Xiaomeng, Mistaken for a Great Bow

Na'er followed Jiang Ce into the hall.

The Duke's Mansion's council hall had been tidied up, the mess from last night gone without a trace, replaced by clear morning light and a faint scent of incense in the breeze.

Xiaomeng sat on the left, holding a teacup, as cold as frost.

Yet, a faint blush lingered on her usually serene cheeks.

She quietly pressed her legs together, trying to tense them, but they still trembled uncontrollably.

Damn it.

Last night, she had been used as a great bow, her ankles tied with black bowstrings, pulled back and forth all night.

Her legs were still weak now.

A glance from the corner of her eye fell upon the few fairies beside her, one of whom was leisurely swinging her tail, looking utterly satisfied.

Xiaomeng snorted softly and turned her head away.

When Na'er entered, her steps faltered slightly.

Four older sisters.

One as cold as ice, three as fiery as flames, and all looking exactly alike.

She instinctively took a few steps back.

"Don't be afraid," Jiang Ce's voice echoed in her mind. "They're all family."

Na'er nodded, her hair falling to her cheeks, covering her slightly flushed ear tips.

Yan Lingji's eyes lit up.

"Oh my, the little sister the King brought back is so cute~"

She stood up and walked towards Na'er.

Na'er flinched back, shyly revealing half her face.

"Don't hide, I won't eat you~"

Yan Lingji smiled and reached out to stroke her head.

Na'er shrunk her neck.

"Her name is Na'er."

A tentacle extended and gently patted Na'er's head.

"From now on, she's one of us."

Na'er felt the warmth on her head, and her tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

"Come, sit here."

Yan Lingji took Na'er's hand and sat down beside her.

Na'er looked at Yan Lingji, then at Xiaomeng opposite her, and whispered, "Sister, you're so..."

Her voice was very soft, like a feather brushed by the wind.

Yan Lingji patted her head, "Good girl~ Follow me from now on, and I'll protect you."

Xiaomeng nodded slightly in response.

Yan Lingji clapped her hands.

Several servants filed in, placing dishes one by one onto the long table.

The Duke's Mansion's kitchen had all the ingredients, and with the recipes for exotic dishes Jiang Ce had transmitted from his memories, Yan Lingji had spent the entire morning preparing a table of delicious food, a fusion of East and West.

But she had also thoroughly enjoyed herself.

No one in the kitchen.

A naked apron, then tentacles.

The first dish was golden crystal shrimp dumplings, their skins thin as paper, faintly revealing the tender pink shrimp meat within.

The second dish was honey-glazed roasted ribs, the amber-colored syrup coating the charred meat, giving off an alluring sheen.

Next came cream of mushroom soup, pan-seared scallops with butter, steamed eggs with black truffle, and lotus root with glutinous rice and osmanthus... a series of exquisite dishes filled the long table.

"King, I made all of these according to the methods you taught me."

Yan Lingji turned, and a mass of black venom condensed into a round head.

Jiang Ce's venomous head wobbled, "Not bad, it smells delicious."

Yan Lingji picked up a piece of roasted rib and offered it to Jiang Ce's mouth.

The venomous mass stirred, engulfing the rib.

"Mmm--not bad, not bad, your cooking has improved greatly."

"Thank you for your praise, King~"

Yan Lingji giggled, her tail swaying gently behind her.

Na'er sat to one side, watching the table full of exquisite dishes with her eyes wide open.

She had never seen food like this before.

Back when she was wandering, she only ate coarse flatbreads and dry rations, and if she was lucky, she might beg for a bowl of hot soup.

Compared to what was in front of her, those things were like heaven and earth.

"Eat."

"Big Brother said I could eat..."

Na'er muttered softly, picked up her chopsticks, pinched a small slice of lotus root, and put it into her mouth.

The soft, glutinous rice coated in the sweet fragrance of osmanthus melted on the tip of her tongue.

Her eyes lit up instantly.

"Delicious..."

Na'er picked up another piece, this time without hesitation.

Yan Lingji propped her chin on her hand, watching her with a beaming smile.

"Little sister, where did you come from?"

Na'er put down her chopsticks, thought for a moment, and shook her head.

"I don't remember..."

"Then what do you remember?"

"...I don't remember anything."

Na'er lowered her head.

"I only remember walking outside all by myself."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter.

Yan Lingji reached out to wrap an arm around her shoulder and patted her gently: "It's alright, if you don't remember, you don't remember. You'll have plenty of time to think about it slowly in the future anyway."

"Mm..."

Na'er leaned into her embrace.

Xiaomeng watched this scene, set down her teacup, and said indifferently: "Amnesia is not necessarily a bad thing."

"Some things are better left forgotten."

Yan Lingji glanced at Xiaomeng and smiled meaningfully.

"Is Big Sister talking about herself?"

Xiaomeng's expression did not change as she picked up her teacup again: "I am merely stating a fact."

"Yes, yes, yes, whatever Big Sister says is right~"

Yan Lingji withdrew her hand, her nine tails swaying gently, brushing against Xiaomeng's legs.

Xiaomeng's entire body stiffened.

This vixen is at it again.

She glared at Yan Lingji and raised her teacup to hide her reddening face.

"Alright, stop teasing her."

Jiang Ce spoke, and only then did Yan Lingji chuckle and retract her tails.

"Vixen, bring over that list of nobles."

Yan Lingji took a booklet from her Soul Storage Ring and flipped to the last page.

"The marquises and counts from yesterday have already been dealt with; these are the ones remaining."

She pointed to a string of names in the booklet.

"Barons, viscounts, counts... more than a dozen households in total, scattered across the south, north, and east of the city, as well as the outskirts of Heaven Dou City. They are living quite far apart."

"There are too many. Running to each house one by one is a waste of time."

Jiang Ce thought for a moment.

"Split into several groups. Na'er will stay here with me."

"After you finish, come back and regroup."

Yan Lingji nodded.

"That works. You just wait here for the good news, Great King~"

She stretched, and her nine tails retracted, returning to their normal appearance.

"Don't worry, I won't let them die too quickly."

Xiaomeng set down her teacup and stood up.

"Let's go."

Four figures darted out of the Duke's Mansion, fleeing in different directions.

Na'er felt a flicker of curiosity.

But under Jiang Che's reassurance, she stayed obediently inside the Duke's Mansion.

The scorching sun slanted toward the west.

On the West Main Street of Heaven Dou City stood the headquarters of the Black Cloud Chamber of Commerce.

The president, Black Cloud Crane, sat in a grand armchair, his fingers tapping incessantly against the armrest.

"What is going on?"

His expression was grim.

"Didn't the Dark Blood Alliance say they could deliver the goods yesterday? Why is there no word at all now?"

A subordinate bowed low, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Reporting to the President, we have already sent men to make contact, but over there... there has been no response."

"No response whatsoever?"

Black Cloud Crane stood up abruptly.

"Do you take me for a fool? Yesterday you said the goods had arrived, today you say there's no news, and tomorrow will you tell me everyone in the Dark Blood Alliance is dead?"

The subordinate dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Please calm your anger, President! This subordinate has already dispatched more men to investigate; there will definitely be news before nightfall!"

"What use is it after nightfall?!"

Black Cloud Crane slammed a palm onto the table, shattering the wood.

"The Duke is waiting to use them! If the schedule is delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"

"This subordinate..."

"And another thing, it has been over a month since we started investigating the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group incident. Where is the culprit?"

Black Cloud Crane wore a cold face.

"Dozens of our brothers are dead, and we don't even know who did it. What exactly are you good for?"

The subordinate trembled all over.

"President, the other party is simply too cunning; every time we arrive, we are a step too late..."

"I don't care!"

Black Cloud Crane cut him off.

"I am giving you three more days. If you can't find them, don't bother coming back."

"Yes, yes..."

The subordinate scrambled out, rolling and crawling.

Black Cloud Crane sat heavily back into his chair, rubbing his temples.

Everything had been going wrong lately.

The supply from the Dark Blood Alliance had been cut off for over a month, the Duke was pressing hard, and his subordinates were incompetent.

If this continued, his time as president would likely come to an end.

"My Lord!"

Urgent footsteps echoed from outside the door.

"What is it now?"

Black Cloud Crane frowned.

A guard rushed in, his face full of panic.

"My Lord, a group of people have arrived outside... they've broken in!"

"Who dares to trespass into my Black Cloud Chamber of Commerce?"

Black Cloud Crane was furious; he stood up and strode toward the door.

Just as he crossed the threshold, a black shadow descended from the sky.

"Bang—"

The main gate exploded, sending splinters flying.

Several slender figures walked in gracefully.

The woman in the lead wore a black and red dress, her peach-blossom eyes slightly upturned, a half-smile playing on her lips.

Behind her followed two identical figures.

As well as a young girl in an ink-wash dress with gray-white hair coiled up, and another with brown hair tied back.

"Who are you?"

Black Cloud Crane's pupils constricted.

"The people here to send you on your way."

Yan Lingji chuckled lightly.

"Insolent! Someone! Seize them for me!"

Black Cloud Crane roared, six soul rings rising from his body; he was a six-ringed Soul Emperor.

The remaining guards also released their martial souls one after another.

However--

It was useless.

Xiaomeng raised her hand, and "Colorless World" enveloped the entire area, slowing everyone's movements by dozens of times.

Yan Lingji's true form and her two clones vanished simultaneously.

Sword light flashed by.

Before the three Soul Emperor guards could even react, their arms had already been severed by venomous longswords.

A sword hilt slammed into the back of Black Cloud Crane's head, knocking him flat onto the ground.

The scene was cleared.

Black Cloud Crane lay on the ground, his face bruised and swollen.

"Who... who exactly are you people?"

He hissed.

"What do you want? Money? Power? I can give you anything!"

Yan Lingji did not answer.

She took a long spear from her storage Soul Tool and infused it with soul power.

A cold light flashed.

The long spear pierced through Black Cloud Crane's left leg, pinning him to the ground.

"Ah--!"

Black Cloud Crane shrieked.

A second long spear pierced through his right leg.

A third pierced his left hand.

A fourth pierced his right hand.

Black Cloud Crane was pinned to the ground, blood gushing from his four limbs.

"You... you..."

His eyes widened, filled with terror.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Don't be impatient."

Yan Lingji crouched down and poked his face with the tip of a long spear.

"You'll know in a moment."

"The Duke... will not let you off!"

Black Cloud Crane roared hoarsely.

"We are partners of the Dark Blood Alliance! The people from the Dark Blood Alliance will avenge me!"

"The Duke?"

Yan Lingji smiled.

"Are you talking about Xue Lingshan?"

Black Cloud Crane froze.

"You, how do you know..."

"Because he is already waiting for you over there."

Yan Lingji stood up, looking down at him from above.

"Lord Duke... no, Xue Lingshan, was nailed to the wall by us last night."

"Now, it is your turn."

Black Cloud Crane's face turned deathly pale.

"No, impossible... you are lying to me..."

"Don't believe it?"

Yan Lingji took an item from her Soul Storage Ring and tossed it before him.

It was the Duke's Seal of Xue Lingshan.

Forged from black gold, coiled with dragon patterns.

The pupils of Black Cloud Crane constricted violently.

"This... this..."

"Now, can you die in peace?"

Black Cloud Crane trembled all over.

"You... you are devils..."

"Devils?"

Yan Lingji chuckled softly.

"Compared to you using living people to refine medicine, what are we?"

She said no more.

Yan Lingji commanded a group of servant puppets to step forward.

Long spears pierced through one after another.

Black Cloud Crane's subordinates, along with those few Soul Emperor guards, were all pinned to the wall.

Blood flowed across the floor.

Screams rose and fell in succession.

Black Cloud Crane's eyes widened until they nearly split.

"Kill me... kill me..."

"Want to die?"

Yan Lingji shook her head.

"It's not that cheap."

She turned to look at the group of servant puppets.

"Go find some insects, any and all types will do."

The puppets obeyed.

Watching the smile that appeared as Yan Lingji turned her head back, Black Cloud Crane felt nothing but bone-chilling terror.

[Snow Maiden guards the tower.]