Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 65

Gu Sheng lifted Hu Li from the floor and cradled her in her arms.

She gently brushed the flour off Hu Li’s body, then, with a wave of her hand, the remaining flour on the floor vanished instantly, returning to its shelf. Having done this, she lowered her gaze to Hu Li and asked, “Were you trying to run away again?”

From the moment she first met Hu Li, she had noticed the girl avoiding her. Though she didn’t know why, it still made her heart ache.

Hu Li hung her head and softly denied, “I wasn’t trying to run away.” Her attachment to Gu Sheng ran deep in her bones. How could she ever want to escape? And even if she did, how could she ever truly escape?

Gu Sheng hadn’t expected Hu Li to answer. She paused her wandering hand on Hu Li’s body, and after a moment of hesitation, she decided against saying anything more. Instead, she continued to pretend she didn’t understand Hu Li’s words, saying, “You’re all covered in flour. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

With that, she lifted Hu Li higher, supporting her bottom and letting her rest against her shoulder.

Gu Sheng had used gardenia-scented hair oil today, and Hu Li, enveloped by the delicate fragrance, felt almost weightless. Gu Sheng noticed Hu Li playing with her hair but didn’t call her out. Instead, as she turned her cheek, she tightened her embrace.

Leaving the kitchen, Gu Sheng didn’t take Hu Li to the East Wing Room where she usually stayed. Instead, she led her to the West Wing Room that Ye Qingtang had prepared for her.

Inside the room, Ye Qingtang lit incense for Gu Sheng before returning to the Main House with Min Yaxing. The spacious room was now empty, occupied only by Gu Sheng, who had just entered, and Hu Li, who was dozing off on her shoulder.

Hu Li had been tormented by her impulsive decision to run away from home today. Now, nestled securely in Gu Sheng’s arms, her thoughts had drifted far beyond the ten thousand li horizon, completely forgetting about any Heavenly Dao punishment.

Gu Sheng didn’t wake her. She carefully laid Hu Li on the bed, draped a thin blanket over her, and quietly began filling the bathing tub that Min Yaxing had brought in earlier. The scalding water splashed against the bottom of the tub, sending up a wave of heat that soon filled the room with a thick, white steam.

Hu Li rubbed her nose, hummed softly, and rolled over to hug the quilt beside her.

Outside the window, the System perched on a branch, glancing at the thunder-rumbling sky before turning its gaze to the shadow cast on the paper window—a chill ran through its core.

“Host, wake up! Don’t sleep! If you sleep any longer, you’ll never wake up again!” it shouted, its voice carrying into the Main House nearby.

Inside the Main House, Ye Qingtang had just removed her inner robe. Hearing the shout, her brow furrowed instantly. She pressed her toe against Min Yaxing’s shoulder and said coldly, “Make that Demon Crow shut up.”

Min Yaxing was halfway undressed, her body poised like an arrow drawn taut. But at Ye Qingtang’s command, she obediently redressed and stepped outside. Outside, the System remained oblivious to the impending danger, continuing its frantic cries. Then, in an instant, the world blurred, and it found itself once again transported to the Reed Thicket, a thousand miles from Baoning Town.

The System: …

Staring at the migratory birds in the Reed Thicket, it realized it was about to embark on another three-month journey.

******

Hu Li remained blissfully unaware of the System’s banishment.

Gu Sheng lifted her from the bed and gently lowered her into the warm, steaming water, bathing her with tender care.

Just as Hu Li was beginning to enjoy herself, a sudden boom outside the window startled her awake. She opened her eyes and glanced at Gu Sheng behind her, her breath catching in her throat. Turning her head, she suppressed her inner agitation and urgently called out to the System, “System, where are you? Why didn’t you warn me?!”

Hearing this, the System, once again leading migratory birds to the wrong destination, sneered, “Host, it’s not like I didn’t warn you. You were simply too busy enjoying yourself to pay attention.” With that, it severed their mental link.

Cut off from the System, Hu Li huffed and shook her tail in annoyance. She then braced her paws against the tub’s edge, preparing to leap out. But before her claws could grip the rim, Gu Sheng pulled her back into her arms.

Pressed close against Gu Sheng, Hu Li imagined what the Comments section would be like if it were still active:

【Is the Fox Spirit malfunctioning again?】

【Li Li, you had your chance! Why didn’t you seize it?!】

【Fox tail play! I want more! I want more!】

Fox tail play and bath tub play—so hot!

Sheng-sheng’s fighting back! Sheng-sheng’s fighting back!

Fighting back—

The moment those words flashed through Hu Li’s mind, her thoughts froze. She frantically shoved the lewd thoughts out of her head.

Regaining her composure, Hu Li tried again to break free from Gu Sheng’s embrace. But to her surprise, Gu Sheng’s hand, which had been gripping her waist, shifted, touching a spot that made her entire body stiffen.

“Don’t move,” Gu Sheng whispered softly against Hu Li’s ear.

At the sound of her voice, Hu Li’s breath caught in her throat, and her fox tail began to sway even more wildly.

Simultaneously, Gu Sheng glanced down at Hu Li’s reaction beneath the water, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips. Then, sensing Hu Li’s suspicion that she might have been recognized, Gu Sheng’s hand moved elsewhere. “There’s still flour on you,” she murmured gently. “Let me wash it off.”

Hu Li: “……”

She covered her face with both paws, completely losing the will to resist.

After about half an hour, the bathwater had cooled slightly. Gu Sheng lifted Hu Li from the tub, dried her off, and placed her on the bed.

Seizing the opportunity, Hu Li immediately planned her third escape.

While Gu Sheng’s back was turned as she dressed, Hu Li stealthily hopped off the bed. She then leaped onto the dressing table, intending to flee through the window. But just as she reached the windowsill, her front paws barely extended, Gu Sheng caught her.

“Awoo—!” Hu Li howled toward the main chamber, hoping to summon Ye Qingtang.

Unbeknownst to her, Ye Qingtang was in the main chamber, entangled in tendrils conjured from Min Yaxing’s Demonic Qi, tears streaming down her face.

“Min… Min Yaxing,” Ye Qingtang stammered, her voice trembling. “Red… Red Fox—”

She managed to utter only the name she had given Hu Li before Min Yaxing pressed down on her, silencing her with a kiss.

While passion burned in the main chamber, Hu Li found herself dragged back onto the bed. Gu Sheng immobilized her with an Immobilization Spell, then leaned down, meeting Hu Li’s gaze. “Why do you always try to escape whenever you see me?” she asked, her voice low and serious.

Hu Li buried her head in her fox tail, her ears twitching at Gu Sheng’s words, but she remained unresponsive.

Gu Sheng’s dark brows furrowed slightly at the sight, but she quickly regained her composure. She drew Hu Li into her arms and said, “It seems this little one doesn’t care for me.” With a snap of her fingers, the candle flames in the room extinguished, plunging them into darkness.

Sensing the change in the room, Hu Li slowly poked her head out from beneath her fox tail, peering at Gu Sheng. Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting faint streaks across Gu Sheng’s face. Her eyes were tightly closed, and her breathing had gradually evened out, as if she had fallen asleep.

Hu Li raised a paw, gently touching Gu Sheng’s cheek. She sighed softly, “How could I not care for you?” As she spoke, she glanced out the window, confirming that the thunder had ceased and the dark clouds had completely dispersed. Only then did she settle down beside Gu Sheng, thinking, Just one night. Just one more night with her.

With that thought, Hu Li slowly closed her eyes, nestled in the crook of Gu Sheng’s arm, and drifted off to sleep.

Unbeknownst to her, the moment Hu Li fell asleep, Gu Sheng’s eyes snapped open, her gaze fixed on the sleeping fox.

“If you care for me, why do you keep running away?” Gu Sheng curled closer, drawing even nearer to Hu Li.

Hu Li didn’t hear her, merely turning over and wrapping her arms around Gu Sheng.

********

The next morning, as dawn painted the horizon with a pale, fish-belly white, the rooster Ye Qingtang had recently acquired crowed raucously in the courtyard.

Hu Li, nestled in Gu Sheng’s arms, drowsily opened her eyes. Her gaze lingered on the gray bed curtains overhead for a moment before she abruptly realized she wasn’t in her own room but in Gu Sheng’s.

Her body stiffened, but she quickly tested her limbs, confirming that Gu Sheng’s Immobilization Spell had been lifted. With a swift roll, she sprang out of bed and landed lightly on the floor. Beside the bed, the incense burner had burned out, its ashes piled cold and gray within.

Hu Li quietly lifted the burner’s lid, dipped her paw into the ashes, and scattered them near Gu Sheng’s pillow. This incense was a modified version of Deep Nightmare Incense, which could lull someone into a deep, dream-filled slumber for eight hours.

Having completed her task, Hu Li pushed open the room’s door and slipped out of the East Wing Room.

Outside, Ye Qingtang stood in the courtyard, clad in a thin robe, her arms crossed as she watched Min Yaxing. “Why do you need to return for five days this time?” she asked.

Normally, Min Yaxing would return to the Demon Race in the morning and be back at the Bright Medicine Hall by noon. So when Ye Qingtang heard Min Yaxing say she’d be staying at the Demon Race for five days this time, she couldn’t help but worry.

“It won’t be five days,” Min Yaxing said, wrapping an arm around Ye Qingtang’s shoulders and chuckling softly to reassure her. “If I hurry, I’ll be back in three. There’s a newcomer among the Demon Race’s younglings who shows promise as my successor, so I want to assess her thoroughly. If she’s suitable, I’ll hand over the Demon Race and settle down with you at the Bright Medicine Hall.”

“Are you serious?” Ye Qingtang asked, swatting away the restless hand on her shoulder.

Min Yaxing nodded. “Completely serious. But if you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to come with me to the Demon Race and keep an eye on me every day.” As she spoke, her hand drifted toward Ye Qingtang’s waist again.

Ye Qingtang shot Hu Li a glare, about to push Min Yaxing away. But Hu Li beat her to it, leaping onto Min Yaxing’s head and bouncing wildly.

Min Yaxing: … She quickly plucked Hu Li off her head, feeling like her neck was about to snap.

Ye Qingtang’s gaze also shifted to Hu Li. She stared at her for a moment, then, just as Min Yaxing set Hu Li down, Ye Qingtang scooped her up again and stuffed her back into Min Yaxing’s arms. Leaning down, she instructed Hu Li, “Keep an eye on her for me. I’ll give you fifty Spirit Stones when I get back.”

As expected, the moment Hu Li heard “fifty Spirit Stones,” she nodded vigorously, responding to Ye Qingtang like a bobbing toy. Earning Spirit Stones while avoiding Gu Sheng’s mission? Hu Li was more than happy to accept.

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