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Join the ServerLiu Qiu’s energy could no longer support her through the entire performance.
Leaning against Liu Huang’s shoulder, she closed her eyes and spoke in a tiny voice.
“I still wanted to keep watching.”
Liu Huang gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brushed the long strands of hair from her cheek.
“We can come again next time. The play today isn’t very good anyway.”
After saying that, Liu Huang changed the subject.
“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”
Liu Qiu nodded slowly, her breathing growing lighter and lighter.
“Liu Huang, I’ll sleep for a while first.”
Liu Huang gave a soft hum.
Once Liu Qiu’s breathing steadied, she carefully lifted her into her arms and rose soundlessly, leaving the theater.
“Wait for me, my husband. The mountains are high and the road is long. Once you go, don’t forget me.”
“Ah! My wife! Wait until I pass the imperial examinations and earn my title—I won’t let you suffer again!”
“Later, that Li Lang passed the exams, married the prefect’s daughter, and left Cui Niang alone in the cold kiln, waiting in vain…”
Liu Huang let out a soft laugh.
“You hear that? Even the play sounds awful.”
No one answered her.
Liu Qiu was already asleep.
Once they left the theater garden, the rounded, mournful singing voice could no longer be heard.
Liu Huang tightened her arms, holding Liu Qiu closer against herself.
“Wait!”
A voice called from behind.
Liu Huang did not stop walking, but the person behind moved quickly and soon stood in front of her.
Liu Huang looked at the woman before her and gave a short laugh.
“Miss, why are you blocking my way?”
Su Li did not look at Liu Huang.
Her gaze lowered to the person in her arms.
This person, who looked exactly like ‘Liu Qiu,’ seemed to be deeply asleep.
Her cheeks were pale, her lips faint in color.
Even her figure was thin and fragile, as though she might dissipate at any moment.
“Miss, my wife is asleep. Could you step aside?”
Su Li’s lashes trembled.
She lifted her eyes and stared at Liu Huang slowly.
“She’s so thin. Why don’t you take better care of her?”
Liu Huang’s gaze turned cold.
“You don’t manage your own wife, yet you come to manage mine. Miss, are you ill in the head?”
She had no interest in speaking further with Su Li.
Carrying Liu Qiu, she walked around her and continued forward.
It seemed Su Li’s mind had truly gone wrong—she didn’t remember Liu Qiu, nor her, as if she had forgotten their entire family.
But that was perfect.
Outsiders should stay out and stop approaching Liu Qiu.
Su Li turned to block Liu Huang again, but a shout from behind halted her steps.
“Xiao Li, where are you going?!”
Su Li clenched her hand and stood still until the person behind caught up.
She wasn’t going anywhere.
She only wanted to tell that person to treat her wife better.
“Xiao Li, why are you crying again?!”
Her tear-soaked eyes reflected no one.
She lowered her head without speaking.
Why was she crying?
She simply felt uncomfortable inside.
A near-desperate anguish churned within her, turning into scalding tears.
So even a fox demon like her could feel such pain.
Because of whom had this emotion arisen?
Su Li did not know.
If she thought about it, her head would ache and swell.
“Liu Qiu, let’s go back. I’m tired.”
‘Liu Qiu’ said worriedly, “Should we visit a clinic?”
As she spoke, she reached out to take Su Li’s hand.
But the moment her skin touched, she was slapped away.
“I told you not to touch me.”
‘Liu Qiu’ gave an embarrassed smile and lowered her head.
“Sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Su Li parted her lips as if to say something, but in the end said nothing, silently walking forward.
The human she had married possessed nothing worthy except that face.
She didn’t even feel the desire to drain her essence and blood.
She should go back—to the mountain cave where she cultivated—not wander among the human marketplace.
She couldn’t understand why, when she first heard of the marriage, she had rushed excitedly to the capital to find Liu Qiu.
So what if she married?
She was a demon, not a human.
Human rules held no power over her.
Time passed quickly, and before long, it was evening.
Su Li encountered someone somewhat familiar—the Daoist she had once seen by the pool.
She looked completely different from the filthy figure back then.
Bai Qingqing sensed Su Li’s aura.
Her gaze withdrew from the bustling road and turned precisely toward Su Li.
Su Li narrowed her eyes.
The Daoist had likely seen through her true form at a glance.
Their meeting was accidental.
After waking, Bai Qingqing had asked villagers and learned that the Liu family had gone to the capital.
So she had come straight there.
This was only her second day in the city.
Bai Qingqing did not intend to speak to Su Li.
She glanced once, then shifted her gaze, continuing to search the crowd.
Liu Qiu was someone who had died once.
Her aura was far weaker than that of ordinary humans.
Even if her face were covered, Bai Qingqing could recognize her.
“Xiao Li…”
The voice did not stir Bai Qingqing at first—it resembled Liu Qiu’s, but Liu Qiu’s voice was softer.
Then someone said, “Daozhang, the person beside the fox demon looks like Sister Liu Qiu!”
Bai Qingqing froze and abruptly turned back.
Curled hair, long brows, large beautiful eyes with deep folds, the outer corners drooping innocently—just looking at her—
For a moment, Bai Qingqing was dazed.
“Liu Qiu,” she called instinctively.
That person seemed to hear and looked over.
Bai Qingqing snapped back to her senses, her gaze turning completely cold.
“It’s not her.”
But to create someone who looked exactly like Qiuqiu, it must be someone familiar with her.
Following this impostor might yield clues.
Bai Qingqing’s gaze was too fierce.
‘Liu Qiu’ averted her eyes and hid behind Su Li, tugging at her sleeve.
“Xiao Li, let’s go. That person’s gaze is frightening.”
Su Li gave a hum and withdrew her gaze from Bai Qingqing.
She turned and disappeared into the crowd with ‘Liu Qiu.’
Bai Qingqing said to Xiao Chan, “Go monitor the one who looks like Liu Qiu. If there’s anything strange, report to me immediately.”
“Yes.”
Bai Qingqing stood in the crowd for a long time.
After a while, she curved her lips into a mocking smile.
Whoever did this had solved one of her problems.
That fox demon couldn’t even distinguish real from fake—how could she earn Qiuqiu’s affection?
She was the one who loved Qiuqiu the most.
Night fell completely.
At that time, Liu Feng returned.
By coincidence, on her third day in the capital, the Ministry of Personnel had summoned her to assume office.
“My lord.”
A servant handed her a small slip of paper.
Liu Feng read it, then burned it without changing expression.
After removing her blue court robe, she casually tied her long hair behind her head and walked toward Liu Qiu’s room.
When she gently pushed the door open, the heavy scent of medicine wrapped around her instantly.
Approaching the bedside, she looked down at the sleeping Liu Qiu.
“How is she?”
Seated nearby, Liu Huang took a deep breath.
“No change.”
Liu Feng reached out to lightly stroke Liu Qiu’s brows and eyes and sighed softly.
“Even the imperial physicians have no solution?”
“But it doesn’t matter. After Sister Qiu dies, she can still stay with us.”
Liu Huang suddenly turned to look at her and saw the faint smile at the corner of her lips.
She clenched her fists, her voice hoarse.
“Liu Feng, I’ve always felt that you were looking forward to the sickly one’s death.”
“It seems that’s true.”
Liu Feng’s eyes curved faintly.
Her fingertip slid gently to Liu Qiu’s pale lips.
“Wouldn’t becoming a ghost be good? No more suffering from illness.”
From the beginning, she had never intended to save Liu Qiu.
Compared to a living person seen by everyone, she preferred a ghost who belonged only to her.
Invisible to others.
Seen and possessed only by herself.
A unique soul.
Liu Huang trembled with anger but could not refute her.
She covered her reddened eyes, refusing to let tears fall.
The sickly one’s body grew worse by the day.
The blood she occasionally coughed up was like a death knell, constantly reminding her that this person would not live long.
No healthy, normal person coughed blood endlessly like this.
“She’s been sleeping more and more. One day she’ll sleep and never wake up. Liu Feng, I want her to live healthily and happily.”
“Not become a cold, lifeless spirit.”
Each time Liu Qiu closed her eyes, Liu Huang’s heart would pound frantically, as if some unseen force whispered that there would be no second chance.
If she died, she would truly be dead.
No soul.
No resurrection.
Only eternal disappearance.
Liu Feng bent down and kissed Liu Qiu’s forehead.
“Huang’er, this is fate.”
“What we can do is trap her soul and prevent her from reincarnating.”
Liu Huang lowered her hand, revealing her exhausted face.
These days indoors had lightened her skin, making her pale.
Standing beside Liu Feng, if one ignored their height, it was difficult to tell them apart.
“Liu Feng, do you really have no way to save her?”
Her voice was hoarse, nearly a whisper.
Liu Feng lowered her long lashes.
“Naturally not. Even the imperial physicians cannot. How would I?”
Liu Huang studied her face but could not tell if she was lying.
The more time passed, the more she felt Liu Feng had changed—like a bottomless lake, impossible to see through.
Even her emotions rarely surfaced.
Silence settled in the room.
After a long time, Liu Huang spoke again.
“Today, I saw someone outside who looked exactly like the sickly one. Su Li was there too. She called that person Liu Qiu.”
“Su Li doesn’t seem to remember me.”
“Was this your doing?”
After a moment, Liu Feng’s gentle voice sounded.
“Yes.”
The oil lamp flickered in the room.
Its light was dim, yet it could burn for a long time.
The scent of medicine drifted through the space, occasionally slipping outside to mingle with flowers and grass.
Liu Qiu slowly opened her eyes.
Her body was weak to the extreme.
She was so tired, as if she could never wake fully.
“Liu Qiu, you’re awake.”
The voice near her ear shifted from blurred to clear.
She blinked and turned her head.
She smiled faintly.
“Liu Feng, you’ve grown so thin.”
Liu Huang reached out and lifted her into her arms, letting her lean against her while wiping her face with a damp cloth.
“Idiot, look again and see who I am.”
Only Liu Huang would speak so bluntly.
Liu Qiu smiled again.
“Liu Huang, you’ve become so fair. You look just like Liu Feng now. I can’t tell you apart.”
Her voice was tiny, as though every word consumed her strength.
Liu Huang had indeed grown thinner.
Her complexion was pale, cheeks sunken, gloom shrouding her brows.
“Isn’t it all because of you? You never get better.”
“If you recovered and went out with me every day, I wouldn’t have turned this fair.”
A tear dropped onto Liu Qiu’s face.
Liu Qiu slowly raised her head and saw Liu Huang’s reddened eyes.
“Liu Huang, why are you crying? Did someone bully you?”
She slowly reached up and wiped her tears away.
Her fingertips were soft and cold.
Liu Huang could no longer hold back.
She hugged Liu Qiu tightly, burying her face in the cool hollow of her neck, sobbing quietly.
“Next time, don’t sleep so long.”
Liu Qiu asked the system, [Did I sleep for a long time?]
[Three days. If I hadn’t confirmed your vital signs, I would’ve suspected you left this world without telling me.]
Liu Qiu was startled.
Three days?
And she didn’t even feel hungry.
She patted Liu Huang’s back gently.
“I won’t anymore. I won’t sleep that long again.”
The oil lamp was lit, meaning night had fallen.
She felt a bit regretful—she hadn’t gone out today.
Last time she visited the theater.
Next time, she should go see the courtesan queen.
Liu Huang released her after a while, eyes red like a rabbit’s.
“Liu Qiu, are you hungry? I’ll have someone bring food.”
Liu Qiu shook her head.
“I don’t want to eat.”
Though she had only just awakened, she had seen all of Liu Huang’s actions these days.
She had treated her well and done nothing inappropriate.
Liu Qiu curved her brows and smiled softly.
“Liu Huang, you’ve grown thin. You should eat more.”
“Otherwise, when you go to war later, how will you defeat others?”
She had spoken too much.
Her throat turned sweet, and she began coughing blood violently.
Scarlet stained her pale lips and collar.
Liu Huang trembled in terror.
“Find a doctor! Quickly, fetch the doctor!”
Liu Qiu grasped her fingers and shook her head.
After the coughing subsided, she spoke with heavy breaths.
“No… no need.”
“It’s useless, Liu Huang. Don’t… don’t waste money.”
Liu Huang held her tightly, wiping blood from her lips with her sleeve.
“It’s useful. It will… it will help.”
Liu Qiu smiled weakly and closed her eyes again.
She had only just woken, yet she was tired again.
Liu Huang lifted her bony wrist to her lips and kissed it.
Salty tears slid into her mouth, unbearably bitter.
If she had treated Liu Qiu well from the beginning, would she have been happier?
Would her body be better now?
But there were no ifs in this world.
The door creaked open.
Liu Huang had no mind to see who entered.
She only wanted to stay beside Liu Qiu.
But Liu Qiu slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the doorway.
When the figure became clear, she smiled faintly.
“You came.”
Bai Qingqing stared at her emaciated beloved, even her footsteps light.
As if one heavier step might disturb her.
“Qiu… Qiuqiu, did you… did you wait long?”
Her voice trembled.
Her back bent slightly.
She walked forward and suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Qiuqiu, did I cause this? Is this because of me?”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just wanted to be with you.”
Liu Qiu sighed and cupped Bai Qingqing’s face, lifting it gently.
Her eyes were red, as if blood tears might fall.
Liu Qiu smiled shyly, the familiar smile Bai Qingqing knew well.
“Don’t be sad.”
“You’re Bai Qingqing—the proud Bai Qingqing.”
Tears poured out instantly.
Bai Qingqing pressed her hand over Liu Qiu’s and cried freely.
“Qiuqiu, I missed you so much.”
“I’m stupid. I’m too stupid. I never understood how to love someone.”
“This time, don’t abandon me, okay? Please, Qiuqiu, I’m begging you.”
Grief and despair spilled from her voice.
Liu Huang did not interrupt.
She merely held onto Liu Qiu’s sleeve, head lowered like a clingy child.
Liu Qiu wiped Bai Qingqing’s tears with her fingertips.
“If this time you don’t live your life properly to the end, next time you won’t see me.”
“Didn’t you say you’d listen to me? That you’d change your bad temper?”
Bai Qingqing rubbed against her palm.
“I don’t want to never see you.”
“Then do you promise me?”
“I promise, Qiuqiu.”
“Promise what?”
Bai Qingqing pursed her lips.
“I promise to live well and wait to see you next time.”
Liu Qiu smiled and extended her little finger.
“Then let’s pinky swear. If Bai Qingqing doesn’t listen to Liu Qiu, then she’ll never see Liu Qiu again.”
Bai Qingqing’s hand trembled as she hooked her little finger with Liu Qiu’s.
Liu Qiu gave it a small shake and sealed it with their thumbs.
“All right. If you go back on it, someone won’t see me ever again.”
Bai Qingqing pressed her face against Liu Qiu’s knee.
“I won’t. I’ll listen to you.”
“I’ll live well and wait to meet you next time.”
Hearing that, Liu Qiu’s heart finally settled.
Bai Qingqing was resolved.
As for Su Li, she no longer needed to worry.
She suspected Su Li had lost her memory—after all, Su Li did not recognize Liu Huang.
But whichever it was, it was fine.
Even if Su Li remembered one day, she would already have someone else by her side and would find happiness.
Liu Qiu slowly closed her eyes and leaned into Liu Huang’s embrace.
“Goodbye.”
This world was beautiful, but she never wanted to return.
There were ghosts here.
[System, let’s leave this world.]
[Next time, you must check carefully whether they’re demons or not.]
The system replied, [Don’t worry, Host! I’ll scan very carefully next time!]
You’ve got to see this next! The Lich’s Journey in Another World After Reincarnation will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : The Lich’s Journey in Another World After Reincarnation
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