her usual languid tone replaced by excitement.

    “No need to explain, it’s that runaway nun, right? I’ll help you find her!”

    Sloth hugged her pillow, claiming to help, but she had her own agenda. If just sleeping on the same bed was so relaxing, how comfortable would it be to cuddle with the nun herself?

    “Luo Yuxi… such a good thing, how did I miss out~?”

    Sloth smiled. Luo Yuxi, having reached the town, heard the explosion and looked back at the castle, now half its original size.

    “Did they have a falling out because I escaped? If I’m caught, I’m doomed…”

    Luo Yuxi entered the town. The streets were bustling, not the chaotic scene she had imagined. She opened the map.

    “Bart… the closest town to the Witch Capital. So the Seven Deadly Sins aren’t based in the Witch Capital…?”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the location of Sehanu, the Witch Capital, the heart of the Witch Kingdom and the birthplace of the Witches’ Coven, a city of equal importance to the Church’s Apal. She remembered a frustrating setting when she unlocked the Sehanu map in the game.

    “Anyone entering the Witch Capital has a 50% increased chance of being aroused. I wonder if that rule still applies…”

    She had been “played” by several witches just by entering the city in the game, even in the late game, there was a 50% chance of being turned into a “mess” during any lewd scene.

    “That’s troublesome, I’ll rest in this town for a while…”

    Although she wanted to bypass the Witch Capital and sneak back to Apal, being caught by a lone witch was even more terrifying, especially for a nun, especially a beautiful nun like herself.

    “Sometimes, being pretty is a crime~”

    Luo Yuxi put away the map and looked up, noticing something was off. The bustling street had become quiet, everyone staring at her.

    “Why are they all looking at me…?”

    Luo Yuxi quickly walked towards a nearby inn, thinking her nun’s habit was too conspicuous.

    “A single room, please.”

    “We only have double rooms and king-size beds left, miss~”

    “Then a double room!”

    “Here’s your magic key card. You can use everything in the room with this…”

    Luo Yuxi took the card, feeling the stares even inside the inn. Even the innkeeper’s gaze was strange.

    “I have to change out of this habit…“

  • Shion’s Notes 126

    Chapter 126: Changes

    On New Year’s Day, Nangong Ying joined her parents for a family dinner at a restaurant with her uncles, aunts, and cousins, followed by a visit to her grandparents. Nangong Zhuo had two older brothers, both with children of their own. Nangong Ying was Nangong Zhuo’s only child.

    Unlike her cousins, Nangong Ying had no siblings, but she was the most accomplished among them.

    From training in martial arts from a young age, winning awards, to now becoming a celebrity, she had always been the brightest star. Her cousins envied her achievements, her success at the young age of nineteen.

    Nangong Ying was genuinely famous, her name widely recognized. Mention her name, and people would instantly say, “Oh, the rising star.”

    “Xiaoying, congratulations! You’ll be focusing on your studies after the New Year, right?”

    Her uncle placed some food in her bowl, a smile on his face.

    Among all the children present, Nangong Ying was the most exceptional, achieving what even some adults couldn’t. Besides her father, she was the only one with bragging rights.

    “Yes, I want to get into a good university.”

    “Haha, a big star, still studying hard.”

    “Of course, I have to work hard. How else can I succeed?”

    Nangong Ying smiled.

    Everyone praised her talent, her accomplishments, but she knew her success was the result of hard work. Without effort, there were no rewards. If everyone could succeed without trying, what was the point of striving?

    At such a family gathering, a child’s achievements should be a source of pride for their parents. However, Nangong Zhuo and Zhang Jing didn’t boast about their daughter’s celebrity status, focusing instead on her studies.

    After dinner, Nangong Zhuo drove his wife and daughter to his parents’ house. Nangong Ying sat in the backseat, silent. Nangong Zhuo started the car.

    “Do you… disapprove of my career choice?” Nangong Ying asked from the back.

    Though he didn’t reply, his silence spoke volumes.

    As a father, he didn’t want his daughter in the entertainment industry, but it was her choice. He couldn’t understand the allure of that world, why she was so drawn to it.

    From the beginning, he had opposed her decision.

    “It’s your choice,” he finally said.

    Sensing the tension between them, Zhang Jing wisely remained silent.

    Nangong Ying didn’t press the issue; it was pointless. Besides, her journey to success hadn’t been entirely honorable. She didn’t want to recount her struggles, the painful memories.

    She wondered how Linna was spending the New Year. The image of a golden-haired figure flashed through her mind.

    Meanwhile, Yu Linna was anticipating the New Talent Awards ceremony, wondering if she should dress up for the occasion. It was a major event, attended by the entire Wenqing staff and established authors. Dressing appropriately seemed important, even though she wasn’t guaranteed a publishing contract. She wanted to see how far her work could go.

    After so many failures, this was her chance to get close to success, a chance she wouldn’t miss.

    She wondered how everyone would react if they knew Shion was actually a petite, adorable girl.

    Suddenly, she spotted a figure in the crowd: a middle-aged woman with two children. The streets were bustling with New Year festivities, and she held their hands tightly, afraid they would get lost.

    The woman wasn’t beautiful, her appearance ordinary, her figure unremarkable, even a bit short.

    Yu Linna recognized her, even after all these years.

    “Aunt Lin, long time no see! Did you move here?”

    The woman turned, her face initially puzzled, but upon seeing Yu Linna’s blonde hair, recognition dawned.

    “You’re… Little Yu?”

    This woman had taken her in when she was very young, providing her with temporary shelter. Though the memories weren’t entirely pleasant, she had cared for her, so Yu Linna felt obligated to greet her.

    Even if it felt pointless.

    “You’ve grown so much. What happened? No place to stay again? You should be an adult now, right?”

    “Yes, but I won’t bother you. I just wanted to say hello.”

    Yu Linna had no intention of rekindling their relationship; it was simply a courtesy. The woman had taken care of her, provided her with food; she was grateful for that.

    “You look exactly the same as before. Found a job to support yourself?”

    “No, someone is taking care of me now. I plan to finish university.”

    “Really? That’s good. It’s better to have someone looking after you than being alone. Your parents, the ones who abandoned you, can finally rest easy.”

    “…Wait, what did you just say?!”

    The first part of the sentence was innocuous, but the latter part… something was amiss.

    “Ah, I shouldn’t have said that. Forget it. I’m sorry.”

    “Aunt Lin! What does that mean? Tell me!”

    How could she not be agitated when it concerned her own past?

    She had been an orphan since childhood, alone and abandoned. How could she not react to the mention of her parents?

    The woman looked at her, sighing. She had spoken out of turn.

    “I don’t know the details. I just heard it from someone. I don’t know if it’s true. You should go to the old orphanage and ask Director Wu.”

    She waved goodbye and left with her children, unwilling to linger.

    “Mom, who was that?”

    “A relative of an old friend. Don’t worry about it.”

    “Her blonde hair is so pretty! Is it dyed?”

    “I said, don’t worry about it.”

    As the woman disappeared into the crowd, Yu Linna’s mind raced.

    Aunt Lin had said her parents abandoned her. What did that mean? Did Aunt Lin know her parents?

    It didn’t make sense; she had never mentioned them before.

    Though accustomed to being an orphan, Yu Linna still longed for a sense of belonging, for family. Though she had never met her parents, she still wanted to know what they looked like.

    She had so many questions.

    Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She knew she was an orphan, alone since childhood, sold off.

    But she didn’t know where she came from, where her roots were.

    That was why Nangong Ying’s suggestion to enter the entertainment industry to find her family had tempted her. Deep down, she yearned to find her blood relatives.

    Being mixed-race, she wanted to understand her heritage, the origins of her appearance.

    Standing on the street, pedestrians brushed past her, some glancing at her striking features.

    After a long while, Yu Linna started walking, her mind in turmoil, yet she knew what she wanted. Aunt Lin had said she had only heard rumors, meaning she wasn’t certain. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

    But Aunt Lin’s words had ignited a new desire within Yu Linna. She decided to visit the old orphanage and ask the director for the truth. She had spent a short time there as a child before it was demolished, leaving her alone once more. The director back then was a woman in her thirties named Wu Siyu.

    Wu Siyu had reportedly brought Yu Linna to the orphanage when she was very young. After the orphanage closed, Yu Linna had been shuffled between foster homes until she was old enough to live on her own.

    She didn’t know what the director was doing now, only that she had apparently lost her job.

    Yu Linna searched for the phone numbers of her former foster families, calling them one by one, not expecting much. But luck seemed to be on her side; she learned that Wu Siyu had moved to the outskirts of Guangnan City.

    What a small world.

    The address she obtained was only a two-hour drive from the city center. After further inquiries, she finally got Wu Siyu’s phone number. With a mix of anticipation and anxiety, she dialed.

    After so many years, she didn’t know if Wu Siyu would remember her.

    And she might not receive a warm welcome.

    But she had to try; she needed to know about her past.

    “Hello?” A woman’s voice answered.

    Yu Linna took a deep breath.

    “Hello? If you don’t speak, I’m hanging up.”

    “Aunt Wu.”

    “…You… you’re… Nana?”

    “Yes. Aunt Wu, do you remember me?”

    “Of course, I remember! How could I forget? Haha, Nana, you… you actually called me! This is such a surprise! Where are you? How are you doing? Is someone taking care of you?”

    Wu Siyu showered her with questions, her excitement palpable. It had been so long since she last heard from Yu Linna.

    Yu Linna remembered Aunt Wu’s kindness, how she always gave her an extra bun at the orphanage, how she always slipped her a few extra candies.

    After the orphanage closed, they lost contact, and years had passed.

    “Aunt Wu, I’m living in Guangnan City now. Where are you? Can I meet you?”

    “What a coincidence! I’m living here too! But I’m visiting my husband’s family with my daughter. Wait for me; I’ll be back soon. Where should we meet? It’s been so long. I’d love to catch up.”

    Hearing her voice, Yu Linna felt a surge of happiness. She wasn’t alone. She wanted to rush to Aunt Wu, to talk all night.

  • Can We Get Married First?  123

    Side Story 9: Lin Wei CP (Part 4)

    “Let’s get married after the exams. I want to take care of you, for the rest of our lives.”

    Wei Zhuoning’s sudden proposal stunned Lin Xiaozhi. She hadn’t expected such a bold declaration from the usually shy Wei Zhuoning.

    “Are you, proposing?” Lin Xiaozhi asked, “to me?”

    Wei Zhuoning, seeing her reaction, a mixture of surprise and something she couldn’t quite decipher, stopped crying, her voice unsure:

    “Um, yes…”

    As she stammered, Lin Xiaozhi held out her hand, her fingers slightly curled.

    Wei Zhuoning: “?”

    “If you’re proposing, where’s my ring? Put it on.”

    Lin Xiaozhi’s bright smile made Wei Zhuoning speechless.

    Seeing her awkward silence, Lin Xiaozhi’s smile faltered.

    “So you propose without even a ring? Just a spur-of-the-moment decision, you didn’t really think it through, did you?”

    Wei Zhuoning’s face burned: “No, I really mean it, but…”

    But she couldn’t afford a ring.

    She hadn’t updated her stories in two weeks, this month’s earnings barely enough for her mother’s expenses, let alone a luxury item like a ring.

    “Can I owe you one?” Wei Zhuoning held Lin Xiaozhi’s hand, her voice firm. “After the exams, I’ll work hard and earn money! I’ll buy you any ring you want, anything you want, I’ll give you the world!”

    Lin Xiaozhi had anticipated this. If Wei Zhuoning had actually produced a ring, she would have been shocked.

    She had just been teasing, but seeing Wei Zhuoning’s earnest expression, her anxiety as if their relationship depended on a ring, was endearing.

    Lin Xiaozhi thought she knew Wei Zhuoning well, but this was a new side to her.

    Being loved by Wei Zhuoning made her feel like the luckiest person in the world.

    Seeing Lin Xiaozhi just smiling, not saying anything, Wei Zhuoning grew even more anxious.

    “Do you think I’m not being sincere?” She looked down, dejected.

    “Silly Zhuoning, rings don’t have to be from a store.”

    Although unsure what Lin Xiaozhi meant, judging by her suggestive whisper and her smile, it wasn’t anything innocent.

    “Then… what other kind of ring is there?” Wei Zhuoning, however, played along.

    Lin Xiaozhi whispered something, and Wei Zhuoning’s face turned crimson.

    “What?! You’re always thinking about these things!”

    “Oh? So you’re not willing to give me one?” Lin Xiaozhi sighed dramatically. “So you weren’t sincere after all.”

    Wei Zhuoning: “…You’re definitely the one who sent me those videos!”

    Lin Xiaozhi readily admitted: “Yes, it was me. Figured it out now? Too late. So, are you giving me one or not?”

    Wei Zhuoning sighed. It wasn’t like she hadn’t given her one before…

    “Yes, yes, but not today, right?”

    “Of course not, after the exams. Then…” Lin Xiaozhi tapped her nose. “At least one ring per day, no upper limit.”

    “What?!”

    “It depends on how much you love me.”

    “…”

    —

    After weeks of grueling studying, the exams were finally over.

    It had snowed all night, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of fresh snow. Wei Zhuoning and Lin Xiaozhi ran through Lin Xiaozhi’s private family park, yelling and throwing snowballs at each other.

    Wei Zhuoning, seizing an opportunity, stuffed a snowball down Lin Xiaozhi’s jacket.

    Lin Xiaozhi yelped, and Wei Zhuoning, laughing, ran away.

    But when it came to speed, Lin Xiaozhi was unmatched.

    Wei Zhuoning struggled through the deep snow, her shorter legs a disadvantage.

    Lin Xiaozhi, however, moved effortlessly, quickly catching up and tackling Wei Zhuoning into the snow.

    “Help! It’s cold!” Wei Zhuoning landed softly, not hurt, but her mouth was numb from the snow.

    “Now you know what it feels like? You didn’t think it was cold when you stuffed snow down my jacket?”

    “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

    “Sorry now? Taking advantage of my love for you, huh? I have to teach you a lesson.”

    Lin Xiaozhi carried her to a nearby car, brushed off the snow, and helped her take off her jacket.

    “You’re sweating, you’ll catch a cold.” The car’s heater was on, and Wei Zhuoning, coming in from the cold, was immediately warm and slightly damp. Lin Xiaozhi helped her remove her jacket, but not her uniform, gave her some hot water, and wiped her forehead with a handkerchief.

    Wei Zhuoning, feeling Lin Xiaozhi’s gentle touch, her sweet scent, was slightly dazed.

    ***

    “When did you get a car?” Wei Zhuoning noticed the controls.

    “My dad’s graduation gift, just this morning. Do you like it?”

    “Me? As long as you like it.”

    Lin Xiaozhi put her arm around her, had her lean closer, and scanned her face, unlocking the car’s functions:

    “This is our car now.”

    “Huh? Why…?”

    “Why not? We’re getting married, aren’t we? What’s mine is yours.”

    Wei Zhuoning remembered her proposal.

    “What? Changing your mind now?” Lin Xiaozhi shook her head. “Too late, give me my ring, we’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now.”

    “What? Now? Here?” Wei Zhuoning instinctively clutched her collar.

    “Going back on your word?” Lin Xiaozhi leaned closer, her warm hand covering Wei Zhuoning’s cold one, removing her defensive gesture. “You don’t want to marry me anymore?”

    Wei Zhuoning quickly denied it: “Of course I do! I want to!”

    “Then what are we waiting for? I want my ring.”

    “But, in the car…?”

    “It’s a new car, we need to bless it.”

    “What?! Wait!”

    “No waiting. I’ve waited long enough. Xiao Zhuoning, don’t you want me?”

    Lin Xiaozhi gently nibbled on Wei Zhuoning’s ear, making it turn red.

    Wei Zhuoning didn’t answer, but her expression and her flushed cheeks gave her away.

    Lin Xiaozhi’s fingertip traced Wei Zhuoning’s lips, then gently slipped inside.

    “This is your first ring.”

    “Mm…”

    After teasing her tongue, Lin Xiaozhi moved lower.

    “There’s another one, give it to me now.”

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c6

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    **Chapter 6: A Daring Escape

    Luo Yuxi stared blankly at the ceiling, Ruo Li on top of her, draining her magic power. Luo Yuxi didn’t understand how this had happened. She had jumped out the window when Ruo Li discovered her escape plan, but when she woke up, she was back in bed.

    “So delicious. I can’t imagine life without you anymore~”

    “Why won’t you just let me go?!”

    Luo Yuxi tried to push Ruo Li away, but her body ached, especially below, a tingling sensation spreading through her with every touch, as if she had been thoroughly “played” all night.

    “Alright, I’m full. I want to do other things, but not now~”

    Ruo Li got up, adjusted her clothes, and noticed the map on the table. Opening it, she saw a detailed layout of the entire castle.

    “So this is what you were preparing. You’ve only been here for a day, how did you get such a detailed map…?”

    Luo Yuxi felt a strange fog in her mind, as if a piece of paper was covering her memories. She knew it was because of that paper that she couldn’t remember, but she couldn’t bring herself to tear it.

    “Why do I have this…?”

    “It seems you don’t want to talk. You’re a good actress, it’s hard to believe you~”

    Ruo Li put the map in her pocket and picked up Luo Yuxi’s bundle, seeing a strange potion and a nun’s habit inside. She sneered.

    “Strange, even for an escape, these preparations are a bit excessive…”

    Ruo Li lifted Luo Yuxi’s chin, studying her delicate face and confused expression, but she couldn’t find any deception in her eyes. She seemed genuinely clueless.

    “A little toy has snuck in~”

    Luo Yuxi, not understanding, looked away. Ruo Li, unable to get any useful information, left the room with the bundle.

    “It doesn’t matter what kind of toy it is, as long as it doesn’t get caught~”

    Luo Yuxi, relieved that she wasn’t chained up, punched the bed in frustration. As she raised her hand to rub her head, she heard the sound of chains.

    “What the— why are they on my wrists now?!”

    Luo Yuxi could only accept her fate. The door opened again, and a black-robed figure entered. Seeing her, Luo Yuxi suddenly remembered everything.

    “It’s you! You’re the one who—!”

    “Stop dawdling…”

    “Eh??”

    [Unique Magic: Cognitive Block]

    The black-robed girl seemed impatient, her movements faster than before. Luo Yuxi knew she had met this girl before, but her memory insisted it was their first meeting.

    “What is your purpose?!”

    [Ding]

    [#$**^]

    [Envy Witch]

    [^***^$&

    ^%]

     

    “So you’re—!!”

    Thud!

    Luo Yuxi felt a sharp pain in her stomach and lost consciousness. Her last memory was of reaching out to pull down the girl’s hood, her hand grasping something soft.

    “So soft, who was that…?”

    “She tried to escape twice and still failed. I’ll have to do it myself…”

    The black-robed girl casually slung Luo Yuxi over her shoulder and melted into the darkness. Moments later, a green-haired figure opened the door.

    “The delicious food is gone…”

    “Hungry!! Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!!!”

    Dorolo, wearing her oversized hat, looked around the empty room, then closed the door.

    “Not here…”

    Luo Yuxi woke up on a grassy field, looking around in confusion, like a player skipping through dialogue.

    “What the—? I’m out? I don’t remember doing anything?!”

    She checked her body, her injuries gone, even the marks had vanished. Looking at the castle in the distance, she knew she wasn’t safe yet.

    “I have to leave, or I’ll be captured again and have to be rescued…”

    She picked up her bag, finding not only healing potions but also escape supplies, even magic stones, the currency of the Witch Kingdom, and a miniature nun’s habit and a change of clothes.

    “I don’t remember who helped me, but thank you…”

    Luo Yuxi enhanced her speed with divine power and ran towards a nearby town, then remembered she was still in the Witch Kingdom.

    “Hopefully, it’s a small village. There can’t be too many witches, they can’t control such a large area. The people there must be oppressed, it’s a good place to hide…”

    Luo Yuxi walked towards the town, then stopped, remembering her nun’s habit. If there were any witches, even just one, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

    “Please, kind stranger, at least give me some other clothes! Wearing a nun’s habit is like wearing a target on my back…”

    She rummaged through her bag, finding nothing but nun’s habits. Meanwhile, back at the castle, the Envy Witch sat on the sofa, exhausted.

    “Finally sent her away. She seems to like nun’s habits, I’ll give her a few more. Hopefully, she’ll wear them sparingly…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the nun’s habits in her bag, then at the town, then at the castle in the distance.

    “I’ll have to risk it. This chest area is so tight…“

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c6

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 6 Are the Gods Dead?

    The Church of the End Gods.

    An ancient church with a history almost as long as the Noah Holy Church, they referred to the ten Primordial Demons as Gods and didn’t acknowledge humanity’s naming of them.

    They called Witches “Gods” and Sovereigns “Saints,” collectively referring to them as Gods.

    At its peak, the Church of the End Gods had over twenty Devil’s Apostles, each at least at the “Peril” level and above.

    In that barbaric era of humanity, “Destruction” level and above was still a legend, even the First Saint’s strength was only barely close to “Destruction” level.

    Facing “Destruction” level disasters, most mega-cities couldn’t resist even by self-destructing their Embers.

    Even powerful Noah could only barely survive “Destruction” level disasters.

    However, with the Primordial Demons falling silent, the Devil’s Apostles of the Church of the End Gods became fewer and fewer, until finally, no one could sense the presence of the “Gods” anymore.

    Are the Gods dead?

    The Gods are not dead!

    Even though the Gods they believed in no longer responded to their prayers, and the followers of the Church of the End Gods were dwindling, they never completely disappeared.

    It was worth mentioning that not all Devil’s Minions were followers of the Church of the End Gods; a large portion of them chose to fall for the sake of power.

    But the Church of the End Gods was different. They knew very well what the Primordial Demons were doing, and they also knew the consequences.

    And what they were doing… was carrying out their will, letting this season of civilization come to its destined end, ending this erroneous and absurd continuation.

    Generally speaking, the Church of the End Gods’ specific actions were like those of terrorists who used demonic power to cause destruction everywhere…

    It’s just that with the decline of the church’s power, this destruction was becoming less and less impactful.

    To this day, they didn’t even dare to approach ordinary mega-cities, let alone Lannister.

    However… they had appeared, but not to wreak havoc as usual. They were just silently gathering in Lannister, without taking any action.

    If it weren’t for a martial law accidentally uncovering the existence of a Devil’s Minion, and then following the clues to discover the actions of the Church of the End Gods, Lannister would still be completely unaware of all this.

    However, this situation gave Norian an even bigger headache.

    Widespread destructive actions were easy to deal with, just send out strong individuals to suppress them.

    With Granny Zoya around, even if the entire Church of the End Gods intended to invade Lannister, they would only meet their doom.

    But the problem was… they weren’t doing anything!

    The Church of the End Gods was just quietly lurking in Lannister. So many people came and went from Lannister every day, how could they check each one to see if they were Devil’s Minions?

    But they couldn’t just ignore it. Lannister wasn’t afraid of the destruction caused by the Church of the End Gods, but no matter what, casualties and panic would occur, which was a situation Lannister absolutely wanted to avoid.

    All dangers should be nipped in the bud.

    The nobles’ fear of Devil’s Minions wasn’t unreasonable, because Lannister wasn’t afraid of the Church of the End Gods, but they were.

    What if, one day, these lunatics accidentally blew themselves up?

    As members of Lannister, they didn’t think the Church of the End Gods had even a sliver of a chance against this long-dormant war machine.

    But as individuals…

    The nobles weren’t willing to face death.

    “Magistrate Norian’s courage is with Lannister, we don’t doubt that in the slightest.”

    Count Spencer’s attitude was still humble, but representing the noble group, he couldn’t back down in front of Norian. “However, regarding these matters, I… we need an explanation.”

    “Hmph, you will have one.”

    Norian snorted coldly and stopped talking.

    Seeing this, Count Spencer knew that continuing to ask would only displease Norian, and these answers had already barely addressed the nobles’ concerns.

    Therefore, he didn’t continue to stay in the room tactlessly and quietly exited, leaving Norian alone.

    “Tsk, these nobles haven’t made any progress in hundreds of years.”

    Norian curled his lip disdainfully. They only cared that the Council of Elders could guarantee their safety and weren’t concerned about other issues, not even bothering to understand the details about the Devil’s Minions.

    Unfortunately, the current Lannister couldn’t do without these nobles, and the Council of Elders had to prioritize their safety.

    However, although Norian’s words just now were full of momentum, his haggard appearance couldn’t be faked.

    The appearance of the Devil’s Minions had kept Lannister’s Anomaly Investigation Bureau busy for several days, and Norian, as an example for the Council of Elders, didn’t dare to neglect the matter.

    Coupled with Lannister’s already busy affairs, even a “Peril” level ability user’s physique couldn’t handle it.

    As for why these followers of the Church of the End Gods had appeared in Lannister, Norian actually knew.

    Their traces had appeared in Yan City before. Before the Yan City war began, there had been some signs of Devil’s Minion activity in the city, but these scattered forces were quickly suppressed by the Yan City Anomaly Investigation Bureau.

    “Miss Luo Yan…”

    Norian silently repeated the name in his heart. What kind of relationship did this mysterious girl, who suddenly appeared in the forest outside Lannister, have with the Primordial Demons?

    “The Saint has really caused us quite a bit of trouble.”

    Norian sighed.

    “You can tell Illusion in person, maybe she’ll feel guilty.”

    A raspy voice sounded from outside the door, and then an old woman tremblingly pushed the door open.

    Even though she was attending a noble banquet, Granny Zoya was still dressed in her usual simple attire, but with her status… no one dared to criticize her attire.

    “She’ll only tell me ‘good work,’ and then tell me to hold on for a while longer with a blank expression.” Norian said with a wry smile. “The Saint is concerned about the safety of the entire human civilization. The survival of a single city naturally wouldn’t catch her attention.”

    “Speaking ill of a Saint in private is disrespectful, Norian,” Granny Zoya raised an eyebrow. “However, what you said is indeed true. Illusion’s temper… is still as strange as ever.”

    As someone from almost the same era as Illusion, Granny Zoya had witnessed her growth and therefore knew how terrifying Illusion was.

    Even among “Destruction” level ability users, there were differences in status and strength.

    If Granny Zoya was at the bottom of the “Destruction” level, Illusion’s strength was already approaching the ceiling, much stronger than the old Sword Saint.

    Perhaps only Mister Nine, before his death, could have been confident of defeating the current Illusion.

    “So, let’s focus on the banquet for now,” Granny Zoya said cheerfully, her hands behind her back. “It’s good to relax occasionally, even as the Chief Magistrate of Lannister.”

    Hearing this, Norian smiled faintly and shook his head.

    He stood up and walked to the window of the room.

    The lounge that Count Spencer had prepared for Norian was, of course, meticulously arranged. There were no eavesdroppers here, and the environment was very similar to the style of Norian’s residence.

    Even the layout and size of the room were deliberately designed according to Norian’s preferences, so as to maximize the relaxation of this most powerful person in Lannister.

    It could be said that this room was designed specifically to receive him.

    Even though Norian might only visit once every ten or even several decades.

    There were two windows in the room, one facing outwards and one facing inwards.

    The outward-facing window could be turned into a French window at any time, overlooking the entire Lannister.

    The inward-facing window could provide a bird’s-eye view of the entire banquet hall.

    The banquet hadn’t officially started yet, but many of the nobles attending had already picked up their pre-dinner drinks, savoring them while socializing.

    Many minor nobles were trying to get closer to the major nobles. This was a rare opportunity, and they also wanted to make more connections for the future development of their families… and their personal development.

    “Heh, I was indeed wrong just now,” Norian watched for a while, then closed the window, out of sight, out of mind.

    “These nobles haven’t changed in hundreds of years, but rather regressed—the Constantine family at least plotted to use the power of the nobles to seize control of the Council of Elders. This generation of nobles is left with only this unsightly groveling and incompetence!”

    “That’s because the Constantine family was wiped out by the previous Chief Magistrate of the Council of Elders… And, you’re also a noble, Norian.”

    “…Just a declining noble. My family’s glory is long gone, and I’ve never thought of polishing the dust-covered family crest again. I won’t try to hold onto something destined to disappear…”

    Despite his words, Norian still felt some emotion when mentioning his family.

    “Of course, Norian, I know you don’t like these things.” The smile on Granny Zoya’s face never faded; it seemed she was always this cheerful.

    “So, in addition to the nobles, I also invited some outstanding young talents—even commoners, as long as they have sufficient qualifications, I sent them invitations.”

    “Oh?” Norian’s interest was piqued. “What kind of young talents are they?”

    “Basically, they are all ‘Peril’ level ability users under the age of seventy. Not only are there locals from Lannister, but also many guests.” Granny Zoya raised an eyebrow. “You always prefer dealing with young people, it’s always been like this.”

    Although it sounded a bit outrageous, in reality… “Peril” level ability users under seventy were indeed worthy of being called “outstanding young talents.”

    The physique of high-level ability users was much stronger than that of ordinary people. A seventy-year-old “Peril” level ability user was only equivalent to an ordinary person in their early thirties. For Granny Zoya, who was several hundred years old, and Norian, who was one hundred and fifty, they were indeed young people.

    As for the relationship between Granny Zoya and Norian…

    Ever since Norian could remember, Granny Zoya had been a revered figure in Lannister. Their relationship was somewhere between elder and junior, and also friends, a kind of mentor and friend.

    “This is finally some good news after all these days.”

    Norian smiled knowingly. Compared to the increasingly decadent Council of Elders and the increasingly rigid Lannister nobility, he got along better with these young people who often dreamed of changing the world.

    Being with young people always allowed him to be infected by their unique vitality, making him feel younger.

    However…

    Norian suddenly remembered something.

    “That Hua Qingling who knows ‘Luo Yan’… you didn’t invite her too, did you?” Norian frowned slightly.

    Norian had a deep impression of Hua Qingling, not only because she knew the mysterious girl who caused the chaos, but also because she was a “Peril” level ability user under forty.

    Even in all of Lannister, there was no younger “Peril” level ability user than her…

    “Of course, the list was finalized and the invitations sent out before the trip to the forest outside the city.” Granny Zoya nodded. “I didn’t think it was necessary to change it, so I didn’t withdraw her invitation.”

    “But… won’t she bring ‘Luo Yan’ out…”

    Norian was still hesitant.

    “Don’t worry about that,” Granny Zoya smiled slightly. “I believe that little girl will know her limits, and… Shivis has already told me that she’s only accompanied by a young man.”

    Shivis was the scarred woman driver that Granny Zoya sent to pick up Hua Qingling. Of course, she wasn’t just there to pick up Hua Qingling.

    Otherwise, why would Shivis have left so hurriedly after dropping off Hua Qingling and Luo Yan?

    “You-, Young man?”

    “Yes, Shivis said it was a handsome young man. It seems it’s not ‘Luo Yan’.”

    “If that’s the case… then it’s fine.” Norian’s heart, which had just risen to his throat, settled slightly, and then he teased, “However, Granny Zoya, it seems you have one less target for promoting your youngest son.”

    “She was never a target. I know my limits. My Kyle is not worthy of such a person, even if I am his mother.”

    Granny Zoya wasn’t embarrassed at all when this embarrassing matter was brought up; on the contrary, she seemed inexplicably proud.

    It was unclear whether she was proud that she could still have a young son at her age, or proud that her young son wasn’t worthy of Hua Qingling…

    “Now that you mention it, I can’t wait any longer.”

    Norian stood up again and walked impatiently towards the door. “I have to go and interact with these young people quickly. This is a rare opportunity…”

    Norian was usually very busy, and there were very few young people in the Council of Elders.

    Moreover, opportunities to gather so many outstanding young talents weren’t common. After hearing Granny Zoya’s arrangements, Norian had been itching to go.

    Just as Granny Zoya said, even though he was already in a high position, Norian was still the same as before.

    Looking at Norian’s departing back, Granny Zoya was momentarily lost in thought, recalling the first time she met Norian.

    “This kid… after so many years, he’s still the same.” Granny Zoya shook her head helplessly and followed him. “Alright, I’m already an old woman, and I still have to run around with you youngsters…”

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 57p2

    Chapter 57: She Almost Thought the Snow Would Never Stop… p2

    Li Yu sighed and placed the sundial back within the tree’s core.

    When she opened her eyes, a tightness in her chest made her cough violently.

    A wisp of green light floated in through the window and transformed into a human form.

    Li Yu met Si Qinglan’s disapproving gaze.

    “Still alive, I see,” Si Qinglan said sarcastically.

    “I want to die,” Li Yu said weakly with a wry smile, “but there are still things I haven’t finished…”

    “If your hand still works, you can write a will, and I’ll try my best to fulfill it.” Despite her words, Si Qinglan sent a sliver of healing spiritual energy into Li Yu’s forehead.

    Li Yu: “That’s too much trouble.”

    Si Qinglan: “Haven’t you caused me enough trouble already? Even sealing the Heavenly Demon requires using my territory.”

    Li Yu: “I’m sorry.”

    Si Qinglan: “…What’s there to be sorry about?”

    Silence fell.

    The pale green light flowed into Li Yu, easing the pain.

    Li Yu closed her eyes, focusing on circulating the healing energy.

    After a while, Si Qinglan withdrew her hand and sat down beside the bed, sighing.

    Just as she sat down, Li Yu chuckled softly.

    “What are you laughing about now?” Si Qinglan frowned. “Seriously, Li Yu, have you lost your mind? Why do you always giggle inexplicably after waking up from your injuries?”

    Li Yu: “I was just remembering the last thing you said to me.”

    Si Qinglan: “What?”

    Li Yu imitated Si Qinglan’s tone and said seriously, “You better not let me see you again, or I really will intervene.”

    Si Qinglan frowned, a hint of exasperation in her eyes.

    “And here I am again, and you did intervene…by healing me.” Li Yu couldn’t help but smile faintly.

    Her voice was weak, her words laced with a weary humor, but there was no mirth in her eyes.

    Si Qinglan didn’t continue the joke, just asked in a low voice, “What happened?”

    Li Yu: “What do you mean?”

    Si Qinglan: “Weren’t you taking Mu Tao to the Demon Realm? You entered the passage; why did you come back alone?”

    This made Li Yu curious.

    She looked at Si Qinglan and asked, “I thought I fainted. How did I get out?”

    Si Qinglan was momentarily speechless, her own question unanswered, now facing a question from the person who was supposed to answer.

    Si Qinglan: “That Linchi bird brought you back.”

    Li Yu: “Xiang Hanyu?”

    Si Qinglan nodded. “She anticipated you going to the Demon Realm and waited at the entrance. But the place was swarming with cultivators from the immortal sects; she could only hide and observe.”

    “Soon after you entered the passage, they dispersed,” Si Qinglan said calmly. “She was worried and went to check, finding you there… She wanted to take you back to Lingzhou, but your injuries were too severe; she couldn’t heal you, so she brought you back here.”

    “She dared enter that place…?”

    “For a demon at the Heavenly Tribulation stage, entering and exiting the Demon Realm isn’t difficult.” Si Qinglan conjured a cup of flower tea with a flick of her finger. “You’re lucky she went to check; otherwise, you might not have survived.”

    She handed the teacup to Li Yu. “Sit up and drink some water.”

    How thoughtful, she was indeed thirsty.

    Li Yu took a deep breath, sat up despite the pain, and drank the tea in one gulp.

    Si Qinglan took the empty cup and asked again, “So, what happened?”

    Li Yu changed the subject. “How’s Mo Yichu?”

    Si Qinglan: “Badly injured. He’s currently in the Spirit Restraint Hall, bound by soul-restraining barriers, unable to cultivate or heal.”

    “…”

    “With those outsiders still here, I can’t release him, he just has to endure for now.” Si Qinglan said. “At least he’s in much better shape than you, and he hasn’t complained.”

    “Weisheng Xuanzhu entrusted him to my care.”

    “He’s asleep anyway, so he doesn’t know what happened. Don’t feel too guilty.” Si Qinglan said comfortingly. “You expended a lot of energy in the City of the Undying; that kid is just repaying your favor.”

    “Mm,” Li Yu nodded.

    Si Qinglan: “You still haven’t told me what happened.”

    Li Yu: “I…”

    Si Qinglan: “Third time’s the charm. Change the subject again, and I’ll be angry.”

    Li Yu thought for a moment, then said calmly, “I let Mu Tao go to the Demon Realm alone.”

    Si Qinglan: “I know, I’m asking why.”

    Li Yu: “Why what?”

    Because the system forced her to, what other reason could there be?

    Si Qinglan wouldn’t understand that.

    “You were so close, why turn back?” Si Qinglan frowned. “That’s the Demon Realm, Mu Tao is still so young, how could you leave her there alone?”

    Li Yu: “I told you, I have unfinished business.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    After a long silence, Si Qinglan bit her lip and said in a low voice, “You severed the Harmony Bells.”

    Li Yu: “Mm.”

    Si Qinglan: “What ‘unfinished business’ requires severing the Harmony Bells?”

    Li Yu leaned against the bedpost and replied softly, “Some things…are difficult to explain, even I don’t fully understand.”

    “You were the one who tied them, and you were the one who broke them… You were severely injured protecting her, yet you endured the backlash of the oath to abandon her.” Si Qinglan’s eyes were filled with confusion. “What are you thinking? I really don’t understand.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Si Qinglan: “Li Yu, I can see…you can’t bear to leave her.”

    Li Yu lowered her gaze, not answering.

    Si Qinglan: “You had no reason to come back.”

    Li Yu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why, are you unhappy that I’m back?”

    “How can I be happy?” Si Qinglan retorted. “Are you back to lead Mount Chao Yao? Do you think you’re still the revered Cangming Revered One, the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp, the only Exalted God in the human realm?”

    She made the teacup on the table fly back onto the tray with a flick of her wrist.

    She looked at Li Yu and said calmly, “You released the Demon Bone, committed a grave mistake. Your return has only caused me trouble.”

    Li Yu: “How much trouble?”

    Si Qinglan: “Many people are demanding that you be imprisoned in the Spirit Restraint Hall. I’ve been arguing nonstop to let you recuperate here.”

    Li Yu glanced at her system stats.

    【Character Compatibility: 51%】

    The number made her slightly nervous, but then she remembered that the kill threshold was lower now, and she felt numb again.

    “…Thank you,” she said.

    “No need for thanks, just…my unfortunate fate.” Si Qinglan muttered. “If you were also imprisoned, Mount Chao Yao would truly be in chaos.”

    “So, what’s the current situation?” Li Yu asked softly.

    “Those people are refusing to leave.” Si Qinglan rolled her eyes. “They are waiting for you to wake up, demanding an explanation.”

    “What explanation can I give them?” Li Yu said nonchalantly. “I was controlled by the Demon Bone, will that work?”

    “You can try,” Si Qinglan’s tone was slightly resigned. “After all, no excuse could be more absurd than you releasing the Demon Bone and then returning.”

    She sighed. “I don’t know when we’ll get rid of them.”

    To get rid of them, she needed to understand what they wanted and then satisfy their demands.

    “The Demon Bone is no longer in the human realm; what else do they want?”

    “They want to decide what to do with the Upper Spirit Lamp, of course. After all, it contains the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed, it can’t be left just anywhere.” Si Qinglan said sarcastically. “We are willing to hand it over, but they haven’t decided who should take it.”

    “Not surprising, the best option is still to keep it in Suiqiong Cave.” Li Yu said calmly. “When I recover, I can try to reseal it.”

    “They don’t trust us.”

    “Right, whatever.” Li Yu smiled nonchalantly.

    Si Qinglan: “Besides the Upper Spirit Lamp, there’s also the matter of…you.”

    Li Yu: “I really don’t know what to tell them, help me out?”

    Si Qinglan: “Explaining yourself is one thing, the bigger problem now is…they want you to open the Heavenly Gate.”

    Li Yu: “Open the Heavenly Gate?”

    “They think that the only Heavenly Gate shouldn’t be guarded by you, that this matter needs to be reported to the Heavenly Realm…and that another god should be sent down to deal with it.” Si Qinglan’s voice was filled with worry. “They don’t dare punish you themselves, but once the Heavenly Gate is open, and the Heavenly Realm learns of your actions…Heavenly Tribulation would be the least of your worries.”

    Si Qinglan couldn’t help but add, “Why did you even come back? They were about to leave after deciding what to do with the Lamp, but now they’re refusing to leave until you open the Heavenly Gate. It’s so annoying!”

    “What do I have to fear anymore?” Li Yu said numbly. “When I recover, I’ll do as they ask. As long as they leave.”

    “You’re truly…” Si Qinglan sighed, exasperated. “Forget it, I don’t even have the energy to argue with you.”

    Li Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, “How long was I unconscious this time?”

    Si Qinglan: “Half a month.”

    Li Yu: “That explains why the snow has melted.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    Li Yu: “Si Qinglan.”

    Si Qinglan: “What now?”

    Li Yu: “I want to return to Chaoxi Pond.”

    Si Qinglan: “Wake up, there’s no one there to take care of you!”

    Li Yu: “I know.”

    Si Qinglan: “…Fine, do as you please.”

    Si Qinglan took a deep breath. “But wait a few more days. In your current state, you might die in there, and no one would even know!”

    Li Yu smiled faintly and looked out the window, saying nothing.

    Winter was finally over.

    So much had happened in just a few short months, it felt like a lifetime.

    She had almost thought the snow would never stop…

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 70

    Chapter 70

    The door was still open. The moment she saw Qin Qianrou, all the words Shen Yiqiu had prepared along the way vanished from her mind. Overwhelmed by emotion and joy, she impulsively embraced Qin Qianrou.

    Qin Qianrou, recovering from her surprise, gently patted her back. “Let me close the door first.”

    The implication being that Shen Yiqiu should let go and come inside.

    The person embracing her readily agreed, but after a soft “Okay,” she didn’t move. The embrace continued, and Qin Qianrou only felt her legs moving, as if she was being pulled into the room.

    She was led inside, thankfully, Shen Yiqiu’s pace wasn’t fast, and she was careful not to bump into her, so Qin Qianrou didn’t feel uncomfortable.

    However, in this position… it was difficult to close the door.

    “Shen Yiqiu, let go.”

    “No.”

    “Let go, I need to close the door.”

    Shen Yiqiu’s steps stopped, but she didn’t release her hold. She was now completely inside the room, and with a gentle nudge of her leg, the door slowly closed.

    The click of the lock signaled that Qin Qianrou’s request had been fulfilled.

    “Hugging you and closing the door aren’t mutually exclusive, I can do both.”

    Her soft voice, her warm breath against Qin Qianrou’s ear, finally confirmed this wasn’t a dream.

    The person she had been longing for was right here in her arms.

    However, this embrace had lasted quite a while.

    “You can’t just hold onto me forever, let go.”

    Shen Yiqiu was reluctant, this brief embrace couldn’t possibly alleviate all the longing she had been suppressing.

    However, Jiejie’s voice had turned cold, and she was afraid that if she continued, Qin Qianrou would get angry.

    Her hands gradually loosened their grip, sliding down to Qin Qianrou’s waist.

    She was still wearing her coat, while Qin Qianrou was only in a thin sweater.

    “Why are you suddenly here?”

    Shen Yiqiu looked at her, the face that haunted her dreams every night, a face she could never tire of looking at.

    She stared, mesmerized, and mechanically replied, “I missed you, so I came.”

    Qin Qianrou’s ears felt warm. She gently pushed Shen Yiqiu’s hands away and turned to pour her a glass of water.

    “Take off your coat, you can put your bag in the closet.”

    Shen Yiqiu quickly did as she was told, then went to the bathroom to wash her hands, making sure she was presentable.

    When she emerged from the bathroom, Qin Qianrou was just bringing over the water. Shen Yiqiu was wearing a shirt and a light V-neck cashmere sweater, a classic preppy style.

    Coupled with her fair skin and slender figure, she had to admit, she was quite attractive.

    Qin Qianrou paused slightly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and handed her the glass.

    “Just water, I hope you don’t mind.”

    Shen Yiqiu took the glass with a smile, took a few sips, and exclaimed, “It’s sweet, so delicious.”

    Qin Qianrou looked away, not responding.

    The atmosphere in the room was a little strange, the initial joy of their reunion gradually fading, replaced by an unsettling silence.

    Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou sat on the sofa, neither of them speaking.

    Shen Yiqiu thought for a moment, then explained her reason for coming. “I don’t have any homework this weekend, and my Monday class was cancelled, so I thought I’d come see you, Jiejie.”

    “Mm, thank you for your effort.”

    Shen Yiqiu’s heart sank slightly, a cold and distant response, as expected.

    Her intuition hadn’t been wrong, Jiejie was indeed angry with her.

    But why?

    She couldn’t understand, but as a good student, she had to get to the bottom of this.

    So, she moved closer, sitting right next to Qin Qianrou.

    “Jiejie, did I do something to upset you?”

    Qin Qianrou, still struggling with her own internal conflict, hadn’t expected Shen Yiqiu to be so direct, and she suddenly felt embarrassed to answer.

    She looked at Shen Yiqiu for a moment, then sighed softly. “No, I’m just… a little tired lately.”

    Shen Yiqiu, however, didn’t believe her, “You’re lying.”

    Qin Qianrou rarely felt so exposed, being called out like this, it was truly awkward.

    But she had always been composed under pressure, she maintained her calm demeanor, simply avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s gaze.

    Whenever she looked into those clear eyes, her heart would race uncontrollably, her carefully constructed walls crumbling.

    Sensing Qin Qianrou’s attempt to create distance again, Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Qin Qianrou, preventing her from moving away.

    “Jiejie, tell me what’s wrong, okay?”

    Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, her gaze lowered in thought, as if considering whether to tell her.

    Shen Yiqiu’s heart pounded like a drum, as if awaiting a life-altering verdict, yet she was completely clueless about its nature.

    “Shen Yiqiu, I’m not sure…” Qin Qianrou slowly looked up, taking a deep breath. “I think, we should… perhaps…”

    Shen Yiqiu didn’t want to hear anymore, perhaps from watching too many dramas, but whenever such dialogues appeared, the outcome wasn’t usually good, and coming from Qin Qianrou, it was likely a rejection.

    This meant that all her waiting, all her anticipation, would be for nothing.

    She couldn’t accept this, Shen Yiqiu wouldn’t allow it.

    She cupped Qin Qianrou’s face, gently but firmly, preventing her from avoiding her gaze.

    Her thumb gently caressed Qin Qianrou’s cheek, the warmth spreading through her skin with each touch.

    Qin Qianrou felt her face burning.

    Shen Yiqiu’s love and affection were unconcealed, clearly and unmistakably expressed, further intensifying the heat in Qin Qianrou’s cheeks.

    Shen Yiqiu slowly leaned closer, her lips brushing against Qin Qianrou’s, whispering, “Jiejie… Jiejie…”

    Qin Qianrou held her breath as a soft kiss landed on her lips.

    A gentle touch, just their lips brushing against each other. Memories of the past few days flooded back, the turmoil in her heart surging, making it impossible for Qin Qianrou to escape.

    “You asked me to give you time, and I’m willing to wait, no matter how long. You said you would give me the freedom to choose, and I would accept any outcome. But you can’t just… shut me out like this, without any explanation.”

    Shen Yiqiu pulled away from her lips, but she didn’t move away.

    Her breaths, the warm scent from her mouth, brushed against Qin Qianrou’s face.

    It was… ticklish, and also… stirring.

    Qin Qianrou’s eyes softened, gazing at her, slightly dazed.

    Then, a kiss, even more intense than before, arrived as expected. Shen Yiqiu, no longer cautious and hesitant, pressed her lips against Qin Qianrou’s, her heart filled with love.

    Without a sliver of space between them, she kissed her deeply, yearning for a complete fusion.

    Qin Qianrou, seeing her fervor and her persistence, slowly closed her eyes, parting her lips slightly, offering a response.

    After the initial nervousness and excitement, she surrendered to the sweetness of the kiss.

    The soft touch against her lips made Qin Qianrou instinctively open her mouth, and then there was no turning back.

    Shen Yiqiu’s hands moved, but lacking experience, unsure where to place them, she could only nervously caress Qin Qianrou’s back.

    Even this was enough to make Qin Qianrou dizzy.

    No one had ever made her feel like this.

    She heard the steady rhythm of her own heart, surrendering, bit by bit.

    As her rationality returned, Qin Qianrou gently pushed Shen Yiqiu away, signaling her to stop.

    Shen Yiqiu, lost in the moment, reluctant to let go of this rare opportunity, her eyes half-closed, didn’t move.

    Qin Qianrou, however, was now fully alert, and she pushed her away more firmly.

    A flicker of confusion, then hurt, flashed across Shen Yiqiu’s eyes.

    So Jiejie, are you rejecting me after all?

    Qin Qianrou closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and smoothed her slightly dishevelled hair.

    Shen Yiqiu was still very close, her arms loosely around her, and Qin Qianrou tried to compose herself.

    The lingering flush on her cheeks made her even more beautiful, adding to her allure.

    “Shen Yiqiu, before I give you my answer, I need an explanation.”

    She hadn’t intended to delve into this, she hadn’t wanted a confrontation with Shen Yiqiu, it seemed petty.

    But the person who had captured her heart was… different.

    Qin Qianrou understood the logic, but her heart wouldn’t accept it.

    That subtle unease lingered, yet she couldn’t deny the pleasure of that kiss. So, she decided to get to the bottom of this, so they could start anew, without any reservations.

    Shen Yiqiu, instead of feeling worried, was overjoyed; Jiejie had finally brought it up.

    She had come all this way, not just out of longing, but to seek an answer.

    Zhang Meng had told her that if a woman took the initiative to address the issue, it was a good sign.

    “Ask me anything, Jiejie, I’ll tell you everything.”

    Anything you want to know, I’ll lay my heart bare for you.

    Qin Qianrou tried to stand up, and Shen Yiqiu, anxiously grabbing her wrist, didn’t want her to leave.

    Qin Qianrou blushed slightly and said softly, “I’m just getting something, wait for me here.”

    She reluctantly let go, thankfully, the room wasn’t large, and she could still see Jiejie.

    She watched as Qin Qianrou walked over to her desk, took out a manila envelope from the drawer, and paused, holding it, seemingly lost in thought, before slowly walking back towards her. She clutched the envelope tightly, as if it contained a top-secret document.

    Qin Qianrou sat back down, creating a slight distance between them, but not too far.

    “There are some things I don’t quite understand. I’m not trying to pry, but I hope you can offer an explanation.”

    Qin Qianrou’s tone was calm and restrained, without any hint of anger or accusation.

    But Shen Yiqiu still sensed something amiss. What’s wrong with Jiejie?

    Hesitantly, she opened the envelope, took out the photos, and saw they were from her visit to her cousin’s apartment.

    As Senior Zhang Meng had suspected, Jiejie knew about this.

    Qin Qianrou had been observing her since she took the envelope. She wasn’t sure what kind of explanation she was hoping for, but she couldn’t help but watch her, wanting to capture every nuance of her expression.

    But what was with that faint smile after Shen Yiqiu saw the photos?

    Whatever it meant, Qin Qianrou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    There was no trace of guilt or panic, Shen Yiqiu’s reaction hadn’t made her feel foolish.

    “Jiejie, how did you get these?”

    Qin Qianrou composed herself. “Someone gave them to me.”

    Shen Yiqiu looked at the photos again, wondering who would be so bored as to follow her even while grocery shopping, she wasn’t a celebrity.

    Then, she realized these photos were clearly taken for Qin Qianrou. But Jiejie wasn’t one to pry into others’ private lives, and she certainly wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics.

    Could it be Shao Qidong? Trying to sabotage their relationship, to destroy the trust between them, to isolate her again, turning her back into that helpless orphan?

    The thought of that villain made Shen Yiqiu curse him a thousand times in her heart.

    But right now, the most important thing was to explain.

    It could be cleared up with a simple sentence, but her cousin seemed to be afraid of Jiejie, should she tell her?

    Shen Yiqiu’s hesitation made Qin Qianrou’s anxiety resurface.

    It seemed Yuan Qi and Shen Yiqiu’s relationship wasn’t ordinary; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so hesitant. If she hadn’t known Yuan Qi before, if she didn’t trust his character, Qin Qianrou wouldn’t be so calm right now.

    “I think, before our relationship is clearly defined, there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings between us. Even if it’s just a misunderstanding, it should still be explained, shouldn’t it?” Qin Qianrou’s tone remained calm and restrained, but her breathing was slightly uneven.

    Shen Yiqiu finally looked up from the photos and met Qin Qianrou’s gaze.

    Beneath Jiejie’s usual composure, there was a hint of unease.

    Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached, this wasn’t the kind of love she wanted to give Qin Qianrou. Loving her meant not making her worry, not making her doubt.

    She put down the photos and gently took Qin Qianrou’s hand, which was resting on her lap.

    Only after touching it did she realize Jiejie’s palms were slightly damp with sweat.

    Her heart stirring, Shen Yiqiu lifted Qin Qianrou’s hand and kissed the back of it.

    A shiver ran down Qin Qianrou’s spine, a different sensation from a kiss on the lips, yet equally stirring.

    “Jiejie, don’t misunderstand, my relationship with this man is very simple.” Shen Yiqiu looked up at her, her eyes filled with an intensity deeper than ever before, her tone unusually serious. “He’s my cousin, he’s been traveling the world, which is why he wasn’t around when I was in the hospital.”

    Qin Qianrou had considered many possibilities, even a close friendship between people of different generations. She wasn’t worried about Shen Yiqiu having feelings for someone else, but she still minded, she minded Shen Yiqiu being so close to someone else, even if it was just simple admiration for an elder.

    Her possessiveness was growing, which made Qin Qianrou feel uneasy, no one had ever made her lose her composure like this.

    But she still wanted to hear it directly from Shen Yiqiu, who this person was, and their relationship.

    She even wanted to ask directly, Am I the most important person in your heart?

    Cousin, the usually quick-witted Reporter Qin mentally repeated the term several times before finally understanding.

    This was something she hadn’t expected at all, and Yuan Qi had never mentioned it either.

    “Jiejie, you don’t believe me?” Shen Yiqiu’s eyes dimmed slightly, it seemed some things couldn’t be kept secret for too long.

    Hidden for too long, the truth also became less believable.

    “I believe you, I believe everything you say.”

    Shen Yiqiu had never seen Jiejie so gentle, and the gradually decreasing distance between them, the rising temperature, made her feel like she was dreaming.

    Shen Yiqiu stared at her, slightly dazed, until Qin Qianrou’s face was almost touching hers.

    “Jiejie, I…”

    “I’ve had enough time, I can give you my answer now.”

    Before Shen Yiqiu could even process her words, a firm hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer.

    Qin Qianrou’s kiss was different from Shen Yiqiu’s, just like her personality, slightly cool, yet firm, even a little dominant.

    Shen Yiqiu’s eyes widened, seeing Qin Qianrou clearly before her, the subtle pores on her skin, her slightly trembling eyelashes, her heart racing uncontrollably.

    She reached up and embraced Qin Qianrou, minimizing the distance between them, yearning to fuse into one.

    Their breaths mingled, their scents intermingling, Qin Qianrou’s hand sliding down from the back of Shen Yiqiu’s head to her neck.

    Her slender fingers caressed Shen Yiqiu’s skin, drawing a soft moan from her. Qin Qianrou, however, didn’t relent, for the first time, asserting her dominance in their interaction.

    She deepened the kiss, prolonging it, then, just as Shen Yiqiu was about to run out of breath, gently pulling away slightly, allowing her to breathe, then returning for another passionate kiss.

    Shen Yiqiu couldn’t remember how long they kissed for, she only knew her heart felt like it was about to burst, her love, finally finding a place to belong, yet still not enough.

    She had so much love, overflowing from her heart, all for Jiejie.

    Between kisses, during a brief moment of respite, Shen Yiqiu whispered, “Jiejie, I love you.”

    They kissed until they were breathless, reluctantly parting, yet unwilling to truly separate, their foreheads touching.

    Qin Qianrou, only now realizing her own impulsiveness, couldn’t quite believe how proactive she had been. Perhaps it was the release of all the pent-up emotions she had been suppressing, the lingering unease instantly dissipating, and she had simply followed her heart.

    She liked Shen Yiqiu, she wanted to accept her feelings, she was willing to embark on this undoubtedly difficult path with her, her hesitation and doubts erased by Shen Yiqiu’s simple explanation.

    Shen Yiqiu, I trust you.

    Shen Yiqiu, catching her breath, a constant smile on her lips, pulled Qin Qianrou closer, settling her into her embrace.

    She adjusted their position, letting Qin Qianrou lean against her, half-reclining.

    Qin Qianrou’s eyes were closed, as if resting, or perhaps… savoring the moment?

    Shen Yiqiu smiled and whispered in her ear, “Jiejie, you’re so sweet.”

    Qin Qianrou’s ears burned, but her lips curved into a smile.

    She didn’t respond to Shen Yiqiu’s words, but simply nestled closer, finding a more comfortable position in her embrace.

    Shen Yiqiu’s other arm wrapped around her, holding her securely.

    This time, Qin Qianrou’s silence didn’t make Shen Yiqiu feel sad, her smile widening. She thought for a moment, then leaned closer again, this time not just whispering in Qin Qianrou’s ear, but gently nibbling on her earlobe.

    As expected, the person in her arms trembled.

    Before Qin Qianrou could open her eyes, she heard a sweet, soft voice, laced with double the usual affection, by her ear. “My girlfriend is so sweet.”

    Qin Qianrou’s cheeks flushed, and she opened her eyes slightly, seeing a beaming face before her.

    A face that made her heart race.

    Suppressing her shyness, she reached up and wrapped her arms around Shen Yiqiu’s neck, pulling her closer.

    “From now on, you have to listen to your girlfriend.”

    Shen Yiqiu responded without hesitation, “As you command, my dear girlfriend.”

    Qin Qianrou’s lips, redder and fuller than usual, captivated Shen Yiqiu, and at such close proximity, she couldn’t resist leaning in for another kiss.

    Qin Qianrou, however, turned her face slightly, letting the kiss land on her cheek instead.

    “My lips are swollen.”

    Shen Yiqiu gently kissed her cheek, then her gaze returned to her lips.

    “Then I’ll kiss you again tomorrow.”

    **

    They lingered on the sofa like this, one sitting, one half-reclining, until night had completely fallen. Shen Yiqiu, looking up at the starry sky outside, realized they hadn’t closed the curtains.

    Thankfully, they were on a high floor, and it hadn’t been completely dark outside earlier.

    Wen Shao Ze had called Qin Qianrou several times, but she hadn’t answered. He had also sent Shen Yiqiu a few messages, but there had been no reply. He had been worried at first, then, as if realizing something, he had simply shaken his head and smiled helplessly.

    He had received a call from Wen Yirong that morning, informing him that the weekend dinner with the Cheng family had been cancelled, and he had immediately guessed it was Qin Qianrou’s decision.

    Wen Yirong hadn’t been surprised, after all, her daughter’s stance had always been clear.

    “Shao Ze, find a chance to talk to Qianrou, ask her about her plans.”

    “It’s normal to decline a blind date, don’t worry.”

    Wen Shao Ze had also rejected many such arrangements, although it always led to arguments with his father.

    Wen Yirong, however, wasn’t as calm as before. “You don’t understand, this time, Qianrou was unusually firm, she even told me she has her own arrangements.”

    Previously, Qin Qianrou had always said she wasn’t ready for a relationship, but this time, she had said she had her own plans.

    A mother knows her daughter best, and the moment Qin Qianrou said those words, Wen Yirong knew this time was different.

    Qin Qianrou didn’t want to avoid relationships, she simply didn’t want to be in a relationship with someone her family had chosen, she had someone else in mind.

    Wen Shao Ze didn’t dare to say anything, afraid of ruining Qin Qianrou’s plans.

    “I understand, I’ll talk to her.”

    Wen Yirong sighed, then chatted about some family matters, and just before hanging up, she added, “Come home for dinner more often when you have time, your grandfather hasn’t been doing well lately.”

    Extreme heat and cold were always difficult for the elderly, especially for someone who had been through war. Although Grandfather Qin had retired and was enjoying his later years, he was still vulnerable to the effects of aging.

    Birth, old age, sickness, and death, an inescapable cycle for everyone.

    “I understand, I’ll tell Qianrou.”