Qian Renxue's right foot hung outside the Library Pavilion's threshold, never touching down.
In her mind, the system's shrill warning rang like a death knell. The blood-red mission panel flashed frantically, and the words "Spend ten minutes alone with Bibi Dong behind her back" nearly burned through her consciousness.
Behind her, Bibi Dong's killing intent clung like a maggot to a corpse, pinning Qian Renxue in place.
The air itself warped visibly under the extreme tug-of-war between two supreme reserves of Soul Power.
Qian Renxue froze.
Just for a second.
She knew full well that if she turned back now, she wouldn't just fail to meet the prerequisite of being "behind Bibi Dong's back"—she'd immediately ignite that woman's possessive instincts and trigger a bloody fight to the death.
Not worth it.
She forced down the damn system countdown in her heart. At last, her right foot touched the ground.
She turned and descended the steps.
The night wind howled, making her white-and-gold Young Master uniform flap. Yet her mind had never been clearer.
A daring infiltration plan began to take shape at breakneck speed.
Young Master Palace.
Qian Renxue invoked the highest level of clearance and summoned the Judgment Knights' deployment and shift-change routes around the Library Pavilion.
"The map."
Her voice was cold and utterly devoid of emotion.
The hidden guard came tumbling forward with the classified dossier, not daring to raise his head.
Qian Renxue's fingertip skimmed the densely packed guard-post markers. In less than ten breaths, she pinpointed a red circle in the map's northeast corner.
At a quarter past midnight, the third and fifth squads would change shifts.
Half a tea break's worth of visual blind spot.
Enough.
She stripped off her conspicuous Young Master uniform and changed into a tight-fitting black stealth outfit that traced her perfect curves. A black cloth covered her face, leaving only her phoenix eyes exposed, blazing with killing intent.
Tonight, this humiliating mission had to be dealt with!
Deep in the night, at the Library Pavilion.
Su Chen was lounging on a bamboo chair, utterly at ease. The Eye of Omniscience's Light Screen glowed faintly, illuminating the increasingly obvious, amused smile at the corner of his mouth.
At the screen's edge, the blood-red dot representing Qian Renxue was taking an exceptionally tricky route, perfectly avoiding every guard post as it headed straight for him.
She was here.
With a thought, Su Chen instantly concealed his entire aura, pulled a thin blanket over himself, hunched his shoulders, and slowed his breathing.
A fresh lamb to the slaughter, trembling after being startled awake from a deep sleep.
Creak~
A breeze pushed open the damaged window.
A shadow slipped inside and landed without a sound, not even stirring the dust on the floor.
Qian Renxue stood before the bamboo chair and looked down at Su Chen, curled up in it. She unceremoniously pressed him with a Soul Master's aura.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Su Chen's eyes snapped open. His whole body jerked violently, and he scrambled deeper into the chair, hands and feet flailing. He gripped the thin blanket so tightly that the veins on the backs of his hands bulged.
Head bowed, he trembled from head to toe.
Qian Renxue took a step forward.
[ Ding! Distance between both parties is less than one meter. Alone-time countdown begins. ]
[09:59]
The icy digits ticked through her mind. Qian Renxue ground her back teeth together, her entire face rigid with tension.
Being this close to a man in a decrepit little room made her skin crawl.
She suppressed her revulsion, her gaze scraping over Su Chen's face inch by inch like a knife.
"What kind of sorcery did you use?" Her voice was as cold as ice. "How did you make that madwoman willingly serve you like a kitchen maid?"
Su Chen bowed his head even lower, staring fixedly at the floor. His shoulders shook as if they might fall apart.
"I... I don't know what the Young Master means..."
He stammered, his voice trembling. The last words even came out in a whimper. "I'm just a servant... I could die at any moment... I wouldn't dare... I really wouldn't dare harbor any thoughts about His Holiness the Pope!"
"Improper thoughts?"
Qian Renxue looked as if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. She actually laughed in anger.
"You think you're worthy?"
She mocked him mercilessly, trying to shatter his composure. "You're nothing but a plaything she's taken an interest in for the moment! She can coddle you today and toss you out like trash tomorrow! You really think you're special?"
Su Chen curled into a ball under her scorn. He swallowed, then spoke so quietly he could barely be heard—yet every word was perfectly clear.
"The Young Master is right... I know my place."
He murmured under his breath.
"So... so when His Holiness personally brings me food every night... even... even when she changes my clothes herself and ties my belt... I'm scared out of my mind... I'm afraid that one day I'll upset her and lose my life..."
"Changes my clothes herself." "Ties my belt."
Those words struck Qian Renxue's nerves like a red-hot steel needle!
The Dark Web's intelligence had just been confirmed by the person involved, in his own words! The details were even more explosive!
Boom!
Qian Renxue's haughty, aloof mask cracked on the spot.
She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug deep into her palms.
Why?!
For twenty years, all Bibi Dong had ever given her were cold looks, scoldings, and icy commands!
How could that lofty, stone-faced mother of hers do something like this for a good-for-nothing?!
In Su Chen's mind, the information on the panel had gone completely berserk.
[Qian Renxue's current emotions: Extreme indignation 90% / Twisted jealousy 85% / Competitive spirit off the charts!]
[Tip: You've broken her defenses, girl! The target's hostility is rapidly turning into an intense desire to win!]
Qian Renxue's chest heaved violently, her breathing alarmingly ragged.
She couldn't lose!
Least of all to Bibi Dong, in any respect, when it came to the "favor" shown to this good-for-nothing!
Driven by this twisted urge to compete, Qian Renxue almost unconsciously moved half a step closer.
Just to crush the traces that woman had left behind with her own presence!
The gap between them, already less than a meter, vanished.
Su Chen could even feel Qian Renxue's quick, warm breath brushing his bangs again and again.
Qian Renxue stared fixedly at Su Chen's pale, frightened face. The two of them stood locked in a standoff, their distance unbearably intimate and brimming with murderous intent.
Time passed, second by second.
[00:00]
The countdown hit zero.
[ Ding! Exclusive advanced mission complete. Reward issued: Six-Winged Angel bloodline purity increased by 5%; Angel Light—Beginner unlocked. ]
A terrifyingly pure, sacred energy poured into her body from nowhere. Qian Renxue closed her eyes as the surging power soothed the turmoil in her heart a little.
This reward really was impossible to refuse.
But before she could step back—
An even more glaring crimson panel forcibly popped up!
[Warning! Beginner mission "Comb Su Chen's hair ten times" has entered its death countdown!]
[Time remaining: 03:59:59]
[Tip: If you fail to comb his hair for the first time within four hours, the soul-rending punishment will be carried out immediately!]
Red light flashed violently.
Qian Renxue's eyes flew open.
Four hours.
Tonight, she had no choice but to comb his hair!
Her gaze slowly lowered, passing over Su Chen's frightened, evasive eyes before finally settling on his slightly tousled long hair.
The hand hidden in her sleeve curled slightly.
Before you continue