Yu Suisui felt this wasn’t quite right.
Although she had long accepted Xie Rongjing’s murderous tendencies, there was still a difference between others killing and doing it herself.
Neither the original elder sister who genuinely cherished her younger sister, nor her current self—a stepsister from modern society—could bring themselves to commit vengeful murder.
Worried she hadn’t expressed herself clearly, Yu Suisui shook her head while waving her hands.
No, no, absolutely not.
No!
She gazed anxiously at the persistently reckless Law Enforcement Hall, then at her even more reckless cheap younger sister, deeply concerned these people might awaken the great antagonist’s hunting season ahead of schedule.
There was still some time before Xie Rongjing’s Blackening period. As a transmigrator with professional ethics, she felt it necessary to intervene appropriately.
For instance, leading the great antagonist away from triggering stimuli.
Although Xie Rongjing currently appeared perfectly normal—even smiling gently at her—Yu Suisui was no longer as easily deceived as when she first transmigrated.
She had evolved, developing a profound understanding of this mad dog temperament that smiled while descending into madness.
Therefore, she smiled back at Xie Rongjing, if only to stabilize his mood—whether it would work or not, she’d smile first and worry later.
“What are you two making eyes at each other for?” Yu Chuchu grew even angrier seeing Yu Suisui not only ignore her but engage in silent communication with Xie Rongjing.
Yu Suisui remembered: in the original plot, Yu Chuchu hadn’t been casually eliminated during the sect massacre.
But now… it was hard to say.
To prevent the entire Tian Zhao Sect from becoming a survival battleground ahead of schedule, she decisively stepped forward and grabbed Xie Rongjing’s sleeve.
“What do you think you’re doing!” Yu Chuchu stamped her foot. “Gongsun Lan, block them for me!”
“As you wish.”
Yu Suisui wasn’t afraid of him. “I’m taking him back. Feel free to try and stop me.”
Even with ten thousand times the courage, the Law Enforcement Hall wouldn’t dare detain her, the young mistress, here.
Sure enough, Gongsun Lan flicked open his folding fan with a resigned sigh. “You may take him, but before dawn tomorrow, we’ll trouble the young mistress to return the Devil Seed to the Law Enforcement Hall.”
Yu Suisui looked strangely at Gongsun Lan. “What crime has he committed?”
She didn’t recall any, and Steward Niu hadn’t mentioned any recent cases involving Xie Rongjing.
Gongsun Lan: “That’s not something the young mistress needs to concern herself with.”
Oh, so they were just creating trouble for no reason.
Yu Suisui understood. “And if I refuse?”
“That is your freedom.” Gongsun Lan sighed lightly. “It’s just that he will suffer considerably.”
…??
What exactly have you done to him?
“Young mistress, don’t agitate yourself. I merely placed a minor spell on him.” Gongsun Lan waved his folding fan. “If he obediently comes here and recites what everyone wants to hear during the Sect Celebration, the spell will naturally lift.”
“If he refuses…” Gongsun Lan smiled. “He’ll end up like today, and it will grow worse with each passing day.”
Is this how you Talisman Cultivators use speech spirits?
Yu Suisui seriously thought that if she ever developed violent tendencies, it would definitely be Gongsun Lan’s fault.
This is such a hindrance… in an apocalyptic survival novel, he wouldn’t survive past the first three chapters.
“What do you mean ‘like today’?” The moment she voiced her question, she was startled by Xie Rongjing’s condition.
His face was pale as paper, with deep crimson blood slowly trickling from the corner of his mouth, flowing down his neck all the way to his collar.
Gongsun Lan said leisurely, “Children who don’t follow the spell will be punished.”
“Has anyone cast a spell on you?” Yu Suisui suddenly asked.
Gongsun Lan was startled by this, first checking his own condition. After finding everything normal, he shook his head with a smile. “Why would you say that, Miss?”
Yu Suisui maintained the dignified smile befitting a young lady.
You must be under some kind of “act or die” curse, you idiot.
When Xie Rongjing eventually storms back to the Tian Zhao Sect, your head will probably be the first to roll.
Unlike Yu Suisui, the great villain himself didn’t seem particularly concerned.
He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, not cleaning it completely, leaving a faint crimson streak on his already pale complexion.
Xie Rongjing stood there nonchalantly, aloof and reserved like cold jade at the bottom of a deep pool.
“Let’s go back,” he said to Yu Suisui.
As he spoke, a subtle anticipation flickered across his face. The curve of his lips actually softened the detachment in his eyes.
Superficially speaking, the great villain’s demeanor and attitude were quite perfect.
Yu Suisui felt her resolve returning. She had always been more responsive to gentle approaches than forceful ones.
Although Xie Rongjing was difficult to deal with and a heartless turncoat—at this moment, he was much better than Gongsun Lan. So she was happy to cheerfully take him back.
The carriage wasn’t particularly large, but neither was it cramped—just right for three people.
The only problem was: the four flying horses weren’t too keen on pulling something tainted with demonic qi, spreading their wings and flying even faster than when they came.
Xie Rongjing sat side by side with Yu Suisui, eyes half-lowered, appearing perfectly proper.
Even Bai Shuang across from them couldn’t help stealing glances at him.
She thought what the young miss said indeed made sense.
The demons were cruel and ruthless, committing all manner of atrocities, but Xie Rongjing had been just a young child back then. Since the demons had already paid with their blood, there was no need to transfer this hatred onto him.
Although Bai Shuang had been obedient before, she had always maintained some skepticism—after all, she had been educated since childhood that demons were ugly, inhuman creatures.
But seeing Young Master Xie with her own eyes today, she realized: he had nothing to do with ugliness. On the contrary, he was more handsome than any of the senior brothers in the Tian Zhao Sect.
And he was quite polite too.
Noticing Bai Shuang’s curious gaze, he gave her a slight smile and nod.
This smile made Bai Shuang feel somewhat guilty. She had actually spoken ill of Xie Rongjing before too. Feeling too embarrassed to remain in the carriage now, she excused herself to the young miss and went to sit outside to enjoy the breeze.
Yu Suisui didn’t know what her little maid was thinking at that moment, otherwise she would have sighed: Don’t worry, you’re not the first to be confused by the great villain.
She was currently busy with intracranial communication with Xie Rongjing.
To be precise, he was speaking, and she was listening.
[Have you decided, Miss?]
Xie Rongjing’s voice drifted over eerily, like a whisper close to the ear, yet also like some kind of seduction.
[As long as you nod, no one will know it was you who did it.]
Yu Suisui: ?
If she remembered correctly, she had already refused once before.
Why was Xie Rongjing so persistent… Did she really look like a murderer?
Yu Suisui tilted her head, not quite understanding what he was thinking.
Actually, Xie Rongjing was even more perplexed than her.
Every time he saw Yu Suisui, many strange emotions would arise within him.
Like bewilderment.
Like hesitation.
Like confusion.
These feelings were unfamiliar. Xie Rongjing couldn’t quite articulate what they were, but he recognized two of them.
They were instinctive resistance and disorientation.
Before reaching the Triple Realm, a Sound Cultivator could be considered completely defenseless. If Xie Rongjing wanted to kill her, it would be as effortless as eating or drinking—at least easier than his earlier promise to help her kill Yu Chuchu.
Thus, this became the source of his confusion.
Why not kill Yu Suisui?
It certainly wasn’t because she was the young mistress.
In Xie Rongjing’s mind, status, position, age, appearance, and even gender held little distinction to him. All people belonged to the broad category of “humans,” like rows of cabbages—no one was more special than another, nor had anyone grown an extra head.
Yu Suisui wasn’t powerful, nor did she have an extra head, yet she had made him withdraw the hand that had gathered killing intent.
…
But now, none of that mattered.
He had already thought of a new method.
Didn’t the young mistress say she wanted to be with him?
Fine.
His world was like a frozen block of ice. As long as Yu Suisui became another block of ice, he would temporarily believe in her resolve to stand with him.
Xie Rongjing was not a benevolent person. Wanting to share a boat with him was nothing but a fantasy.
They could only commit evil together, kill and burn together.
Xie Rongjing’s heartbeat quickened slightly, his beautiful pupils flickering with a maddened light.
He was almost impatient to drag the young mistress down from her divine pedestal, to stain this pure white feather black.
Rather than being saved, he would pull her down into the abyss with him.