Ha, Karma! – Chapter 88

I don’t know.

When Chu Zhaoqiu returned home, her girlfriend was already asleep.

Fu Lianxue’s head was facing the foot of the bed, the blanket only covering her legs, and she was cuddling a small, sleeping cat.

The yao and the cat seemed to have been waiting for her to come home, falling asleep as they waited and waited.

Chu Zhaoqiu’s heart suddenly softened. Lightly and gently, she leaned down and kissed her lover’s hair.

Unexpectedly, this kiss made Fu Lianxue slowly open her eyes, like Sleeping Beauty’s curse being broken.

Their eyes met.

“I’m back,” Chu Zhaoqiu’s voice was extremely soft, like a gentle breeze.

Fu Lianxue was groggy with sleep and responded just as groggily, her hand stroking Chu Zhaoqiu’s face, “You’re back…”

Chu Zhaoqiu squeezed the back of her hand, her eyes full of tenderness, and kissed her again. Then, she scooped her up horizontally, adjusted her position, and laid her head on the pillow.

Baobao was also gently moved next to his mama, and the blanket was tucked in properly.

“Go back to sleep. I’m going to wash up, I’ll be right back.”

Fu Lianxue mumbled a couple of replies indistinctly.

So cute.

Chu Zhaoqiu couldn’t resist kissing her a couple more times before leaving.

Chu Zhaoqiu did everything very lightly.

She changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and then noticed an extra layer of magic formation in the room.

There was naturally no need to guess whose handiwork this was.

She returned to the bedroom.

Baobao had changed sleeping spots.

He was curled up in the gap between his mama’s pillow and the headboard, sleeping exceptionally soundly.

Fu Lianxue’s pillow had also somehow shifted downwards, leaving a comfortable space for him.

The yao and the cat were both sleeping very well.

Softly and gently, Chu Zhaoqiu lifted the blanket and lay down.

Just as she was about to turn back and switch off the bedside lamp, the yao she thought was already asleep suddenly turned over, wrapped her arms around her waist, and burrowed straight into her embrace.

Seeing this, Chu Zhaoqiu smiled faintly, resignedly using magic to turn off the light, then held her beloved close in the darkness.

In the dim bedroom, Fu Lianxue’s voice suddenly sounded: “Tomorrow… I have something to tell you…”

“Hm?” Chu Zhaoqiu asked softly, “What is it? Is it important? What’s it about?”

Something that Fu Lianxue would mention groggily even while falling asleep… it was hard not to be curious.

The great yao in her arms said, “It’s about that kinswoman¹ I hate…”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, finally becoming inaudible.

Chu Zhaoqiu couldn’t hear her anymore, so she called out softly, “Lianxue?”

There was no response.

Her lover’s breathing in her arms was even and peaceful.

This time, she was truly asleep.

Chu Zhaoqiu chuckled helplessly, pulled the blanket up to cover her properly, reached out an arm to pat Baobao, and then held her as she drifted off to sleep too.

Whatever it was, they could talk about it tomorrow.

They had gone out on a date today as well.

Since they had free time during the day, they simply went out for lunch together, saving the trouble of tidying up at home.

After eating, they walked hand-in-hand in the park.

Fu Lianxue wore a hat and sunglasses, holding an ice cream cone.

“Doesn’t Wuchang Mountain need you over there? Didn’t you guys discover something yesterday?” she asked while eating.

Chu Zhaoqiu held her hand, matching her pace, walking slowly.

“We did discover something, but ultimately found nothing. So, we set up a formation there. The Association will send people to stake it out.”

“Hopefully, that yao will come back again.”

Fu Lianxue took a couple of licks of her ice cream.

This yao was really strange. Appearing at the crime scene, letting its demonic energy be exposed, and then vanishing without a trace, leaving behind a string of questions.

Was the other party the culprit?

Why did they reveal themselves only to flee? Did they want to be caught or not?

Was this a provocation aimed at demon hunters?

It was truly baffling.

“Lianxue, you said yesterday you had something to tell me,” Chu Zhaoqiu squeezed Fu Lianxue’s hand, her eyes full of curiosity, “What was it?”

“Ah!” Fu Lianxue remembered and immediately said, “I wanted to tell you to be careful of that kinswoman of mine. She’s in Zhou City now, and she’s become very… deviant.”

“Hm? Deviant?”

“Yes, she actually wants my Longevity Flower, and she even attacked me.”

Chu Zhaoqiu stopped in her tracks, her expression instantly serious, her gaze immediately scanning Fu Lianxue from head to toe. “She attacked you?”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Why didn’t you tell me last night? Let’s go home quickly, I’ll find a physician right now!”

A rapid-fire trio of anxious questions.

Fu Lianxue couldn’t help but chuckle, quickly pulling her back. “Hey, no, I wasn’t injured. I’m not that little yao from back then anymore. It’s not so easy for others to hurt me.”

Only then did Chu Zhaoqiu relax.

“It’s good that you’re okay,” she held her hand tightly. “Anything concerning your safety, you have to tell me sooner next time, okay?”

They had finally reunited after so much difficulty, finally gotten together. She didn’t want to be separated again for any reason.

Fu Lianxue saw the concern for her filling Chu Zhaoqiu’s sparkling eyes, her heart suddenly softening. She hugged her and coaxed, “Alright, I’ll definitely tell you sooner next time. Weren’t you busy yesterday… Here, have a bite of ice cream to calm your nerves!”

She held the cone to Chu Zhaoqiu’s lips.

Only after seeing her take a bite did she continue the topic.

“That kinswoman of mine, her name is Ji Congyun.”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s gaze rested on her.

“Yesterday, we exchanged a few moves—just a little back-and-forth, we didn’t really fight seriously. But I feel she’s changed a lot, become very deviant. How should I put it… it’s like she’s gone down a crooked path, completely disregarding whether others live or die—though I don’t think she ever cared much about me, and I don’t care about her either.”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s brow furrowed again.

Disregarding the life of her own kin, coveting her kin’s Longevity Flower, and even attempting to harm her kin… This was simply a dangerous individual!

“What does she want your flower for?” After asking, Chu Zhaoqiu thought for a moment herself, her frown deepening. “To raise her cultivation level, ascend to godhood?”

Fu Lianxue raised her eyebrows slightly, took a bite of the cone, and said approvingly, “Clever.”

Chu Zhaoqiu fell silent.

To be at the step before godhood meant this Ji Congyun had considerable skill herself, not to be underestimated.

But…

“Why doesn’t she use her own flower?”

Fu Lianxue shrugged. “Don’t know. I asked, but she didn’t say. Maybe she thinks other people’s are better. After all, her way of thinking has always been different from normal people, ever since I first knew her.”

Fu Lianxue twirled a finger near her temple. “Now she’s even more deviant.”

Chu Zhaoqiu seemed to think of something, held Fu Lianxue’s hand, and looked gravely into her eyes. “The yao that was attached to me back then… could it have been her?”

Fu Lianxue was instantly lost in thought.

There was absolutely no kinship love between her and Ji Congyun. Ji Congyun had always done as she pleased, only caring about herself; others didn’t matter.

If Ji Congyun had wanted to kill her back then, although the reason was unknown, it wasn’t entirely impossible to imagine. At the very least, Ji Congyun definitely wouldn’t feel any guilt about it.

Chu Zhaoqiu asked again, “Lianxue, didn’t you say before that you’d have people inquire about her? Any news?”

Fu Lianxue came back to her senses and shook her head. “No news for now. Like me, she doesn’t like staying with the clan, and her interactions with other Charm Demons aren’t close, so nobody knows what she was doing back then.”

Regret showed in Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes.

“No matter what, you have to protect yourself well, be extra vigilant against her,” Chu Zhaoqiu looked intently at her lover before her, her gaze gentle yet worried. “I know my Lianxue is very powerful, but you still need to be careful.”

Hearing her soft tone, Fu Lianxue’s eyes curved as she brought the ice cream in her hand to Chu Zhaoqiu’s lips. “I understand.”

“Eat ice cream~”

Chu Zhaoqiu took a bite from her hand, a little white smudge left on her lips.

Fu Lianxue smiled and raised a finger to wipe it away.

Chu Zhaoqiu gently helped her tidy her hair.

Tender affection, intimate closeness.

And this scene was fully taken in by the Charm Demon under a distant tree.

Ji Congyun’s eyes flickered, a trace of astonishment appearing within them.

Fu Lianxue was actually hanging out with this Xuanmen disciple again? What kind of cursed fate was this?

And looking at them… could these two be dating?!

Incredible, truly incredible.

These two actually had feelings for each other!

Ji Congyun’s breathing suddenly quickened, a strange excitement surging in her heart, her gaze fixed greedily and expectantly on Chu Zhaoqiu.

A young and promising demon hunter.

Fu Lianxue’s beloved.

Her enemy.

—Chu Zhaoqiu seemed like a much more suitable target!

At this thought, Ji Congyun grew even more excited.

She wanted to play a game.

That evening, Chu Zhaoqiu returned from the Demon Hunting Association and drove her car into the underground parking garage.

A small cat upstairs would follow her back for company.

After locking the car, she turned to walk towards the elevator.

It was very quiet all around; the empty, brightly lit parking garage seemed to hold only her.

Soon, a second person appeared.

Oh, no, that should be, a yao.

At the elevator entrance stood a woman, poised and graceful.

She turned her head, the tear mole beneath her eye incredibly captivating, her gaze as bright as stars.

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her suddenly appearing girlfriend, stopped in her tracks, surprise showing in her eyes.

“Well? Surprised?” Fu Lianxue walked towards her, asking with a smile. “I’ve been waiting here for you for a long time, you know.”

Chu Zhaoqiu was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Surprised.”

Immediately after, her face impassive, she removed the hairpin from her hair. The slender pin flipped between her fingers, instantly transforming into a horsetail whisk held ready in the crook of her arm.

Her gaze was sharp, her voice majestic and certain. “What manner of yao dares cause trouble here?”

Fu Lianxue’s steps faltered, surprised. “What’s wrong with you? It’s me, Lianxue. Don’t you recognize me?”

“Stop acting,” Chu Zhaoqiu said expressionlessly.

“I’m not acting, I am me! How can you not even recognize me!”

“Your acting is terrible.”

“Chu Zhaoqiu, what nonsense are you talking!”

“The way she looks at me isn’t as… perverted as yours.”

“Ah~” The person who had just been arguing suddenly changed her expression, stroking her chin in realization. “So that’s how it is.”

“Fu Lianxue” curved her lips into a smile. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll improve next time.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s expression was calm, her gaze like a torch.

“—Ji Congyun.”

As these three words landed, the person opposite her was clearly stunned for a moment, then frowned, starting to size her up with utter confusion.

“How did you know?”

This is impossible!

Chu Zhaoqiu doesn’t even know what I look like, and I haven’t revealed any other face. How could Chu Zhaoqiu possibly know it was me!

Where did my perfect disguise go wrong?!

But Chu Zhaoqiu just shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Ji Congyun: “?”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “I just shouted it randomly.”

Ji Congyun: “…”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “Didn’t expect you to admit it.”

Ji Congyun: “…”

Damn it, got bluffed by a kid!

---

---