There is a! Traitor!

No, no, no.

Impossible.

A constitution that could bend anyone? That’s way too ridiculous.

It had to be the charm bones.

Anything else would be terrifying.

“So? What’s your decision?”

Seeing Su Wanqing zone out, Hu Mei assumed she was actually considering the offer.

Inwardly mocking her naivety, she kept sweetening the deal out loud.

“Hmph—”

“You think I’d trust a demon like you?”

Unable to stand Hu Mei’s grating, pinched voice any longer, Su Wanqing stopped playing nice.

She summoned her natal spirit treasure.

A real fight meant no ordinary sword.

Her natal treasure was a soft sword: silver-gray blade etched with peach blossom patterns.

Though most Heavenly Sword Pavilion elders were sword cultivators, and her treasure was indeed a sword, Su Wanqing herself was a Dao cultivator.

Right hand on sword, left hand pinched between two fingers: a talisman, ready to strike.

The talisman was a Grade-5 Thunder Talisman.

Thunder talismans were most effective against ghosts, but their power against demons and evil was barely reduced.

Especially with how thick Hu Mei’s demonic aura was.

Add the resentment from the lives she’d devoured, and a faint ghostly yin aura clung to her.

Aside from fire-based Blazing Yang talismans, thunder was the best choice.

Su Wanqing had made these herself.

She felt bad using the harder-to-craft Blazing Yang ones.

Plus, with a Nascent Soul powerhouse on her side, she didn’t need the expensive stuff.

Thunder talismans would do.

“Looks like you’re ready to fight.”

“What else?”

Though Su Wanqing was talking to Hu Mei, her full attention was on Ning Yuer beside the demon.

Her job: draw aggro, then rescue the heroine.

“Why would I ever side with a demon like you?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Li Ziyue behind her struck without mercy.

Sword flashing, she thrust straight at Hu Mei.

At her level, she didn’t need close combat.

But most of her spells were area-of-effect.

With a child right next to the target, she couldn’t risk it.

Melee, however, negated her cultivation advantage.

Their physical bodies weren’t that different in strength.

Good thing she wasn’t alone.

Once Su Wanqing got the girl to safety, it’d be much easier.

“Sneak attack?”

Hu Mei reacted fast.

A single twist, and she dodged effortlessly.

But the instant she evaded Li Ziyue, Su Wanqing’s left hand shot forward.

“!”

Almost.

The thunder talisman nearly stuck to her.

Hu Mei used her demonic flexibility, contorting at an impossible angle to slip away.

“Talk about unfair.”

“Is this what you call righteousness?”

“Two against one?”

Nearly hit, Hu Mei began railing against the “unjust” pincer attack.

Trying to exploit their “righteous” morals to create an escape window.

But she miscalculated.

Her opponent was Su Wanqing.

Li Ziyue felt a twinge of guilt, like they were the villains.

Su Wanqing? She didn’t give a damn.

Li Ziyue attacked again.

At the same time, she signaled Su Wanqing with her eyes: Get the girl out. Now.

At this range, forget spells—even swinging her sword was risky.

The girl was a mortal.

One hit from a Nascent Soul–infused strike? No corpse left.

Even Su Wanqing, a Golden Core, would take serious damage from a direct hit.

Li Ziyue urgently needed both the girl and Su Wanqing out of the way.

“Mm.”

Su Wanqing caught the signal.

The moment Hu Mei dodged again, she lunged.

Grabbed Ning Yuer and yanked her into her arms.

Didn’t care about the dust or grime staining her clothes.

“?”

Ning Yuer, still dazed, felt a sudden pull.

Next thing she knew, her face was buried in Su Wanqing’s massive, soft chest.

Su Wanqing had fully shielded the girl the instant she pulled her in, afraid Hu Mei might strike while she was grabbing her.

Holding the future thigh in her arms, just as expected: the kid was way too skinny.

Bony. Uncomfortable.

But Su Wanqing didn’t mind the dirt or mess.

She wasn’t a clean freak.

And once this girl grew up, Su Wanqing could brag: I hugged the protagonist once.

Ning Yuer, pressed against that softness, froze like a doll.

But up close, she caught a strong, soothing fragrance.

It calmed her racing, overwhelmed heart.

So nice…

Is this the immortal sister’s scent?

“Hide here. Take this.”

“If that fox gets close, slap it on her.”

Behind a tree, Ning Yuer blankly accepted the talisman: Su Wanqing’s thunder talisman.

Less damage than Blazing Yang, but excellent control.

Even if it didn’t hurt much, it would paralyze Hu Mei for 1–2 seconds.

“Heh—stay hidden, okay~?”

Looking into the girl’s single visible black eye, Su Wanqing sensed her fear.

She flashed a warm, big-sister smile, gently ruffled her hair, then rejoined the fight.

“…”

Ning Yuer was completely overwhelmed.

She had no idea what was happening.

Just stared blankly at the battle, eyes mostly on Su Wanqing.

No surprise: compared to the others, Su Wanqing looked exactly like the fairies from her childhood stories.

The way she saved her, the gentle comfort, that calming scent; all burned into her memory.

But why would such a beautiful immortal sister save a calamity like her?

Even give her something so important…

In Ning Yuer’s eyes, anything an immortal owned was priceless.

She had just used it in battle, and now she gave it to her?

Did she really deserve this?

The cruelty she’d endured had worn her down.

She had started to believe she wasn’t even human…

Is this the kind of person Mom used to tell stories about…

She remembered her mother’s old tales, but self-loathing quickly crushed the thought.

No… she probably just doesn’t know I’m a calamity…

While Ning Yuer was lost in thought,

Hu Mei, battered by the pincer attack, noticed their subtle movements.

“Heh.”

Wiping blood from her mouth, she sneered.

“Look at you two tiptoeing around.”

“Li Ziyue, why not just blast me with a spell and be done?”

“Could it be… because of…”

Her gaze shifted to Ning Yuer.

Su Wanqing’s heart sank: Shit.

She bolted toward the girl.

If the heroine got hurt because of her meddling, who knew how the world would derail?

As expected, Hu Mei lunged too.

Faster.

Closer.

“This little calamity!”

She finished the sentence, spiritual energy condensing in her palm.

A killing blow.

Only way to escape.

Just as she predicted: both were distracted, breaking formation.

Once they got closer, she could flee.

Or injure the girl, leave Su Wanqing behind; even better odds.

“!”

Ning Yuer snapped out of it, saw Hu Mei coming, and instinctively raised the talisman as instructed.

But faster than Hu Mei?

Su Wanqing.

She poured everything into speed, barely managing to shield Ning Yuer just before impact.

“No one lays a hand on the inno—”

Hu Mei’s attack closed in.

Su Wanqing braced to block.

But then—

“?”

Eyes squeezed shut, Ning Yuer didn’t realize who was in front of her.

She slapped the Grade-5 Thunder Talisman right onto Su Wanqing’s lower back, tailbone area.

ZAP—!

Lightning exploded.

Su Wanqing took Hu Mei’s full-powered strike, spat blood, and was then paralyzed by her own talisman.

Double damage.

Only one thought in her mind:

f*ck!

Traitor!

Inside job!