The Haunted Castle

"..."

Qiu Yun'er took small bites of enoki mushrooms, glancing up every now and then to listen to their conversation, remaining quiet and always looking like a curious child.

Ling Mengxue remained silent, only somewhat helpless, and after finishing the mushrooms, she began eating the cabbage.

Sigh, after thinking it over, I still think rice is the most practical.

The group chatted for a long time, talking about magical or real, or fictional, otherworldly realms: elves, magic, tree spirits, knights, mysterious runes, kingdoms and castles, and magical continents. They also talked about reality, games, life, emotional issues, exams, dreams and expeditions, and so on.

During this time, one person remained passive. Ling Mengxue will not reveal who that "actor" is; the eyes of the masses are discerning.

Zhao Ping didn't mind, and he and Zhao Lei drank a little wine, both of them becoming slightly tipsy.

"Haha, you guys have exams tomorrow, you should head back too. Girls shouldn't stay out too late. Oh... right, Ling is so amazing, I'm teasing her again~" Zhao Ping laughed as he stood up, took out his phone. "Uncle Ge, the bill's due."

"You guys should be more careful too." Ling Mengxue put down her chopsticks that were picking up cabbage, and pulled Mo Chuyun up. "Since you like spicy hot pot so much, I'll treat you next time."

"Real?!"

"..."

Okay, at least I need to maintain my public image!!

On the way back, Ling Mengxue basically walked with Mo Chuyun.

Mo Chuyun has returned to her original appearance.

Wearing a dark-themed Lolita dress, paired with low-heeled flats, hyacinths, black stockings, and a short jacket, she looks young but exudes a queen-like aura, radiating a powerful presence.

Upon closer inspection, her figure and appearance were remarkably similar to the stalker from that night. It seemed even their voices had been altered, making them difficult to distinguish.

Mo Chuyun, letting loose and exuding confidence, said, "Hehe, little sister, are you peeking at your big sister? If you come with me now, you can do whatever you want tonight~ I promise Xi Yan do anything..."

"Snap--"

"Huh--?!"

Ling Mengxue smacked Mo Chuyun on the head with her paw, her face already red. "'Be serious' for once. Didn't you say you're my sister? Or that great Dark Fallen Angel? Don't ruin your persona."

"That's different, little sister... cough cough, okay..." Mo Chuyun couldn't argue, "I'll come find you to play again next time~"

"..."

Night had already filled the sky, with countless stars breaking through the darkness. The dampness in the air slowly seeped in, like a dark blue curtain.

After returning home, Ling Mengxue was somewhat affected by what Zhao Ping had said that evening.

The world is vast, filled with countless unknowns and so many new things worth exploring. Whether it's magic or Star Engraving, is the ultimate destination they all point to also related to the "Destiny Sign"?

With so many powerful figures in the Magic Association, could it really be that none of them knew the "truth" behind fate?

[Xi He: Master is in such high spirits! If you want to know the answer, then finish the remaining "side quests" first and start your happy and carefree working life~]

"Grass..."

[Xi He: A type of plant?]

"The Destiny Sign Garbage's Fate!"

[Xi He: Luck won't save you from bad luck, and spending money won't change your fate?]

"..."

Sigh... Let's focus on the present first!

Early in the morning, Ling Mengxue quickly finished breakfast, packed her exam supplies, and prepared to go to school.

The exam lasted two days, neither too long nor too short.

She carefully wrote her name on the exam paper and began to answer the questions seriously.

In the exam room, like any other student, her thoughts were occasionally distracted by trivial matters in life, but the impact was minimal. The past few days of review, plus the boost from her "extra help," were enough for her to rank among the top students.

The weather outside the window was unbelievably nice; a summer breeze was blowing, the branches were swaying, and cicadas were chirping incessantly.

By the time Ling Mengxue came to her senses, the last day of exams was already over.

The sunset was beautiful. After packing up my exam materials, I returned to the classroom.

She plans to go to the nearby shopping mall after she gets home, and buy some groceries, fruits, and vegetables.

Last night I received a message from Ling Xiaoyu. Since it's the holidays, I'm planning to let Ling Luoluo go home and get some rest.

Ling Xiao meant that if other families have holidays, our Luoluo the Little Genius shouldn't miss out either!

Ling Mengxue didn't have a specific way to "deal with" her younger sister. The only thing that could shut the girl up was probably her superb cooking skills.

Using delicious food to deal with a foodie can triple the "restraint" effect. This multiplier is perfect for suppressing a sister who's obsessed with her brother~ Oh wait, I mean, now it's about a sister who's obsessed with her sister.

Ling Mengxue was somewhat surprised when she came down from the teaching building; she didn't expect there to be someone waiting for her under a tree not far away.

"Ling... Sister Mengxue!"

It was Lin Ruoxi who spoke, and the little girl ran straight towards her.

The school's mock exams these past two days didn't have any requirements. Lin Ruoxi wore a light purple fairy dress, her hair in a cute bun, her rosy cheeks flushed slightly, making her look a little clumsy.

"Ruoxi?"

[img=700,967]htt [img=700,796]htt [img=700,660]htt Chapter Forty-Nine: The Ghost Castle

"Ruoxi, is there something you need?"

"Some!!"

"I'm listening."

No need to speak so loudly, I'm not deaf.

"Sister Mengxue... well, I... I have something I want to tell you," Lin Ruoxi answered timidly, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression somewhat unnatural.

"It's alright, go ahead and tell me. If you run into any trouble, I might be able to help you," Ling Mengxue said.

Lin Ruoxi hesitated, wanting to speak but then becoming too embarrassed to say it. A blush crept onto her delicate face, as if she was still holding on, still wavering.

Ling Mengxue felt something was off, her thoughts drifting, and she listened quietly.

Should I say something to "relax" and lighten the mood, like this?

Never mind, I'll just stay silent. (^-^)

Perhaps from being stared at for too long, Lin Ruoxi's face flushed even more. She looked away nervously, then after a moment, forced herself to remain calm as she looked at Ling Mengxue: "Sister... sister, I have a surprise to share with you, it's just..." "..."

"...""What?"

A hint of shyness flashed across Lin Ruoxi's face, but it disappeared in an instant, leaving behind a complex mix of excitement and joy.

The next second, she suddenly turned around, covered her face, and ran away.

Ling Mengxue: "??"

Ling Mengxue stood rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered.

Looking in the direction the little girl left, her expression must be quite comical right now.

She couldn't help but think of the idiom, "inexplicable" or "baffling."

Soon after, Lin Ruoxi sent a message: [Sister, I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of at home, so I have to go now. I'll tell you about this surprise next time we meet! (shy)(facepalm)(facepalm)]

"..."

Ling Mengxue put her phone away, not taking it too seriously.

Perhaps young girls are just more sensitive?

Sigh, kids these days are so cute.

As usual, before going home, Ling Mengxue stopped at the supermarket to buy some things, mainly to prepare for welcoming her younger sister.

Xiaoyu said that the person should arrive around tonight.

To be honest, although she was Ling Luoluo's brother, she knew absolutely nothing about what her sister liked to eat or do.

Sigh, I'm such a terrible older brother!

But now that I'm the older sister, this makes me seem even more incompetent!

Not virtuous at all!

It seems a bookstore in the Old City District is having a promotion today, so I'll have to go over there to "buy" some novels. The discounted items are mostly old books that haven't sold out yet. For a bookworm like me who's not picky about anything, these are perfect for passing the time on occasional trips.

Carrying two large bags, Ling Mengxue had just stepped out of the supermarket when she paused, keenly sensing something amiss, as if a pair of eyes were spying on her in the darkness.

No, is stalking really that popular these days?

Do you even know what politeness is?

Just then, a girl in a black gauze dress brushed past her from afar.

The girl was very young, with black hair and red eyes. She wore no makeup, and her skin was clean, delicate, and exquisitely beautiful.

The sun was shining brightly, but her face was wet, as if she had just been caught in the rain. Her hair was soaked with rainwater, and water droplets dripped from her hair and skirt onto the ground, leaving water stains all along the way.

Ling Mengxue hadn't paid attention to her, but when she caught a glimpse of the other person's face, she couldn't help but be startled.

How should I describe it?

In short, that expression was quite impolite, as if everyone else was nothing but ants in her eyes, while she herself was a god from mythology, looking down upon all living beings, high and mighty above them.

"The prying eyes have disappeared?"

Is it just an illusion?

Ling Mengxue snapped out of her reverie and stopped overthinking.

I found a quiet corner, stored my things in the storage space, and prepared to move on to my next bookstore target.

If it's not too late when you go to the Old City District, it would be nice to stop by and visit Qingya and Sister Yue, since they were all good colleagues from before.

As for enjoying the service... never mind...

Although I still occasionally receive work resumption notices from Lin Danyue...

Linzhou City has seven districts and a river tributary that cuts the city in half, which the citizens affectionately call "Hedong" and "Hexi".

Hedong is the old city area, adjacent to the Old City District. It is a developed tourism area with pedestrian streets, commercial streets, stadiums, schools, museums, large shopping malls, and financial centers.

Dragon Soaring High School South Mountain Park are located in the old city area.

Hexi is a newly developed urban area, but it has also developed rapidly in recent years, with housing prices catching up with those of Hedong.

The first modern bridge across the river in Lin City mainly connects the old town on the east bank of the Hedong with Yanping District on the Hexi.

Compared to the later-built bridge, this one is like a frail old man, dilapidated and neglected for years, with little traffic. However, as the night goes on, there are more trucks on the bridge, as it is the preferred route for long-distance freight because it allows passengers to bypass a toll station.

At 9 p. m., Zhao Ping, carrying Zhao Lei, was riding a second-hand motorcycle they had recently rented from a 4S store. They were speeding at over 120 km/h along the riverside highway under the cover of night, and so far they had not been spotted by the traffic police.

The locomotive rolled over the potholed bridge surface, making a rumbling sound.

After crossing the bridge, the two headed straight for their destination.

The sand and wind stung his face like knives. Zhao Lei couldn't take it anymore and shielded his eyes with his hand, the wind making it hard to open them. "Cough cough! Brother Ping, hurry, too fast! Did you forget about my helmet?"

"What?! Not fast enough?!"

Amidst the howling wind, Zhao Ping, focused on the speed and excitement before him, didn't pay much attention to Zhao Lei's situation, only catching snippets of his voice. "Whoa!! Xing, then I'll floor the accelerator!!"

"No! Danger! Too dangerous!! Ping-ge, no! Stop it!!"

"Go on!"

Whoosh--!!