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墨書 Inktalez
He said, "Number 121, lift your head and look properly."
Tang Zisu indeed lifted her head, but her eyes were filled with flames of anger, as if she wanted to skin and roast Kong Xuan. "I'm watching; you all continue. If you can't come up with something interesting, I would be embarrassed to say I know you."
Her eyes were full of provocation. "Then watch closely how Liya serves, unlike you, who is like an abacus bead, just moving around."
Tang Zisu sneered, "That's because your skills are too poor to ignite my passion."
The two exchanged barbs, leaving Liya, who was already fired up, standing aside. She hooked Kong Xuan's waist with her foot. "Brother Xuan, she's shy; let her go outside."
Kong Xuan laughed heartily. "Don't you think having someone watch makes it more exciting?"
"Brother Xuan, you're being bad! She's not coming anymore; she's a proper young lady. You should let her go."
Kong Xuan finally spoke up: "You can go outside and stand at the door."
Tang Zisu felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. She carefully closed the door behind them and stood at the entrance. The sounds from inside continuously assaulted her ears. She closed her eyes and simply recited Buddhist scriptures.
It wasn't that it didn't hurt; she was just forcing herself to accept the lie that it didn't hurt at all. She told herself with a smile that it was nothing. If she felt pain, it meant she still cared about him. If she didn't care anymore, then nothing he did could hurt her. Tang Zisu was tough as iron; it was just a broken heart—grit her teeth, and everything would pass!
While Tang Zisu stood outside suffering in the wind, Kong Xuan was inside in a scene of indulgence.
Lijia lifted her delicate fingers and lightly tapped; fire-red petals fell like rain throughout the room. Both she and Kong Xuan were covered in color, exuding a rich fragrance that was extraordinarily beautiful and extravagant.
The petals quickly piled up thickly. Lijia lay among them, her snow-white body adorned with specks of color. Her eyes were intoxicated, and her lips were as red as pomegranate seeds, exuding an indescribable charm.
Kong Xuan looked at her coldly, his eyes seeming to freeze over with frost. His expression was indifferent and stiff, his lips tightly closed, even the space between his brows etched with a cold line.
Lijia wrapped her arms around Kong Xuan's neck and whispered in his ear, "Brother Xuan, life is short; what are we still waiting for?"
Kong Xuan felt a burning pain where she was close to him, as if he had shed a layer of skin.
Kong Xuan's pupils contracted: "Celestial Maiden, shouldn't you be pure and chaste? The way you are now, even a nine-tailed fox spirit would be ashamed."
Lijia played with his clothing belt, continuing to giggle: "Purity is for others to see; to me, you can call me whatever you like."
Kong Xuan grasped her hand, but his eyes inadvertently glanced outside the door. The light cast shadows on the fine gauze-covered door, revealing a figure with its head bowed, looking particularly desolate.
Lijia was incredibly perceptive; she immediately caught the fleeting pain in Kong Xuan's eyes. Anger flashed in her gaze, yet her smile bloomed like a flower: "Brother Xuan, come on, hurry and kiss me!"
Kong Xuan stopped wasting words and lifted Lijia, pinning her down. Lijia was quite the actress; although she called out, she tilted her face away and let her eyelashes droop, pretending to be shy and flustered.
Kong Xuan snorted coldly; his deep azure eyes were as profound as the sea but as cold as ice. He leaned down but hesitated to kiss her.
Lijia frowned in annoyance and embarrassment. Just as she was about to explode in anger, Kong Xuan suddenly threw her from the couch onto the table.
This was quite a fall; even though she was the Celestial Maiden, she had delicate skin. Just as she felt sore all over and was about to lose her temper, Kong Xuan came flying in, forcefully pinning her against the table. He smiled slightly: "I can play many tricks; are you sure you want to keep playing with me, Celestial Maiden?"
Kong Xuan's fingernails glided over her bare skin like a cold knife brushing against her pores. Although it was extremely rough, there was a unique sensation to it. Under his teasing touch, Lijia's body alternated between cold and hot; she had no idea how to position herself and chased after Kong Xuan's fingers.
The fragrance from the incense burner grew stronger, making it even harder to resist.
Kong Xuan's movements were wicked yet skillful. Lijia screamed as a layer of crimson bloomed on her snow-white skin. Her eyes widened as she nearly lost consciousness; all sensations concentrated on one point but could not be released. It felt as if little bugs were gnawing at her insides. She gasped for breath and cried out loudly: "Brother Xuan! Brother Xuan!"
Outside the door, Tang Zisu was reciting the Lotus Sutra aloud, trying to drown out those inhuman sounds: "In solitude and tranquility, joyfully reciting scriptures. Again seeing the Bodhisattva, courageously diligent, entering deep mountains to contemplate the Buddha's path. Again seeing detachment from desires, often dwelling in emptiness, deeply cultivating meditation to attain the five supernatural powers..."
It was useless; completely ineffective. Tang Zisu simply opened her eyes. She gazed at the layers of swirling clouds outside and felt an overwhelming urge to laugh out loud: "Tang Zisu, come on! It's not like you haven't seen anything before; what heavy stuff haven't you encountered? Now you're getting live-action benefits like Mutou Ran and Aoi Sora, and you're still hesitant? Pfft, I disdain you."
Kong Xuan observed Lijia quietly like an archer with a bow ready to shoot. "Lijia, why do you insist on marrying me?"
Lijia didn't expect him to ask this suddenly. Her fingertips trembled as she tilted her head with an innocent expression: "Of course it's because I like you! Without Brother Xuan around, Lijia would rather die."
Kong Xuan pondered for a moment: "Understood; then why don't you just die a little?"
Lijia suddenly felt a sense of panic. She recalled what Tang Zisu had said about Kong Xuan's peculiarities, but the darkness ahead beckoned her, promising a dream that would allow her to float away in bliss. She couldn't help but close her eyes.
As she fainted, Kong Xuan straightened up and slowly wiped his hands with a piece of silk. His clothes were neat and orderly, showing no signs of disarray. The look he cast at Lijia's exposed body was one of disdain mixed with calm amusement, as if what lay before him was merely an ordinary toy rather than the stunning Celestial Maiden.
Kong Xuan walked to the window and stood quietly.
After a long while, he raised his eyebrows and chuckled softly, murmuring to himself, "If anyone harms her even a little, I will repay them tenfold."
This night felt exceptionally long for everyone.
For Tang Zisu, it was not only long but also arduous, akin to a person living from birth to death.
At first, Tang Zisu stood, but eventually she could no longer endure it and slumped down like a small dog leaning against the door. She stared at the dark sky above, feeling as if her entire being was like a paper figure made of sorghum stalks and paper—exposed to the wind, it could fall apart at any moment.
She didn't know when it happened, but eventually the light began to seep through, no longer the thick darkness. Faint voices echoed around her; perhaps a new day was beginning. Tang Zisu moved her stiff neck and propped herself up against the door frame. For a moment, she felt lost, unsure of who she was or where she was.
But soon someone reminded her. Kong Xuan's voice came from inside: "Who is outside? Come in and serve."
Tang Zisu spat out a harsh curse; Old Demon was truly pretentious. He had made her listen to the sounds of spring all night long and now asked who was outside—could he be any more dramatic?
Tang Zisu pushed the door open and kept her eyes downcast, unwilling to look up. However, Liya's delicate laughter pierced her ears like a needle. She heard Liya breathlessly say, "Stop it! Brother Xuan, you're so bad! Don't touch there; you played with me too much last night."
She thought her heart, which had formed thick scabs, would feel nothing. But as her hand trembled, a teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Liya seemed startled and quickly burrowed into Kong Xuan's half-exposed chest. Hanging onto his neck, she pouted and said, "Brother Xuan, this servant is clumsy; how could she serve you well? I'll find you a clever one later."
Kong Xuan melted like dough, soft without any backbone: "Alright, Liya can do whatever she wants."
"Really?" Liya raised an eyebrow, a hint of charm dancing across her delicate face—truly breathtaking.
Kong Xuan seemed enchanted by her and reached out to embrace her waist: "You are almost my lady now; naturally, I will listen to you."
Tang Zisu suddenly looked up and shot a fierce glare at Kong Xuan. She didn't mean anything by it; she just wanted to confirm if that person was really Kong Xuan.
However, Liya saw this and suddenly slapped Tang Zisu across the face as if performing a magic trick. "Did you forget what I taught you yesterday about not looking into your master's eyes when speaking? It seems that a worthless servant has no memory," Liya said while observing Kong Xuan's expression.
Kong Xuan merely glanced lightly at Tang Zisu and then brushed her long hair, saying, "She's just a servant; don't let her upset you."
Tang Zisu slowly raised her hand to wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth. While the blood could be wiped away, what could she use to erase the pain in her heart?
"Kong Xuan, I need to speak with you privately for a moment," Tang Zisu said, lifting her head high. Despite her disheveled appearance, she maintained an air of pride that demanded respect.
Kong Xuan appeared thoughtful and then said to Liya, "You will be my lady; what do you think we should do?"
Liya smiled slightly. "After all, she was once Brother Xuan's person; how can I make decisions on my own?"
Kong Xuan replied, "I allow you to decide."
The two exchanged glances with an affectionate demeanor that made Tang Zisu feel nauseous. She stared at Kong Xuan and suddenly felt a deep weariness as if her heart was shattered into a million pieces. All the words she wanted to say vanished, leaving only a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Alright, I have nothing more to say. Masters, may I leave now?" Tang Zisu asked, her face pale and her eyes vacant, staring blankly into an unknown distance.
Liya leaned slightly forward and smiled at Tang Zisu. "From today onward, you won't be serving here; go work in the kitchen." After saying this, she innocently asked Kong Xuan, "Brother Xuan, is this arrangement acceptable?"
Kong Xuan nodded. "As you wish."
Ah, as you wish—what sweet words! Kong Xuan, you truly have no shame!
Perhaps due to Liya's special attention, Tang Zisu received "special treatment" in the kitchen. She was assigned all the heavy and dirty tasks while a group of emotionless demons treated her like one of their kind—rejecting, insulting, and bullying her.
Just after Tang Zisu finished picking a basket of vegetables, the cookmaid kicked it over. "Look at what you've done! Who told you to pick all the tender leaves? Do you know how precious this basket of vegetables is in our demon realm? I've never seen such a wasteful woman!"
"Those leaves were too old; they can't be eaten."
"Still daring to talk back." The Cookmaid's chubby fingers poked Tang Zisu's forehead, spitting saliva all over her face. Tang Zisu immediately felt nauseous; she covered her mouth and shook her head. However, the Cookmaid reached out and grabbed Tang Zisu's hand, pulling it down. "I'm talking, why are you covering your mouth?"
Wow, Tang Zisu opened her mouth and vomited all over the Cookmaid.
Now she was furious, stepping forward to grab Tang Zisu's hand and pushing it toward the boiling pot of water. "You little brat, daring to spit on me, today I'll make you clean yourself up."
The black firewood burned in the stove, and the water in the pot bubbled vigorously. Before Tang Zisu's hand could even touch the water, the steam made her eyes water. She struggled, but the Cookmaid was as strong as a bear, and Tang Zisu, already weak and having caught a chill, felt like a straw about to topple over. She watched helplessly as her hand was about to become like a boiled pig's trotter.
Life was so tragically unbearable.
A large hand grabbed her just then, and a commanding voice rang out above her head: "You lot stop bullying people here with your numbers; get lost."
Tang Zisu looked up and saw that her savior was none other than the very person she disliked—the General.
The General had silver hair and yellow eyes filled with hostility, but in that instant, Tang Zisu sensed his goodwill. She softly said, "Thank you, Tiger King."
The General glared at her with irritation and shouted, "Who told you to come here to work?"
"The mistress of Infernal Palace, Celestial Maiden Rika."
The General lifted Tang Zisu aside like an eagle grabbing a chick. "You don't have to work anymore; I'll go find her."
Tang Zisu shook her head. "It's no use; I don't want to trouble you."
"Are you tired of living? Spitting everywhere; how can we eat if you're cooking?"
After yelling at Tang Zisu, he turned to the onlookers among the servants and said, "Listen up! If I see anyone bullying her again, I'll rip their intestines out and use them as rope. You," he pointed at the Fat Cook, "find her a room so she can rest. There's no point in working when she's in this state."
Tang Zisu hurriedly said, "It's fine, Tiger King; they're just following orders. Don't make it hard for them; I can manage."
Despite feeling like a burning coal due to catching a chill, she still felt cold inside, as if her spine were about to snap from the chill.
"What's the point of showing off? You're almost a ghost," Breaking Army shouted again, scaring Fat Cook nearby, who quickly dragged Tang Zisu away. Breaking Army watched as Tang Zisu left and then went to find Liya.
Breaking Army stormed in without knocking, only to see Liya bathing in a wooden tub. She quickly turned around and said, "I'll come find you later."
Seeing Breaking Army didn't fluster her; she raised a beautiful leg and splashed water all over him. "What are you pretending for? It's not like you haven't seen it before. You weren't this shy when we were getting along."
Breaking Army didn't dare to turn around, but his heart was racing in his chest. He gruffly replied, "Don't bring that up again. That was just a drunken mistake. If I had been even half sober, I would never have done something like that."
With a splash, Liya emerged from the water, wrapping a thin veil around her enticing body as she walked gracefully toward Breaking Army. She exhaled softly and said, "You were always a beast, a man-eating monster. So, do you want to eat and then deny it? Or is it that you can't stand up without drinking?"
Breaking Army was so frightened that he quickly closed his eyes and stepped back. "Liya, don't push me. You're about to marry Ming Wang; just behave yourself. I don't want to betray my brother."
"Behave? Where do you see me misbehaving? It's clearly you who can't control yourself. Brother? What if your brother finds out that the medicine you gave him was problematic? What would he think?" Liya said as she wrapped her arms around Breaking Army's neck.
"Breaking Army, don't think you can wash your hands of this. We're in the same boat; neither of us can escape our connection." Liya seemed intimate, but each word was like a knife stabbing at Breaking Army's heart.
Breaking Army was drenched in sweat; he gritted his teeth to suppress the urge to tear Liya apart. "Let go of me, Liya. I've already helped you get Ming Wang; what more do you want?"
Liya laughed charmingly, "What more could I want? I'm just afraid you'll feel neglected. By the way, I slept with Kong Xuan last night. I didn't expect him to be that kind of person; in the end, I felt completely numb." As she spoke the last part, whether from pleasure or fear, Liya trembled slightly and leaned against Breaking Army.
Breaking Army exerted great effort to push her away. "Liya, I've already helped you. We have no ties anymore. I'm here to ask you not to torment Tang Zisu any longer; she's just a mortal and a pregnant woman. Please let her go."
Liya pinched him hard on the arm; Breaking Army nearly cried out in pain. With a smirk that was neither fully smiling nor serious, she looked at him and said, "What's wrong? Is Tiger King feeling sorry now? Could it be that Tiger King likes that mortal? Should I go talk to Kong Xuan about it and settle this for you?"
Breaking Army was so angry that the veins on his temples throbbed violently. "Liya, what nonsense are you talking about? I've really misjudged you."
Liya snorted coldly and released him. "Breaking Army, what do you think I am? Do you really believe I'm naive and easy to bully?"
Breaking Army pushed her away angrily and stormed off. Liya watched his retreating figure with a cold smile.
Tang Zisu had been burning with fever; although she had received help from Breaking Army and got a small room, no one took care of her, leaving her to fend for herself.
It was getting colder, and even with the blanket fully covering her, Tang Zisu couldn't stop her teeth from chattering. She felt like she was about to die.
If I die, will the baby not come out?
This thought kept Tang Zisu holding on, holding on, holding on, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
"Tang Zisu, Tang Zisu, wake up."
"Who is it? Is it the baby? Are you still protecting Mommy?"
"Tang Zisu, open your eyes and see who I am."
Tang Zisu opened her sore eyelids, and through the haze, a familiar face appeared before her. It looked so familiar; who could it be?
"Who are you?" Tang Zisu asked weakly.
The person smiled, "You've really lost your mind; you can't even recognize yourself."
Tang Zisu shook her head. "You're talking nonsense; you're not me. I'm not as graceful or calm as you..." Suddenly, Tang Zisu screamed, "You are Light Eye."
The person smiled warmly yet with an air of untouchable elegance. "Yes, I am Light Eye, but Light Eye is also you."
Tang Zisu shook her head vigorously. "You are you and I am me; there are many people who look alike. Right, you are Light Eye; you are the real Light Eye. The person I saw embracing Kong Xuan at the Star Gazing Platform that day was definitely not you." This realization made Tang Zisu a bit excited. Although she couldn't pinpoint what was different, she felt that it wasn't the same person.
Light Eye said, "Very clever. Those who want to harm you are all gods and demons; some can even change their appearance. But remember, it's hard to paint a person's skin without revealing their bones. No matter how real it looks, there will always be flaws; it won't be that person."
"Are you saying that person isn't Kong Xuan either?"
"I'm not saying anything; you should see for yourself."
Tang Zisu's expression darkened. Was it all useless? In this situation, she should focus on how to save herself! By the way, if you've returned, does that mean Kong Xuan won't marry Liya? Wasn't it said that he always loved you while I was just a substitute?
Light Eye gently said, "Fool, I told you long ago, you are me. You have always been by his side, so why seek me?"
Tang Zisu shook her head vigorously, "Your joke isn't funny at all. Let's stop joking, okay?"
Light Eye sighed and said, "Touch me and see. I am a person who no longer exists. What you see now is only the spirit of Light Eye. I have been waiting here, thinking that if one day you returned, I would give this back to you. I think now is the most suitable time."
Tang Zisu felt even more confused. She even resisted; everyone wants to change themselves, but once they try to become someone else, they realize they have always deeply loved their imperfect selves.
She awkwardly laughed and said, "No, no, I am Tang Zisu, I am a man. I have nothing to do with this deity Light Eye."
Light Eye shook her head. She didn't say much to Tang Zisu, only took Tang Zisu's hand and placed it on her own. It was then that Tang Zisu realized she had no physical form. Although the palm could not be touched, she could feel a continuous flow of warmth entering her body, slowly nourishing her insides in an unexpectedly comfortable way.
Light Eye said, "I don't expect you to accept this in a short time, but please don't reject it and don't be jealous of yourself. Think about it: with so many people in the world, why is it just you who coincidentally looks like Light Eye and has come here? There is guidance in the dark."
"But I'm still very confused. What exactly happened? What is the relationship between Kong Xuan and Light Eye?"
As the last bit of power flowed in, Light Eye's shadow grew fainter: "This is something you need to understand for yourself. Remember, from today on you possess great power and no longer need to worry about them bullying you. Today's trials may just be the beginning, but Tang Zisu, remember that if you love him, you must trust him and not give up on him easily."
"I don't understand what you're saying. Hey..."
The shadow finally turned into a thin wisp of smoke and slowly dissipated into the air.
Tang Zisu stared at her palm where there was a small red mark resembling a lotus flower. She raised her hand and flicked it towards the ground; with a bang, a large spark erupted from the ground, startling Tang Zisu into thinking her palm was on fire.
"No, I'm not." Tang Zisu was drenched in sweat and woke up only to find it was just a dream.
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