Seventy-One Frames

More than that, it was a battle between two Remnant Souls.

Pei Ling's gaze, however, fell on Qiao Ranran—especially her vacant eyes, which held none of the light he knew so well.

Pei Ling ran his tongue over his back teeth and laughed in fury. "Qiao! Ran! Ran!"

Author's note: Qiao Ranran: Uh-oh.

Pei Ling: Heh.

Qiao Ranran: There you go, heh-ing again!

Pei Ling: ...

Chapter 71: Seventy-One Frames

Qiao Ranran did not respond to Pei Ling as she usually did. She showed no reaction to his anger, either. Her large, vacant eyes brimmed with tears as she watched the two shadowy Remnant Souls still fighting in the distance.

The instant Pei Ling raised his hand, Qiao Ranran turned sideways and slipped out of his reach with an uncanny movement technique. She stood far away, her head tilted as she looked at him with a strange, unfamiliar gaze. A storm of killing intent surged through Pei Ling's dark eyes. "Whatever wandering ghost you are, leave now, and I'll spare you this once."

"Qiao Ranran" laughed softly. A vivid, seductive allure lit up her face—an expression that did not belong to Qiao Ranran, nor did the look in her eyes. Her tears had not yet dried, but she said with a playful smile, "Can you bear to hurt this girl? Don't think I don't know. You like her—don't rush to deny it. This body belongs to me now, but she's still here. She can hear what you say, you know. If you deny it, she'll be heartbroken. Can you bear to make her sad?"

Pei Ling had no patience for talk. In a flash, he appeared before "Qiao Ranran," clamped a hand around her neck, and lifted her bodily into the air. "What makes you think I can't bring myself