Ha, Karma! – Chapter 24

Three-in-one.

Chu Zhaoqiu helped contact Lin Yun.

After explaining the reason, Lin Yun straightforwardly agreed to meet.

They arranged to meet at a park near Lin Yun’s home.

Benches surrounded the lake, spaced widely apart, not disturbing each other.

Chu Zhaoqiu and Lin Yun each sat at one end, leaving the middle space empty.

Lin Yun turned her head to look at the middle.

A little water ghost was sitting right between them, her body somewhat transparent as when first seen.

She could see her again.

When they met, Chu Zhaoqiu lightly tapped her fingertip on Lin Yun’s forehead, and in the next second, she could see the little water ghost.

This was exactly like the effect of yesterday’s finger snap.

Chu Zhaoqiu had explained to her, this was spiritual communication.

There weren’t many people in the park at this time, so it didn’t hinder her and the little water ghost from talking.

Even if someone looked over, they would think she was talking to Chu Zhaoqiu.

Chu Zhaoqiu also quietly sat beside as a cover.

“Why do you want to see me?” Lin Yun got straight to the point.

The little water ghost met her gaze, “Because I want to say sorry to you.”

Lin Yun was taken aback.

The little water ghost lowered her head, guiltily saying, “I’ve troubled you these days, scared you so badly, I’m sorry…”

It was never her intention to frighten or harm anyone.

But the fact had already happened, and she had become Lin Yun’s nightmare for several days, for which she felt truly guilty and very sorry to Lin Yun.

Now, even if Lin Yun scolded or hit her, she would willingly accept it.

“If it can make you feel better, then scold me or hit me — oh no, you can’t hit me, then just scold me!”

The little water ghost finished speaking, straightening her back with a serious face, waiting for the storm to come.

Although she hadn’t been to school, she was still quite reasonable, acknowledging mistakes and correcting them — the same applies to being a ghost!

Lin Yun looked at her serious yet nervous appearance, turned to meet Chu Zhaoqiu’s gaze, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s not your fault, you don’t need to apologize to me.

“And if it weren’t for you, I would still be deceived by that scum, so, ah, if there’s anyone to blame, it should be that scum. It’s his crafty schemes, deceiving both you and me, he’s the one most deserving of blame!”

Lin Yun finished speaking, instinctively raised her hand to pat the little water ghost’s shoulder.

There was no real sensation, as fleeting and elusive as touching a cloud of mist, only the cold water vapor in her palm proving she had touched her.

Lin Yun then realized, looking at the little water ghost with embarrassment and apology.

The little water ghost didn’t mind these things; hearing her words, she felt somewhat relieved: “It’s good that you won’t be deceived by him again, and don’t be too sad. He’s not worth your tears.”

Lin Yun knew she was referring to her crying in the car today. Her brows relaxed for a moment, and she looked at her with a warmer gaze, like a caring sister looking at her younger sister.

“It’s fine. I feel much better after crying, and I won’t be sad for him anymore, nor will I contact him again. Don’t worry.”

“Mm-hmm!”

“But I was quite surprised.”

“Surprised about what?”

Lin Yun looked at her: “Surprised that your last wish before leaving was actually to come to see me.”

Lin Yun asked again, “Before you leave, don’t you want to see your family or any of your old friends?”

She and the little water ghost were mere acquaintances, not as familiar as family or friends.

And the little water ghost had been trapped for so long; she must have missed them…

Then she heard the little water ghost say, “I have no friends, nor family.”

As the words fell, an immediate dead silence enveloped the surroundings.

Such an answer always seemed to freeze the surrounding air, making it hard to breathe.

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at them, ready to say something to ease the atmosphere.

The next second, Lin Yun’s voice reached the little water ghost’s ears before she could speak: “You didn’t have any before, but now you do.”

Chu Zhaoqiu and the little water ghost both looked at the smiling, gentle girl.

“From today on, we are friends!”

She admitted that this sentiment carried a hint of sympathy, but it was genuine and earnest.

The little water ghost had helped her escape a difficult situation and was kind and cute, so why couldn’t she want to be friends with her?

In the future, she would take the place of her family and friends, visiting her every Qingming Festival, ensuring she was not forgotten.

The little water ghost was quite surprised, confirming several times: “Really?”

Lin Yun nodded with a smile, repeatedly giving her a firm reply: “Really.”

This made the little water ghost very happy, unable to hide the smile on her face.

She was so delighted that the sound of water around her almost couldn’t be contained, nearly giving her away.

Fortunately, Chu Zhaoqiu quickly cast a spell to help her conceal it when no one was paying attention.

The little water ghost could only restrain herself, covering her mouth with a smile, and happily leaned towards Chu Zhaoqiu, whispering, “I have a friend too~”

Chu Zhaoqiu and Lin Yun couldn’t help but smile.

She was young, pure-hearted, and easily pleased, making people find her adorable like a younger sister.

Lin Yun also felt a sense of regret.

Such a lovely child had died like this and was now leaving, never to be seen again.

If she were still alive, she would have her parents adopt her, becoming a family.

Lin Yun curiously looked at Chu Zhaoqiu: “Can the matter of reincarnation be chosen by oneself? Like becoming a human or something else…”

The other world seemed too magical to her.

She was filled with awe and couldn’t help but be curious.

But she knew that not everyone could step into that world; most were just ordinary people, including herself.

But that’s okay, she could ask Chu Zhaoqiu, who was different from her.

However, Chu Zhaoqiu just smiled and said, “This isn’t an area humans can explore.”

How to reincarnate, whether one could be human in the next life, these were matters for the underworld, not for mortals to pry into.

Her duty was simply to send lost souls to the Yellow Springs Road, nothing more.

Upon hearing this answer, both Lin Yun and the little water ghost could only shake their heads in disappointment.

Lin Yun wished, “Then I wish you can be born into a good family in your next life, with no worries, and a lifetime of happiness.”

The little water ghost smiled and said, okay.

She thought for a moment and then said, “But I don’t want to be human.”

Lin Yun: “?”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “?”

The little water ghost looked at the night sky, full of longing, and said, “I want to be a cat; I think being a cat is so happy!”

Just like Baobao from Fu Lianxue’s house.

Every day, eating and drinking, climbing cat trees, playing with toys, no need to work or worry, and having the owner’s unconditional and comfortable love, how happy is that?

She thought it was much better than being human!

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her youthful side profile, remaining silent.

She didn’t know what her life was like before, but from the bits and pieces of their conversation, there was an unpleasant feeling.

Couldn’t say exactly what was wrong, but it just seemed like her life before wasn’t good.

Since being human wasn’t joyful, becoming a cat could bring her happiness, so why not become a cat?

She hoped she could finally have her wish fulfilled.

At this moment, Lin Yun spoke, “Then if you become a cat, you can come find me.”

The little water ghost looked at her curiously.

Lin Yun smiled generously, “I can take care of you!

“If you become my cat, I will definitely take good care of you, buy you the best cat treats and canned food, prepare the most comfortable cat bed, and give you the life you want.

“In that case, we are also a family.”

She was always willing to accept kind people, especially the little water ghost who had helped her.

Upon hearing this, the little water ghost smiled with her eyes.

“Okay, if I remember, I’ll come find you!”

The night slowly moved towards eleven o’clock.

The crossing usually took place between eleven o’clock and three in the morning, the rest time for the mortal world.

Black and White Impermanence would only respond to the summons during this time, opening the ghost gate.

Chu Zhaoqiu was on the road with the little water ghost.

This time, the one driving them was Bu Yu.

Chu Zhaoqiu and the little water ghost sat in the back, and the atmosphere was very quiet.

Chu Zhaoqiu wore a long white coat and was slowly wiping the white porcelain bottle.

The night in the mountains was cold, so before going up the mountain to open the ghost gate, one had to dress warmly.

The white porcelain bottle was the temporary resting place she provided for the little water ghost. The little water ghost naturally carried water, leaving water traces wherever she touched, making it inconvenient to sit directly in the back seat.

The car was silent for a while, then a voice came from the bottle: “Can’t I choose to be a cat myself?”

She still really wanted to be a cat.

Chu Zhaoqiu’s wiping motion paused, then she said warmly, “If you’re really curious, you can ask Black and White Impermanence when you see them later.”

The little water ghost, hearing this, suddenly felt curious and amused.

“Can I ask them?”

“Maybe.”

“Won’t they get angry?”

“Ignorance is no crime.”

“But what if they ignore me?”

“Then let it be; when you reach Yan Wang [閻王 | Yán Wáng | King of Hell in Chinese mythology], you can ask him, the old man.”

“Mm, I understand!”

“Thank you, jie,” the little water ghost said gratefully, “You’re really nice!”

No matter what she said or did, Chu Zhaoqiu would patiently reply, really so nice.

“Jie, you will definitely become an immortal!”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s fingertips paused for a moment, her eyes lowered, her expression thoughtful, and then she softly said, “Is that so.”

It seemed like she was responding to her, yet it also seemed like she was asking herself, making it hard to tell what her feelings were.

The little water ghost couldn’t see her expression and suddenly remembered Fu Lianxue, so she said, “I can’t go see Lianxue jie anymore; if you have time, can you thank her for me?”

Chu Zhaoqiu readily agreed, “Sure.”

The little water ghost asked, “Then jie, can demons become immortals too?”

Chu Zhaoqiu said, “They can.”

The little water ghost asked again, “Then can Lianxue jie also become an immortal?”

Chu Zhaoqiu replied, “She can, but it depends on whether she wants to.”

In this world, it’s not only humans who can cultivate to become immortals; demons can too.

Especially for a powerful demon like Fu Lianxue, who had cultivated for a thousand years with unfathomable magical abilities, becoming an immortal was sometimes just a matter of willingness.

Although she didn’t know exactly how far Fu Lianxue had progressed, her intuition told her that the question of willingness was the issue on Fu Lianxue’s path to becoming an immortal.

The little water ghost understood and then asked, “Do you want to?”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s expression froze slightly.

This was the second time someone had asked her this question.

The first was Chu Zhaohua, her grandmother.

When she was a teenager, Chu Zhaohua asked her if she wanted to be a demon hunter, if she wanted to cultivate, if she wanted to walk this path.

At that time, she didn’t say she wanted to or not.

She said, “I should do this.”

To subdue demons and defend peace in the human world, she should do this.

So she became a demon hunter, became the young master of the Chu family, up until today, when a little water ghost asked her, “Do you want to?”

Before she could speak, Bu Yu, who was driving in the front, said, “Of course, our eldest miss wants to; which cultivator wouldn’t?”

Attaining Dao and becoming immortal, living forever, how many ordinary people dream of this?

Demon hunters work so hard to cultivate, accumulate virtues and do good deeds, isn’t it to one day see the world beyond the clouds themselves?

Chu Zhaoqiu held the white porcelain bottle, her brows furrowing slightly.

This scene of someone answering for her had an unwelcome familiarity, with just a few words she was lifted to a high place and bound there.

Her brows knitted tightly, and her voice unconsciously turned cold: “Bu Yu, drive properly.”

Then she paused for two seconds and softly said to the bottle, “I don’t know.”

The little water ghost’s voice came from the bottle, “Then you should think carefully; it’s exhausting to work hard for something you don’t want to do.”

Bu Yu, hearing this, glanced at Chu Zhaoqiu through the rearview mirror.

She saw her face was calm, and she even curled her lips into a slight smile, saying to the white porcelain bottle, “I will, thank you.”

“You’re welcome!” the little water ghost’s voice carried a smile.

Chu Zhaoqiu, alone, took the white porcelain bottle back to the top of Wuchang Mountain.

The night was deep and cold, and the mountain forest was even more eerie.

She reached the place where the fog was thickest, extending her hand to let the white porcelain bottle float up.

The calls of birds and beasts came from the mountains, and in the ghostly mist, she raised two fingers to cut her fingertip, placing a drop of blood on her forehead.

Countless blood-red lines crisscrossed in the air, and another crossing ceremony began.

The familiar jingling sound rang out again.

The red lines turned into blood mist, and amidst the blood mist, the scarlet outline of the Yellow Springs Gate emerged clearly.

Summoned, the white porcelain bottle trembled.

Chu Zhaoqiu gently said, “Go, go to meet your next life.”

As her words fell, a small black mist rushed out of the bottle.

But it did not immediately head towards the Yellow Springs Road.

It looped back, circled around Chu Zhaoqiu, and then pressed lightly against her chest twice, as if to thank her, also like saying goodbye.

A gentle smile unconsciously appeared on Chu Zhaoqiu’s face.

She touched the black mist gently and said warmly, “I can only send you this far. Go on, don’t be afraid. If fate allows, we might meet again.”

The black mist reluctantly turned back several times before entering the Yellow Springs Gate.

Beyond that was a world mortals could not touch.

Chu Zhaoqiu bowed to the Yellow Springs Gate, put away the white porcelain bottle, and started walking down the mountain.

This place connected yin and yang, with intense ghostly energy; cultivators were still flesh and blood, and without any business, one shouldn’t linger too long.

The little water ghost had returned to where she should be, and the path ahead was hers to walk alone.

Upon entering the Yellow Springs Road, the little water ghost returned to her human form.

She looked up and saw two people waiting not far away, dressed in black and white, holding a thick book.

There was no need to ask to know their identity.

The little water ghost hurried over and stopped in front of them.

One of the Impermanence glanced at her, then opened the book in his hand to verify her identity.

The little water ghost stood obediently, observing them.

They wore masks, faces unseen, and were very tall, emitting a cold aura even colder than her water vapor.

She remembered Chu Zhaoqiu’s words “Ignorance is no crime,” and bravely asked, “Esteemed ones, can I choose to be a cat in my next life?”

The gaze of Black and White Impermanence fell on her in unison.

White Impermanence showed the page to Black Impermanence, and after they both looked at it, they exchanged glances and looked back at the little girl.

White Impermanence closed the book with a deep voice, saying, “You’ll know when you get there.”

The black and white figures turned and continued walking forward.

The little water ghost blinked and had no choice but to follow.

She didn’t know that the closed book detailed her life and the cause of her death.

She also didn’t know that under the cause of death, a small line read—

Abandoned by parents in late autumn, drowned in the river, aged fourteen.

Unaware, with blurred memories, she followed the ghostly escorts, heading towards her unknown next life.

Chu Zhaoqiu left the mountaintop, walking down the mountain alone.

She skillfully took a band-aid from her coat pocket, wrapped it around her cut fingertip, and put the torn paper back in her pocket to deal with when she returned to the car.

Her shoes crunched over dry leaves, making a crisp sound.

When she reached the foot of the mountain, the car was still there, Bu Yu hadn’t left, and there was an additional person.

No, it should be… a demon.

This surprised Chu Zhaoqiu: “Why did you come over?”

She was about to send a message to thank her on behalf of the little water ghost and ask if she would like to come out for a meal next time.

Fu Lianxue stood with arms crossed, leisurely leaning against the car door, smiling slightly when she looked up: “The efficiency of the young master of the Chu family is quite high; you came down so quickly.”

She tilted her head slightly: “You seem to be in a good mood.”

As soon as Chu Zhaoqiu came down, she saw her.

She saw her gentle expression and slight smile, as if helping others made her very happy.

She found it quite interesting.

The once arrogant child who could barely make five expressions seemed to have really grown up, matured, and no longer kept her feelings tightly hidden.

Bu Yu didn’t know their past, only knowing that she wanted to kill their young miss, and she was terrifying enough to follow the young miss to Wuchang Mountain!

“Miss, she actually followed you here!”

Fu Lianxue rolled her eyes: “This isn’t your territory, are people not allowed to come here? Did you ask Black and White Impermanence?”

“You!”

“Enough.”

Chu Zhaoqiu signaled Bu Yu to stay calm and not worry.

Then she turned to Fu Lianxue: “Are you here to see her off?”

“Nope.”

“Then you came to see me.”

“That’s right.”

Fu Lianxue smiled sweetly: “I came to see how far your cultivation has reached.”

She added regretfully: “But I just saw you yawning, tsk, Chu Zhaoqiu, you’re not working hard on your cultivation.”

Someone about to become immortal would be vigorous all the way up and down, with their energy completely undiminished.

But Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t; she even felt tired.

It seemed she still had some distance to go before reaching the goal of ascension to meet her senior sister.

Who knew her mockery had no effect on Chu Zhaoqiu at all.

The other party even thought for a moment, then calmly followed her words and said, “Yes, not very hard-working.”

Fu Lianxue: “…?”

She was so honest that Fu Lianxue didn’t know how to respond.

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her and then at the nervous Bu Yu, speaking warmly: “Want to have a chat with me?

“Just you and me.”

“Sure,” Fu Lianxue fearlessly agreed, “let’s talk.”

Her nose caught a faint scent, surrounded once again by that inescapable floral fragrance in the wilderness.

Just right, she had something to ask her.

Both agreed to chat while walking.

But not in the dark, unlit wilderness.

Bu Yu drove them out of Wuchang Mountain and parked by the brightly lit riverside walkway.

Chu Zhaoqiu put away what needed to be stored and took what she needed, then got out of the car and said to Bu Yu, “You should head back first.”

Bu Yu hesitated: “But…”

She glanced at Fu Lianxue.

Sensing her gaze, Fu Lianxue turned her head and smiled with curved eyes.

“I’ll eat your young miss later, not even leaving the bones~”

“You!”

Bu Yu immediately insisted on getting out of the car to accompany them.

Chu Zhaoqiu held the car door, signaling her to stay calm.

She then turned to glance at Fu Lianxue, indicating that she shouldn’t tease the youngster.

Fu Lianxue gave a light humph and proudly turned her head to look at the river view.

“I’m fine, you have to trust me,” Chu Zhaoqiu patted Bu Yu’s shoulder, “After you return, tell Grandmother that I’m with Miss Fu, and we have some things to discuss, so I’ll be back a bit late. Tell her not to worry.”

Bu Yu’s hesitant gaze shifted between Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue.

In the end, she compromised.

The young miss was the future head of the family, and they had to listen to the head of the family.

Chu Zhaoqiu dared to be alone with Fu Lianxue, and each time returned safely, she must have her own confidence.

Just like their family head, Chu Zhaohua, who always had her path regardless of arrangements, they just needed to follow.

And this Fu Lianxue, it was said that she even helped Miss Lin Yun this time…

“Miss, be careful outside alone. Call us if you need anything.” Bu Yu said solemnly.

“Don’t worry, go back. Be safe on the road.”

“Alright, I’m leaving. Miss, come home early.”

“Okay, go.”

Bu Yu left.

As it was getting late, the vast walkway had only the two of them left.

It was good with just them, so they could speak without worrying about others.

The walkway was lined with railings along the river.

Under the shade of trees, the standing street lamps generously cast light on the ground.

They walked aimlessly forward on the orange light.

No one spoke first, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.

When Fu Lianxue turned to look at Chu Zhaoqiu, she saw her leisurely wiping her hands with a wet wipe.

Ten fingers, long and well-proportioned, a pair of beautiful hands.

She had actually seen her wiping something in the car earlier, but it was a white bottle.

“The young master of the Chu family is quite mindful of personal hygiene.”

Chu Zhaoqiu glanced up at her, her wiping motion unhurried: “Mm.”

Fu Lianxue scanned the surroundings and sneered: “What a pity, there isn’t a trash can here. Looks like our neat-freak young master will have to hold onto the used wet wipe.

“What to do, won’t it feel uncomfortable?”

She was rather gloating.

Yet she heard Chu Zhaoqiu say, “It’s okay, I came prepared.”

Then she pulled out a portable trash bag from her coat pocket right in front of her.

Chu Zhaoqiu gave the bag a shake with one hand, put the trash inside, then rolled up the bag and put it back in her pocket.

The entire process was smooth and unhurried.

“That’s all there is to it.”

Fu Lianxue: “?”

Quite well-prepared!

“You know,” Fu Lianxue stopped and suddenly said, “I think your temper has improved a lot.”

Chu Zhaoqiu also stopped, turning to look at her: “Was my temper bad before?”

Fu Lianxue shook her head: “Not really.

“It wasn’t exactly bad, you just weren’t expressive with your feelings, very dull. But now… you smile a bit more.

“Just now, when you came down from above, your expression was very happy, as if helping others made you feel very happy.”

She paused after speaking, then asked uncertainly: “Right?”

Chu Zhaoqiu chuckled lightly: “Yes, helping others makes me happy.”

She had been like this since childhood; helping others always made her happy.

And exorcising demons, guiding spirits were all about helping others.

Fu Lianxue looked at the smile at her lips and said, “Compared to back then, you’ve really changed a lot.”

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her again.

Fu Lianxue crossed her arms: “Back then, you wouldn’t say things like being happy. Back then, you would only say ‘Subduing demons and devils is my duty,’ tsk, very dull.”

But now Chu Zhaoqiu would say it’s because she’s happy.

Duty and personal joy, indeed a progression.

Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t respond, but the light in her eyes became very bright, like seeing the moon through the fog, her thoughts suddenly clear.

Yes, it’s different.

She was no longer simply doing it for duty, no longer for “I should do,” but because she liked it, because it made her happy.

That’s the reason she became a demon hunter.

Likewise, if becoming an immortal could help more people, she would unhesitatingly walk this path, striving to reach the world beyond the clouds.

Not following the crowd, but because it made her happy.

She never expected that something she had been confused about would be so casually pointed out by Fu Lianxue here.

What was even more unexpected was that Fu Lianxue remembered their past, her youthful appearance from back then, so clearly.

Fu Lianxue saw Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes curve, her smile becoming happier and more beautiful.

But she looked puzzled.

“What are you doing, why are you smiling?”

Chu Zhaoqiu gazed into her eyes, her tone very gentle: “Because you remember our past, I’m very happy.”

Fu Lianxue instantly became awkward again.

It seemed like she was always caught off guard by Chu Zhaoqiu’s bluntness.

She didn’t like this, feeling as if she was at a disadvantage in front of her, so she deliberately said, “So, are you moved? Do you like this jie even more?”

After saying that, she looked at Chu Zhaoqiu with quite a bit of arrogance.

She was waiting to see her stunned expression, waiting to see her at a loss for words.

How could the young master, who takes it as her duty to subdue demons, like a demon?

But she didn’t see the reaction she expected.

She saw Chu Zhaoqiu honestly nod and then say, “Yes, I like you more.”

Fu Lianxue: “?”

She was dumbfounded.

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.”

“You—”

Fu Lianxue was at a loss for words.

She even began to doubt whether the person in front of her was the one she knew.

“Chu Zhaoqiu?”

“Mm?”

After calling her name, Fu Lianxue circled around her once and then took the opportunity to pat her back when she wasn’t expecting it—nothing came out.

Fu Lianxue’s brow furrowed even more tightly.

Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t angry at being suddenly patted; instead, she smiled helplessly.

“I haven’t been possessed.”

“Then why are you acting so strange!” Fu Lianxue said.

“What’s strange?” Chu Zhaoqiu asked.

“The fact that you like me is strange.”

“Why?”

“I’m a demon, you’re a demon hunter, and we have enmity. With such a stance, shouldn’t you suppress your liking?”

“Why should I do that?” Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her with a burning gaze, her voice enchanting and firm, “Lianxue, I don’t think liking you is something to avoid.”

The sudden confession caught Fu Lianxue completely off guard.

Her whole being was even more bewildered.

This was different from what she imagined!

Chu Zhaoqiu’s affection indeed surprised her, but at least she thought the other would give up liking her.

But she never expected that the other had never considered giving up on liking her.

And she was so brutally honest about it!

The situation developed far beyond her expectations, leaving Fu Lianxue’s mind in chaos.

A few seconds later, she turned and ran away, disappearing from Chu Zhaoqiu’s sight with a spell.

Left behind, Chu Zhaoqiu: “…?”

Did I say something wrong again?

Fu Lianxue ran back home and gulped down water.

After clearing her throat and hydrating, her mind cleared up a lot.

But recalling Chu Zhaoqiu’s gentle and smiling confession, she still couldn’t understand.

It was strange, awkward, and… utterly unexpected.

She wasn’t someone who had never been liked before.

Other people’s affection wasn’t something burdensome; she could navigate it freely, driving them crazy for her, while she remained untouched.

But never had anyone’s affection left her so confused.

Because this person was Chu Zhaoqiu.

Fu Lianxue recalled the scent on Chu Zhaoqiu, sweeter than any she had smelled before, and her emotions grew even more complex.

The person least likely to like her, liked her the most.

Fu Lianxue put down the water cup and picked up Baobao, her brows still furrowed.

She felt she needed an entire night to slowly digest this unbelievable information.

The next day, at Fu Lianxue’s home.

In the living room, Cheng Hanxi was in shock.

“Oh my gosh? Really? She really said that?”

Fu Lianxue hugged a pillow and nodded slightly.

Cheng Hanxi covered her mouth: “Then she’s quite… devoted.”

Fu Lianxue shot a piercing look at her.

“You’re on my side, don’t speak for her, okay?”

Cheng Hanxi said, “That’s an objective evaluation, not speaking for her.”

Fu Lianxue thought of Chu Zhaoqiu’s demeanor from yesterday, touched her hair, and said nothing.

It really was quite devoted…

Cheng Hanxi looked at her, smiling as she picked up her water cup: “I see she’s really honest with you. You said you wanted revenge, and she was waiting, never avoiding it from start to finish.

“And you, you say you want to kill her, but it seems like you’re not that harsh with her.

“I wonder, can’t you two strange enemies turn your swords into plowshares [化干戈为玉帛 | huà gān gē wéi yù bó | metaphorical expression meaning to transform conflict into peace and cooperation?”

“No.” Fu Lianxue denied it without a second thought.

Cheng Hanxi raised an eyebrow, curious: “Was she really that bad to you before?”

This question immediately pushed Fu Lianxue back into past memories, unable to give an immediate answer.

Because Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t really that bad to her before… including when they first met.

Back then, they were both young, with youthful faces still carrying traces of innocence, and their spells weren’t that powerful.

At least hers weren’t that powerful.

But she was ambitious despite being weak and wanted to ruin others’ Dao hearts.

And if she actually managed to do it, wouldn’t it show she had some skills?

As for the gender of her unlucky target, she hadn’t thought about it, leaving it to fate; whoever she encountered would do.

It turned out that Chu Zhaoqiu was the first to enter her sight alone.

That day, she randomly went to play in a mountain.

There were estates and hot springs on the mountain, but she didn’t go up; she played deep in the forest.

Chu Zhaoqiu appeared like that, walking down from the mountain.

At that time, Chu Zhaoqiu wore a clean, plain white disciple robe, her long hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin, looking very refreshing.

Her face was beautiful, her skin as flawless as white porcelain.

But her eyes were indifferent, with a strong sense of aloofness, not looking easy to bully.

Seeing her alone, she remembered her grand goal and followed her without hesitation, secretly observing her from behind.

She hung on a tree for a while, hid behind a bush for a while, then concealed herself behind a large rock.

She thought she was well hidden because Chu Zhaoqiu never looked back, obviously not noticing her.

She sneered at this.

It seemed this was not a very smart disciple of the Xuanmen, at least with poor vigilance.

The next second, Chu Zhaoqiu suddenly turned around, flicked her sleeve, and sent a flurry of leaves, moving so fast they were just afterimages.

“Who goes there!”

Her smugness vanished instantly, and she hurriedly dodged but lost her footing and fell.

She even sprained her ankle.

Holding her foot, tears welled up from the pain, she saw the white hem of the dress sway in an arc before her eyes.

Looking up, Chu Zhaoqiu was already standing in front of her, sword in hand.

“Demoness,” Chu Zhaoqiu’s sword pointed right at her, full of pressure, “surrender.”

She was shocked, cautiously avoiding her sword first, then said, “Wait a minute, wait a minute!

“What did I do? You’re walking here, I’m walking here, it’s just a coincidence. Can’t someone else walk here after you’ve walked? This mountain isn’t yours!”

“This mountain is mine.”

Wow, that’s a hard line to respond to.

“You attacked me first!” She immediately switched strategies, crying out, “You even made me sprain my ankle, look, it’s swollen! It hurts so much, wuwuwu!”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

Seeing Chu Zhaoqiu not moving, she went all out with her act, combining pity with counterattacking.

“I clearly did nothing, and you attacked me!

“Is it just because I’m a demon? Is this how unreasonable you cultivators are? You mortals at least adhere to the principle of innocent until proven guilty!

“Wuwuwu, my foot hurts…”

Her little mouth kept chattering, saying whatever she could.

As she cried and spoke, she saw Chu Zhaoqiu suddenly walk away.

She hurriedly looked up and saw Chu Zhaoqiu walk back up the mountain, then come back down carrying a wooden box, walking step by step towards her.

She was dumbfounded, slowly retreating.

“What are you doing? Let’s talk this out, I can use spells too…”

She quickly assumed a stance to prepare, thinking through all the spells she had learned and how they might fight.

Then she saw Chu Zhaoqiu squat down in front of her with the box.

Completely no intention to attack.

“Foot.”

“If you don’t apply medicine soon, it will swell even more.”

“Or can you self-heal?”

“I can’t.”

She obediently stretched out her foot.

“Thank you.”

Being sensible and polite is wise.

Little did she know, Chu Zhaoqiu really brought a medicine box down to help her apply medicine, looking serious, with no intention of harming her, completely different from the one who just said “Demoness, surrender.”

She remembered those Xuanmen disciples always talking about subduing demons, and looking at the person’s actions before her, she suddenly found it very interesting.

A disciple who took exorcising demons as their duty was actually helping her apply medicine…

She boldly asked, “Why are you helping me?”

Even daringly reached out, lightly lifting that fair face, bravely assuming, “Are you… captivated by this face of mine?”

She had some confidence in her looks.

After all, charm demons were never born unattractive.

Then she saw Chu Zhaoqiu’s head move slightly, avoiding her hand, then looked at her and said without much emotion:

“You seem, not very smart.”

She: “…”

Fu Lianxue’s memory stopped there, at the moment when Chu Zhaoqiu said she seemed not very smart.

Thinking back to it today, she still felt that person didn’t know how to talk, and was quite tactless.

She, such a charming and captivating demon, was actually told she seemed not very smart!

No appreciation, tactless even when being kind!

But that’s okay, now the tactless person’s karma has come!

Thinking this way, Fu Lianxue suddenly accepted Chu Zhaoqiu’s choice to like her.

Let her like, continue to like, she should continue to like her!

Only this way, when she regains her memory, there’ll be a show to watch!

She imagined Chu Zhaoqiu’s expression after regaining her memory and couldn’t help but reveal a villainous smile: “Liking me is her karma!”

Cheng Hanxi: “…”

She really couldn’t understand the relationship between these two.

---

---