My name is Shangguan Chuxue.
Back then, I was an innocent, pure, and carefree little girl.
I used to follow Long Jiuxiao, the young master of the Long family, around, dreaming of marrying him when I grew up.
However, everything changed after my mother passed away unexpectedly, and my father remarried, bringing a stepmother into our lives and giving birth to Shangguan Xiao.
They discovered that I possessed the Innate Essence.
And so...
They conspired with Long Jiuxiao to extract my Innate Essence and transplant it into Shangguan Xiao.
I was even driven out to a remote countryside estate.
I hated, I resented, and I vowed to take revenge on all of them.
Coincidentally, at that time, the severely injured Wind Ghost arrived at my estate. I treated his wounds and became his disciple.
From then on, I embarked on the path of ghost cultivation and began my quest for vengeance.
I detested all forms of happiness in the world and took a sick pleasure in destroying what others called joy.
I reveled in the thrill of the cat-and-mouse game, the satisfaction of outmaneuvering my enemies.
And Su Muwan happened to be one of my chosen targets.
I hated the unbreakable bond she shared with her loyal follower.
So, I wanted to destroy it.
Moreover, I wanted to humiliate her follower right in front of her, to make her understand that there was no such thing as absolute loyalty in this world!
But...
Everything was supposed to go according to plan. Su Muwan was supposed to fall into the abyss step by step, following the script I had written for her.
But... why... why did it turn out like this...?
In the Ning family's bedroom.
"Waaaah!!!"
"You dare hit me! You dare hit me!!"
Shangguan Chuxue lay on the floor, clutching her face, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"I hate you! I hate all of you!"
"Why does everyone have to oppose me!"
"Why! Why did you hit me, Qin Luo!"
Shangguan Chuxue's mentality shattered. Aside from the time she passed out from the pain of having her Innate Essence extracted, this was the only other time she had cried.
Not for any other reason.
But because...
She thought she had manipulated the War God, only to find out the War God was on the opposing side.
She thought she could use the Rakshasa Palace to rally the underworld forces to besiege Su Muwan, only for Su Muwan to end up uniting Jiang City instead.
She thought she could bring Song Ming, the Rakshasa King, to Wang City to continue being a useful pawn, only to have her contact person switched out, and then she was insulted by Qin Luo flipping her off.
She thought arriving in Wang City would mean she was on home ground.
She had even manipulated Dragon Tiger Mountain, and through her guidance, all the major forces in Wang City had turned against Su Muwan.
The Old Heavenly Master had even shown up!
But! Four Peak Realm late-stage experts had died, the Old Heavenly Master fled, and Suan Tianxing went mad!
Finally, after barely managing to adjust her mindset, preparing to lay low and re-strategize to deliver a devastating blow to Su Muwan...
Qin Luo showed up again! Without a word, he slapped her across the face!
Now! She couldn't even escape! She was tied up and brought to the Ning family's headquarters.
Shangguan Chuxue cried so hard she started retching: "My Innate Essence was stolen from me! I just wanted revenge! What did I do wrong!"
"Why are you all targeting me like this!"
Qin Luo stood nearby, unmoved, even finding the situation amusing.
He glanced at Su Muwan and said, "Miss, should I make her shut up for a while?"
Su Muwan rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
To be honest.
In her previous life, after Su Muwan had destroyed Shangguan Chuxue's garden and made her drink toilet water, Shangguan Chuxue had also broken down and cried like this.
Hmm, she was indeed a character with extreme mood swings.
Ah, what a pitiful person, having her Innate Essence stolen and then forced to watch the person she loved marry someone else.
Su Muwan couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Shangguan Chuxue.
Just as she was about to suggest letting her go...
"And you, Su Muwan!"
Shangguan Chuxue's eyes were red, her teeth clenched as she pointed at Su Muwan and screamed, "Why couldn't you just obediently follow my script and fall into the abyss!"
"I just didn't want to see you and Qin Luo living so happily!"
"I just wanted to torture Qin Luo, that insignificant follower, right in front of you!"
"But you! Why couldn't you just follow the path I set for you!!!"
Su Muwan: "......?"
Su Muwan took a deep breath, then looked at Qin Luo and said kindly, "Make her quiet down."
"Understood, Miss."
Qin Luo stepped forward with a smile.
*Slap!!*
"Ugh—!"
Shangguan Chuxue finally quieted down.
She huddled in the corner, trembling.
Every now and then, she would glance up at Qin Luo, then at Su Muwan.
She thought her life was over.
Everything was ruined.
"Finally, some peace and quiet."
Su Muwan felt foolish for ever feeling pity for someone like her.
Where had the Su Muwan from her previous life gone? In this life, because of Qin Luo, had her heart softened too much?
Ah, that sounded a bit too self-praising.
Su Muwan cleared her throat lightly, then turned to Qin Luo and asked with a blink, "Qin Luo, what are you going to do with Suan Tianxing and Shangguan Chuxue?"
Qin Luo shrugged. "Naturally, send them both to a mental institution."
These two were valuable assets for containment.
Su Muwan's lips twitched, and she rubbed her temples. "Is it possible that our place is really turning into a lunatic asylum?"
Qin Luo nodded. "Miss, be bold. In the future, it might not just be lunatics."
Su Muwan was speechless.
After leaving the bedroom where Shangguan Chuxue was being held, Qin Luo and Su Muwan walked side by side out into the courtyard.
The cool night air was refreshing.
The two of them looked up, and the shadow that had been looming over Wang City dissipated, revealing a beautiful sea of stars.
"Ahhh..."
"Finally, it's over."
Qin Luo took a deep breath of the fresh air, inhaling the faint scent of Su Muwan's hair.
"Yes, it's finally over."
Su Muwan replied softly, glancing cautiously at Qin Luo beside her.
Under the moonlight, Qin Luo looked even more captivating to her.
"Hey, Qin Luo."
Su Muwan averted her gaze, staring at the sky while stealing glances at Qin Luo out of the corner of her eye.
Her hands were clasped behind her back, fingers fidgeting unconsciously as she asked, "Why did you stand in front of me back then?"
"Weren't you afraid of dying?"
Qin Luo also looked up at the stars. "Of course, I was afraid."
"But..."
He turned his head, smiling at Su Muwan as he said, "But I didn't want you to die before me, Miss. That would have made me sad."
"......"
Hearing this, Su Muwan's eyes trembled slightly, and the corners of her lips curled up.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She turned her head, staring at the smiling Qin Luo, and suppressing the emotions welling up in her heart, she said, "Hmph, even a mere Qin Luo can say something sweet once in a while."
"But," Su Muwan added with a light snort, "I'm not so weak that I need your protection."
"Is that so..."
Qin Luo withdrew his gaze, looking back at the stars. For some reason, he suddenly reached out and placed his hand on Su Muwan's head, smiling gently. "But I want to protect you, Miss. That's enough for me."
*Thump! Thump!*
In an instant, Su Muwan's heart raced. Her pupils trembled, and her cheeks flushed as she glanced at Qin Luo.
Ugh...
⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄
Su Muwan reached up and placed her hand over Qin Luo's, her voice trembling slightly. "A mere Qin Luo... a mere Qin Luo..."
"What are you trying to do, being so bold..."
You're making me... have to make up my mind...
Su Muwan bit her lip lightly.
I've decided!
Qin Luo looked up at the sky, his heart also racing.
I've decided!
After we return this time...
In that moment, as if they shared a telepathic connection, the two of them turned to look at each other simultaneously, sharing a knowing smile.
"Hehe..."
"Hehe..."
I'll confess to Qin Luo...
I'll confess to Su Muwan...
Confess my feelings!!