Xiang Haikui was momentarily silent, placing Tian Kuang upright behind her.

This sword with no principles, which enjoyed watching drama unfold, had been jumping all along the way. With one moment of carelessness, it would escape from her grasp.

Xiang Haikui strode forward with large steps: “Senior, you’re wearing the face of someone I’ve had a crush on for many years. I’m having trouble controlling myself.”

She walked to his side, then brushed past him, ignoring his outstretched hand.

Han Qi showed no embarrassment, slightly curling his lips as he turned to continue following her: “My original appearance isn’t bad either.”

Back then, Xiang Haikui hadn’t fallen for her senior based on his looks. If it were about appearance, she actually preferred the refined and noble type like her former boss, otherwise she wouldn’t have imitated his hairstyle as a fan.

“I’ll think about it,” she said.

“Very well,” Han Qi nodded. “But don’t think too long.”

Xiang Haikui: “I also have a ‘but’.”

Han Qi adopted an attitude of being open to discussion: “Please speak, Miss.”

Xiang Haikui was extremely displeased: “Could you stop stealing my kills?”

Han Qi:?

Xiang Haikui was practically furious. She had just reached a higher realm and learned to condense qi into a sword, eagerly wanting to practice, but this fighting rooster kept killing all the enemies.

Her cultivation had suddenly improved. If she didn’t practice first, how could she fight the BOSS later?

Han Qi was somewhat caught between laughter and tears: “I was just…”

Xiang Haikui certainly knew he was trying to show off his abilities and protectiveness.

Men had such stinking behavior, truly like peacocks.

It inevitably reminded her of her former boss, that dog—he was certainly a unique firework.

…

At the base of the small Divine Tree, Xiang Tianqing had not yet awakened. Meng Nanting was meditating when his trusted subordinate suddenly appeared, bringing a letter.

He frowned as he took it, and after reading it, his pupils contracted: “Take the young miss away…”

He also gave the jade pendant containing Que Chi’s soul to his subordinate, along with some instructions.

…

Xiang Haikui fought her way in. The Lu family residence had now become a slaughter ground, with corpses of humans and beasts everywhere.

Previously, when she came to the Lu residence, Tian Kuang had warned her. She thought the Lu family had raised many high-level cultivators, but they turned out to be just monsters.

But for her current self, these monsters weren’t difficult to defeat.

Finally, she encountered a formidable one that isolated space. After stepping into emptiness, she seemed to fall into a sea of blood.

“Are you from the Mountain Sea Race who helped Que Chi?” She stood on her tiptoes, balanced on the sea of blood.

A creepy laugh came: “The Ghost Chariot clan of the Mountain Sea Race.”

Xiang Haikui originally didn’t know what a Ghost Chariot was, but she vaguely saw its true form—it turned out to be a nine-headed bird.

However, four of these nine-headed birds’ heads were noticeably different in size from the other five, as if they had been cut off and regrown.

She swung her sword, but the blood curtain bubbled and absorbed all her sword energy.

Xiang Haikui’s eyes revealed a hint of madness with excitement. Ah, finally encountering an opponent worth fighting! Come on!

She condensed multiple streams of sword energy, preparing to unleash a barrage of attacks.

Suddenly, she heard a scream. The surrounding sea of blood disappeared, and she returned to the Lu family garden.

Bird heads rolled on the ground, and feathers fell like snowflakes.

Xiang Haikui angrily looked toward Han Qi in the distance. Han Qi shook his head innocently.

“Miss Xiang.”

It was Yin Changli’s voice.

Xiang Haikui was slightly surprised and looked up toward the sound. He stood on the rooftop.

Two scales gathered his pitch-black hair. He wore a light gray robe and, probably feeling cold after just emerging from hibernation, had draped a white feather cloak over his shoulders. He looked dignified and magnificent, showing no trace of the pathetic state from last night in the tree hollow.

It seemed he was the one who had torn the nine-headed bird to pieces.

Great, after sleeping together, even her boss had become a peacock.

Earlier, when she was beaten to tears, no one helped. Today, why was it so difficult to fight a monster by herself?

And what was wrong with this stupid Tian Kuang? When she charged into battle, it was like a salted fish. But as soon as her former boss appeared, she got excited like a dog seeing a bone, wagging its tail wildly.

Once, Xiang Haikui thought she might become a queen of posers, but she had been too naive.

Now, Tian Kuang had little interest in posturing.

It wanted her to become the “queen of melodrama.”

Xiang Haikui composed herself and asked: “Have you found Little White?”

Yin Changli: “Not yet. I sense he’s safe. I wanted to return first to… apologize to you.”

Xiang Haikui looked up at him.

When he spoke, the corners of his lips naturally curled upward, his features clear and bright, just like before.

It seemed that not only his appearance but also his mindset had completely recovered.

Yin Changli withdrew his gaze from her and turned toward the small Divine Tree in the northwest: “What compensation do you want? Shall I help you kill Meng Nanting and rescue Lu Xiqiao?”

The small Divine Tree was now surrounded by a green mist. His feelings were complex.

The “expert” who had told the Lu family patriarch about using twins to cultivate the Dao Fruit had been none other than him, Yin Changli.

Yin Changli’s demanding half of the Lu family’s wealth wasn’t the main point; primarily, he had calculated that he had a karmic connection with the Lu family.

Just as he had calculated that Dao Chen also had a connection with him.

Not knowing what the connection was, he had reached out to help them.

Yin Changli thought the connection was with the twins, but unexpectedly, it had ultimately fallen on the small Divine Tree.

The uncertainty of fate was simply thus.

Hearing these words, Xiang Haikui felt inexplicably angry: “Senior, must you resolve all relationships through transactions?”

Yin Changli had just turned to look at her when he saw her red lips opening and closing again: “But I do indeed need help.”

She wouldn’t let so-called dignity make her angrily say, “I don’t need your help, get lost.”

Yin Changli nodded slightly, preparing to head toward the high tower.

Xiang Haikui called out to stop him: “But not now. I want to seek revenge first. If I can’t win, then Senior can help… just like ten years ago.”

Like when he trained her ten years ago, throwing her into a pile of monsters while he sat drinking tea at a distance.

When she was exhausted or overpowered, he would pull her out.

As she said this, Yin Changli suddenly felt a bit dazed. It had only been ten short years, yet why did it feel like everything had changed?

He smiled faintly: “Very well.”

Xiang Haikui took up her sword, ready to leave. After a few steps, she suddenly remembered: “Ah! Right! Senior Yin, I have something to tell you.”

She didn’t use telepathy.

Yin Changli: “Hmm?”

Xiang Haikui pointed at Han Qi in the distance: “Senior Han has followed me all the way, saying he would report to the Di Jun that you awakened by dual cultivating with me, so the Di Jun would capture me.”

Han Qi frowned.

Yin Changli’s eyes also darkened as he looked over: “Han Qi, when did you become such a poor loser?”

Han Qi pinched the bridge of his nose, about to speak.

Xiang Haikui quickly continued: “That’s not all. He also said he wants to marry me, partly to compete with you in dual cultivation, partly to use me against you…”

She repeated everything Han Qi had said, word for word.

Han Qi talked too much; it was exhausting to recite it all.

However, she didn’t mention the part about her boss being like a puppy. Her dog-like boss cared a lot about his image.

As Yin Changli listened, the corners of his mouth that had been slightly upturned gradually sank.

Han Qi looked at Xiang Haikui with furrowed brows: “May I consider that Miss has made her choice?”

Xiang Haikui waved dismissively: “Of course not. I’m just being clear with him.”

Hearing this, Yin Changli’s gaze grew three degrees colder as he stared directly at her: “So, you plan to help him against me in the future?”

Xiang Haikui spread her hands: “Hard to say. The Di Jun is terrifying, and I’m truly afraid. Besides, as you heard, the price Senior Han offered is indeed tempting.”

Yin Changli’s expression remained unchanged as he nodded repeatedly: “Yes, that’s your freedom, do as you please. If you want to aid evil, I can’t stop you.”

“I don’t understand your affairs…”

Xiang Haikui thought to herself, you’re all just a bunch of high and mighty trash who don’t see people as people.

“I’m just an outsider, with no sense of belonging to this world, and I don’t want to take sides. It’s not easy to make a living out here. Whoever helps me survive, whoever gives me more benefits, that’s who I’ll work for.”

Before turning away, Xiang Haikui made a gesture of invitation. “Now I’m going to rescue someone. Perhaps both of your bosses could draw up a list of benefits and compare them. Whoever offers me better terms, that’s who I’ll follow in the future.”