Chapter 25: Have They Already Secretly Pledged Themselves to Each Other?!

Meimeng…

It’s truly a fitting name.

Ling Xiaoyou recalled the earlier scene in her mind, and couldn’t help but nod her little head in agreement with the name.

As for the effect of Meimeng, I suppose you’ve already experienced it just now.

Hong Lingyan explained with a gentle smile:

It creates the illusion most desired by the target, based on their inner weaknesses.

The most desired illusion…

Does that mean everything I saw was what I wanted to do in my heart?

I actually… wanted to do something like that…

After hearing Hong Lingyan’s words, Ling Xiaoyou’s small face turned red again. She couldn’t believe she was so bold.

Of course, that’s only the most basic application.

Hong Lingyan didn’t notice the blush of embarrassment on Ling Xiaoyou’s face.

She was focused on explaining the ‘Meimeng’ spell:

Once you master this spell, Xiaoyou, you can even use the connection between minds to peek into the illusions within the target’s heart, adjust and manipulate them, and eventually control the target.

After finishing her explanation, Hong Lingyan smiled at Ling Xiaoyou, who was listening intently, and said:

That’s why I said, if you use it well, you could even turn the tables on Bai Shuanglian!

Ling Xiaoyou nodded in understanding, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

Her face turned red as she looked at Hong Lingyan and asked hesitantly:

Then, Sister Ling, did you just…

Seeing the girl’s expression, Hong Lingyan instantly understood her little worry.

Her heart found it amusing, but she purposely made a helpless face and gave a bitter smile:

Aiya, it seems Xiaoyou has really grown up.

Now she doesn’t want to let her big sister know her little secrets.

At those words, Ling Xiaoyou’s face grew even redder.

She wanted to say something in defense, but didn’t know how to explain it, and finally just puffed up her cheeks in frustration, giving Hong Lingyan a cute, annoyed glare.

Alright, alright, Xiaoyou, you can rest assured.

Hong Lingyan rubbed Ling Xiaoyou’s small head and said:

I didn’t peek into the illusion in your heart.

After all, that’s your privacy.

Your big sister’s morals aren’t so low as to peek at her own little sister’s secrets.

Hearing this, Ling Xiaoyou finally let out a sigh of relief, and her tense expression softened.

Hong Lingyan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her reaction.

She hadn’t expected Ling Xiaoyou to care so much about this.

She felt a little curious, but since Ling Xiaoyou didn’t want to talk about it, it must be hard for her to bring up.

So Hong Lingyan didn’t plan to ask or investigate further.

Alright, let’s not waste any time.

I’ll transmit the spell to you now, Xiaoyou.

She moved her hand away from the soft, pure-white hair, and gently tapped Ling Xiaoyou’s forehead with her fair fingertip.

In an instant, Ling Xiaoyou felt a surge of new knowledge flow from Hong Lingyan’s finger into her mind.

She was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes and focused her mind, concentrating on receiving the ‘Meimeng’ spell from Hong Lingyan.

Ling Xiaoyou was already somewhat familiar with this process, since Hong Lingyan had taught her the previous spells and Cultivation Techniques in the same way.

She had to admit, it was certainly convenient, saving her the trouble of memorizing all those technique incantations.

Alright, Xiaoyou, I’ve finished transmitting the spell.

Hong Lingyan clapped her hands, as if she’d just finished some hard work.

She looked at Ling Xiaoyou, who had opened her eyes again, and said:

Try using it. As for the target… you can use me as the practice dummy.

Eh?

Ling Xiaoyou had just snapped out of absorbing the ‘Meimeng’ spell knowledge when she heard Hong Lingyan’s words, and was taken aback.

Well, since it’s a mind-based spell, you need a living target to see the effect.

So just use me as the test subject for now, and keep practicing until you get the hang of it.

Hong Lingyan explained.

Ling Xiaoyou nodded, not objecting.

After all, Hong Lingyan was strong, and with her own cultivation and unfamiliarity with the spell, she couldn’t possibly affect her.

Activating the spiritual power pathways for ‘Meimeng’ that Hong Lingyan had transmitted, Ling Xiaoyou silently recited the spell’s name in her mind:

‘Meimeng.’

At once, a faint red glow appeared in Ling Xiaoyou’s beautiful crimson eyes.

The light wasn’t bright, but rather dim, yet it seemed capable of piercing all barriers and reaching the deepest part of the heart.

It seems I used it successfully!

I really am a genius!

Ling Xiaoyou was overjoyed, but she didn’t notice the faint blue light glowing on her right ankle, where her white silk foot rested, as the spiritual power circulated.

The blue glow, like a rope, wrapped around Ling Xiaoyou’s ankle. It emitted no aura, but immediately drew Hong Lingyan’s attention.

This is…

Ghost-Binding Rope?

Hong Lingyan narrowed her eyes, sensing that something was wrong.

Strange. Why is there something like this on Xiaoyou’s foot?

Hong Lingyan suddenly recalled Ling Xiaoyou’s encounter yesterday and began to ponder.

If we’re talking about Exorcists Xiaoyou has met lately, it’s only Bai Shuanglian from yesterday.

And Xiaoyou did say she was tied up by Bai Shuanglian’s Ghost-Binding Rope.

Could this Ghost-Binding Rope be the same one Bai Shuanglian used to bind Xiaoyou before?

But didn’t Xiaoyou say she tricked Bai Shuanglian into untying the rope? Why has it appeared again?

Thinking this, Hong Lingyan began examining the faint blue thread wrapped around Ling Xiaoyou’s ankle.

At that moment, Ling Xiaoyou was immersed in the joy of successfully casting the spell and hadn’t noticed Hong Lingyan’s odd behavior.

This Ghost-Binding Rope seems different from the one I know.

Not only is it smaller, but it doesn’t interfere with Xiaoyou’s spiritual power.

Could it be a new version of the spell?

But why would Bai Shuanglian tie this Ghost-Binding Rope to Xiaoyou’s ankle?

Why would she do such a thing?

Does Xiaoyou know about this?

Questions flooded Hong Lingyan’s mind, leaving her feeling utterly confused.

Suddenly, she remembered Ling Xiaoyou’s evasive tone on the phone earlier and recalled that Ghost-Binding Rope was often considered a tool Exorcists used to express affection to Ghosts.

Instantly, an extremely bold and unbelievable, yet surprisingly reasonable, theory flashed through Hong Lingyan’s mind.

Could it be…

Xiaoyou and Bai Shuanglian have already pledged themselves to each other, and this Ghost-Binding Rope is their token of love?!