Ha, Karma! – Chapter 62

Because the one she likes is close at hand.

Fu Lianxue lay in bed, listening with her eyes closed as Chu Zhaoqiu recounted the events.

After Chu Zhaoqiu finished speaking, Fu Lianxue remained silent, as if she had fallen asleep.

Seeing this, Chu Zhaoqiu decided not to disturb her further and prepared to get up and leave, planning to come back at noon to eat with her.

But just as she made a slight move, Fu Lianxue’s lazy voice suddenly sounded:

“Just for this?”

Chu Zhaoqiu stopped moving, lowering her gaze to look at the person in her heart.

Fu Lianxue forced one eye open to meet her gaze. “Just for some domestic abuser alcoholic¹, you didn’t sleep all night?”

It seemed like she was concerned about her.

Understanding this underlying meaning, Chu Zhaoqiu smiled gently.

“Lianxue, I am a Demon Hunter. Protecting innocent people from the harassment of evil spirits² is my duty.”

Fu Lianxue opened both eyes and stared at Chu Zhaoqiu, sizing her up without a word.

After a moment, she suddenly propped herself up, leaning closer to Chu Zhaoqiu, and asked with a half-smile: “Then who protects yaoguai from human harassment?

“Can you? Celestial Master Chu?”

A familiar fragrant scent wafted over. Gazing at the languidly enchanting demon before her, Chu Zhaoqiu suddenly didn’t quite want to leave anymore.

“If Miss Fu requires it, I could consider expanding into that line of business.”

Fu Lianxue curled her lips slightly. “Then go ahead and expand it. Start by not disturbing a demon’s sleep first thing in the morning.”

Hearing this, Chu Zhaoqiu said very earnestly, “I’m sorry, Lianxue. The situation was urgent.”

Fu Lianxue was nonchalant. “What’s so urgent in broad daylight³?”

The bright sun shines, all living things chase it, but all ghosts shun it.
People get tanned or sunburned from too much sun; ghosts can also be harmed by it, even to the point of having their souls scatter⁴.

So, no matter how strong that female ghost in red is, she wouldn’t appear and strike in broad daylight. Besides, with so many Demon Hunters around, she definitely wouldn’t be foolish enough to walk right into a trap⁵. Perhaps she’s recuperating somewhere right now, or even changing her target.

Chu Zhaoqiu could definitely catch her breath now and get some proper rest.

Fu Lianxue lightly lifted her arm, slowly draping it over Chu Zhaoqiu’s shoulder, playing with her long, dark hair. “I think… you just wanted to see me~”

The lazy, teasing words fell on her ear like a whisper of wind, making one’s heart itch⁶.

Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t show the shyness or embarrassment Fu Lianxue had imagined. Instead, she smiled, staring straight at her, her eyes bright and dazzling like stars. “Mm, I wanted to see you.”

So sincere it made one’s heart pound.

Fu Lianxue’s fingers, playing with the hair, paused slightly.

Then, her long fingers lifted lightly, hooking onto the long, tasseled hairpin tucked sideways in Chu Zhaoqiu’s hair.

“So honest… Then as a reward, you can sleep with me.”

As the words fell, Chu Zhaoqiu felt the hairpin suddenly pulled from her head. Before she could react, the world spun around her⁷—Fu Lianxue had pulled her down to lie beside her.

The same bed, under the same quilt, face to face at close range.

Chu Zhaoqiu was completely stunned, caught off guard.

She forgot how to speak, staring without blinking⁸ at the demon before her. She only saw Fu Lianxue cover her mouth with her hand and yawn, seeming very sleepy.

Fu Lianxue closed her eyes and said, “Next time, don’t come talk to me so early. I’m dead tired…”

After speaking, she yawned again.

Chu Zhaoqiu remained stunned for a good while before snapping back to reality amidst the yawning. She asked, “Did you stay up late last night?”

Fu Lianxue snuggled down lower, a soft “Mm” slipping from her nostrils.

“Because of work?”

“Because I was playing on my phone.”

Chu Zhaoqiu gave a resigned laugh, reached out to tuck the quilt around her properly, made no comment on the phone use, and instead asked softly, “Lianxue, when did you meet the Fingerless Madam?”

Fu Lianxue opened her eyes and glanced at her, her expression seeming to say, “Why are you still hung up on this?”, then closed them again.

“Some dynasty or other. The specifics… I forget.”

“What was she doing then?”

“She was ‘instructing’ gamblers on chopping off fingers.”

Chu Zhaoqiu couldn’t help but laugh.

Quite some ‘instruction’.

“Has she killed anyone besides gamblers?”

“Don’t know.”

“Then do you know why she hates gamblers so much?”

“How would I know? I’m not familiar with her, and she doesn’t have the bad habit of grabbing people to tell her life story.”

“We just met by chance⁹, didn’t have much interaction,” Fu Lianxue opened her eyes and looked at Chu Zhaoqiu. “I was just passing by back then, saw her ‘instructing’ someone, stopped to watch for a moment, exchanged a few words, and then left. We kept to ourselves¹⁰.”

She really was just passing by initially. She stopped for a better look out of sudden curiosity because she saw a bright red shadow.

Red, after all, is very eye-catching. Can’t blame her for being curious.

And as a result, she witnessed the ‘instruction scene’ of a female ghost in red.

Almost instantly, she recalled the rumored “Fingerless Madam”.

She didn’t hide her presence, so naturally, the female ghost in red quickly noticed her.

Under the cold moonlight, the female ghost stood in a deserted, deep alley, watching her with hostility.

“Who are you?”

She said, “I’m not human. I’m a demon.”

The ghost asked again, “Are you here to save him?”

“Why would I save him? I don’t even know him,” she retorted. “And why do you want to kill him?”

The ghost’s face instantly filled with hatred. “Because he deserves to die.”

Hearing this, she suddenly became interested, folding her arms and leaning against the wall. “I have time. I’d be willing to hear the details.”

Of course, the ghost didn’t elaborate in the end and even told her not to meddle in others’ business.

She instantly felt bored and turned to leave airily.

After a while, she turned back and asked the ghost about someone’s whereabouts.

That person was Chu Zhaoqiu.

Unfortunately, the ghost said she hadn’t seen her and didn’t know.

“Alright then, you carry on.”

She turned and left again, this time for real.

That was the extent of her meeting with the Fingerless Madam, their only encounter.

No conflict, no ripples, utterly unremarkable¹¹.

Chu Zhaoqiu listened to her description, but the main point that stuck in her mind was that this the Fingerless Madam’s temper seemed somewhat manageable; she hadn’t gotten angry even after Fu Lianxue interrupted her twice while she was killing someone.

Perhaps this really was a ghost they could communicate with, provided they could find her first.

“Lianxue, do you still remember what she looked like?”

“I only saw her that one time, and it was so long ago! Who remembers what she looked like!”

Fu Lianxue huffed impatiently.

Good grief, Chu Zhaoqiu! Letting her sleep, but here she is asking for the portrait of a criminal suspect ghost—I’m right here, but she’s still thinking about another woman, isn’t she!

“But even after so long, you still remember what I look like,” Chu Zhaoqiu said suddenly.

“…” Fu Lianxue was suddenly speechless.

Chu Zhaoqiu took her hand, carefully and preciously raising it to her lips for a kiss. Her eyes instantly curved into crescents like the moon in the sky.

“You still remember me. I’m very happy.”

Although their reunion hadn’t been pleasant, Fu Lianxue had indeed recognized her.

She remembered her nose and eyes, remembered her features. Spanning a thousand years, she still remembered her clearly.

How could one not be happy, being remembered for so long by the person they like?

Simple, sincere, and direct words of love, striking straight to the heart.

Fu Lianxue was even more unsure how to respond.

Her heart seemed to burn from that kiss on her fingertips. A thousand words burned away in the heat, leaving her tongue-tied¹², unable to speak.

—She really did like her. Otherwise, why would she become so awkward because of her?

After a good while, Fu Lianxue finally pulled her hand back.

“So annoying! I told you not to talk to me first thing in the morning! I need to sleep!

“Are you going to sleep or not? If not, get out!”

Seeing her like this, Chu Zhaoqiu smiled, adjusted her position, moved slightly closer, her tone becoming much more docile. “I am sleeping, but…”

Fu Lianxue glanced up at her, waiting for her to continue.

Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes held a smile, her voice very gentle. “But… can I sleep here?”

This was Fu Lianxue’s bedroom, Fu Lianxue’s private space.

As a suitor not yet officially accepted, could she really share the same bed with her?

Fu Lianxue had thought it was something important. Hearing this, she closed her eyes nonchalantly. “Why not?

“Thousands of years ago, we slept together countless times.”

That time was actually quite similar to now.

Chu Zhaoqiu’s room was her room; Chu Zhaoqiu’s bed was her bed.

In order to seduce her, in order to corrupt Chu Zhaoqiu’s Dao Heart, she had absolutely no concept of maintaining distance.

She didn’t know now either—she was very sleepy, she didn’t want to know.

Fu Lianxue yawned, pulling the quilt over. “If you don’t want to sleep here, the sofa outside welcomes you. Otherwise, just go home and sleep.”

With that, she turned her back, ignoring her.

Chu Zhaoqiu silently watched her back.

After a long moment, she gently rested her head on the pillow, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Since Fu Lianxue had agreed, as a suitor with ulterior motives¹³, she wouldn’t decline further.

“Thank you, Lianxue.”

Fu Lianxue responded with a vague mumble.

Chu Zhaoqiu closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep here along with her fluttering heart.

The world was quiet, yet filled with joy.

Because the one she liked was close at hand.

Fu Lianxue woke up.

Having slept enough, slept her fill, it was time to get up and eat.

She sat up, then paused abruptly, slowly turning her head to look back.
Chu Zhaoqiu was sleeping beside her, breathing evenly, her face serene and beautiful—showing no sign of waking.

—Looks like staying up all night really tired her out.

As this thought popped into Fu Lianxue’s mind, her movements in setting down the quilt and getting out of bed unconsciously became lighter.

She opened the bedroom door and immediately saw the short-legged kitten waiting for her by the door.

The next second, the kitten darted straight through the open crack of the door towards the bedroom.

Her eyes widened instantly. Softly calling out “No!”, she swiftly scooped up Baobao, stopping it from running inside.

Then, the bedroom door was gently closed.

Holding Baobao, she walked towards the bathroom, petting its little head as she went, while saying, “Baobao needs to be good, you can’t go play in Mama’s room, understand?”

Baobao meowed twice, flicking its fluffy tail, unclear if it understood.

Immediately after, she suddenly stopped walking.

First, she turned to glance at the bedroom, then lowered her head to look at the kitty in her arms.

A moment later, she belatedly asked, “Is Mama being a little too nice to this woman?”

Baobao gently flicked its tail and let out a soft, kittenish¹⁴ meow, innocent and adorable.

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