«Why are you here?» Yang Yulan asked, even though she knew perfectly well that according to the plot, the villainess had come to the temple to improve relations with her fiancé and carry out her cunning plans with the demons. Only now, the girl doubted that what was written in the book was true. Perhaps the author hadn't shown the full picture. After all, we only saw the heroine's point of view. The villainess had no reason to lie to her. If she truly wasn't involved in the demon attack and had even saved two lives, then Yang Yulan couldn't make a final judgment.
Shin Zuzhou sighed.
«I came here from the very beginning only to speak with His Highness. But he did not grant me a single word and left me to die alone.» At these words, she burst into almost hysterical laughter, then returned to her previous expression.
«I thought, since things turned out this way, I'd play the hero for a bit.»
«I thought you would have been glad to see me dead.»
Shin Zuzhou smiled.
«I think you've misunderstood me. I'll repeat this one last time – you are my man, and you only have the right to die when I give you permission.»
Yang Yulan didn't know whether to be angry or grateful. This woman had too unpredictable a mood.
«What about the others?»
«Always worrying about others first. How foolish.»
Yang Yulan didn't answer and waited for a response, ready to spring up and run to the others at any moment. Seeing this, Shin Zuzhou's eye nearly twitched.
«Stop it. They're fine. The demons have already retreated. That beggar woman drove them away with her shiny little stone. And even if she hadn't, what would you have done? You're so weak you can't even defeat a single demon. This is extremely reckless. Do you want to die that badly?»
«I don't care much about my life,» Yang Yulan said, immediately regretting her words. Shin Zuzhou's face turned to stone, and her eyes darkened. Yang Yulan immediately started looking for ways to change the subject.
«What's in that scroll?» she asked, drawing the villainess's attention to the object in her hand.
«I'm not sure,» Shin Zuzhou replied, calming down somewhat. «However, I immediately realized that the demons' ultimate goal wasn't to kill the priests. They are stupid creatures, but usually their attacks involve acquiring something valuable. I followed them when I learned of the attack. They were heading to a specific place. A locked hall on the second floor. Some sacred papers were stored there. They grabbed one specific one, and I simply took it back.»
As she told this, Shin Zuzhou didn't stop smiling. Yang Yulan rolled her eyes.
The Northern Princess unrolled the scroll and showed it to her servant.
On the sheet was an image with inscriptions Yang Yulan didn't understand, as well as three circular symbols. Nearby, hooded figures stood in poses of worship.
«Looks like some kind of ritual,» Yang Yulan guessed.
«Wow, you're not as stupid as I thought,» Shin Zuzhou sneered. «It is indeed a ritual – a summoning ritual. And this thing is a map to help them do it.»
«But whom do they want to summon? And why?»
«Someone very powerful. Someone capable of restoring their former glory. Although, in my opinion, they never had any glory. Real barbarians.»
Yang Yulan chuckled.
«You're talking about your own kin.»
Shin Zuzhou winced in disgust.
«Don't compare me to them. My mother was human.»
«But how did it happen that you...»
«That's none of your business,» Shin Zuzhou cut her off. All further questions also became impossible for Yang Yulan. It seemed the girl had been wrong to ask that last question. Shin Zuzhou no longer wanted to talk to her.
How easily she gets upset. Her mood changes every two seconds, Yang Yulan thought, pouting.
Shin Zuzhou turned and walked away from the hall, signaling her to follow. After some time, Yang Yulan couldn't bear the silence and asked:
«Aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?»
Shin Zuzhou remained silent and walked ahead. Then Yang Yulan got truly angry. Was she being ignored just because she asked an obvious question? She already knew so many of the demoness's personal secrets. Before, she had answered all her questions quite calmly.
While Yang Yulan fumed inwardly and stared at the villainess's retreating back, her gaze inadvertently caught on the villainess's waistband. The bright pink color contrasted sharply with the rest of her dark attire.
Yang Yulan stepped forward slightly, grabbed the waistband, and pulled it off the girl. It wasn't difficult; apparently it had been tied rather hastily. Noticing the movement, the villainess turned around in confusion. Yang Yulan twirled the thing in her hands as if evaluating it.
«What a ridiculous thing,» she said to annoy the villainess, though she did genuinely think so. However, despite her attempts to provoke, the villainess's face brightened, and her gaze became warmer.
«Do you think it's better without it?»
«I think it completely ruins your image.»
The image of a nasty snake, Yang Yulan thought to herself, but didn't dare say it aloud. Teasing was one thing, but she didn't want to be burned alive on the spot.
The corners of Shin Zuzhou's lips lifted in a kind smile.
She's completely lost her mind, Yang Yulan thought.
«You wanted to know why I didn't question you about being at the temple today?»
Yang Yulan nodded hesitantly.
Shin Zuzhou stepped close to her, carefully took the waistband from her hands, and began tying it around her servant's waist. Yang Yulan didn't resist.
«I stopped caring about your antics long ago. As long as it doesn't harm me and isn't directed at me, do what you want.»
«Do you still have things to do here?» Shin Zuzhou asked, nodding toward the hall they had just left. Tai Ji still lay unconscious there.
Yang Yulan nodded again.
«Then go,» she said, sharply tightening the belt around Yang Yulan's stomach. The latter stopped breathing from the shock and stretched forward. «Just be home on time. Don't be late.»
«Understood.»
Having finished her business, Shin Zuzhou stepped back a little to look at the result. She couldn't help a short chuckle.
«It suits you better. Good boy.»
Throwing out these ambiguous – at least in Yang Yulan's opinion – words, she quickly disappeared into the corridor. The girl stood frozen for some time, then remembered that she indeed had some things to finish at the temple. Besides the wounded clergy, there was another, less important task at the temple. When Yang Yulan first set foot in the temple that morning, she had noticed a notification from the system. She had ignored it then due to the importance of her other tasks. Now, looking at it more closely, she realized it was a notice of partial completion of a side quest.
「Available Side Quests:
1. Go to the Temple of the Rain Goddess and pray. Reward – 25 points. Completed 50%
2. Go on a date and buy your loved one a nice gift. Reward – 25 points. Completed 0%」
Yang Yulan had completely forgotten about their existence and really didn't understand how they helped the plot. Moreover, the amount of points for completing these mini-quests was minuscule compared to the prices in the shop of this charlatan system. But at this point, what difference did it make? She had already finished half the quest. The extra points wouldn't hurt.
After moving Tai Ji to a softer spot and making sure he was breathing freely, the girl went to check on the other surviving clergy.
She tried her best not to look at the piles of corpses lying here and there. But it was hard not to notice them. Many bodies were already being mourned by the survivors.
Despite all her attempts to hold back, Yang Yulan couldn't suppress the rising nausea. So the girl used a sacred vase standing in one of the passages to the hall a couple of times. Yang Yulan very much hoped the Goddess of Rain would forgive her this transgression.
Yang Yulan approached the main altar in the temple, lit candles there, and knelt down. Bowing her head, she couldn't figure out exactly how her prayer should sound. So she simply thanked the goddess for the harvest and for life, then quickly rose. She didn't ask for anything. This world wasn't real, and the goddess even less so. What was the point of asking her for anything?
This thought struck the girl so suddenly that she froze in place.
«Do I consider this world unreal?»
Then another thought replaced it.
«But I'm saving people in it, risking my life.»
«They often don't act as the plot predicts,» Yang Yulan concluded, thinking of the villainess's unexpectedly kind actions. «So they have consciousness?»
Yang Yulan shifted her gaze to the statue of the goddess before her. Blue light fell on her from the candles arranged in a semicircle. Before her, on an outstretched hand, she held a mirror.
«So the heroes here have the capacity to change?»
There was no answer, of course, but Yang Yulan hadn't expected one. She bowed and pressed her palms together.
«Goddess, I beg you. I'm planning to change someone. For the better, of course. I see potential in her, and I want to change her story. If it's possible at all, please help me carry out what I've set out to do.»
Yang Yulan raised her eyes to the statue. Nothing had changed.
My god. What am I even doing? I need to leave and help the remaining priests.
At that moment, a notification came from the system. Yang Yulan glanced at the screen.
「Side quest completed 100%. Reward – 25 points. You can exchange them for something useful in the shop.」
«Yeah, sure,» Yang Yulan said indifferently and was about to turn off the screen when a new message appeared.
「This quest also has a hidden gift. Would you like to open it?」
Yang Yulan was surprised. She had indeed forgotten this was possible.
«Yes, of course.»
The screen flickered, and after the animation of a gift opening, an object materialized in the air. It was a single arrow. It flew straight into Yang Yulan's hands. The girl took it and examined it.
«Looks like an ordinary arrow. What does it do?»
«The functions of gifts must be discovered by the reader themselves.»
«What kind of nonsense is this?» Yang Yulan got angry, but she didn't waste her nerves on this stupid system. She closed the screen and, putting the arrow into her noticeably depleted quiver, headed for the exit from the hall.
I'll need to visit my brother and replenish my supplies.
***
Shin Zuzhou left the temple and didn't go straight home. First, she needed to escort the Empress back to the palace, calm her down, and give yet another promise to reconcile with her son. Shin Zuzhou was so tired of these circular conversations that she was ready to kidnap the prince herself and lock him up until he agreed to marry her. This method seemed more effective to the girl than seduction. Unfortunately, no one in the palace would agree with her.
«Xin, order hot water to be drawn for me.»
«Yes, Your Highness.»
Shin Zuzhou wanted to wash all the blood off herself as quickly as possible. She needed to relax before she lost control again. She glanced at the cage where her spirit usually sat.
«Xin, where has Storm disappeared to?»
«Your Highness, he's out for a walk.» Xin looked toward the balcony. Shin Zuzhou raised an eyebrow and walked in the direction she indicated. She stepped onto the balcony and looked down. There on the grass, two cute-looking little beasts were frolicking. It was Storm and Yang Yulan's little beast.
«It seems they've become friends. Just imagine, a forest spirit who's always on the run willingly spending time with a spirit of death. It seems both the master and his beast have no sense of self-preservation. Neither values their life in the slightest.»
Just as she thought this, Shin Zuzhou felt an unpleasant pulsing in her temples, which quickly turned into a sharp pain. The girl hissed and sank to the floor.
«Your Highness!» the panicked bodyguard immediately rushed over.
But Shin Zuzhou didn't notice. Her vision was blurry.
An image suddenly appeared before her. A quiet room. A large bed, and above it, a lifeless corpse hanging from a piece of fabric.
Xin realized her mistress was having another episode, so she hurried to move her to the sofa.
«Are you all right, Your Highness?» the girl said softly, filling a cup with water and sprinkling it on the princess's face.
Feeling the cold water on her face, the girl almost came to her senses and even responded to the question. But it seemed she wasn't seeing her bodyguard at all.
«Don't you dare treat your life so recklessly, do you hear me? You will not die until I allow it. You will live and fight for that right. I will make you start thinking about yourself for once.»
Each phrase was spoken slowly and clearly, as if the speaker was afraid the person before her wouldn't understand.
«Of course, Your Highness. You'll feel better very soon.»
***
Yang Yulan returned to the pavilion using the system and immediately headed to Shin Zuzhou's palace. Her mind was still swirling with many thoughts.
She walked through the dark corridors, trying not to draw attention to herself. It was quiet. It seemed everyone had already gone to bed. The girl carefully entered her room and closed the door behind her. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into bed and fall asleep.
«My little fish has returned.»
Yang Yulan nearly jumped in surprise. A little more and her soul would have left her body.
What a stupid habit, sitting in the dark, the girl thought. Is this an obligatory trait for all villainesses?
«You're late,» said Shin Zuzhou, who at that moment had made herself comfortable on Yang Yulan's bed and was burning the poor girl with her glowing red eyes.
«I had to help the priests. What, did you miss me?»
«Fool,» Shin Zuzhou said, and after a while continued, «I needed to talk to you. I plan to investigate the places marked on the map in the future. You will follow me.»
«Great!» Yang Yulan immediately perked up. «I was about to suggest that myself-»
«That's not all,» Shin Zuzhou interrupted. «You must understand how weak you are. You need to dedicate more time to training. And starting tomorrow, I'm going to seriously take you in hand.»
«What could you possibly know about this? You're a princess who's spent half her life lying on pillows.»
«You know nothing about me or how I lived. I certainly know more than you about weapons and how to fight demons. So accept my help while I'm offering it so politely.»
Yang Yulan shrank a little under the villainess's gaze and tone.
Excellent, Yang Yulan thought to herself. You also need to learn a few lessons about kindness and anger management. We'll see who ends up teaching whom.
«I agree.»
Shin Zuzhou smirked and stood up.
«That wasn't an offer, but an order.»
Shin Zuzhou approached Yang Yulan and looked at her with red eyes glowing in the pitch darkness. Yang Yulan's back broke out in goosebumps.
Why does she always have to invade my personal space? flashed through her mind.
«Answer: 'Understood, Your Highness.'»
«Understood, Your Highness,» Yang Yulan forced out. Shin Zuzhou's eyes changed color immediately.
«Good boy, Fishy. Don't be late tomorrow. Sweet dreams.»
With those words, Shin Zuzhou disappeared behind the door. Silence fell again. Yang Yulan sank to her knees, unable to stand.
Living with this woman is like walking through a minefield every single day.