Ha, Karma! – Chapter 87

——It’s her!

Fu Lianxue and the newly-emerged rapper Ji Congyun didn’t chat for long; they were interrupted by someone approaching outside.

Ji Congyun instantly transformed into a wisp of smoke and flew away, without a hint of reluctance.

Fu Lianxue watched the direction she left with disdain.

Neither party particularly liked the other; they parted on bad terms.

Remembering her purpose, Fu Lianxue continued downstairs to find the restroom, thinking as she walked: How bizarre¹.

She definitely had to tell her girlfriend about this when she got home.

However, Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t home.

Only a little cat was waiting by the door for its mama to come home.

Fu Lianxue closed the door, bent down to pick up Baobao, then traced a complex magical sigil on the wall with her finger. She pricked her finger and lightly dotted the center of the sigil with a bead of blood.

The instant the blood adorned it, the formless spell technique suddenly burst with light. Streaks of bright light flashed past like meteors streaking across the wall, scattering in all directions.

An invisible protective magical formation, enveloping the entire house, took effect immediately.

Holding Baobao, Fu Lianxue went to find the first-aid kit and put a bandage on her finger.

Baobao sat on her lap, its beautiful, amber-like eyes following her every move.

“Meow~” it cried, as if trying to get its mama’s attention.

Fu Lianxue glanced at it, put away the first-aid kit, and picked it up again.

Baobao snuggled coquettishly in her arms, softening her heart even more.

Her little cat was the cutest.

She really didn’t want some weird thing breaking into her house while she wasn’t home and scaring her little cat.

——Ji Congyun, I’m talking about you!

She called her out directly in her mind.

Thinking of Ji Congyun, she took out her phone to call Chu Zhaoqiu.

The call connected quickly.

Fu Lianxue asked first, “Where did you go? Why aren’t you home so late?”

The person on the phone replied gently, “I’m on Wuchang Mountain with people from the Demon Hunting Association.”

Fu Lianxue understood immediately. “Oh~ Okay then, no problem. You focus on your work. Stay safe, come home early.”

On the other end of the line, Chu Zhaoqiu gently said she understood, and didn’t forget to tell her to rest early too.

The call ended.

Fu Lianxue didn’t disturb Chu Zhaoqiu further.

Her girlfriend was currently at Wuchang Mountain with the Demon Hunting Association, examining a crime scene; it wasn’t the time for pillow talk.

Since Chu Zhaoqiu was busy, she’d tell her about Ji Congyun when she wasn’t.

Thinking this, Fu Lianxue stood up, holding Baobao.

“Mama Zhaoqiu isn’t home tonight, so it’s our Baobao watching the house all alone again, right?”

“Meow——”

“Oh, our Baobao is so good. Did you drink enough water while you were home alone? Mama didn’t seem to see you drinking much water today through your little robot friend’s eyes.”

Baobao stopped meowing, seemingly ignoring her words, but rubbed its head against her again.

Fu Lianxue scratched its head, her heart softening as she said indulgently, “Aiyo, you little charmer. Alright, alright, Mama will open a can for you, feed you some more water, and we’ll wait for Mama Zhaoqiu to come back together.”

Baobao: “Meow~”

Under the night sky, Wuchang Mountain was deathly silent, only becoming lively when the wind blew.

The autumn wind carried a chill as it blew past Chu Zhaoqiu’s long, khaki coat, lifting its two thin ties.

The night wind on Wuchang Mountain felt colder and gloomier than elsewhere.

Chu Zhaoqiu put her phone back into her coat pocket, a faint smile still lingering on her lips.

A nearby Demon Hunter, hearing her gentle voice during the phone call, couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Family?”

Chu Zhaoqiu smiled calmly. “Mm, girlfriend.”

The Demon Hunter: “…?!”

She was stunned.

That was so sudden!

Young Mistress Chu, why did you suddenly kick the closet door open yourself!²

There are so many people here!

She looked left and right in astonishment, observing the situation—no one else seemed concerned about this over here for the moment.

She looked back at Chu Zhaoqiu. The Young Mistress Chu was already examining the scene, her face calm, perfectly composed, as if everything was perfectly normal and expected.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, suppressing her shock.

Forget it. If Young Mistress Chu didn’t care about the closet door, there was no reason for her, an outsider, to dwell on it. Investigating the case was more important.

Chu Zhaoqiu was observing the surroundings.

Before her was the silent river; behind her, on the other side of the road, were towering green mountains.

Everything here was the same as before, no different.

No vehicles were passing today; this stretch of road was sealed off, but only temporarily. It couldn’t be closed indefinitely.

This section of road was too unique; it was the only path spirits of the dead could take back to the Road to the Underworld. There was no alternative route. Therefore, they had to find the culprit as quickly as possible and then reopen Wuchang Mountain.

Chu Zhaoqiu stared silently at the river before her.

It’s said that culprits often return to the scene of the crime, perhaps out of nervousness and worry, or perhaps because they want to admire their handiwork. She wondered if this culprit would also come back for a look.

On the mountain, the shadows of the trees were deep, perfectly concealing anything hidden within.

Ji Congyun leaned against a tree, slowly looking down. A purple, ethereal light flickered in her eyes, allowing her to see farther and more clearly.

Yes, she had returned.

Simply because she was bored.

She had even changed into black clothes and concealed her demonic energy.

Standing here dressed all in red would be too conspicuous. It wasn’t yet the critical moment for a direct confrontation with a group of Demon Hunters.

Beside her floated a mass of black mist.

A low, hoarse, yet extremely deferential voice came from within the black mist: “Lord Congyun, what are you looking at?”

Ji Congyun casually pointed towards the Demon Hunters on the path below. “Watching how this bunch of humans plans to find me.”

The black mist said, “Lord Congyun is meticulous and thorough. How could this bunch of foolish humans possibly catch you?”

Ji Congyun’s eyes shifted slightly as she smiled at it. “Well said. I like hearing that.”

The black mist lowered itself slightly, as if bowing humbly.

In a good mood, Ji Congyun turned her gaze back down the mountain.

It was only interesting if they couldn’t catch her. She loved watching humans being toyed with by her; it made them seem even stupider, more amusing.

Just then, she saw a Demon Hunter with a hairpin in her hair, wearing a long coat, slowly turn around to look towards the mountain peak where she stood.

An exquisitely beautiful face appeared clearly before her eyes.

She was suddenly stunned.

The next second, immense demonic energy erupted along with her fury!

——It’s her!

Down the mountain, Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes narrowed, her expression suddenly grave.

“My Lord!” the black mist exclaimed in alarm.

In the next instant, the sharp Demon Hunters had already flashed to the base of the tree.

Chu Zhaoqiu took two steps forward, lightly treading on fallen leaves, making a crisp sound sufficient to break the silence.

Her expression solemn, she scanned the surroundings.

——Completely empty.

That sudden surge of powerful demonic energy had vanished.

Ji Congyun sat on the sofa at home, propping up her head without speaking, her expression chillingly cold.

The black mist floated by her feet, not daring to speak.

Just now, when Ji Congyun had suddenly erupted in anger and exposed herself, it had immediately stopped her, hastily dragging her home in the nick of time³, thus avoiding discovery.

And then Ji Congyun became like this.

Silent, radiating a low pressure, very frightening.

It didn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend.

Who did Lord Congyun see? Why did she suddenly get so angry?

Could it be that her enemy happened to be among that group of Demon Hunters??

As it was thinking, Ji Congyun lightly lifted it with her foot.

Its light body bounced off the tip of her foot, popping up right before Ji Congyun’s eyes, forced to look directly into those eyes as cold as frost.

Ji Congyun spoke, “That female Demon Hunter wearing a hairpin, you saw her, right?”

The black mist nodded profusely⁴. “Saw her, saw her! She was also wearing a long coat. She and you—”

“Go investigate her current identity for me,” Ji Congyun interrupted its query, commanding coldly. “Go now.”

The black mist didn’t dare delay. It turned and flew out the window, disappearing to who knows where.

Instantly, only Ji Congyun remained in the vast living room.

She sat there, still motionless, her mind filled with that familiar face.

She wouldn’t mistake that face.

It was her. It was really her.

She never would have thought she’d actually be right here in Zhoucheng!

Ji Congyun leaned back against the sofa cushions, her eyes vacant, lost in memories.

Her hands on the armrests slowly clenched into fists, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Certain past events were truly unpleasant to recall.

Around nine in the morning, the sunlight was bright. Ji Congyun sat at the table eating breakfast.

The black mist floated nearby, reporting its findings—

The woman with the hairpin was surnamed Chu, named Chu Zhaoqiu, twenty-three years old this year.

Her family background was substantial and wealthy; the family enterprise was the internationally renowned Chu Corporation. The Chu family was also a Demon Hunting lineage, and she was precisely the Chu family’s Young Family Head.

“It really is her…”

Ji Congyun murmured softly.

Zhaoqiu, Chu Zhaoqiu, even the name was the same.

This lifetime, she’s also a Demon Hunter, still choosing the path of cultivation.

It seemed like nothing had changed.

Oh, wait, there were changes.

In their ages, memories, and abilities, things had changed.

To her now, the twenty-three-year-old Chu Zhaoqiu was just a little kid.

After finishing its report, the black mist carefully observed Ji Congyun’s expression.

Ji Congyun hadn’t spoken, and she ate slowly, as if she had no appetite.

The black mist dared not speak further, staying quietly to the side, awaiting orders.

After a while, Ji Congyun’s voice came: “How capable is this Chu Zhaoqiu?”

The black mist immediately replied, “Very capable. She’s got real skill⁵.”

Ji Congyun raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

The black mist: “I heard that’s how the Demon Hunters praise her—young and promising, boundless future, things like that…”

Ji Congyun scoffed. “Such unchangingly boring praise.”

She had heard others praise Chu Zhaoqiu like that before.

Fu Lianxue had praised Chu Zhaoqiu like that too.

A genius girl, future limitless, destined one day to soar upwards, rank among the immortals⁶, bring honor to her ancestors.

But so what if she was hyped up so much?

In the end, didn’t she still die? Dust to dust, earth to earth.

Thinking of this, Ji Congyun curled her lips into a mocking smile and took a satisfying bite of bread.

Seeing her expression brighten considerably, the black mist carefully ventured, “My Lord, do you know this Chu Zhaoqiu?”

Ji Congyun nodded. “I know her.”

The black mist asked again, “Is there… enmity between you?”

Ji Congyun put down what she was holding and wiped her hands slowly and deliberately. “Yes, great enmity. So great that…”

“——I want to kill her right now.”

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