Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 44

“Yu Shibai…” Hearing that name, which she hadn’t heard in ages, Hu Li finally remembered what she had forgotten.

“Where is he in Baoning Town?” Hu Li asked Min Yaxing.

Min Yaxing shook her head. “I don’t know. I just dumped him somewhere random. I was too eager to get back and see you, to do—” She paused, then quickly corrected herself, “To prepare for our sworn sisterhood ceremony.”

“Prepare for our sworn sisterhood ceremony?” Gu Sheng, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “I wasn’t aware the Lord Demon Venerable and the Young Sect Master knew each other.”

She slowly raised her wine cup and took a sip.

At her words, Min Yaxing exchanged a glance with Hu Li, then quickly looked away. Both women read the same unspoken plea in each other’s eyes: I can’t explain this. You better come up with something quick.

After a long silence, Min Yaxing couldn’t bear Gu Sheng’s probing gaze any longer. Clearing her throat, she blurted out a flimsy excuse: “Ah, I just remembered I have urgent business to attend to. I shouldn’t intrude on you young ones’ conversation any longer.”

With that, she used Instant Travel and vanished from the spot.

*******

What a great sister, disappearing at the crucial moment!

She pursed her lips in silent annoyance, then turned to Gu Sheng, fabricating a story: “Actually, Lord Demon Venerable and I hit it off right away. That’s why we decided to become sworn sisters. Don’t overthink it.”

Gu Sheng: “Hit it off right away?”

Hu Li nodded. “Hit it off right away.”

Gu Sheng lowered her gaze thoughtfully, ceasing her questioning. Hu Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After Min Yaxing left, the banquet quickly dispersed. Servants swarmed in to clear the remains.

Outside the Demon Palace, night had fallen completely. Stars dotted the sky, their faint light dimly illuminating the darkness.

As Shang Miaoyun exited the Demon Palace, her mind was still preoccupied with Shen Yijun’s parting words. She seemed listless, speaking even less than usual.

Min Xiuhe, concerned about her friend’s mood, suggested taking her to the Demon Race’s Star Gazing Cliff to clear her head.

However, fearing Shang Miaoyun might refuse if it were just the two of them, Min Xiuhe turned to the three trailing behind and asked if they wanted to join.

Hu Li had never heard of Star Gazing Cliff, but figuring she had nothing better to do that night, she readily agreed.

*******

Gu Sheng remained silent, offering not a single word of agreement or dissent.

Ye Qingtang, walking at the rear of the group, was lost in her own thoughts and hadn’t heard a word Min Xiuhe had said. She only snapped back to reality when the four ahead of her stopped and turned to look at her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Hu Li replied, “Senior Sister suggested we go to Star Gazing Cliff. Do you want to come?”

“Star Gazing Cliff…” Ye Qingtang paused, considering. She shook her head. “Fairy Gu, I plan to visit Lord Demon Venerable. I won’t be joining you.”

Hu Li’s curiosity piqued. “What do you need to see the Demon Venerable for?”

Ye Qingtang didn’t hide her intentions. “I grew up in the Demon Abyss, relying on my family for everything. Now that I’ve left, I need to find work. So, I thought I’d ask Lord Demon Venerable if the Demon Race needs healers.”

Hu Li nodded. “I see.”

Min Xiuhe, who had overheard the conversation, pulled over a passing attendant and pushed him toward Ye Qingtang. “Fairy Ye, my mother should be in her private chambers now. Just ask her to take you there.”

Ye Qingtang bowed deeply in gratitude to Min Xiuhe and followed the attendant away.

******

Star Gazing Cliff, located deep in the Back Mountain, was the highest point in the entire Demon Race. To exaggerate, it felt as if the heavens were within reach, almost tangible.

Hu Li sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, gazing up at the pitch-black sky. The smile on her lips froze. “Senior Sister,” she said, “Star Gazing Cliff, Star Gazing Cliff… how come I can’t see even a single star?”

Before Min Xiuhe could offer an explanation, a mosquito buzzed past Hu Li’s face, its wings vibrating.

Great, another reason to be annoyed.

The smile completely vanished from Hu Li’s face. She was about to get up and go back to wash up and sleep when Gu Sheng, who was sitting beside her, gently pulled her back. “Be patient,” Gu Sheng said calmly. “It’ll happen soon.”

Hu Li let out a confused, “Huh?” The next moment, a shimmering star streaked across the darkness before them. Then two, then three, and suddenly the entire Milky Way seemed to unfold before their eyes—brilliant, dazzling, and utterly breathtaking.

Hu Li stared in stunned silence, then sat back down on her cushion. “How did you know it was about to happen?” she asked Gu Sheng.

Gu Sheng rested her hand on her knee, her eyes reflecting the starlight. “Intuition.”

“Well, your intuition is spot-on,” Hu Li blurted out.

Gu Sheng rarely showed even a hint of a smile, but now a faint one touched her lips. “It’s only accurate occasionally.”

Hu Li fell silent, mesmerized by Gu Sheng’s smile.

The starry sky above and Gu Sheng’s eyes, brimming with starlight, were both breathtakingly beautiful.

*******

After a long moment, Hu Li finally snapped out of her daze. Her gaze remained fixed on Gu Sheng as she said, “They say that if you make a wish on a shooting star, it’ll come true. Why don’t we make one?”

Gu Sheng turned her head to glance at Hu Li before looking back at the fleeting meteor. She nodded. “Sure, let’s make a wish.”

Hearing this, Hu Li closed her eyes in delight, clasping her hands together in prayer as she prepared to make her wish.

But just as she was about to voice her desire, the System, which had been offline for ages, suddenly came online and issued a mission: “Host, the ‘Meteor Night Confession’ mission has been issued! Please complete it immediately!”

Meteor Night Confession?! Hu Li’s temple throbbed, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.

This stupid System knows how to fast-forward the progress bar at triple speed.

With this thought, Hu Li cracked open one eye to steal a glance at Gu Sheng.

To her dismay, she found Gu Sheng’s eyes were also open. Worse, the shooting star had vanished in an instant, leaving the sky a pure black canvas once more.

Hu Li lowered her hands, her smile fading. “System, do I really have to do this mission?”

Even the heavens weren’t cooperating. Could she really bring herself to say those words?

The System, also staring at the suddenly darkened sky, remained silent for a long moment before replying, “Host, you must complete the mission. And this System will ensure you do it beautifully! You’re not just conquering the female lead—you’re conquering Gu Sheng herself!”

With that, it silently invoked an external force, restoring color to the sky before Hu Li could refuse.

Whoosh! A distant sound suddenly pierced the air, followed by an incessant crackling.

“Fireworks?!” Shang Miaoyun, who had been listless, perked up as the multicolored light fell at her feet. She eagerly raised her head, took a step forward, and reached out to trace the shapes of the fireworks with her hand.

Min Xiuhe followed closely behind Shang Miaoyun, standing up to stay by her side.

The two standing figures cast shadows, leaving only a few slivers of light and the booming sounds of the fireworks around them.

Hu Li glanced at Gu Sheng, who was sitting silently, hugging her knees and lost in thought. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, urged on by the System, “Gu Sheng, I like you. The kind of like you that hits you at first sight.”

Ding—Mission complete! The System cheered in Hu Li’s Sea of Consciousness before quickly logging off, leaving her space.

[What did Hu Li say to Gu Sheng? Why are there so many [Censored]?]

[Did she confess? Tell me, did she confess? Did she? Did she? Did she?]

[If they don’t make it official soon, I’m going to start spreading rumors!]

[We don’t believe or spread rumors. We just create them.]

[Pass it on: Li Li and Sheng Sheng have already gotten their marriage certificate!]

[Spread the word: Li Li and Sheng Sheng are about to hit the sheets!]

[Who else’s couple has slept together without even being official? Oh, right, mine.]

[Case closed: Li Li’s driving without a license!]

*******

“So, what did you say to me?” Gu Sheng asked Hu Li after the fireworks had faded and silence returned. She was staring at the unfamiliar slang in the comments section.

Hu Li met her gaze, then glanced sideways at Min Xiuhe and Shang Miaoyun, who were also watching her. She felt so embarrassed she could barely breathe.

“Can’t you tell me?” Gu Sheng pressed.

Hu Li lowered her head, poking the ground with a twig. She shook her head. “I can tell you.”

“So, what did you say?” Gu Sheng repeated.

Hu Li bit her lip, gripping the twig tightly. She finally stammered, “I… I said I li— I wanted to ask you, what did you wish for when the meteor streaked across the sky?”

She couldn’t bring herself to repeat those words.

She had only dared to say them earlier because the fireworks had drowned out her voice. Now, she’d rather stay silent and bury those words back in her heart.

“What did you wish for?” Gu Sheng looked away from Hu Li, gazing up at the endless sky. “I never make wishes,” she murmured.

Hu Li’s fingers curled slightly. “You never make wishes?”

Gu Sheng nodded. “That’s right. Never.”

Min Xiuhe, holding Shang Miaoyun close, teased Hu Li with a smile, “Junior Sister, you’ve never been one for making wishes either, have you?”

Since childhood, Gu Sheng had always claimed to have terrible luck. Every wish she made went unfulfilled, so she never placed her hopes on such empty promises.

Hu Li looked up at Min Xiuhe, then lowered her gaze. “I see.”

Min Xiuhe nodded. “Exactly.”

She was about to add, “As Gu Sheng always said, ‘Wishes are for those with good luck,'” but before she could speak, a Communication Talisman landed in her hand.

Immediately, Min Yaxing’s furious voice erupted from the talisman: “Min Xiuhe! You little brat! What the hell did you do in the Demon Abyss? Why is it suddenly in chaos?! Get over here now! Now!”

Min Xiuhe’s brow twitched as she glanced at Hu Li, only to find that Hu Li had also received a Communication Talisman.

Hu Li activated her talisman, and Min Yaxing’s head popped up. “Hu—Hu Li, you reckless Young Sect Master Gu! You’re partly responsible for this Demon Abyss chaos! Get over here and help me figure this out!”

“So the Demon Abyss really is in chaos?” Hu Li asked.

Min Xiuhe nodded. “Not just chaos, but it sounds like a serious problem.”

Their eyes met briefly, and they quickly realized one thing: they had likely, probably, possibly caused a major incident.

Min Xiuhe led Shang Miaoyun ahead to find Min Yaxing.

Hu Li rose from the ground, rolled up her meditation cushion, and glanced at Gu Sheng, who remained motionless. After a pause, she asked, “Aren’t you coming?”

Gu Sheng shook her head slightly. “I’ll stay a bit longer.”

As she spoke, she noticed Hu Li hesitating, clearly reluctant to leave if Gu Sheng wasn’t coming. With a sigh of resignation, she added, “I’ll come find you later.”

Hu Li’s hand froze mid-motion as she was about to put the cushion away. She picked it up again and stowed it in her Storage Bag. “Then I’ll wait for you.”

With that, she hurried off in the direction Min Xiuhe and Shang Miaoyun had disappeared.

Gu Sheng remained seated, slowly straightening her bent legs. After a long moment, once she was sure everyone had left, she murmured to herself, “Does she like me?”

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