Chapter 85: What to do?

[System, I just feel a tightness in my chest.]

[Qingqing wasn’t like this before. I still hope she can stay the way she used to be.]

Whether it was an act or not, Liu Qiu didn’t want anyone to change their personality because of her.

She was only a task-taker from the start.

The System had said that the people in these small worlds were all virtual.

But even if they were virtual, they still had their own life trajectories.

They shouldn’t be thrown off course just because she, an outsider, had suddenly appeared.

[System, I don’t want to cry. I just feel awful.]

Tears streamed endlessly down Liu Qiu’s cheeks, soaking her face and knees.

Her soft sobs sounded pitiful beyond words.

The System sighed.

[Host, it’s alright. If you feel bad, then cry.]

A host’s emotions didn’t erupt immediately.

They accumulated over time, only to explode one day without warning.

For example, in the first world, when the Host lay burning with fever in a hospital bed, she had cried helplessly, saying she wanted her parents.

But when she had first entered the mission world, she hadn’t displayed much sadness at all.

She had appeared rational and calm, clearly aware of her goal.

Even when wronged, she wouldn’t erupt right away.

Only when she reached a breaking point would she finally cry in sorrow.

The System asked:

[Host, do you want to see your parents?]

Liu Qiu shook her head.

[No.]

If she saw them, she definitely wouldn’t be able to focus on completing her mission anymore.

The System asked again:

[Then do you want to watch a TV drama?]

Liu Qiu lifted her head from her knees.

Her eyes were red, her face flushed, looking both pitiful and adorable.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

At that moment, a soft call came from nearby.

“…Sickly one.”

There was only one person who called her that.

Liu Huang.

Liu Qiu turned her head toward the sound.

A tall, slender figure entered her vision.

It really was Liu Huang.

Liu Qiu blinked.

Hot tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

In a hoarse voice, she called out, “Liu… Liu Huang.”

Liu Huang’s fingers clenched abruptly.

She strode quickly toward Liu Qiu.

Behind her, in the pitch-black mountain forest, Liu Feng’s figure emerged as well.

Liu Feng didn’t approach immediately but instead surveyed the surroundings.

Seeing Liu Qiu getting closer and closer, joy burst into Liu Huang’s eyes.

But suddenly, she halted.

She could no longer advance even a single step.

An invisible barrier separated her from Liu Qiu.

Liu Huang slammed her fist forward in frustration.

“What the hell is this?!”

In the distance, Bai Qingqing, who was forming hand seals, paused for a split second before quickening her movements.

Something had approached Liu Qiu.

When she left, she had set up a barrier to protect her.

Once the hand seals were completed, Bai Qingqing opened her eyes and cast the technique upon the fox lying on the ground with a twisted expression.

She said faintly, “Fox demon, for the sake of not making Qiuqiu angry, I won’t kill you.”

“But after accepting my gift, don’t ever come disturb Qiuqiu and me again.”

Su Li lay on the ground in disarray.

Her brilliant golden eyes glared fiercely at Bai Qingqing, her throat releasing continuous threatening growls.

She had underestimated this Daoist.

A mere human who had cultivated for just over twenty years, yet her cultivation had reached such a terrifying level.

Every move Su Li made was easily seen through.

It was as though Bai Qingqing understood her demonic power completely.

Killing intent surged in Su Li’s eyes.

This kind of human couldn’t be allowed to live.

But right now, she could do nothing.

Bai Qingqing did not avoid Su Li’s gaze.

She raised her hands, placing her index and middle fingers against her lips, and softly exhaled.

“…Rise.”

Su Li’s heart constricted violently.

A sharp pain pierced her mind.

Her massive fox body slowly vanished.

In its place remained only a small fox, about the length of an adult’s arm, its fur dirty and disheveled.

The little fox curled in discomfort, her tail covering her eyes.

Bai Qingqing’s expression remained indifferent.

In her previous life she had been a demon.

In this life she was a Daoist.

Though fractured, she felt nothing strange about it.

She even felt fortunate.

In this life, she and Qiuqiu were both human.

She glanced up at the full moon.

In the next instant, her figure flickered and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the barrier protecting Liu Qiu shattered.

Liu Feng had found the formation’s core.

Once the core was destroyed, the barrier created by the formation naturally became useless.

Sensing it, Liu Huang immediately rushed forward.

She pulled Liu Qiu up from the ground, gripping her shoulders and examining her carefully.

“Sickly one, are you hurt anywhere?”

Liu Qiu shook her head.

“I’m not hurt. Liu Huang, how did you find me?”

Her low, hoarse voice still carried a sob.

Liu Huang noticed that Liu Qiu’s bare legs were covered in red marks.

Her arms shot out as she pulled Liu Qiu fiercely into her embrace.

“Which bastard did this?”

“Sickly one, stop crying. If you were bullied, just tell me and Sister. We’ll find that person and chop off their limbs.”

Those marks were either kiss marks or finger marks, trailing upward beneath the hem of her clothes.

Anyone with eyes could tell what had happened.

Rage filled Liu Huang’s heart.

At first she hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

But once she held Liu Qiu fully in her arms, she realized something was different.

Liu Qiu’s body was soft and slightly cool to the touch.

It wasn’t the weightless, insubstantial form of a ghost.

It felt real.

Her hair was even damp.

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This was a living body.

Without giving Liu Qiu time to react, Liu Huang bent down and lifted her into a bridal carry.

Her expression darkened as she looked at Liu Feng, who had walked over.

“Sister, this is her original body.”

That meant one thing.

The corpse back then had been stolen.

Liu Feng let out a low laugh.

“That’s a good thing. Sister Qiu has come back to life.”

Lowering her gaze to Liu Qiu in Liu Huang’s arms, she gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

“Sister Qiu, why are you crying so hard?”

Liu Feng’s fingertips were soft and carried a fresh fragrance.

It drifted faintly into Liu Qiu’s nose.

She shrank her neck slightly and muttered, “It’s cold. I’m so cold.”

Liu Feng withdrew her hand and removed her light-cyan robe, draping it over Liu Qiu.

“Cover yourself first. Huang’er, let’s take Sister Qiu away. Someone is likely coming back.”

As soon as Liu Feng finished speaking, someone did arrive.

Her smile did not change.

She turned slightly, facing the newcomer directly.

Bai Qingqing curved her red lips into a smile, but her eyes were cold to the extreme.

“Thieves. Give her back to me.”

Liu Feng glanced at the branch that had fallen to the ground, then slowly lifted her head, smiling faintly.

“Daoist, you misunderstand.”

Bai Qingqing’s eyes were bloodshot, as if they might drip blood at any moment.

“Give Qiuqiu back to me.”

At that moment, Liu Qiu spoke.

Her voice was hoarse, the nasal tone from crying not yet gone.

“Fu Ling, these are my two younger sisters.”

“I want to go back with them.”

Bai Qingqing’s expression gradually twisted, revealing a morbid obsession.

“Qiuqiu, don’t abandon me.”

“Stay with me. I’m begging you.”

Her voice trembled.

She was exerting extreme restraint over her violent emotions.

She wanted to kill everyone who tried to take Qiuqiu away from her.

Her hands began clawing at her own neck, each scratch drawing blood.

“Qiuqiu, I’ll go crazy. Don’t leave me.”

Liu Qiu pressed her lips tightly together and turned her head away, refusing to look at her.

Her fingers clutched at Liu Huang’s clothes.

In a hoarse voice, she asked, “Um… is the little fox okay?”

Those words twisted Bai Qingqing’s expression further, jealousy flooding her features.

“Qiuqiu, I didn’t kill her. She only fainted.”

“Qiuqiu, don’t leave me. We are fated by heaven. We’re the ones who should stay together forever.”

Liu Qiu’s eyes burned with pain, but she couldn’t stop the tears.

She didn’t want Bai Qingqing to become like this.

Bai Qingqing should have been proud.

Suppressing her sobs with difficulty, Liu Qiu forced her voice to remain steady.

“I already told you. I’m not close to you. I’m not the person you know.”

“Liu Huang, let’s go.”

On the surface, nothing seemed unusual.

But Liu Huang could feel the person in her arms trembling slightly.

She tightened her hold.

“Sister, don’t talk to this crazy Daoist anymore. Let’s leave.”

Liu Feng turned back and smiled at Liu Huang.

“You take Sister Qiu and go first.”

Liu Huang didn’t question it further.

She carried Liu Qiu and quickly left.

Bai Qingqing’s eyes widened abruptly.

Almost in terror, she watched Liu Qiu’s figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

She stepped forward to chase them, but the person before her suddenly spread her arms to block her path.

Liu Feng half-narrowed her eyes.

“Daoist, didn’t you hear clearly? Sister Qiu wants to go home with us.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a cool breeze soothing the restlessness in one’s heart.

Bai Qingqing turned her dry gaze toward Liu Feng.

She couldn’t help but start laughing.

Her smile grew increasingly exaggerated.

Then suddenly, she stopped.

Her expression returned to calm, as though the madness she had just displayed had been nothing but an illusion.

Liu Feng bowed slightly in courtesy.

“Daoist, the scenery here is quite lovely.”

The remark sounded inexplicable.

But as her words fell, dozens of people with vacant eyes emerged from the dense forest around them.

“It’s very suitable… for eternal rest.”

Liu Feng’s eyelashes trembled faintly, a leisurely smile resting between her brows.

“Daoist, farewell.”

As the final note faded, she slowly turned away.

Her slender figure disappeared into the dark mountains and forest.

Bai Qingqing was surrounded by the sudden crowd and couldn’t immediately pursue Liu Feng.

She swept her gaze across the people around her and let out a short laugh.

That was why she hated humans so much.

Hypocritical.

Cunning.

Full of lies.

The moon had already set.

Dawn was beginning to break faintly across the sky.

Liu Feng caught up to Liu Huang and said gently, “Huang’er, let’s leave directly.”

Liu Huang frowned.

After a moment, she asked, “What about Mother and Father?”

“It’s arranged. Someone will escort them.”

Liu Huang nodded.

“Alright.”

Liu Qiu lifted her head and looked at Liu Huang, then at Liu Feng.

“Where are you going?”

Liu Feng’s lips curved slightly, her warm smile like a gentle breeze.

“Not ‘you.’ It’s ‘we.’ Sister Qiu, our whole family is leaving this place.”

Liu Qiu parted her lips, wanting to say something but not knowing what.

Compared to staying by Bai Qingqing’s side, she naturally wanted to stay with the Liu sisters.

But if she left, what about Su Li?

What about her mission?

And the Su Li Liu Qiu was thinking of was now trapped within an illusion.

Yet Su Li had no idea that it was an illusion at all.