The ghost gate opened, linking yin and yang.
Inside a Bedchamber at the Xu Family estate in Mingdu, warmth filled the air.
A White-Haired Dumpling lay lazily sprawled across a soft bed, her long silver hair cascading loosely like interwoven streams of light, one stubborn cowlick standing proudly upright. Her fitted white nightdress traced youthful yet lovely curves. Her delicately sculpted little face had begun to mature, revealing a dreamlike beauty, while her soft, bare shoulders lent her an unwittingly innocent charm.
The pillow beneath Na'er's head propped up her chin. Her bright, lively eyes were fixed on the Soul Guidance phone before her, one fingertip deftly swiping the screen as she followed the novel's gripping plot. Every so often, her other fair little hand dipped into the open bag of Potato Chips beside her and stuffed a few into her mouth. The crunching rang especially clearly through the quiet room.
Whenever she became engrossed, her slender calves, clad in sheer white stockings, swung gently in the air. The stockings hugged her delicate feet, outlining curves as exquisite as works of art, like summer's most tempting ice cream bars.
"Mmm~" Like a lazy little kitten, the White-Haired Dumpling stretched luxuriously, her soft hum brimming with contentment.
What a wonderful day, without Xu Qingjia nagging in my ear to make me cultivate!
Just then, a cool voice sounded in her mind without warning. "Na'er."
Immersed in the world of her novel, the White-Haired Dumpling answered almost reflexively without looking up. "Everything's going smoothly. I'm working hard to find the target."
She was as practiced as someone clocking in for work every day, but the instant the words left her mouth, she paused. What had Gu Yue called me for again?
The tiny question had barely surfaced before the novel's twisting plot swept it away. Never mind. It probably wasn't anything important.
Gu Yue: ...
Oblivious to the other woman's silence, the White-Haired Dumpling grabbed a few more Potato Chips and crunched away. As the story grew exciting, her white-stockinged legs swung even more merrily.
"Na'er!"
The cool voice rang out again, this time carrying unmistakable anger. Gu Yue's demand held unquestionable authority. "Are you trying to pull the wool over your king's eyes?"
"!"
Na'er snapped fully alert, even forgetting to chew her Potato Chips.
"What are you talking about!" she protested pitifully. "You have no idea how hard it is for me out here all alone! Mingdu is crawling with powerful humans. I'm just a little girl! Do you know how difficult and exhausting it is to find a target in this boundless sea of people?"
As she spoke, a slightly guilty Na'er quietly pushed the bag of Potato Chips aside.
No.
This wasn't indulgence. It was making sure I stayed in peak condition at all times.
Yes, exactly. That was it!
It was that rotten Gu Yue's fault for leaving me here all alone in the first place!
With that thought, the White-Haired Dumpling instantly felt entirely justified.
After a second or two of silence, Gu Yue spoke with less anger and more urgency. "We'll set aside what happened before. Now! This instant! Get moving immediately! The reverse scale has sensed the aura of the Netherworld near you. Proceed carefully and find out what they're after."
Nearby?!
Na'er's clear eyes instantly sharpened, and she scrambled off the bed. Her fair little hand slipped into her neckline and felt around briefly before closing around a Silver Dragon scale, warm with her body heat and carrying her milky scent. The scale was faintly hot, as though responding to some distant summons.
Near me? Had they discovered me?
No, I'd been careful with my disguise all these years. I shouldn't have exposed any flaws.
Na'er concentrated on communicating with the Silver Dragon Reverse Scale. Her white-stockinged feet touched the cold floor lightly, and, like a wary kitten, she crept toward the target under the reverse scale's guidance.
The target was only about fifty meters away.
What a terrifying enemy!
Na'er marveled inwardly. They had managed to slip so close without making a sound. She had truly met her match across the chessboard!
But just as she opened her bedroom door and carefully made her way down the corridor, her footsteps abruptly stopped.
Wait!
A thought suddenly shot through her mind, and Na'er's pupils contracted slightly.
Her gaze passed down the corridor, across the hall, and finally settled on a tightly shut bedroom door nearby.
For the past three years, only one person had lived near her-Xu Qingjia!
ノ)ノ°Д°(∑!!!
Could... could it be?!
Had I been living with my mission's target for three whole years?
No way!
Na'er's little cherry-red mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg. Her face flushed crimson, her heart tangled with confusion and panic, along with an indescribably strange feeling.
She steadied herself and continued forward, her emotions a complicated mess.
As she walked, her thoughts wandered so wildly that she failed to notice someone ahead and suddenly bumped into a warm embrace. A familiar, clean, cool scent filled her nose.
"What's wrong?"
A gentle voice sounded above her head, tinged with amusement.
The distracted White-Haired Dumpling jerked her head up. A faintly smiling face was right before her. The boy's finely formed features had begun to reveal the striking good looks he would possess as an adult, and his eyes held their familiar warmth.
Xu Qingjia reached out and gently ruffled her fluffy little head, sounding somewhat resigned. "Why aren't you even wearing shoes? The floor's cold."
"I..." Na'er opened her mouth, suddenly at a loss for words. Her little head was a jumble, while the Silver Dragon scale in her palm remained faintly hot, clearly telling her that the target stood right before her.
How was she supposed to ask? Should she directly ask whether Xu Qingjia had ties to the Netherworld? Or had he already discovered her true identity? If she said it aloud, could things between them still be the same as before?
Every little moment from the past three years flashed through her mind, from their squabbles when they first met to him urging her to cultivate later on, to all their playful scuffles...
A thousand words clogged her throat, but in the end, all that emerged was, "I... I'm hungry."
Na'er reached out with her fair arms and gently caught Xu Qingjia's arm. A pitiful look surfaced in her clear, lively eyes, making her resemble a little beast that had lost its way.
"Oh?" Xu Qingjia glanced up at the clock on the wall, the amusement in his eyes deepening. His tone turned teasing. "It's three in the afternoon. Didn't someone finish lunch only three hours ago?"
"I don't care!" The White-Haired Dumpling stubbornly raised her little head, trying to look fierce despite her babyish manner. Her little brows knitted, and she looked ready to pester him until he gave in and got her something tasty. "Anyway, anyway, I'm hungry!"
"All right." Xu Qingjia shook his head helplessly and gently pinched her soft cheek, his eyes full of affection. "Do you want some sna-
"-cks? Or should I have the kitchen make another afternoon tea?"
"Only children choose. I want both!" Na'er said without hesitation. The pitiful expression vanished from her little face, replaced by eager anticipation.
"Okay." Xu Qingjia took out his Soul Guidance phone and quickly sent the kitchen a message.
"But..." After sending it, the boy suddenly looked at her with feigned puzzlement and a playful gleam in his eyes. "If you were hungry, Na'er, you could've just asked the kitchen to prepare something. Why did it look like you were coming to find me?"
He leaned closer, his voice teasing. "Did you have a nightmare during your nap and want a hug from your big brother?"
"Pah, pah, pah!" The White-Haired Dumpling immediately pushed him away in disgust, shaking her little head like a pellet drum. "Who wants a hug from you! Don't flatter yourself!"
"I... I was just a little curious about what you were doing in your room. You didn't come out all morning." She turned her little face aside guiltily. Suddenly, as if something had occurred to her, Na'er looked at him in surprise, her voice full of mockery. "Xu Qingjia, you shut yourself in your room all morning. Were you secretly doing some handiwork?"
"..." The corner of Xu Qingjia's mouth twitched. He said nothing.
"So you really were!" The White-Haired Dumpling immediately put on an "I knew it" expression and took a disgusted step back. "Xu Qingjia, you don't still have something dirty on your hands, do you?"