Shen Qiqi choked and let out a sound of confusion as she looked at her Senior sister. "Are you really going to tell me now?"
"Mhmm." Liu Shuang's thumb gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her red eyes. Her voice was soft and clear, as if she was coaxing a child to sleep. "Since you're being honest with me, I'll tell you my secret too."
The female lead seemed to want to exchange secrets with her, but Shen Qiqi was conflicted. She couldn't just say, "You're the character I wrote and I know all of your secrets." But then again, what part of the female lead's secrets did she not already know? She was the only true prophet in the entire story.
"You go first," Shen Qiqi said hesitantly, lowering her head. "Actually, there's something else I haven't told you..."
Liu Shuang lifted her chin and looked at her expression carefully. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Shen Qiqi was torn and gritted her teeth. "No, this is really important. I have to say it."
"Then go ahead."
Shen Qiqi felt as nervous as if she were about to run an 800-meter race. She took a deep breath and muttered, "Just give me a moment to prepare."
"Well, I'll go first then." Liu Shuang's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. She looked at Shen Qiqi intently and spoke slowly, "Actually, I don't belong to this world either."
"Oh... Ah?! What did you say?!" Shen Qiqi's eyes widened like a goldfish's, and her ears rang as if struck by thunder. She was stunned in place.
What, the female lead was also a character who had transmigrated into this book?!
But the truth was even more severe than she had imagined.
Liu Shuang blinked and a faint red light appeared in her eyes. She chose to reveal the truth layer by layer with her own hands, "I have already experienced the ending of this book, but for some reason, I returned to the beginning."
As she spoke, her posture remained unchanged, but her temperament shifted from gentle to sharp, as if she had finally revealed her true nature. The souls of the deceased gods and ghosts wrapped around her, each extending an illusory hand and emitting a chilling low laugh, racing each other to pass through Shen Qiqi's ears.
Black mist silently flowed out of Liu Shuang's sleeve and slowly crawled up her arm before settling gently in the nape of her neck. Her eyes glinted with blood-red light, and her pale skin, black hair as deep as night, and bright red lips made her look like a true demon.
Dangerous, mysterious, unfathomable.
"In my previous life, I didn't notice anything unusual, and then I met you - you are the only variable in this world."
Shen Qiqi changed many things for Liu Shuang.
She was willing to be friends with her, not for any ulterior motive, but to protect her even at the cost of risking her own life. Such sincere and vivid affection made Liu Shuang unable to resist, like a bright beam of sunlight illuminating the previously dark and desolate wasteland.
No one can resist the warmth of the light.
As time passed, Liu Shuang felt that after meeting Shen Qiqi, living here was much more interesting than the previous world. She tasted the feeling of being cherished and protected, a novel and unfamiliar emotion that made it even harder for her to leave.
Throughout the process, Shen Qiqi sat motionless like a living sculpture.
Her eyes seemed to be looking at something horrifying, and she moved her lips to make a hoarse voice, "So, you were reborn?"
Liu Shuang supported her chin with a smile, "You could say that."
Shen Qiqi suddenly stood up and backed away, pressing herself against the wall, opening her mouth and eyes filled with thick fear.
Liu Shuang's voice remained gentle, "What's wrong with you?"
Shen Qiqi looked at her Senior sister who was still as cold and aloof as before... no, she was no longer her Senior sister!
This was Liu Shuang, the ultimate version of the female lead who turned to darkness! The one who could kick the heavens and punch the gods with a single finger!
Shen Qiqi couldn't help but hug her head and crouch in the corner of the wall in a posture of being scared out of her wits.
Oh my god! What have I done!
I actually praised the gentle and lovely blackened female lead!
I actually made a promise to protect the strongest fighting power of the entire book!
I actually kissed her!!!
I, I actually still want to indulge in her body! Is it really that bad to be alive???
Liu Shuang didn't immediately crush her when she came up, but instead cooperated with her to continue the act, pretending to be a weak and pitiful person. Her acting skills were really good... What was she trying to do? Was it fun to play with her?!
Shen Qiqi couldn't stand it and her legs went weak. She seriously doubted whether she would survive today.
... Wait a minute, what if she tells the other person the truth that she is the author now? Will she be immediately caught and dried on the city wall?
Shen Qiqi instantly became scared and swallowed her words.
Let's talk about it next time, for sure!
"I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said anything," Shen Qiqi said with difficulty, facing Liu Shuang's gaze. "Senior sister is really amazing."
Liu Shuang lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, inexplicably revealing a few innocent and fragile feelings. "Are you scared?"
Shen Qiqi choked instantly. "No, no, I'm just having a hard time accepting it..." Not just a hard time, but extremely hard.
She just didn't know how to look at Liu Shuang anymore. The small gifts she had given to the other person were easily obtained with a single beckoning finger. Those sincere feelings seemed worthless now.
Now that the roles were reversed, the powerful person had become Liu Shuang, and she no longer had any reason to protect the other person.
Shen Qiqi suddenly felt an indescribable sense of loss in the midst of fear.
"Don't think too much," Liu Shuang said, looking at her. "I'm still me, and you're still you."
Shen Qiqi said in a hoarse voice, "... I don't think it's that simple." She shrunk in the corner of the wall, trembling like a pitiful little mushroom.
Liu Shuang sighed, knowing that Shen Qiqi would react this way.
But this matter was something that would have to be said sooner or later. They wouldn't be able to get along in the future if they kept hiding it from each other.
Liu Shuang said, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
After she finished speaking, the black eagle on the table flapped its wings and flew to Shen Qiqi's shoulder, nuzzling her nose affectionately.
Shen Qiqi looked at the black bird and instinctively stroked its feathers, surprised. "So, the black mist that has been protecting me all this time, and this bird... they were all made by Senior sister?"
Liu Shuang paused, nodding slightly.
Shen Qiqi slapped her forehead, "I should have thought of it earlier!"
Upon reflection, Liu Shuang had always been present whenever she was in danger! She had just thought that Liu Shuang was definitely the weakest person in the room, and could not possibly be the "expert" guarding her, so there must be someone else.
She had even happily discussed the identity of the "expert" in front of Liu Shuang, not realizing that the person was right in front of her. This was too much of a face slap, and Shen Qiqi looked stunned.
Goosebumps rose on her skin, and she was so embarrassed that she could have dug a skyscraper out with her toes.
"... "
Shen Qiqi didn't speak, and the two of them fell into an awkward silence.
Liu Shuang looked inexplicable, and suddenly walked up to Shen Qiqi, leaning down slightly, and gazed at her intently.
Her voice was as light as snow, "Don't you believe me?"
Shen Qiqi's eyes dodged, "No, of course, I believe you, Senior sister."
Liu Shuang said, "But I feel that you're scared."
Shen Qiqi whispered, "I'm just having a hard time accepting it for a moment. Senior sister, could you let me digest it for a while?"
Liu Shuang lowered her gaze, "I'm sorry, I actually wanted to tell you a long time ago, but I never found the opportunity. I never thought of using it to play a prank on you."
Shen Qiqi blamed herself even more and quickly said, "Senior sister, there's no need to apologize. We're all strangers here and it's normal to be cautious." At least you were honest and took off your mask, while I didn't even dare to take mine off.
Liu Shuang smiled slightly, like a spring breeze blowing over peach blossoms, melting the ice and snow in an instant, "Alright."
Shen Qiqi looked at her fair face and felt weak-hearted - so what if she was the Demon Lord? I still like her! So what if the level of difficulty in conquering her has risen several levels, I'm not afraid!
Although she said that, she still blinked her eyes in fear and pitifully begged, "Senior sister, I'm not ready yet. Can I temporarily not tell you the second secret?"
"Of course." Liu Shuang reached out to help her up, brushing off the dust, "You can say it whenever you're ready."
Shen Qiqi was practically dokidoki-ing: can a battle-hardened Demon Lord really be this gentle? Sob sob, I'm so lucky!
Shen Qiqi couldn't believe it; the great demon lord, who had been through so many trials and tribulations, could be so gentle. Was this for real? She couldn't help but cry out, "I can't believe it!"
"It's getting late, let's go out for breakfast first," Liu Shuang smiled and said. "Senior Brother Zhao must be getting anxious."
Shen Qiqi nodded and hesitated, "Shouldn't we keep what we just talked about a secret for now?"
Liu Shuang seemed indifferent, "I don't care."
Given her exceptional strength, she had no reason to be afraid of exposing herself in front of those old-fashioned cultivators in the cultivation world. Shen Qiqi thought for a moment and said, "Let's keep it a secret for now."
After washing up, the two walked out of the tent. Zhao Ke had already made a fire and was holding a string of lotus roots. When he heard their voices, he looked up and said, "Are you awake?" His gaze fell on Shen Qiqi's face, and he was taken aback, "Why are your eyes so swollen?"
Shen Qiqi had just cried bitterly, and her eyes were swollen. She quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and said, "It's nothing. Senior sister and I had a little disagreement earlier, but we've made up."
Thinking back to the question Liu Shuang had asked the night before, Zhao Ke suddenly realized, "So they're such good friends that they even quarrel. Well, as long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, that's the best."
The three sat down to eat breakfast, which was the lotus roots that Zhao Ke had brought. He had thoughtfully cut them into small pieces and skewered them onto bamboo sticks. They were fresh, crispy, and sweet.
As they ate, a gust of wind blew in, and Shen Qiqi happened to have her mouth open. Unfortunately, she got a mouthful of sand. She wrinkled her face and said dejectedly, "The wind is so strong today."
Liu Shuang looked at the sky in the distance, frowned slightly, and said in a low voice, "The sandstorm is coming."
Zhao Ke was taken aback, "Sandstorm?" He looked up, and the wind grew louder and more frightening, like someone in the distance was wailing and roaring in anger. It was a bit terrifying.
Shen Qiqi paused, and the lotus root in her hand no longer tasted as good. "Could it be a sandstorm?" she said. Just then, the wind suddenly picked up, and a withered tree nearby creaked and broke in half, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
She looked up, and the sky that was bright with sunlight suddenly became gloomy, gray, and chaotic. The yellow sand was blown up by the whistling hurricane, obscuring the sun and covering the sky. Many small trees nearby were already leaning and barely holding on.
Shen Qiqi had never seen a sandstorm before. She had only experienced the feeling of being cut off from water and electricity after a typhoon in her previous coastal residence. Now, seeing the chaotic scene in front of her, she couldn't help but widen her eyes and exclaim, "I spoke too soon!"
In the distant horizon, a yellow line trembles and approaches with an oppressive feeling. Gradually devouring the deep blue sky, it buries even the sun, leaving only a flickering light. In an instant, the entire land is engulfed in darkness and the sound of wind.
The crowd's throats are dry, and they can already see the approaching storm.
Liu Shuang's face sinks: "Everyone, get into the tent and hide!" Her tone is urgent, and the two react immediately, standing up and running into the tent.
Just as they stopped, Zhao Ke's voice sounded in their ears, presumably using a messaging technique. His voice was urgent: "Two senior/junior sisters, this tent is only a spiritual tool for living and does not have much defensive power. Be very careful!"
Shen Qiqi quickly replied, "Senior Brother Zhao, you must also be careful!"
The dim little tent seemed to be isolated from the world, and the sound of the wind grew closer. Shen Qiqi pressed close to Liu Shuang, and her heart was pounding like a drum.
Liu Shuang held her hand. "Don't be afraid."
Shen Qiqi instinctively relaxed. Yeah, she had this big backup by her side. What was there to be afraid of?
"Shui Jing is outside, and I cannot make too many moves now." Liu Shuang gently stroked the back of her hand. "But you can rest assured that nothing will happen."
Shen Qiqi looked up at Liu Shuang's beautiful jawline and felt a strong sense of reassurance. She squeezed Liu Shuang's hand and made a sound of agreement.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound outside the tent, like raindrops hitting the windows. Shen Qiqi held her breath and listened carefully. No, it wasn't rain. It was the sound of the yellow sand rushing towards them, falling around the tent like rain.
Outside the tent, it was already shrouded in yellow sand, pitch-black, and the thick sand dust made it impossible to see or hear anything. The storm swept in indiscriminately, ruthlessly smashing everything in its path.
The wind was like a knife, swishing and howling, and suddenly lifted the small tent off the ground. Shen Qiqi gasped for air and suddenly felt herself being enveloped in something.
She opened her eyes wide, and it was pitch-black all around her.
"Senior sister?!"
However, her voice was swallowed up in the endless wind, without any echo.
Shen Qiqi's heart skipped a beat. She reached out her hand and suddenly touched something flowing.
It was a sensation she was not unfamiliar with, like a water curtain, trickling through her palm like a clear spring, leaving a slight chill.
It was the black mist.
Shen Qiqi relaxed, and Liu Shuang seemed to wrap her whole body in black mist.
In the narrow, enclosed space, no sound could be heard except for the sound of the wind. The mist swirled around her fingertips, and Shen Qiqi asked in a low voice, "Is my Senior sister okay?"
A few strands of black mist tore apart like cotton candy, gradually peeling away from all sides, splitting, and then recombining. Finally, something like a movie screen suddenly opened up in front of her. Shen Qiqi was stunned, seeing a few words written on the black screen with flowing gas.
"Very well, don't worry."
Shen Qiqi slowly exhaled a breath, and said nothing more.
She waited in the darkness, and after she didn't know how long, the sound of the wind finally died down.
The elliptical mist enveloping her slowly dissipated, and bright light pierced through every crack. Shen Qiqi squinted her eyes, gradually adjusting to the sunlight, and looked around in confusion.
There was no one around her.
Shen Qiqi thought she would see crooked tents and trees, but it turned out to be none. In front of her stood a huge golden temple, with its doors half-opened, as if waiting for her to enter.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
I'm here, thank you everyone!
I won't take off my mask 77 for now, because once I do, my Senior sister will take me to the small black room of punishment, so I'll wait for a bit (whispers).
Translator's note: Haha! Things are starting to get interesting ~
To Be Continue!...