Sushang: Hey! Don't Make Me Turn Against My Own Family! / Next Time, Have Tingyun Introduce Me to That High Elder of the Vidyadhara

"Hello, you two."

Lin Shuang greeted them. Compared to the game, Guinaifen in real life clearly had more of the distinctive charm of a European appearance, with well-defined yet soft features.

She had the stunning beauty of a mixed-race girl and was quite eye-catching on the street. She would surely draw plenty of attention on camera as well.

Of course, her shapely, fleshy legs wrapped in black stockings were just as alluring beneath her orange dress, without losing any of their beauty.

Lin Shuang lowered her gaze and looked at her small feet in boots.

The pretty long boots and just-right accessories gave Guinaifen an extra touch of girlishness.

It was just that those slightly translucent black tights were stuffed inside those poorly ventilated leather boots.

Thinking of how this girl spent all day performing in Changle Heaven, doing acrobatics and livestreaming—

Below those faintly visible calves, her ankles hidden in her shoes were perfectly outlined by the boots, emphasizing their slender, graceful curves.

Just looking at those little heels, Lin Shuang could practically imagine the arches hidden inside the boots, as well as those crystal-clear toes, faintly steaming with warmth.

Those fair, tender little feet, gently wrapped in black stockings, would inevitably make Miss Guinaifen break into a light, fragrant sweat after such intense activity.

A little sweat carrying a girl's natural scent would soak into those black stockings, then stew inside those boots for an entire day.

Just imagining her returning home at night, taking off her boots, and revealing those secret girlish feet that no one else ever got to see—

The slightly raised arches, the restless wiggling toes, and that barely perceptible warmth.

Guinaifen might even gently tug at the seams of her black stockings with her fingers.

Just imagining it made Lin Shuang's fingers twitch restlessly.

"Cough..."

Lin Shuang raised a hand and gave a dry cough, forcibly shifting her gaze away. She looked up and silently chided herself. What a sin.

Volume One

Sushang: Hey [○?｀Д'? ○]! Don't Force Me to Put Righteousness Before Family

Lin Shuang silently reflected on herself.

This useful skill performed well in every aspect, but it had also brought along an occupational habit.

Now, whenever Lin Shuang saw a nice pair of legs or feet, she wanted to get her hands on them for a closer look.

That would not do.

Forcing her gaze away, Lin Shuang looked at Sushang, who was following behind.

Sushang had a very typical Xianzhou appearance, except her clear eyes possessed an innocence untouched by knowledge.

She was clearly dressed in a rather dashing outfit, yet she gave off the strong impression of a sweet girl next door.

"I only arrived on the Xianzhou recently, so it's normal that Miss Guinaifen hasn't seen me before. Besides, this isn't exactly a respectable skill."

As she spoke, Lin Shuang extended her slender fingers toward Guinaifen and gave them a wave. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the ornament on Guinaifen's ponytail quietly slipped off and landed in Lin Shuang's hand.

"Whoa—! Shushang, look! This big sister is amazing!"

Guinaifen touched her hair, shocked and delighted. She had thought that after practicing acrobatics for so long, her eyesight was fairly good, but she had not seen Lin Shuang's movements at all.

Sushang, whom she had tugged along, stared wide-eyed as well and even raised a hand to rub her eyes.

"H-How did you do that? Good grief, I didn't see anything at all..."

Lin Shuang blinked at Sushang's reaction, unsurprised. The technique itself was already absurdly impressive, and combined with her current physical abilities—

Ordinary people truly had no way of noticing her hand movements.

Of course, Fu Xuan would be able to see Lin Shuang's movements clearly with her divine eye, but that was an exceptional case.

Lin Shuang smiled at Guinaifen.

She raised her hand and put the ornament back in place before saying,

"You see, this is basically the kind of skill used for petty theft. It isn't anything respectable. If you really want to learn it, what you learn might get you put down by your best friend for the greater good."

Before Guinaifen could reply, Sushang beside her widened her eyes and stared at Lin Shuang, her little face full of vigilance.

"What are you trying to teach her?! It's not something forbidden on the Xianzhou, is it?"

Thinking that, Sushang tugged on Guinaifen's little hand, wanting to persuade her best friend not to get involved with this sort of thing.

Who would have thought that Guinaifen, having recovered her senses, would step forward right in front of Sushang, her eyes sparkling as she leaned close to Lin Shuang and said,

"I want to learn! Please teach me, Master! How much is the tuition? Or is there a formal gift for becoming your disciple?"

"Hey [○?｀Д'? ○]!"

Sushang glared at Guinaifen indignantly, but Guinaifen was staring fixedly at Lin Shuang and did not notice Sushang's gaze at all.

Lin Shuang watched the scene before her with amusement, while also glancing at the prompt that appeared at just the right moment:

Target: Guinaifen

Affection: 56 (Curiosity and longing)

Relationship: None

'She built a career on the Xianzhou through her eagerness to learn. Since she has taken an interest in your gambling skills, you have to seize the opportunity!'

And Sushang's as well:

Target: Sushang

Affection: 50 (Vigilance)

Relationship: None

'Showing off the Art of Deception right in front of a Cloud Knight—you really know how to make an impression. Forget everything else for now; first, make her give up on the idea of hauling you away in cuffs.'

Running into these two today really was an unexpected delight.

Lin Shuang cared greatly about Sushang's inherited Grand Void Sword Qi. To put it bluntly, she wanted to learn it.

And Guinaifen's original name was Guinevere, which was clearly a reference to that batch of Knights of the Round Table from Celtic mythology.

Perhaps she could draw some interesting skills or items as well.

So Lin Shuang did not mind teaching Guinaifen a little, and judging from the situation, Sushang would most likely tag along too.

By then, she could raise both of their affection levels together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

So, even though Sushang was glaring at her from behind in a huff, Lin Shuang smiled and nodded.

"Since you really want to learn, I don't mind teaching you. As for the tuition, we can discuss it in detail later. Why don't we exchange contact information first?"

As she spoke, Lin Shuang flipped her palm over and stylishly produced her phone, exchanging contact information with Guinaifen.

Then Sushang threw herself forward, squeezing between the two of them and nearly falling straight into Lin Shuang's arms.

Her adorable twin ponytails swayed behind her.

"Hey, hey—I want in too! Count me in!"

Although Sushang did not actually want to learn, she shamelessly inserted herself between them.

Guinaifen had guessed what Sushang meant, but with Lin Shuang right in front of them, she did not say anything.

Lin Shuang could tell that these two best friends probably had something to discuss, and she had matters to attend to as well, so she took the initiative and said,

"I still have some things to do. If you have any questions, contact me directly through your phone. We can also arrange another time to discuss the location and schedule for the lessons."

"Okay, okay! Then we won't disturb you, Master!"

Guinaifen's voice was brimming with energy. Rather than sounding like a farewell, she sounded as if she were welcoming a customer inside.

Lin Shuang gave the sword Sushang carried an interested glance, then waved and left.

Running into Guinaifen and Sushang had merely been a small interlude. Lin Shuang still chose to head to the card parlor first.

Although she had not mentioned it beforehand, just as expected, she found the girl in green at the card parlor.

The moment she approached, she saw Qingque's opponent draw a self-drawn winning hand and rake in a fortune.

"Ahh—so close."

Qingque sighed, while the winner raised a hand toward the person behind Qingque.

"Lin Shuang's here. Want to play a few rounds?"

Hearing that, Qingque turned around. The moment she saw Lin Shuang standing behind her, her brows curved as she flashed a brilliant smile.

"Oh, Lin Shuang's here?"

"Why did you run out to play cards early in the morning again? Didn't Fu Xuan scold you?"

"What kind of question is that, what kind of question is that! Why would Lady Fu Xuan scold me every day when nothing's wrong? The other day was a special circumstance."

Qingque waved her hands as she refuted Lin Shuang. Seeing how animated she was, Lin Shuang knew that Fu Xuan had probably not come looking for trouble with her these past two days.

But Fu Xuan had not paid Lin Shuang any attention either.

Lin Shuang chuckled, caught the hand waving in front of her, and looked at the cute manicure on Qingque's nails.

"I'm heading to Ruomu Pavilion first. If I get back early, I'll play a few rounds."

One of the other players looked at Lin Shuang curiously, raised an eyebrow, and put on a gossiping expression.

"Don't tell me you've got a date? Ruomu Pavilion is perfect for enjoying the scenery. You probably won't be playing cards today."

"Oho? Really? You only spent one day apart, and you already found someone to date—ow!"

Qingque blinked and turned to look as well, only for Lin Shuang to unceremoniously flick her forehead.

Qingque Clutched Her Head and Gave an Awkward Laugh

Qingque covered her head and gave an awkward laugh. Lin Shuang then raised a hand to rub her forehead as she explained,

"What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't I meet someone at the Alchemy Commission the day before yesterday who gave me a free prescription? She said she usually liked staying at Ruomu Pavilion, so I thought I'd go thank her."

"Man or woman?"

"Woman!"

"Eh... boring."

Lin Shuang glared at the card player, whose interest instantly vanished. She bought them each a cup of Immortal's Delight tea, told them to save her a seat, and only then left.

This time, she did not run into anyone she knew.

As she walked, Lin Shuang suddenly remembered that there was still one adorable little person on the Xianzhou whom she had yet to meet.

She had not met the new Dragon Lord of the Sushang yet—the Dragon Daughter of the Pharmacy.

The last time she went to the Alchemy Commission, she had not seen the Dragon Daughter. Instead, she had met Danshu.

Thinking about it, it sometimes felt rather strange.

But this Dragon Daughter liked sneaking out and eating. Lin Shuang rarely bought snacks in Changle Heaven, so perhaps they really were not that easy to run into.

She really wanted to touch Bailu's dragon horns and tail.

Lin Shuang could not help moving her fingers again.

"I remember Tingyun always goes to Bailu for a massage after returning from business trips. I could ask Tingyun about it."

Bailu was a healer, and also the Dragon Lord of the Sushang.

Perhaps she could even draw some Cloudhymn Secret Art.

Thinking that, Lin Shuang unconsciously arrived near Ruomu Pavilion.

Along with light footsteps, a gentle voice sounded from inside Ruomu Pavilion.

"You've come? Your footsteps are light. It sounds like you're in a good mood. Has the prescription I gave you been effective?"

With her back to Lin Shuang, Danshu gazed out over the distant sea of clouds and Jianmu. Her voice was as gentle and steady as ever.

"Thank you for your prescription, Miss Danshu. My hands felt much better after soaking them in the medicine. Your diagnostic skills truly are impressive."

"No need to thank me. It is simply a physician's duty."

As Danshu spoke, she slowly turned around. Her beautiful eyes were still empty.