Jiang Ke’er felt as if her world was falling apart.
Ever since she transmigrated, in just over ten days, she had been poisoned by the Hanling Sharp-nosed Viper, drugged by Qiao Xiaoxian, afflicted by some mysterious toxin on Hanye Island, and finally, knocked out by her own concocted Sleepy Black Tea…
There were enough toxins hidden in her body to fill a whole mahjong table. Although, to be fair, that last one was her own doing.
—I am not a Foxy White-giver!
—But here I am, giving it all away again!
Feeling her cultivation frozen within her, Jiang Ke’er wanted to cry but had no tears.
That was exactly the effect of Sleepy Black Tea: first, it would knock a person out and seal their cultivation.
Even after waking, it would take several hours before one’s cultivation could recover.
During that recovery period, symptoms like mental fatigue and muscle weakness would occur, leaving one practically powerless to resist.
When Jiang Ke’er awoke, she found herself lying flat on the bed, her clothes gone at some unknown point.
Like a peeled egg, fair and tender, she was laid out on a plate awaiting her owner’s enjoyment.
She wanted to get up and escape, but after struggling just to move her hand, a smooth, lithe body pressed down on her, making it impossible to rise.
“Assassination~ failed~” Qiao Xiaoxian enunciated each word, her tone playful and teasing.
Jiang Ke’er’s heart turned cold.
“No… please…”
With difficulty, Jiang Ke’er raised her hand and pressed against Qiao Xiaoxian’s chest, trying to push her away.
But in this weak, powerless state, her half-hearted resistance only excited Qiao Xiaoxian’s predatory side even more.
“Did you know, dual cultivation comes in two types: spiritual and physical. Before, we practiced Lingzhi Dual Cultivation.” Qiao Xiaoxian leaned in close to Jiang Ke’er’s ear, her breath stirring the fine hairs on its tip.
“Once you’re undressed, skin-to-skin contact helps spiritual power flow, which is even better for cultivation…”
“No, please, I beg you, don’t…” Jiang Ke’er trembled all over in fright. “I don’t want to be a Furnace…”
“But Rule of Betting and Accepting Loss.” Qiao Xiaoxian said seriously.
Jiang Ke’er fell silent, no longer begging.
Rule of Betting and Accepting Loss—that was the rule they had set.
If she had to blame someone, she could only blame herself for underestimating Qiao Xiaoxian, blame herself for being too weak.
“I’ll kill you sooner or later,” Jiang Ke’er tried to steady her voice, whispering weakly but coldly.
“Oh? That sounds wonderful…” Qiao Xiaoxian showed no fear at all, if anything, she looked forward to it even more, murmuring softly, “The more times, the better.”
It was a night like a raging storm, the battle fiercer than ever before.
Candlelight flickered, reflected in the soundproof barrier, as Jiang Ke’er could only endure weakly.
Qiao Xiaoxian seemed to be venting something, or perhaps doubting something.
Jiang Ke’er saw her expression shifting unpredictably, sometimes smirking, sometimes dazed, but the only constant was her endless array of tricks.
Jiang Ke’er’s mind was clear, but her body couldn’t resist at all.
She could only stare wide-eyed as Qiao Xiaoxian ravaged her over and over, each round a spiritual invasion.
She clenched her teeth, trying her best not to make a single sound.
She could lose the person, but not the battle.
Even if she ended up cold and limp, she had to do her best to lower Qiao Xiaoxian’s enjoyment of the game.
She absolutely couldn’t let her get addicted to this, or if she lost again in the future, wouldn’t it just become more and more…
Each time worse than the last…
Even in her current state, she could barely endure it. Her whole body was overflowing with shame. If it got any worse…
Hmph! Qiao Xiaoxian, I haven’t admitted defeat yet!
Jiang Ke’er pressed her lips together, then suddenly bit down hard on Qiao Xiaoxian’s collarbone.
What greeted her was another round of fury, but Jiang Ke’er held firm, refusing to let go.
The next day.
The first ray of morning light shone on the messy bedding. Jiang Ke’er opened her eyes and felt her cultivation had advanced to the Three Talents Stage, her mood complicated.
Why was it always this kind of advancement?
Did she have to give herself away every time she leveled up from now on?
From one to nine, and above nine there might be even more… Oh, heavens!
She was having none of it!
Get stronger! Get stronger! Kill Qiao Xiaoxian!
But feeling the powerful spiritual energy in the body beside her, Jiang Ke’er couldn’t help but feel powerless.
She had reached the Four Symbols Realm.
Jiang Ke’er didn’t know why Qiao Xiaoxian hadn’t been kicked out of the Ancient Scholarly Realm, but the unique solidity of the Sixiang Realm in her body meant Qiao Xiaoxian had already broken through to an even higher realm—once again suppressing Jiang Ke’er.
Her own advancement was already fast, like riding a rocket, but Qiao Xiaoxian was not to be outdone.
At the same rate of advancement, Qiao Xiaoxian was naturally a whole realm ahead, always one step ahead, snowballing her advantage—rolling right into her bed…
Ahhh, so infuriating!
I, Jiang Ke’er, chosen by two systems, a transmigrator, am reduced to being Dragon-Aotian’s battery!
No, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—my day of revenge will come!
Sweet surrender? No, never!
When she came to her senses, Jiang Ke’er found Qiao Xiaoxian had already opened her eyes and was smiling at her ever-changing expression.
“Hmph!”
Jiang Ke’er huffed, put on her clothes, got out of bed, and went to cook.
…To think she had to make breakfast for the person who just did that to her—the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Watching Jiang Ke’er’s angry retreating back, Qiao Xiaoxian stroked the bite mark left by Jiang Ke’er last night and smiled faintly.
She knew what she wanted now.
Only children make choices.
“Morning, everyone! Qing Yi Miss, did you sleep well?” Jie Shui barged in boisterously, first thing looking for Jiang Ke’er.
“I’m fine.” Jiang Ke’er replied grumpily.
She didn’t know what sweet talk Qiao Xiaoxian had used last night to get away with it, but none of the other Demon Revival Society members seemed suspicious, so Qiao Xiaoxian got her way.
“As long as you’re rested, today’s breakfast…” Jie Shui smacked his lips and rubbed his hands, obviously here for food.
“Why didn’t you choke to death last night!” Jiang Ke’er was a powder keg now, full of resentment.
She flung a rotten vegetable leaf at Jie Shui’s face.
“Ehehe…” Jie Shui scratched his head and grinned.
“By the way, I got another task to deliver Celebration Materials to Sandao Village. Since we’re heading there today anyway, we can do it together.”
“A task?” Jiang Ke’er sneered. “Is it really for the task, or is it for your little girlfriend?”
Jie Shui blushed. “You… don’t say nonsense!”
“Oh please, anyone with eyes can see what you’re thinking,” Jiang Ke’er scoffed.
“What’s the deal? You like her? If you like her, go be her Furnace! If you don’t even have the courage to be her Furnace, what right do you have to say you like her?”
“Eh eh eh?” Jie Shui’s ears turned red.
“Actually, for the one I like, being a Furnace wouldn’t be so bad… But she has to actually like me first.”
“Tch, you won’t think that once you really become a Furnace,” Jiang Ke’er gazed up at the sky with a sigh.
“Money is precious, love is priceless, but for the sake of freedom, both can be forsaken… Dual cultivation is the grave of freedom!”
After breakfast, right up until the team set off on their mission, Jiang Ke’er didn’t see Yan Liben anywhere.
What happened to that little guy?
The servants said he was scolded harshly by the Painting Master yesterday and punished to practice painting late into the night, only just now getting to sleep.
She should find time to talk to that Painting Master.
But what Jiang Ke’er didn’t know was, she didn’t need to—he was already planning the same.
“A mere Apprentice dares to criticize this old man’s Dao of Painting! Hmph, truly doesn’t know the immensity of Heaven and Earth!”