“Tsk, I’m really done for. I even vouched for you and this is how you treat me? Ugh, boring, boring,”
she grumbled, reverting to her form, shooting the girl a disdainful look.
“Call me Sha Qianmo—I like this name I picked.”
“Fine, Miss Sha Qianmo.”
“Miss!? Even Yun Mu finds it awkward to call me that. Our relationship is closer than twin sisters, and you call me Miss!?”
Her recently calmed temper flared again, but Shangguan Xunyi ignored her, busy packing her things and grabbing her spear to leave, giving Sha Qianmo a headache.
“Sigh… So, do you plan to visit again?”
“The real me? Are you calling me?”
“What else? Is anyone else here?”
The girl glanced around, realizing her awkwardness, then nodded.
“Although Shangguan Hongzhi said Yun Mu might not die, I still think it’s best to confirm in person.”
“Even so, how will you find him?”
“That… is none of your business. I have my ways.”
Sha Qianmo watched the blushing girl fly off with her spear, feeling the breeze and couldn’t help but read her mind.
A small smile curved her lips.
So, the mark I left during our last encounter, huh?
What’s the big deal?
It was just a quick ‘chu’—is that really so embarrassing?
Humans are strange.
But indeed, the real girl couldn’t beat that Shangguan Hongzhi before, and Yun Mu told her not to waste effort, yet she’s still so stubborn…
This thing called love must have incredible power to override rationality like that.
Comparatively, killing is much easier to understand…
Floating in midair, Sha Qianmo felt dizzy.
Although naturally more attuned to desires and emotions, she was still a newborn spirit and struggled to comprehend these feelings.
Maybe with more experience, she’d understand.
Thinking this, she closed her eyes in silence.
***
An hour and a half later, when Sha Qianmo opened her eyes again, she had followed the girl across rivers and mountains to the East Market of the Lixun Ancient Kingdom.
But instead of the “epic” battle she imagined, or sneaking in to snatch the man, what awaited was the real girl acting more baffling than ever.
At this moment, Shangguan Xunyi wore a black cloak suppressing her aura and watched Shangguan Qiuyue and Yun Mu holding hands entering the “Feiyun Shang” shop.
She saw them being locked inside the fitting room by Shen Zhi but did not move an inch.
Sha Qianmo was furious.
“Hey! What are you standing there dazing for? Didn’t you say you wanted to confirm that kid’s safety? Nothing ensures safety better than taking him away. And you’re just watching them hold hands?”
She keenly felt the girl’s jealousy and exposed her thoughts bluntly.
“You clearly care a lot, don’t you? If you care, make a move! What are you even doing!?”
“Wait… Xiao Mu hasn’t smiled like that in a long time. Let him finish shopping with Qiuyue first, then take him away,”
the girl said calmly, standing at the shop’s entrance and watching the pair leave, her expression distant, almost dazed.
“I don’t want to ruin Xiao Mu’s mood; he’d hate me for that.”
“Ruin his mood? Seriously… Love and possessiveness coexist—how come you’re suppressing one? This isn’t how contradictions work…”
Seeing Shangguan Xunyi unmoved, Sha Qianmo spun around in frustration.
“You’re killing me, you idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot!”
she even considered forcibly taking over the body.
Shangguan Xunyi said nothing, simply entering the shop to buy clothes matching those Yun Mu just tried on.
When she stepped out again, she suddenly felt dizzy.
She held her head as the bustling crowd blurred and thickened in her vision.
“No… If I faint like this… Xiao Mu…”
She reached for a Spirit-restoring Pill from her Qian Kun Bag but stumbled backward.
“Are you alright, miss?”
Shen Zhi noticed and hurried over.
She reached out to steady the girl but was pushed away.
Shangguan Xunyi regained her posture.
She glanced coldly at the beautiful woman beside her.
“I’m not weak enough to need a mortal’s help. Don’t do unnecessary things next time. Being pretty just makes you a target,”
she said lightly.
“But thanks just now, Auntie.”
With that, she vanished in a flash, leaving the woman stunned.
“Hm… That tone from the guest just now… was it like that? And why did she randomly compliment my looks? Hehe… she has a sweet mouth.”
Then she pouted with displeasure.
“But calling me Auntie still irritates me! I’m a mother, but I’m not that old. That girl’s so rude!”
Obviously, she could never have guessed that the Spirit-restoring Pill Shangguan Xunyi took had already been used up.
Her body was now temporarily controlled by Sha Qianmo.
“So, I want to buy all the lanterns. Do you understand?”
“Oh dear, sir, you’re putting me in a tough spot… Though your money’s enough, there are many other customers too, and I…”
Outside the Lantern Shop, Sha Qianmo controlled the girl’s body, intent on buying every lantern.
“What? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Seeing the dealer’s annoyed expression, Sha Qianmo was about to lose it but was stopped by the voice in her head.
[Don’t mess around with my body, Sha Qianmo…]
[Mess around? What mess? Isn’t it simple—money for goods? I’ve paid, so why wouldn’t he give me the merchandise?]
Although she had learned some things about this world through the girl’s memories, many things still eluded her.
For example, trade depends on mutual agreement and fair price.
Buying all at once might be tempting, but the owner still needs to do business.
Today’s the Lantern Festival; he wouldn’t want to break ties with other customers just for one.
Shangguan Xunyi sighed deeply.
Feeling her spirit was still too weak to regain control, she resigned herself to say:
[Though I’ve allowed you to temporarily occupy my body, don’t act recklessly. Except for taking Yun Mu away, don’t do anything else. But… if you really want to buy these, pay double the price, and it’s settled.]
[Tsk… Fine, so troublesome.]
Lowering her gaze at the shopkeeper, Sha Qianmo tossed a bag of copper coins and grumbled.
“Is this acceptable now?”
Two large bags of copper coins, double the price—few could resist such a temptation.
The owner was no different; setting aside sentiment and customers, money was king.
His eyes lit up at the sight of coins as he cheerfully said, “Alright, please wait,”
and busied himself packing the lanterns.
Sha Qianmo was puzzled.
What’s so good about copper coins?
They’re not spirit stones and don’t help cultivation.
One more bag and he changes his tune?
Humans really are strange…
But she didn’t dwell on it.
For Shangguan Xunyi, such coins were mere trifles.
“By the way… why buy these lanterns?”
“Why? Besides ruining Yun Mu and that girl’s secret rendezvous, what else?”
Sha Qianmo collected the lanterns and instantly appeared on a nearby rooftop, swinging her legs in midair.
“What? You want to see them get closer?”
“I—I don’t want that… but I also don’t want to spoil Xiao Mu’s fun.”
The weak voice carried loss, infecting Sha Qianmo who now controlled the body.
She glanced down at the lanterns the two held and darkened.
So annoying.
If it weren’t for the real me still awake, I’d just kill Yun Mu… no, Shangguan Qiuyue.
Just seeing them together irritates me.
The real me’s jealousy so clearly influences her.
She keeps saying no, don’t do this, preferring to suffer herself rather than hurt others.
Isn’t that just pride leading to misery?
Ridiculous… might as well kill them all!
She raged silently, feeling her soul pulse with Killing Intent.
But soon, she suppressed the overwhelming Desire.
Sigh… I can’t really kill them all, including the real me.
That would ruin everything for myself.
Calming herself, she leapt from the eaves and silently approached within a hundred meters behind Yun Mu and the girl, her eyes fixed on them.
The jealousy stirred by Shangguan Xunyi’s feelings filled her heart.
Only when she saw them disappear into the greenery did she grit her teeth and ask, “Hey… Shangguan Xunyi, once they’re done, can I take him away?”
No answer.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!”
Still nothing.
Sha Qianmo instinctively checked the soul space and saw the girl’s pure white Spirit Form curled at the center, seemingly asleep.
“Oh…? Is she really asleep? Fine, fine… If so, don’t blame me for being rude.”
As confirmation hit, the suppressed Desire surged again.
She dove into the girl’s soul, and moments later, Shangguan Xunyi’s Spirit Form opened its eyes again, but much of its previous gentleness was gone.
“As expected~ this suits this body better~”
She lightly shook her arms, smiled wide, and brushed aside the trees blocking her view, slowly approaching.
Real me, I’ve sensed from birth your love for Yun Mu, your envy, jealousy, resentment, indignation, and even the faint Killing Intent you harbor toward their closeness.
Though your kindness suppresses these feelings, I’m different—I’m the condensation of your Desire, born to release them.
Since you’re asleep, let me act as executioner for this body’s cultivation, and personally eliminate the root of this trouble.
Her gaze fell on Shangguan Qiuyue, who had just been lifted from the water by the boy, and she chuckled softly.
Oh right… if I killed her right in front of Yun Mu, wouldn’t that be better?
Just erase his memory afterward, and he’d forget everything.
Then take him away and imprison him.
That way, you wouldn’t worry about losing him again.
Ugh, so annoying.
I really don’t want such a strong possessiveness for this boy, but I just can’t help it.
Indeed… the possessiveness you hide deep inside for Yun Mu is incredibly strong.
Smiling with excitement, she instinctively licked her lips and plunged into the water.
I think… this should knock him out, right?
She reached for the sinking boy and kissed him.