“According to reports, the Red Mansion Remnant and S-rank fugitive 【Mirror Lake】 has been apprehended…”
The female host on the building’s advertising screen wore a radiant smile, her clear and forceful voice echoing across the intersection.
On the bustling street filled with passing pedestrians, a small, thin figure wrapped in a down jacket suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Chu You slowly raised her head to look at the billboard across the road—the disheveled Mirror Lake in a detention cell, and outside the cell, Lin Mo in his Enforcer uniform, standing prominently.
Seeing this scene, Chu You couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of relief.
Fortunately, she escaped fast enough; otherwise, Mirror Lake’s fate today would have been hers tomorrow.
After crossing into this world, Chu You once believed she was the destined protagonist from those thrilling novels she had read in her past life.
Growing up in an orphanage, awakening her oracle powers at eleven, being pre-approved to enter North Mansion University from the capital right after starting high school, and graduating two years early to join the Enforcers.
In such a high martial world where human combat abilities break through the ceiling, Chu You felt she had clearly landed the perfect protagonist template.
Apart from becoming a woman, everything else seemed perfectly arranged.
But—On an ordinary workday, Chu You accidentally came across a small trinket that made her hairs stand on end.
She had actually seen a famous brand from her previous life— a phone produced by the Dami company under President Lei’s Yanjing empire—right here in this world?!
It powered on normally, fully charged, and looked about seventy to eighty percent new.
Inside the phone, besides the system software, there was only one app named 【SF Light Novels】, and in its bookshelf, just a single novel.
Even stranger, Chu You found her own name inside that novel.
The old lady pulling the covers back had her laughing out loud.
Crossworld traveler, destined one, fated to stand at the top of the world as a man—ah, no, a woman.
All nonsense!
The protagonist of that novel was never her, but rather that junior following right behind her—the young Enforcer who had just recently joined the ranks… Lin Mo!
And she was nothing but a boss on Lin Mo’s leveling and monster-hunting journey— not even the final boss!
At first, Chu You refused to believe it, until the novel’s plot began unfolding in real life—the senior who graduated from North Mansion University and joined the Enforcers, 【Mirror Lake】, confessed his Demon Clan identity to her.
And what he said…“Chu You, you and I are the same.”
“Except we’re not in the same city, we both grew up as orphans in the orphanage, sharing similar life experiences.”
“We’re both demons.”
“Don’t believe me?”
“Try suppressing your oracle power, calm your mind, and listen carefully.”
Watching the novel’s storyline replay exactly in reality, Chu You absentmindedly followed his advice.
Then, she really unintentionally heard some vague, mysterious voices.
Immediately after—The fox’s tail was exposed.
Not a saying—an actual pure white, fluffy fox tail grew out from the base of her spine.
Staring at the tail wagging in the mirror, Chu You was stunned.
The novel’s plot was true?
She really wasn’t human?!
From that day on, the wheel of fate seemed to start turning, with real-life developments slowly converging with the novel’s storyline.
Chu You admitted she panicked because in the novel, she would be personally killed by Lin Mo, that little junior.
So she tried making choices different from the novel.
But no matter what she did, every event’s outcome inevitably returned to the original storyline.
In other words,No matter how much Chu You struggled, she would eventually die by that bastard Lin Mo’s hand.
As her time to “log off” grew near, Chu You pondered deeply and finally came up with a shockingly brilliant plan.
Death?
Hah, I’ll die, alright?
Compared to the novel’s brutal death where Lin Mo wiped her out without a trace, Chu You thought she could at least fight a little longer.
The Enforcers, as the violent force opposing the Demon Clan, would cause a nationwide sensation if a Demon Clan spy was found inside.
If she didn’t cooperate with Mirror Lake, that guy would definitely expose her demon identity.
Going into hiding, disappearing, or dying in some accident might work temporarily, but under the Enforcers’ investigation, it was only a matter of time before she was caught.
So, she had to come up with a foolproof plan!
Luckily, having read many novels in her past life, Chu You slowly brewed what she considered a perfect plan.
Lin Mo, that junior, had a good relationship with her before her complete darkening in the novel—even a bit of admiration and reliance.
That was why after Chu You’s “darkening,” Lin Mo kept relentlessly investigating, ultimately killing her himself.
Mirror Lake threatened her with his demon identity, huh?
Alright, enough playing games!
Chu You began subtly “showing cracks” in front of Lin Mo until he slowly grew suspicious and began investigating secretly.
During a mission, Chu You didn’t hesitate to shield Lin Mo from a self-destructing oracle attack by a B-rank fugitive, sustaining serious injuries and falling unconscious.
In the special care ward, the critically ill Chu You could no longer maintain her human form; her fluffy white tail was fully exposed right before Lin Mo’s eyes.
“Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo…”
“Please, don’t, please don’t be hurt…”
“Xiao Mo…”
Even in unconscious murmurs, Chu You called out his name.
Lin Mo was silent.
Chu You’s gamble paid off.
He didn’t report her to the Enforcers but pretended ignorance, taking care of her until she recovered and was discharged.
Later, when they were alone, Lin Mo began casually bringing up sensitive topics.
Chu You didn’t lash out against the Demon Clan but hesitated, claiming that whether human or demon, as long as one remained true and did no harm, they should be accepted.
This kind of stance was absolutely forbidden inside the Enforcers.
But Lin Mo said nothing, just gave Chu You a deep look and left with a random excuse.
Seeing his last glance before leaving, Chu You knew… her carefully crafted plan was mostly successful.
A few days later, an anonymous tip appeared on the Enforcer branch chief’s desk.
It detailed Mirror Lake’s demon identity, his methods of passing information externally, even specifying that he was a Lizard Demon.
Chu You vanished for three days, missing all operations to capture Mirror Lake.
Three days later, she proactively sent Lin Mo a message to meet on the rooftop terrace of North Mansion University’s library.
As expected, Lin Mo showed up.
Watching Lin Mo approach step by step in his Enforcer uniform, Chu You tilted her head and smiled.
“You came on your own?”
Lin Mo didn’t answer but unconsciously glanced down toward the floor.
As Lin Mo’s senior and an Enforcer veteran, Chu You knew the library was completely surrounded; not even a fly could escape, let alone a fox.
She asked merely to deepen Lin Mo’s guilt and inner struggle, laying the groundwork for the grand finale.
“You know, Xiao Mo.”
“From the first day I met you, I knew this moment would come sooner or later.”
Speaking, Chu You no longer hid herself; that pure white, fluffy tail proudly waved before Lin Mo.
“Senior.”
Lin Mo finally spoke his first words.
His voice was low and hoarse, completely opposite to his usual gentle demeanor.
“Come back with me.”
“Even if we’re detained, it’s better than losing your life.”
His words cut off abruptly.
What he didn’t say was… he had already applied to the chief before the operation.
To be detained and supervised together with Chu You inside the Enforcers.
“Xiao Mo,” Chu You smiled slightly, her tone nostalgic, “you figured it out a long time ago, right?”
Lin Mo was momentarily stunned.
Chu You’s eyes narrowed into crescent moons, as if recounting something unrelated to herself: “When you last asked me about my views on demons, I understood.”
“I thought you wouldn’t come today.”
“But you did.”
Her smile slowly faded as a surge of oracle power filled the air; a flicker of flames suddenly burst from Chu You’s fingertips.
“Then let me take one last look…”
“At how far the little junior who once followed behind me has grown.”
After saying this, Chu You decisively charged toward Lin Mo a few steps away.
Lin Mo, blessed with near-demonic close-combat talent, froze momentarily before instinctively drawing the long blade at his waist—
“Ptht.”
The flames of the S-rank oracle 【Perching Wutong】, capable of burning even souls to ash, didn’t cause Lin Mo the slightest burn.
The dazzling flame at Chu You’s fingertips extinguished the moment she closed in.
Dawn had broken.
A ray of morning light tore through the darkness, shining into Lin Mo’s dim eyes.
His trembling hand gripped the blade; Chu You’s face was pale, her oracle energy instantly plummeting, wilting.
One hand steadied the blade piercing through her chest, while her other hand hovered before Lin Mo’s forehead, fingers curling slightly.
Then, a gentle snap.
Lin Mo’s expression wavered; his thoughts were instantly pulled back to that summer several years ago.
Just like now.
Chu You raised a finger and lightly flicked his forehead.
“Junior, your swordsmanship has really improved~”
That was what Chu You said to him back then.
Now, her life rapidly fading, Chu You whispered weakly, “Xiao Mo…”
“Your swordsmanship keeps getting better.”
“Don’t be sad.”
“Lastly, what I want to say is…”
“I love you.”
Chu You ‘died,’ willingly dying in Lin Mo’s arms.
Under the power of the Phoenix Perching Wutong.
S-rank oracle 【Perching Wutong】’s awakening ability 【Resonance of Rebirth】 revived her at a preset anchor point, marking the designed ‘ending’ of Chu You’s story.
Everything was so perfect.
Staring at the building’s advertising screen for a moment, Chu You’s lips curled into a faint smile.
Thinking of Lin Mo’s expression when he stabbed her with that sword, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Junior, with your intelligence, you really think you can compete with me?
“Ah-choo!”
A cold wind blew past, causing Chu You to sneeze.
Her previously triumphant expression instantly collapsed—though the fake death plan had gone smoothly and life in Beihai was bearable, the cost of 【Resonance of Rebirth】 was steep.
Not only had she turned into a squishy mortal, but her physical condition was terrible.
Once able to slash from South Gate to Penglai East Road with a sword in hand, now even a few steps made her pant heavily.
Though it was unpleasant, this was the best chance to cling to life.
Now, she occasionally went out to shop, spending most time at home eating, drinking, and having fun, and money wasn’t an issue.
This life was far more comfortable than before crossing over.
People’s happiness lies in contentment.
Thinking this, a few traces of smile returned to Chu You’s sagging face.
Looking at the host on the screen who was praising Lin Mo to the skies, Chu You grew even more smug.
“Little bastard, aren’t you just being spun around by me?”
Her murmured voice was quiet, tinged with pride and joy.
“Then why don’t you turn around and take a look?”
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
Startled, Chu You instinctively turned her head.
Lin Mo, dressed casually and with a calm expression, had stepped into her view.
Her body stiffened, stunned.
Why the hell was Lin Mo here in Beihai?
Lin Mo smiled faintly, reaching out to pinch Chu You’s chin and gently lift it.
“Senior.”
“You kept this from me, and it was so hard.”