The storm in the mental space finally subsided.
Luo Ling’s consciousness, like the last flicker of a dying candle, was consumed by the absolute will named “Ling Xiya”.
He fell into an endless slumber, as if returning to the womb—ignorant, unaware, and without struggle.
In his place was Ling Xiya.
She took over every nerve, every cell of this body.
No more hesitation.
No more weakness or stray thoughts that belonged to “Luo Ling”.
Her consciousness was like the most precise instrument—calm, efficient, and absolutely loyal to her master—Isayate.
“How do you feel, Xiya?”
Isayate’s voice carried a lazy smile.
She reached out, gently stroking Ling Xiya’s smooth hair, her fingertips gliding over her forehead—where beads of sweat once formed from Luo Ling’s resistance, now cool and unblemished.
Ling Xiya lowered her gaze slightly, her voice cold as jade:
“It feels…good, Master. All interference has been removed. System operating smoothly.”
Her answer was precise and direct, devoid of personal emotion.
Yet it brought Isayate an unprecedented satisfaction.
“Good.”
Isayate nodded approvingly.
“Then rest for now. Your body and consciousness need time to fully merge. Afterward, I’ll take you to meet a few ‘old friends’.”
“Old friends?”
Ling Xiya’s brows moved almost imperceptibly.
A faint ripple of Luo Ling’s memories seemed to stir, but was instantly suppressed by her overwhelming will.
“Are they people Master thinks I should know?”
“Something like that,”
Isayate’s smile was deep and meaningful.
“They used to…care a lot about Luo Ling. I think they’ll be very happy to meet the ‘new’ you.”
For the next few days, under Isayate’s arrangement, Ling Xiya underwent adaptive training.
She learned to mobilize her inner power more swiftly, became familiar with every subtle movement of this body in its female form, and even studied some of Isayate’s small habits and mannerisms.
She was like a flawless piece of jade, sculpted by Isayate into her most desired form.
Luo Ling’s consciousness, meanwhile, was like a sunken ship at the bottom of the sea, lying in the deepest recesses of awareness—trapped in a long, deep sleep, oblivious to the world.
On this day, in Isayate’s Private Reception Room.
A strange scent mixed with Longxian Incense and sweet floral fragrance filled the air.
Two distinct figures sat bored on the sofa.
One was a girl with blazing red hair like fire, marked by her dragon horns and matching tail—impatiently tapping the armrest with her fingers.
She was none other than the Dragon Girl, Qiqi.
Beside her, a seductive demoness with purple eyes and bat wings leaned close.
Liliya was twirling her hair with a finger, a hint of mischief and anticipation in her eyes.
“What’s with Isayate calling us here all mysteriously, saying there’s someone important to introduce?”
Qiqi muttered, her tail sweeping the floor in annoyance.
“We’ve been waiting almost an hour!”
Liliya let out a charming laugh.
“What’s the rush? Who can guess the Demon King’s mind? Maybe it’s a fun new toy?”
She licked her lips, a sly glint in her eyes.
“But, I do kind of miss that little Luo Ling… Ever since Isayate took him away, I haven’t seen him. I wonder how he’s doing.”
At the mention of Luo Ling, Qiqi’s expression softened slightly, then tightened with concern.
“Who knows what that demoness did to him! I hope he’s okay… Hmph, when I see Isayate, I’ll definitely ask!”
Just then, the door to the reception room slowly opened.
Isayate entered first, still exuding that lazy elegance, as if everything was under control.
Behind her followed a figure that made both Qiqi and Liliya freeze.
It was a stunningly beautiful woman in a fitted black gown, her figure elegant and alluring.
Silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, skin paler than snow, features sculpted as if from ice.
But most striking were her eyes—deep as a frozen lake, devoid of warmth, yet seemingly able to draw in the soul.
“Wow…”
Liliya whistled, amazement flickering in her gaze.
“Isayate, where’d you find this beauty? Her aura rivals yours.”
Qiqi stared as well, scanning Ling Xiya from head to toe, her mind churning.
Who is this woman? Such strong presence… And why does she seem…familiar?
Ling Xiya stood quietly at Isayate’s side, her gaze sweeping over Qiqi and Liliya—emotionless, as if regarding mere objects.
Isayate sat at the head seat, elegantly accepting a glass of red wine from a maid, swirling the crimson liquid before looking at the curious pair.
She spoke slowly.
“Let me introduce—this is my new assistant, and my most prized creation—Ling Xiya.”
“Ling Xiya?”
Qiqi and Liliya froze.
That name…
Liliya was the first to react.
Her smile stiffened.
“Ling…Xiya? Isayate, you don’t mean to say…”
Isayate set down her glass, lips curving in a cruel, satisfied smile.
“That’s right. You didn’t mishear. She is Luo Ling.”
“Boom!”
The words exploded like thunder in Qiqi and Liliya’s ears.
“What did you say?!”
Qiqi shot to her feet, red light flickering at her dragon horns.
“Luo Ling? Impossible! Luo Ling’s a man! And he didn’t look like this! What did you do to him?!”
She glared at Ling Xiya, searching that cold, beautiful face for any trace of familiarity.
Liliya’s playful air vanished.
Her purple eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
She scrutinized Ling Xiya—the outline, the occasional flicker of something familiar deep in those eyes…
Was it really him?
“I took him—a flawed half-finished product—and sculpted him into this perfect form,”
Isayate replied lightly, as if describing a work of art.
“I removed his weakness, stubbornness, and stray thoughts, leaving only pure strength and…absolute loyalty. The current Ling Xiya is his most Perfect Form.”
“Perfect Form?”
Qiqi’s voice trembled with fury.
“You turned him into a woman! You erased his memories and personality? Isayate, you…you maniac!”
“Maniac? Perhaps.”
Isayate smiled indifferently.
“But only this way could he truly ‘survive’ and remain by my side forever. Isn’t that so, Xiya?”
Ling Xiya nodded slightly, her voice cold.
“Yes, Master. To serve you is my honor.”
Looking at the obedient, empty-eyed “Ling Xiya” before Isayate, both Qiqi and Liliya’s hearts sank.
This wasn’t the Luo Ling they knew!
Not the slightly timid, but kind, blushing, quick-to-anger friend who would stand up for others.
He was gone.
The person before them was just a beautiful puppet—Luo Ling’s shell, controlled by Isayate.
“I don’t like her.”
Qiqi bit out each word, eyes filled with hostility as she stared at Ling Xiya.
“She’s not Luo Ling! Luo Ling would never be so cold, like a soulless doll!”
Liliya’s smile faded.
She stepped closer to Ling Xiya, leaning in to peer into her eyes.
“Little one, do you really not remember us? I’m Liliya, and that’s Qiqi… Remember, I even saved you once? And you let me go, too…”
Ling Xiya’s gaze paused on Liliya’s face for a moment, those deep eyes unruffled.
She stepped back, putting distance between them.
Her tone was flat.
“I don’t know you. My memory bank contains no valid data on ‘Little one’ or ‘Luo Ling’. Please do not approach without cause, to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.”
“You!”
Liliya’s expression darkened, anger flaring within.
She hated this person—hated that she occupied Luo Ling’s body, yet was so cold and unfamiliar!
“Hmph, Ling Xiya? More like a fake!”
Qiqi snorted, crossing her arms.
“Isayate, don’t think you can fool us! We liked the real Luo Ling—naive, stubborn, but genuine. Not this icy ‘creation’ of yours!”
Faced with Qiqi and Liliya’s open hostility and rejection, Ling Xiya’s expression remained unchanged.
She simply stood there, quietly awaiting her master’s command.
To her, these two women’s emotional outbursts were meaningless.
Their dislike didn’t matter in the slightest.
Isayate watched with keen interest, as if enjoying an entertaining play.
She swirled her wine, a playful smile lingering on her lips.
She had expected this outcome—and it was exactly what she wanted.
Her Xiya didn’t need to be loved by all.
She only needed to belong to her alone.
And Qiqi and Liliya’s reactions would only make this “Loyalty and Control Sonata” all the more intriguing.
“It seems my Xiya and your ‘old friends’ will need a bit more time to ‘understand’ each other.”
Isayate laughed softly, breaking the tension in the reception room.
“Don’t be so hostile. From now on, we’re all ‘family’, aren’t we?”
“Who’s family with her!”
Qiqi and Liliya retorted in unison.
Ling Xiya lowered her eyes, concealing the brief flicker in her gaze—the program’s designation of “trouble”.
She understood.
These two women would be among those she’d have to “handle” in the future.
But it didn’t matter.
As long as it was her master’s will, no matter what trouble arose, she could resolve it perfectly.