As Ye watched Qian Luo chase after the girl, a flare of unexplainable rage rose in her heart. Spiritual power surged in her palm once more, and a killing intent coalesced in the darkness, causing the surrounding leaves to rustle in alarm.
However, the light in her hand quickly dimmed. She discarded the remaining sparks into the grass with a flick of her wrist, walked a few dejected steps, and sat under a tree with her knees pulled to her chest.
She closed her eyes, and the gemstone-like glow vanished into the dark. What she didn’t see was a glob of black shadow coiled at her feet. It was a blurry, non-human shape that stealthily opened its mouth to swallow the fragments of light she had cast aside.
After consuming the light, the shadow’s mouth closed. It trembled violently for a moment, struggling as if in pain, until the light was fully digested. The struggling stopped, and the formless shadow suddenly gained a distinct, clear outline.
A moment later, a shadow with long, flowing hair drifted through the sky. Before leaving, it turned back to glance at Qian Luo, who was still talking to Zhou Xiaoming.
Humans, ghosts, spirits… everyone had gone mad.
…
Qian Luo intercepted Zhou Xiaoming, her expression etched with awkwardness. “Wait a second.”
Xiaoming didn’t seem angry. she simply turned her beautiful face, her quiet eyes waiting for Qian Luo to speak.
Qian Luo struggled internally for a long time before asking, “This might be presumptuous, but… I’m in charge of your case. So I have to ask: do you know how you died?”
She seemed to use every ounce of her strength to get those last words out.
“I don’t know.” Xiaoming looked at her with a faint, lingering sadness. “I didn’t even know I was dead…”
Qian Luo hesitated, fearing she’d lose the chance if she didn’t push. “Do you know who killed you?”
Xiaoming, who had lowered her head, flinched as if struck by an invisible blow. Her long lashes trembled with grief. After a long silence, she whispered, “I… I don’t know.”
Her voice broke slightly, turning husky with tears. “I used to think that if I was good enough, everyone would love me…”
She had once been adored by millions on the path to stardom; every smile had captured hearts. But she hadn’t realized that behind the glamour lay a cutthroat battle of hearts; that behind the smiling faces were jealousy and hatred; that those who claimed to love her beauty would forget her after a few sighs.
Even though the heart in her chest had stopped beating, it still… hurt.
Suddenly, she felt a gentle tug. She fell into a warm embrace. Someone was holding her softly, stroking her wounded back. A voice whispered in her ear, “It’s okay. It’s all over now. Don’t cry…”
Xiaoming froze. She reached up to wipe her cheek but felt nothing. Yet, looking down, she saw several pearlescent droplets fall into the void and vanish.
This person could hold her. Not only could a living human see and hear her—they could embrace her. The warmth radiating from Qian Luo filled her with a sense of longing she couldn’t quite bear. She was dead, yet she still craved this world.
Shaking, Xiaoming suddenly pushed Qian Luo away, her gaze darting about. A bitter smile touched her lips. “I… I have to go.”
Qian Luo didn’t stop her. Since Xiaoming didn’t know the cause of her death, it further confirmed that this was a premeditated murder. The priority now was to find the escaped Zhuo Zitong and force the truth out of her. As a Vengeful Spirit with such heavy resentment, Zhuo Zitong must know something.
Qian Luo watched Xiaoming leave and then went to find Ye. The night was vast, and the city lights in the distance felt lonely against the shadows of the construction site.
She didn’t realize the real reason Xiaoming had fled.
When that warmth had enveloped her, Xiaoming’s silent, dead heart had given a violent, agonizing throb. Then, a chilling sensation of extreme cold swept through her, drowning out Qian Luo’s warmth. In the heart of the dead girl, a thought flashed with intense resentment: Why? Why do this to me? I smiled at everyone, I loved this world, yet I died! At seventeen!
It was someone who stood by me with a smile who killed me!
Fury burned in her eyes, threatening to ignite the forgiveness she had tried to maintain. Then, Qian Luo’s hand had gently patted her head. That simple comfort had smoothed over the jagged pain, the warmth seeping into her soul.
Xiaoming had pushed her away and fled into the night.
…
Qian Luo approached the tree where Ye sat with closed eyes. She flicked Ye’s sharp chin, making the girl jump and glare at her with emerald eyes full of spite.
Qian Luo snorted. “Still mad?”
Ye turned her head away, her lips pouting slightly. “How would I dare be mad at you? I have to rely on you for my incense offerings, don’t I?”
Hearing the softened tone, Qian Luo knew the storm had passed. She grinned and leaned in. “No incense, but how about dried fish?”
Ye stared into the darkness, showing only the curve of her white neck. Finally, she gave a soft “Hmph.”
“Qian Zhen is back. Let’s go find her.”
Half an hour later, a cold sneer echoed through the villa: “So you finally remembered the way home?”
Qian Luo and Ye froze in the doorway, their bodies still leaning forward in mid-stride. They exchanged panicked looks. Their usually gentle Senior Sister was sneering. That meant she was—beyond a doubt—furious.
The two of them hesitated at the door, pushing and shoving each other, neither wanting to be the first sacrifice.
“You’re a Divine Cat,” Qian Luo whispered. “You go. Sister likes you best.”
Ye’s brows shot up. “You’re her precious disciple. Why don’t you go? I only went to find you because you caused trouble! Why should I go in first?”
“But I… I did something bad…” Qian Luo stammered.
Ye lifted her foot and kicked Qian Luo squarely in the backside. “You caused the mess, you fix it!”
Propelled by the kick, Qian Luo stumbled into the house just as the door opened. The woman opening it looked surprised as Qian Luo fell right into her arms.
Qian Zhen’s annoyed expression softened as she caught her sister. She smiled slightly. “What’s this? Trying to bribe me with a hug right off the bat?”
Qian Luo turned bright red and scrambled back. “Sister! I was wrong! Punish me, it has nothing to do with Ye! It was all my—”
Qian Zhen laughed, her peach-blossom eyes warming. “When did I say I was going to punish you?”
Qian Luo stared in disbelief. Her sister continued, “Well? Aren’t you coming in to eat? I’ve waited so long the food is cold.”
Qian Luo couldn’t believe her luck and looked at Ye with a bewildered expression. Ye snorted, brushed past her, and sat down at the table to start eating.
Qian Luo followed, closing the door softly. She tried to make herself as small as possible, tiptoeing to the table like she was trying not to wake a dragon. She carefully pulled out her chair, and just as she was about to sit—
SLAM!
Qian Zhen slapped her chopsticks onto the table. Her voice turned sharp. “Where did you two go in the middle of the night?”
Her gaze locked onto Qian Luo’s shoulder. “And what is that claw mark? Stagnant black blood, clean incisions… What on earth have you been doing?”