Dugu Xianmeng's Little Scheme

Ma Xiaotao had naturally come to Zhou Sichen because she had something to discuss with him, but with Dugu Xianmeng watching from the side, she could not bring herself to say what she had originally intended.

Seeing Dugu Xianmeng's smug expression, Ma Xiaotao suppressed the anger in her heart. After finishing the grilled meat in her hand, she left.

"Junior, I'll come find you again tomorrow morning." Ma Xiaotao left those words behind and departed directly.

Watching Ma Xiaotao's retreating back, Dugu Xianmeng hummed smugly to herself.

Zhou Sichen smiled helplessly and turned to look at the mature beauty. "What are you doing? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were my wife!"

Hearing Zhou Sichen's words, even though his expression carried a hint of seriousness, Dugu Xianmeng smiled sweetly. "That wouldn't be impossible..."

Zhou Sichen raised a brow. "?"

Dugu Xianmeng said with a grin, "What I mean is, Big Sister isn't here, so as her best friend, I naturally have to help her protect you."

"Ma Xiaotao used to keep strangers at arm's length. When would she ever wait for a boy in the middle of the night? It's obvious her intentions aren't pure. I'm protecting you, okay?"

Zhou Sichen was speechless. "Her intentions aren't pure, but yours are?"

As Zhou Sichen spoke, he released the hand holding Dugu Xianmeng's soft little hand, only to discover that the girl had already clasped his hand in return.

Zhou Sichen helplessly raised their joined hands. Dugu Xianmeng looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Zhou Sichen rolled his eyes at her. "She's already gone. You still can't bear to let go?"

"Oh, oh, oh!" Dugu Xianmeng put on a look of sudden realization. "I thought little brother Sichen liked holding my hand."

"If you like it, you can hold it however you want from now on. Whenever you want to, just tell me. Elder Sister will come whenever you call."

As she spoke, Dugu Xianmeng released Zhou Sichen's hand, picked up a piece of grilled meat, and brought it to his mouth.

Zhou Sichen hesitated for a moment, but still took the grilled meat into his mouth in one bite.

"Either way, thanks for the late-night snack, Senior Sister."

Dugu Xianmeng replied with a grin, "No need to thank me. If you like it, Elder Sister can bring you some every day."

Zhou Sichen waved his hand. "How could I possibly accept that?"

Dugu Xianmeng leaned close to Zhou Sichen's ear. "You have to accept it. Elder Sister wants to discuss something with you."

Putting on an affectedly reserved manner, Zhou Sichen placed both hands on Dugu Xianmeng's shoulders and pushed her in front of him. "Elder Sister Xianmeng takes such good care of me. If there's something you want, just say it."

Zhou Sichen knew it. Although this girl visibly wanted to devour him, she would never be so casual about it. This late-night snack clearly had not been brought just so she could spend more time with him; she had another purpose.

Hearing Zhou Sichen's words, Dugu Xianmeng spoke directly. "Because of you, we'll have to get beaten up by your Contracted Soul Beasts every week from now on. You know what my abilities are like—either I'm completely countered by your Contracted Soul Beasts, or I'm useless altogether..."

Before Dugu Xianmeng could finish, Zhou Sichen looked at her meaningfully. "I see. You're using a honey trap to get me to go easy on you? I thought Elder Sister genuinely liked little brother!"

As he spoke, Zhou Sichen deliberately put on a disappointed expression.

Dugu Xianmeng hurriedly explained, "I do genuinely like you. I also want special treatment."

After saying that, Dugu Xianmeng's face reddened slightly. Secretly loving someone and confessing openly were not the same thing.

If neither of them brought it up, they could still act as though nothing had happened. But now that Dugu Xianmeng had admitted it herself, she had lost the initiative.

Dugu Xianmeng inwardly cried out in alarm. This little brother looked harmless, but he was actually an expert!

With just a couple of sentences, she had fallen into his trap, going from the active side to the passive one!

Hearing words from Dugu Xianmeng that were practically a confession, Zhou Sichen spoke with righteous indignation. "Hmph! I knew you had improper designs on me. Who would have thought? I thought Elder Sister truly cared about me, but it turns out you only set your sights on little brother's looks."

Seeing Zhou Sichen's solemn expression, Dugu Xianmeng did not know what to say for a moment.

After a long silence, Dugu Xianmeng blushed, reached out with both hands to grasp Zhou Sichen's arm, and gently shook it. "Little brother, please take pity on Elder Sister."

The corners of Zhou Sichen's lips rose slightly. "No~"

"If I let Elder Sister do whatever she wants with me today, then tomorrow, won't Elder Sister openly claim me for herself? I, Zhou Sichen, am unyielding and strong-willed. I won't succumb to the temptations of beauty."

Seeing Zhou Sichen like this, Dugu Xianmeng clenched her silver teeth. "You forced me to do this."

"?" Zhou Sichen froze slightly. "Y-you... what are you trying to do?"

Dugu Xianmeng released Zhou Sichen's arm. The pitiful look on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by the aloof air of a mature beauty. "Zhou Sichen, listen to me. From today onward, I'm your Second Sister. Big Sister isn't here, so you have to listen to me!"

Whoa!

Zhou Sichen was stunned for half a second. Was she doing cosplay now? The soft, pitiful little woman did not work, so she was switching to the mature beauty act?

The corner of Zhou Sichen's mouth twitched. He had to admit that, with Dugu Xianmeng's looks and figure, this mature-beauty style really was hard to resist.

Zhou Sichen looked at Dugu Xianmeng speechlessly. "All right, all right. I'll agree."

Zhou Sichen lightly patted her jade-like hand. "Later, I'll have my Contracted Soul Beasts go easier on you. Don't worry."

"But then again, they won't actually hurt you now. It's still quite beneficial for your training."

Dugu Xianmeng naturally understood that. Hearing Zhou Sichen's words, joy appeared on her face. She shed her cold, mature-beauty demeanor and said with a grin, "I was only saying that to see whether I mattered to you. You don't need to give me special treatment. I'm not afraid of hardship!"

"After all... the hardships I've endured since childhood have been far worse than this."

As Dugu Xianmeng spoke, she seemed to recall some unpleasant memories, and her smile gradually faded.

Hearing this and seeing Dugu Xianmeng like this, Zhou Sichen's expression could not help changing slightly. After a long while, he did not say anything harsh. "You... you only met me, that's all."

This girl's surname was Dugu, and she had admitted herself that her ancestors came from Dugu Bo's lineage. Thus, she had suffered from Jade Scale Snake Poison since childhood.

Her Innate Soul Power had reached Level 8, placing her among the ranks of geniuses. Moreover, she was not someone who accepted her fate.

Since the Jade Scale Snake Poison tormented people so badly, and she would most likely not live past thirty in the future, she might as well take a gamble.

Therefore, she not only cultivated the Jade Scale Snake Poison, but also cultivated the most terrifying Jade Phosphorus Five Poisons alongside it, adding poison upon poison.

By devouring toxins, her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, and at fifteen years old, she had already reached Level 48.

But the torment she had endured over the years was even more astonishing. Among people her age, and even compared to many adults in their thirties and forties, perhaps no one had suffered more than she had.

Yet she had gritted her teeth and persevered, because she wanted to fight against fate within her limited lifespan. She wanted to do everything possible to break through to the realm of a Titled Douluo before turning thirty.

Only then could she escape the fate of dying before thirty.

Now, she had seen a glimmer of hope. Fighting poison with poison had left her in unbearable pain, but she was getting closer and closer to Level 90. In the future, she might truly be able to defeat fate.

It was precisely because of this that Zhou Sichen was so lenient and protective toward her.

Most importantly, once Dugu Xianmeng truly matured, her Jade Phosphorus Five Poisons would be even more terrifying than those of her ancestor Dugu Bo. She would be a genuine strategic-level treasure.

Zhou Sichen could not help comforting her. "It'll get better. If I get the chance, I'll help you search for a way to cure the poison."

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Please keep reading, brothers. Tomorrow is the revival round.