A Mixed-Race Beauty / Shen Xianya ...

"Madam, Miss, sorry to keep you waiting. We can go eat now." The butler, Little Grass, had changed into a relatively light outfit too. Everyone went downstairs and walked straight out of the hotel. Xiangyi was even more confused. She had just taken a look at the food prices, and they weren't much different from the prices elsewhere.

Still wondering about it, Xiangyi asked, "Auntie, why aren't we eating at the hotel?"

Zhang Mou whipped around. She genuinely felt Xiangyi had been a little too talkative today, but still answered impatiently, "The food at this hotel is awful."

Xiangyi nodded quietly. She knew Zhang Mou had completely run out of patience, so she didn't say anything more. Seeing Zhang Mou still studying the map, Little Grass pulled Xiangyi aside and murmured, "Flower Master, why have you been talking so much today?"

"I just feel like Auntie's a little unreliable."

Remembering the blunder Zhang Mou had made in the hotel room earlier, and seeing the way she was choosing where to eat, Xiangyi couldn't help thinking of the kind of person who was hopeless at everyday life.

Little Grass glanced at Zhang Mou, who was still busy over there, and quietly warned Xiangyi, "Flower Master, Madam's terrible with directions, but she refuses to believe it. So no matter how long she takes to get wherever we're going, you have to be patient, okay?"

Little Grass wore a despairing look, almost as if she'd given up on life. Xiangyi had had no idea about any of this, and found it amusing that Zhang Mou had such a peculiar weakness.

Still, she nodded. If anything, she was a little more intrigued by Zhang Mou now, and watched her from the side with Little Grass.

First, she wanted to see just how bad a human could be at finding their way around.

Second, unlike humans, she was gradually needing food less and less. She could go several days without eating and be perfectly fine; in fact, her body would grow stronger.

Little Grass had been telling the truth. Zhang Mou had been staring at the map for a while now, but no matter how long she studied it, she couldn't come up with a clear plan. In the end, she seemed unable to take it anymore and turned to ask Little Grass for help, but held herself back.

50 monthly tickets or 10,000 fire vouchers gets an extra chapter. Flame Emperor: 15 chapters.

A Mixed-Race Beauty

She was also a woman with a strong sense of pride, unwilling to embarrass herself or show her vulnerable side. It was already past two. Little Grass took a few snacks out of her backpack.

"I bought these earlier. Have a few to tide you over." That explained why the butler had been late. Xiangyi had a few bites, then saw Zhang Mou still trying to figure things out.

Xiangyi had no choice but to go over and see where Zhang Mou was trying to go. She'd been studying the map for so long that Xiangyi was curious. Leaning closer, she saw that Zhang Mou was looking for the restaurant Xia Shang had mentioned earlier.

But Zhang Mou didn't seem to know how to use modern technology. She'd been searching for ages and still couldn't find it, so Xiangyi spoke up. "Auntie, I want to eat at the place Professor Xia mentioned."

Zhang Mou glared at her, a little angry, as if she thought Xiangyi was deliberately making trouble.

But Xiangyi pointed into the distance. "And look, it's really close. We just need to turn left at three corners, then go straight through the third intersection." Xiangyi drew a route on the simple map. Zhang Mou nodded and pretended to sound displeased. "Just this once. Don't let it happen again."

She clearly wanted to eat there, but still refused to say what she really wanted. Xiangyi could only sigh again and follow Zhang Mou. At last, they arrived.

The owner was taking a break, but still got up to prepare some food for them. Zhang Mou ate as elegantly as ever. Afterward, she sat chatting with the owner and asked if they knew where she could find somewhere to stay.

"I actually do. Every residential community has a notice board. Just take a look and you'll find something. If that doesn't work, find a job listing online and give them a call." Zhang Mou thanked her, and the owner continued, "But don't go near Angel Street. It's not safe there. A beautiful woman like you would have a rough time."

Zhang Mou laughed, clearly pleased by the compliment. The two of them chatted even more warmly, and Zhang Mou asked about a lot of details. Then the group took a three-wheeled vehicle to the nearest residential community and looked at the listings on its notice board.

The listing required a woman living alone. Zhang Mou called, but when she found out the landlord was a man, she decided against it.

They quickly went to check out a second place. A married couple already lived there, so Zhang Mou turned it down too. They kept looking from daytime until night, viewing more than a dozen places. Zhang Mou could easily have brushed Xiangyi off with any old excuse, but she was taking the search very seriously.

Just when Xiangyi thought they wouldn't find anywhere that night, a police officer on a motorcycle appeared. She was dressed in uniform and looked exceptionally gallant. The three of them hadn't done anything wrong, but the sight of the uniform still caught them off guard, and they stood there unsure what to do.

Then the female officer removed her helmet, revealing the face of a mixed-race beauty. Her sun-kissed skin looked healthy, and her eyes were bright and alert. But she had foxlike eyes; she didn't look like a police officer so much as a woman of ill repute.

The striking contrast amused Xiangyi. The woman said, "You're here to look at the room, right?"

Only then did Xiangyi realize the police officer wasn't there to cause trouble. She was the landlord of the place they were going to see.

"Yes. I'm looking for a place for my daughter to stay." Zhang Mou nodded, explaining why they were there.

The officer looked at Xiangyi, sized her up, then said, "She looks well-behaved enough. Come on, I'll show you the place."

With that, she parked her motorcycle and led them upstairs. It was an ordinary-looking house, but it had been converted into a guesthouse.

There was a large living room in the middle, with four bedrooms around it. Three of the doors already had nameplates, suggesting that their tenants had moved in. The female officer pointed to one room and said, "I'm not the landlord. The landlord's just too busy, so I came to show you around."

Zhang Mou frowned. "Can you make the decision, then?"

"Of course. I've lived here for three years. Come on in and have a look. This is the room for rent."

As she spoke, the officer opened the door to the room.

Xiangyi walked in and saw that it was very clean, furnished with only the everyday essentials: a bed, a wardrobe, and the like. A few steps farther in was a small balcony where they could hang clothes to dry. Just from the room, she could tell its previous occupant had been meticulous.

"The girl who lived here before got pregnant, so she moved out. You're lucky—you came only a few days after she left." The officer told them about the room's previous occupant, then briefly showed them the shared spaces. The kitchen, bathroom, and living room all had a few toys, and the air carried a feminine fragrance.

"Who are the other tenants?"

Zhang Mou seemed fairly satisfied. More than anything, the woman's being a police officer made her feel safe.

"Uh, I'm usually busy, so I haven't seen them much. The other two are probably office workers." The officer hesitated, suddenly unsure how to answer. After struggling to explain, all she could say was that the remaining tenants were women. That was exactly what Zhang Mou wanted to hear.

Although Zhang Mou disliked Xiangyi, she still had a duty to protect her living environment. Even if Xiangyi wasn't particularly pretty, girls could be at a disadvantage in certain situations, so Zhang Mou was careful about these things.

"Don't worry. If you move in, I'll keep an eye on her. But be careful: this place is different from others. You absolutely can't use your Chosen One abilities here. If the landlord finds out you've used them inside the house, you'll be kicked out no matter how well you've behaved." The officer noticed Xiangyi's Chosen One mark and reminded her. Xiangyi found it baffling.

She could understand that rule in Ocean City, but this was Heaven City. She hadn't expected there to be places where Chosen Ones weren't allowed to use their abilities.

"Can you do that?" Zhang Mou asked Xiangyi. She had only just awakened and didn't seem to know how to control her abilities at all.

Xiangyi shook her head. "I'm not sure. I just awakened."

"In a few days, someone will take you to the Chosen One Alliance for a test. They'll teach you how to control yourself." Zhang Mou explained one of her reasons for coming to Heaven City: only Heaven City could provide Chosen Ones with the best environment.

"She only just awakened?" The officer seemed surprised, as if curious how Xiangyi's ability had awakened naturally so late.

"Yeah, she's a bit slow." Zhang Mou smiled as she answered, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

50 monthly tickets or 10,000 fire vouchers gets an extra chapter. Flame Emperor: 15 chapters.

Chapter 126: Shen Xianya, the Mixed-Race Beauty

The officer glanced at her but didn't ask any more questions. Then she brought up the rent. "The rent is a thousand. One month's deposit, paid three months at a time."

As she spoke, the officer reached into her pocket and pulled a storage card from its case. In an instant, a pile of papers flew out. Looking embarrassed, she hurriedly scrambled to gather them. Xiangyi instinctively bent down to pick up the nearest one and saw a document.

It was a transfer request. The signature at the end was written in such a flourish that she could only make out the name by examining its strokes.

"Shen Xianya? Shen Xianya?"

She read the name she thought she recognized aloud. The officer gave a surprised "Huh," as if wondering how Xiangyi knew her name. But she quickly noticed the document and looked enlightened.

"I was wondering where my transfer request had gone." Shen Xianya smiled sheepishly. Xiangyi handed it over, while the butler and Zhang Mou gathered up the other papers and passed them to Shen Xianya.

"The rental contract is certified by Heaven City." Shen Xianya emphasized the words "Heaven City," then added, "And a reminder: in Heaven City, you can't make a deal without a proper contract. Even if someone scams you, there's nothing you can do about it."

Shen Xianya's warning was subtle. With something like rent, if they didn't have official proof, even a record of the transfer might not be enough to settle a dispute. Xiangyi quietly memorized the advice, then watched as the officer swiftly searched for the contract.

Shen Xianya's eyes kept moving, and she flipped through the documents even faster. The Chosen One mark on her arm was especially conspicuous.

According to the information this world had filled in, there were broadly seven types of Chosen Ones:

1: Those who surpassed their limits by strengthening their minds and bodies—the cultivators.

2: Those who awakened through various chance encounters—the Awakened.

3: Those who used supernatural abilities—the mages (such as witches and sorcerers).

4: Those who used technology to create magic—the superbrains.

5: Those who could do anything but excel at nothing—the all-rounders.

6: Those who exorcised demons, ghosts, zombies, and strange beasts—the purifiers (such as monks, Taoists, priests, and nuns).

7: Those born powerful and capable of anything—the chosen by the gods.

There were many other minor types, but most fell under these seven categories.

As it happened, judging from this action, Shen Xianya was a cultivator. Xiangyi looked at her with complicated feelings. Shen Xianya had no idea, and had already pulled out the contract and handed it to Xiangyi.

"Doesn't the contract need a parent's consent?" Zhang Mou asked. She found it strange that Shen Xianya had handed the contract directly to Xiangyi.

"She's the one who'll be living here, so the contract should naturally be signed by her. There's also a guardian agreement. If she does anything, heh heh..." Shen Xianya trailed off, then patted Xiangyi on the head.

At one meter seventy, Shen Xianya was tall and stood out beside Xiangyi, who was only one meter sixty. Xiangyi tried to dodge, annoyed, but in her ordinary state she was no match for Shen Xianya.

She had no choice but to keep looking over the contract in her hands. But she soon noticed something strange.

"I have a question. What does this mean, 'not responsible for accidental deaths in the house'?" It seemed terribly out of place, as if the clean, pleasant home were actually a haunted house.

Shen Xianya's eyes started to wander. Xiangyi couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than she was saying.

They weren't allowed to use their Chosen One abilities, yet there was also a clause disclaiming responsibility for deaths. The two things seemed to contradict each other.

Zhang Mou took the contract and glanced through it too. The more she read, the more suspicious she became. She held out a hand, and Little Grass immediately passed her a phone with a news article on it.

Zhang Mou raised an eyebrow when she saw the article. "This is a haunted house?"

"Hahaha... 'haunted house' makes it sound so bad. Someone just died of sudden cardiac arrest by accident." Shen Xianya waved her hand awkwardly, but her head gave a slight nod, as if admitting she was lying.

With all three of them staring at her, Shen Xianya had no choice but to explain. "All right, there's more to what happened with the roommate who got pregnant... She didn't know how she'd gotten pregnant, and then she killed herself."

Shen Xianya finally told them everything in one go, but immediately regretted it. Zhang Mou turned deathly pale with fright. Xiangyi's eyebrows rose, and she quickly caught Zhang Mou before she could fall.

Zhang Mou's fear turned to embarrassment. She gently wriggled out of Xiangyi's arms, then said, "Then we shouldn't rent it. It's too dangerous."

Shen Xianya desperately grabbed Zhang Mou's hand. "Don't go! I'll lower the rent!"

Zhang Mou frowned slightly and stared at Shen Xianya for a few seconds. "So you're the landlord."

Shen Xianya burst out laughing. It seemed she realized she couldn't hide it anymore, so she simply nodded.

"Yes, it's my place. I live here too. But ever since what happened a year ago, it's been completely empty." Shen Xianya admitted that everything she'd said earlier was a lie. Zhang Mou's questions had caught her so off guard that she hadn't even had time to come up with a story about what role the roommate played.

Besides, she'd claimed she could make the decision, and had produced a contract so quickly. Who else could she be but the landlord?

And after all those lies, it really did seem impossible to live there.

Xiangyi was a little nervous at the thought of a haunted house, so she consulted the flower spirits in her mind.

Hua Nu: This is indeed a haunted house. There is a vicious aura here.

Shaoyao: This place gives me the creeps too.

Oleander: ...

The three of them shared their thoughts, and the majority voted against staying there. Xiangyi was just about to persuade Zhang Mou to look elsewhere when the usually cold Flower Master Huangquan suddenly spoke.

Huangquan: This place is greatly beneficial to cultivation.

Huangquan, a renowned figure of the underworld, spoke with great authority. Xiangyi might not believe Hua Nu and the others, but if Huangquan said something was there, then there really was something to be found.

It might be deadly for an ordinary person, but a cultivator might find something useful there. Xiangyi struggled with the decision. Before, she would never have stayed in a haunted house, even if it killed her.

But this was a world even more terrifying than a haunted house. If Xiangyi wanted to grow stronger quickly and avoid ending up dead, she would have to take a path no one else had taken.

"Five hundred! I can't go any lower! Look how big this place is!" Shen Xianya had been pushed to the limit and slashed the rent as low as she could. Zhang Mou was still trying to free herself from Shen Xianya's grip, but after struggling for ages, all she could do was stare helplessly at the hand holding her.

50 monthly tickets or 10,000 fire vouchers gets an extra chapter. Flame Emperor: 15 chapters.

Chapter 127: Auntie, I'm Not Afraid

With no other option, Zhang Mou looked at Xiangyi and gestured with her eyes. "What do you think?"

Xiangyi understood the signal, but remembering what Huangquan had just said, she forced herself to add, "Auntie, I'm not afraid."

"Suit yourself."

Xiangyi saw that Zhang Mou seemed a little angry, but for some reason she didn't say anything more. She turned back to Shen Xianya to tell her what they'd decided, but Shen Xianya suddenly hugged Xiangyi and planted a hard kiss on her face.

After that, Shen Xianya turned to Zhang Mou. With a cold expression, Zhang Mou firmly refused.

Xiangyi was still stunned from being kissed. She touched her face, finding it hard to believe.

Shaoyao: Flower Master, that woman's awful. She took advantage of you!