Beside the wooden railing on the neighboring balcony.
A scantily clad figure lounged against it, watching the commotion next door.
"Is that... Zhang Lexuan's loft?"
Ma Xiaotao thought for a moment before remembering who lived in the neighboring loft.
Zhang Lexuan was the Inner Courtyard Senior Sister, while Ma Xiaotao was Yan Shaozhe's disciple. That meant they were the only two disciples living nearby, so it was easy to tell who was next door.
When she saw Zhang Lexuan holding a first-year disciple tightly in her arms, she leaped to her feet in excitement.
"Th-they're embracing! And in such a lewd position, too. I never thought the dignified Inner Courtyard Senior Sister would be into younger boys. The world really is going downhill."
As the Inner Courtyard's notorious volcano, Ma Xiaotao didn't have many friends. To be honest, she envied Zhang Lexuan a little for being so admired.
But seeing the decisive Senior Sister transformed into such a gentle, charming woman...
Ma Xiaotao's curiosity about gossip instantly flared up.
She wanted to know not only Zhang Lexuan's true nature, but also who that boy was, the one Zhang Lexuan was forcefully holding to her chest.
She leaned over the balcony, straining to stand on tiptoe.
But apart from the sounds, most of what Ma Xiaotao wanted to see was hidden by the leaves.
"Damn it, if only these trees were shorter. Then I could see everything."
In the end, she still couldn't get a clear view of what was happening next door.
Frustrated, Ma Xiaotao sank back into her balcony chair. Zhang Lexuan had been holding that boy for a while now. What if...
In a flash,
she felt her Evil Fire surge in her heart, tickling her right at the core.
Images of the scene on the neighboring balcony began playing in her mind of their own accord: a man and a woman alone, kindling and flame, a battle on the balcony.
The vivid scene took shape in her feverish imagination, and a warm trickle ran down from her nose.
Ma Xiaotao reached up to wipe it away, only to find that her useless nose had started bleeding. A streak of blood stained the back of her hand.
[ Tsk...]
A voice tinged with contempt suddenly sounded in Ma Xiaotao's mind.
Ma Xiaotao hurriedly pulled a nearby curtain shut, hiding the shameful evidence on her face.
She fought down the Evil Fire burning inside her and warily looked around.
"Who's there?!"
[How embarrassing.]
Ma Xiaotao shook her head. She was just about to summon her Martial Soul when the Evil Fire in her heart abruptly went out.
She hadn't felt that refreshing sensation since she awakened her Martial Soul.
But why were the images she'd just imagined still lingering in her mind?
Damn Evil Fire. It had even dared to disguise itself as her memories.
[You can fool your sisters, but don't fool yourself too. If your sisters get fooled, you can just laugh it off. But whatever you do, don't end up hiding under the covers by yourself.]
What was this?
Ma Xiaotao considered the situation. Was it a Soul Master with a spiritual-type Martial Soul?
She knew some spiritual-type Soul Masters could use this method to transmit information.
Daring to mess with Ma Xiaotao? Whoever it was clearly hadn't heard of the Flame Maniac.
Every Inner Courtyard disciple who knew her was afraid to meet her gaze.
[I'm not what you think at all. I'm a mysterious being capable of granting your wishes.]
Remembering how the Evil Fire in her heart had vanished completely, Ma Xiaotao was already half convinced. After all, even the elders were helpless against the Evil Fire in her body.
"What do you want me to do?"
[Ding. Next-Door Sister System successfully bound.]
It seemed the voice had been waiting for her to say those words. As soon as she finished speaking, it rang out with a ding in her mind.
Next door? Sister?!
[That's right. As long as you complete your missions, you may receive a reward that permanently eliminates the flaw in your Martial Soul.]
"Really?" Ma Xiaotao asked excitedly.
To her, something that could completely suppress the Evil Fire in her heart was already a rare treasure in the world.
[Of course. But you should know that failing a mission comes with a punishment.]
Ma Xiaotao patted her ample chest. "You underestimate me. I'll complete any mission you give me. And even if I fail, do you really think your punishment could scare me?"
[Want to find out?]
The woman's voice in her mind goaded Ma Xiaotao.
"A volcano erupts at the slightest spark. You're really going to provoke me? Bring it on. I'll show you what a true elite is."
[Mission issued: Name one hundred storybook teachers you've seen before in ten seconds.]
How many?!
One hundred? Did the system think Ma Xiaotao was some kind of expert in this mysterious field? Even if she were, who could say one hundred names in ten seconds?
At least this time, the mission was just a test, and failure would only bring a punishment.
[Mission failed. Punishment commencing...]
"The punishment is..."
Ma Xiaotao hadn't even finished speaking when she felt something strange.
Her body had started moving on its own.
She tried to stop it, but no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't.
In the end, she could only watch as the system began its punishment.
Her body rose to its feet without her control.
Her long legs swept out, kicking a pillow she often hugged onto the floor.
Ma Xiaotao was confused. Was the so-called punishment just ruining everyday items? She didn't have anything particularly valuable.
Then,
her body twisted at the waist and sank lazily onto the sofa, legs raised.
Slowly, she shifted forward. Her curvaceous figure appeared and disappeared from view, and at some point, the shoes on her feet had vanished.
Her pale toes hooked the pillow, propping it upright.
Then she raised one leg high and rested it on the pillow.
A look of disdain appeared on her face, as if she were looking at a lowly nobody.
"S-so lewd... No, wait."
Ma Xiaotao somehow found herself watching from the side. Seeing her body posed in such a suggestive way, she couldn't help exclaiming.
"Okay... okay, that's enough."
She could feel her face turning bright red.
What kind of pervert would want this punishment?
[Official mission issued: A Next-Door Sister's Care. Look after the next-door woman's younger brother while she's away.]
[Mission success reward: Suppress the Evil Fire for three more days.]
Look after the next-door woman's younger brother while she was away? This system was no good either.
"I despise you."
[Then you don't have to do it.]
Ma Xiaotao pouted. Who said she wouldn't? This system just couldn't take a joke.
Having experienced how easy it felt to be free of the Evil Fire, she didn't want to feel it again. If it could be suppressed for a few days, she'd just abstain for a few days.
Her little abstinence goal: one hundred days before breaking the fast!
Besides, only Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan lived in this area. So looking after the neighbor's younger brother meant taking care of Zhang Lexuan's brother while she was away.
How exciting...
Ma Xiaotao had no reason at all to refuse this mission.
"Little brother, I'm your big sister. Open the door!"
Before you continue