Qingyun Sect, Chi Xiao Peak.
Mu Baishuang, who was cultivating, suddenly opened her eyes, seemingly sensing something.
"Strange… my senior sister's spiritual presence… actually stabilized?"
She took out a tattered straw doll and two copper coins from her spatial ring, began pinching her fingers and divining for a long time, but got nothing useful.
According to her plan, Li Qingran should have been dead within half a month—riddled with internal and external injuries, spiritual root and cultivation destroyed, and afflicted with fire poison. On top of that, she'd been dumped into Wanqing Mountain, a place crawling with spirit beasts. Even running into a mildly sentient one would be enough to kill her. And once Li Qingran died—that Taiyin Dao Body would be hers.
"So where… did it all go wrong?"
Mu Baishuang frowned. All she could divine was that Li Qingran was still in that broken hut. Beyond that—nothing.
That, at least, brought her a shred of comfort.
"Baishuang~ Are you there?" came a raspy duck-like voice from outside her cave dwelling.
Mu Baishuang's frown deepened. Her face twisted with contempt.
That noisy fool Zhang Hanxiao was here again.
He came to her place at least ten times a day!
If it weren't for the need to maintain her sweet junior sister persona… if it weren't for the valuable item Zhang Hanxiao carried on him, she would've flipped on him ages ago.
A lazy, good-for-nothing hedonist who dreams of becoming her Dao partner? In his dreams.
Still… he had his uses.
Her eyes turned, a plan quickly forming. She put on her standard junior-sister smile and stepped out sweetly.
"Hanxiao-ge~"
That single syrupy "ge" nearly melted Zhang Hanxiao on the spot.
"I-Is something the matter, Hanxiao-ge?"
Mu Baishuang stood before him, head tilted slightly, plain white robe fluttering like snow, hands clasped in front of her abdomen. Her hair danced in the breeze, eyes sparkling with purity like an unopened white lotus.
"A-Ahaha, n-not really anything serious."
Zhang Hanxiao stared dumbly at her face, gulped hard, then hurriedly held something out. He stammered,
"Half a month ago, during your match with that Li Qingran, your Shuangyue Sword broke, right? I've been doing missions outside the sect since then and saved up to get you a new one—this is Qiuhua, even better than Shuangyue."
He lied.
The sword was actually a birthday gift from Li Qingran.
While it was true he'd been out doing missions recently, he'd also gotten into a ton of trouble. What little money he made wasn't even enough to cover his debts.
Back then, Li Qingran always bailed him out. Now, he had to fend for himself.
But to flirt with junior sister, he needed gifts. After thinking it over, he pulled out Qiuhua Sword.
Mu Baishuang glanced at the sword in his hands.
A mid-grade magic weapon—not bad. Definitely better than her previous Shuangyue Sword, which was only a top-tier mortal weapon. For a Foundation-stage cultivator, Qiuhua was already pretty luxurious.
Truth was, Lu Changtian had already gifted her an upper-grade magic weapon—Windwhisper Sword.
But who would say no to more weapons?
Worst case, she could always blow one up as a last-ditch trump card.
"Hanxiao-ge… are you sure this is okay?"
She glanced at the sword on his waist, pouting,
"Qiuhua is your personal sword, right? What will you use?"
"Ah, come on! With my strength, any sword's a sword!"
Zhang Hanxiao said boldly.
"Besides, you're the one who really needs protection. Let's just call it settled, don't refuse again!"
Mu Baishuang was mentally rolling her eyes.
What does he mean she needs protection? Does she look weak to him?
"Okay then~ thank you, Hanxiao-ge~"
She smiled gracefully, bowed gently, eyes full of joy and gratitude as she took the sword.
She drew it three inches—cold light spilled out. She hugged it close with a delighted look.
"I really like this sword! You're the best, Hanxiao-ge~~"
Zhang Hanxiao stared at her hugging that sword and wished he could trade places with it.
He remembered his original plan and struck while the iron was hot:
"Junior sister, are you free tonight? I know a place in the back mountains of the sect, great spiritual energy, perfect for cultivation. Want me to take you there?"
"Ah, no need."
Mu Baishuang smiled politely.
"Senior Brother already helped me set up a Spirit Gathering Array."
"Uh… I see."
Zhang Hanxiao was speechless.
"Oh right, Hanxiao-ge~"
Mu Baishuang stepped closer and clung to his arm, fingers gently brushing his palm.
"There's an outer sect disciple named Song Jiaojiao—I'm good friends with her. Can I trouble you to bring her here? You know how I can't just walk into the outer sect area~"
With her scent enveloping him, and her arms around him, Zhang Hanxiao was basically jelly.
He wasn't even sure how he walked out—he came to in a daze beneath a willow tree outside the cave.
"Tch. Totally worth it."
He grinned, reliving the touch of her embrace.
Technically, outer disciples weren't allowed into the inner sect, and inner disciples couldn't just bring them in either. Sect rules.
But rules be damned—Junior Sister's word was law!
Back in her cave, Mu Baishuang leaned against the door, fingers brushing the burning serpent-shaped mark on her lower back. Her lovely face twisted with malice, and her eyes gleamed coldly.
"Li Qingran… I'd like to see if your luck can save you this time…"
---
Midnight.
Chen Huai'an was jolted awake by his alarm.
His body was so frail that normally he'd be out cold by 9 PM, and not even a bomb could wake him.
But tonight, to make sure he got up, he set his phone to vibrate—and slept face down on it.
His alarm was set to go off every single minute—guaranteed to wake the dead.
Why go to such lengths?
To check on his E-girlfriend.
He opened the game—
The Advanced Spirit Gathering Array had ended.
The ten spirit crystals were reduced to dust.
The array flags had dimmed.
But in the center of the formation—
Li Qingran was still meditating, and now radiant with energy.
He tapped her forehead:
[Status: Regulating breath]
[Cultivation Progress: 327/499 (Qi Refining Stage 2)]
"Yo-ho! Second stage already? Almost third! Money well spent!"
Chen Huai'an nodded proudly, feeling like a dad who just bought his daughter study guides—
and she instantly jumped three grade levels.
But before he could bask in that pride—
Two giant money-related notifications slapped him across the face:
> [Congratulations! Your E-girlfriend "Li Qingran" has broken through to Qi Refining Stage 2!]
[＜Monthly Card Promo＞ First-time discount—just ¥1888 gets you one free "Energy Transmission Meditation" and ¥18,880,000 worth of monthly value! Based on Li Qingran's current cultivation, receive a daily spirit stone supply and a daily elixir pack (usable only by the E-girlfriend).]
[E-Girlfriend Shop now unlocked! You can now purchase all items available to Qi Refining cultivators! Also available: "Beginner Luck-Fish Draw Pool" (¥100 per draw, 10-pulls at 10% off, 0.001% chance to draw the Luck-Fish for Super Jackpot; guaranteed after 1000 pulls).]
…
Chen Huai'an's smile froze.
He stared at the screen.
His hand trembled slightly.
Chen Huai'an wanted to call the police.