This question is hard to answer, but out of Luo Shuangyue’s rather selfish thoughts, she was unwilling to admit that such a version of herself was her true self.
“So where’s the Butterfly of Netherworld? Where is it hiding?”
“Over there. Seems like that last riot of yours directly triggered your body’s Protective Measures—she can’t even move now.” Phantom Thorn pointed in a direction.
“The Consciousness Fusion that was supposed to merge with you is keeping her company.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Shuangyue immediately stood up, determined to check the place Phantom Thorn had indicated.
If there was a chance, she would finish both of these troublemakers off with a single slash each—then she wouldn’t have to worry about losing control again in the future.
Phantom Thorn watched Luo Shuangyue, who was brimming with murderous intent.
She seemed about to say something, but stopped short, and a rather peculiar expression flickered across her face.
“Mm, do your best.” In the end, that was all she said.
This odd reaction aroused Luo Shuangyue’s suspicion.
Since Phantom Thorn knew where the Butterfly of Netherworld was, she must have already gone to see her before Luo Shuangyue arrived.
So just what happened to the Butterfly of Netherworld that could make Phantom Thorn show such an expression?
It was strange, but it was obvious that Phantom Thorn didn’t want to reveal the truth to her.
Ah, in the end, she’d have to see for herself.
Phantom Scythe watched Luo Shuangyue leave and instantly wanted to follow, but as soon as she tried to take flight, Phantom Thorn caught her with one hand.
“You stay put, little one. The brat over there really doesn’t like you.”
Twisting her delicate little body, Phantom Scythe conveyed a feeling of grievance.
“All right, all right, wait until you recover a bit before you go fight that little troublemaker. For now, it’s better to behave, okay?”
After taking about ten steps into the Black Forest, the scene before Luo Shuangyue’s eyes changed dramatically.
Just a moment ago it was a pitch-black bonfire and forest, but with a single step forward, it turned into a Sea of Flowers filled with gray blossoms.
A Gray Girl knelt at the center of the Sea of Flowers in an unnatural posture, her body entwined in vines blooming with White Flowers.
The girl wore a deep gray long dress, and behind her grew a pair of Butterfly Wings almost identical to Luo Shuangyue’s.
The vines were like chains, binding the girl there for all eternity.
There was no sign of life, no trace of breath. Everything seemed to tell Luo Shuangyue that the girl before her had completely perished.
For Luo Shuangyue, this ought to be good news—after all, she had come here to kill the Butterfly of Netherworld.
But now, she desperately wished that the Butterfly of Netherworld, who had taken human form, would wake up and speak with her.
Because this girl looked exactly like another loved one in her memories.
“Dad?” Luo Shuangyue was completely stunned. She walked step by step to the sleeping girl’s side, carefully scrutinizing her face.
It was her own father.
Though there were slight differences from the stern father she remembered, she was certain—the girl before her was her father.
Just that the father in her memories wouldn’t wear a dress, or grow her hair so long, or have butterfly wings on her back…
Almost unconsciously, Luo Shuangyue reached out, wanting to touch the girl’s face.
But just before she could, a tiny black-purple Little Butterfly suddenly shot out from behind the girl and slapped at Luo Shuangyue’s finger with its wing.
A sharp pain made Luo Shuangyue reflexively pull her hand back.
This butterfly’s aura was incredibly familiar—the very one that had been fighting her for control of her body.
So, this is the thing that’s been competing with me for my body?
Luo Shuangyue examined the Little Butterfly before her.
For some reason, even though they looked nothing alike, she felt as if she were looking in a mirror.
This butterfly was her—there was no doubt about it.
The Little Butterfly’s consciousness seemed very simple—almost like a newborn baby, ignorant of everything, acting purely on instinct.
“Aren’t you going to take advantage of my being here to get out? Don’t you love fighting me for this body?” Luo Shuangyue tried to touch this butterfly version of herself, but the Little Butterfly clearly disliked her.
Whenever Luo Shuangyue reached out, it would smack her hand away with its wing.
After hearing Luo Shuangyue’s question, the Little Butterfly’s wings beat even faster.
Was she refusing to go out? Did Luo Shuangyue have any idea what kind of mess she’d left outside?
After Luo Shuangyue had delved into the depths of her consciousness, the Little Butterfly really had gone out for a while—only to be tormented by the Magic Power churning in her belly, forcing her to rush right back.
Hugging her own woman was fragrant and all, but her stomach was swollen and painful, and she couldn’t eat a thing.
All her strength was spent trying to digest that Magic Power.
She didn’t even have the energy to take a single bite out of that woman.
“Haha, so you can’t handle it either.” Luo Shuangyue laughed and, catching the wing the Little Butterfly smacked at her, began to mock her gleefully.
Now she was sure—this Little Butterfly was good for nothing except causing her trouble.
No combat experience, laughably weak spirit—only when fighting for her body did she show any backbone at all.
Pinned in Luo Shuangyue’s grasp, the Little Butterfly looked pitiful, and with a mind as innocent as an infant’s, asked a question that left Luo Shuangyue speechless: “Why are you trying to steal my body?”
Yes, the Little Butterfly thought Luo Shuangyue was the thief—the villain stealing her body.
“This was my body to begin with! What do you mean, I’m stealing it from you? You’re the one who came after!”
“You’re the larva, I’m the butterfly. This body is mine now.” The Little Butterfly continued to struggle.
She’s calling me a bug? Luo Shuangyue was first annoyed, then found it strange—this little thing’s mind couldn’t be clever enough to insult her, could it?
So what she meant by “bug” was just a statement of fact. I’m the larva, she’s the butterfly…
Luo Shuangyue thought about the butterfly’s lifecycle. If she interpreted it that way, her own phase was the larva.
The Black Cocoon at the breakthrough to full-bloom Demon Emperor was the cocoon for metamorphosis, and this Little Butterfly was herself after transforming.
But due to various reasons, the energy she’d used for metamorphosis was insufficient, so the post-transformation consciousness never fully developed, and she hadn’t fused with it.
That was how things had ended up like this: two consciousnesses inhabiting the same body, both claiming to be its owner.
“I’ll eat you!” The Little Butterfly bit down on Luo Shuangyue’s finger.
Then Luo Shuangyue heard a pain-filled cry, on the verge of tears—clearly, this weak little creature couldn’t even bite through Luo Shuangyue’s finger.