"Miss, please have some water."
Ni Mantian took the bowl, her gaze swept across the other's face, and she said with a smile, "Thank you, little sister. Are you living here alone?"
"With my father."
"Oh?" Ni Mantian's eyes flickered, "Is your father's health good?"
Hua Qian Gu sneered inwardly. She was probing to see if her father was still alive—in her previous life, Ni Mantian knew her father had died early, and this life she wanted to confirm if anything had changed.
"He's very well, he just chopped a pile of firewood." Hua Qian Gu pointed to the pile of firewood in the courtyard.
Ni Mantian's smile froze for a moment, then quickly recovered: "That's good."
The two exchanged pleasantries on the surface for a few sentences, and then Ni Mantian took her leave. After walking more than ten steps, she looked back at Hua Qian Gu. In that glance, there was scrutiny, calculation, and a hint of undetectable jealousy.
Hua Qian Gu closed the door, leaning against it, her palms covered in sweat.
Ni Mantian had indeed been reborn as well.
And judging by her eyes, she might have been reborn even earlier than herself. This meant she knew all of Hua Qian Gu's trump cards, all her weaknesses, and all her plans.
"This is big trouble," Hua Qian Gu muttered.
Back inside the house, Hua Qian Gu sat by the bed and took Tang Bao's egg out from her embrace.
The eggshell was warm, emitting a faint green light. In her previous life, Tang Bao had hatched from this very egg, calling her "Mother," and then died at Ni Mantian's hands to save her.
"In this life, I won't let anyone harm you," Hua Qian Gu whispered, pressing the egg to her face.
The green light on the eggshell flickered, as if responding to her.
Hua Qian Gu then turned her attention back to her own body.
The Godhead was still there, like a dormant seed buried deep within her Dantian. She could feel its existence but couldn't mobilize it. In her previous life, she had only fully awakened her Godhead after becoming the Demon God; this life, she had to find a way to do it earlier.
However, she had an advantage she didn't have in her previous life—memory.
All the Cultivation Techniques, all the secret realm locations, all the fortunate encounters, she remembered them all.
This meant she could take the fastest path in the shortest amount of time.
Hua Qian Gu retrieved paper and brush from under her pillow and began to make a list.
First line: Ni Mantian.
This woman was ruthless. In her previous life, she had used the Pool of Despair Water to ruin her appearance, caused her to suffer seventeen Soul Severing Nails, and finally tried to kill Tang Bao. She had to be dealt with first in this life.
Second line: Mo Yan.
The Chang Liu World Honored One, outwardly righteous but inwardly prejudiced. In her previous life, he had targeted her from beginning to end; among those who pressured Bai Zi Hua to kill her, he was the most active.
Third line: Bai Zi Hua.
Hua Qian Gu's pen tip paused.
She stared at the name for a long time, finally adding a small line below it—"I don't hate you anymore, but I won't love you either."
In her previous life, she would have given up everything for Bai Zi Hua. And the result? He had pierced her heart with the Xuanyuan Sword.
In this life, she would no longer cry for him, suffer for him, or give up herself for him. He was him, and she was her; two parallel lines that were best never to cross again.
Hua Qian Gu folded the list and tucked it back under her pillow.
"Xiao Gu, it's time to eat!" Father Hua's voice came from the outer room.
Hua Qian Gu walked out and saw two bowls of porridge, a plate of pickles, and two steamed buns on the table. It was simple, couldn't be simpler, yet her eye sockets immediately reddened.
In her previous life, her father had fallen ill this year. She had no money for medicine and watched helplessly as he died in her embrace.
"Dad, have you been feeling unwell recently?" Hua Qian Gu sat down, holding her porridge bowl, and asked.
"What could be wrong? I'm as strong as ever." Father Hua took a bite of a steamed bun, "Why are you acting so strange today, child?"
"I had a dream, I dreamt you didn't want me anymore." Hua Qian Gu lowered her head and ate her porridge, tears falling into the bowl.
Father Hua paused, then reached out and ruffled her hair, "Silly girl, how could Dad not want you? Dad still wants to see you get married."
Hua Qian Gu sniffled and smiled.
In this life, she was determined to ensure her father lived a long and healthy life.
She also wanted to become stronger, so strong that no one would dare to bully her or the people she cared about. Whether it was Ni Mantian or Mo Yan, if anyone dared to reach out, she would chop off their claws.
As for Bai Zi Hua—
Hua Qian Gu looked up at the window. The night was deep, dotted with stars.
The man she had loved her entire previous life was probably meditating on Chang Liu Mountain at this moment. He likely didn't know yet that there was a reborn "Demoness" in this world, plotting how to bypass him and live her own life.
"We'd best not meet again," Hua Qian Gu whispered.
The wind blew across the thatched rooftop, as if responding to her.
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