What are your conditions?

### Chapter Forty-Two: Conditions and the Approaching Storm

Su Wanqing’s reason for dragging Ning Yuer away was simple: Shen Xianyue terrified her.

The psychological shadow she cast was even heavier than Chen Xueli’s.
Just imagining the methods she might use made Su Wanqing’s skin crawl.

More importantly, she didn’t know how to face her.

She wanted zero entanglement, zero karma.
Yet the demoness had taken a liking to her—and now saved her life.
It left her torn: disgust mixed with gratitude.

The best solution? Run. Ideally, never meet again.

But she knew that was impossible.
The Marriage and Mourning Cord on her wrist guaranteed endless entanglement.

One Chen Xueli was already too much.
Add Shen Xianyue—another possessive, domineering lunatic?
Her carefully planned life was doomed.

Worst fear: knocked out, kidnapped, and turned into a mountain stronghold wife.
If that happened, her future would be literal hell.

She hypnotized herself:
She saved me. That evens out the near-assault from two nights ago.
Guilt eased. Conscience soothed.

She’d thank her properly next time.

She never expected “next time” to be this soon…

—

“Shouldn’t we… help that weirdly dressed sister?”

On the road back to Xiangping Town, Ning Yuer—hand held by Su Wanqing—asked in confusion.

She didn’t understand why they’d ditch their savior.

This immortal sister didn’t seem like the ungrateful type.

“She did save us…”

“Is this really okay?”

“It’s fine. She deserves it.”

The answer stunned Ning Yuer.

Deserves it?

From their earlier exchange, they clearly knew each other.
But Su Wanqing’s attitude was icy.

If their relationship was bad, why save them?

“Uh…”

The more she thought, the more tangled it got.
Her eyes spiraled like mosquito coils; brain overheating.

“Don’t overthink it.
One day, when someone you don’t want keeps forcing closeness—you’ll get it.”

Seeing her confusion, Su Wanqing explained.

But the explanation backfired.

Unwanted contact… but still caring?

It sounded familiar.

Then it clicked.

Wasn’t this exactly how Mom said Dad pursued her?

So that sister was…

Ning Yuer’s imagination ran wild.

She filled every gap with her own (flawed) logic.

A strange feeling bloomed:
Happy… but also a little sad.

Looking at Su Wanqing’s face, thinking of her and Shen Xianyue…
A seed quietly sprouted in her heart.

So… that’s also possible…

—

“…”

Seeing Ning Yuer “figure it out,” Su Wanqing sighed in relief.

Good. No worldview corruption.

The girl was still a blank slate—exposed to cruelty, but not yet tainted.

Even if their time was short, Su Wanqing had to be careful.

Any weird sprout? Nip it.

Especially orientation.

From their first meeting, she’d sensed Chen Xueli vibes.

But she had zero experience fixing that.

Touching it might worsen it.

So she let it slide—for now.

She didn’t believe one short encounter could bend the self-obsessed female lead of the original story.

Chen Xueli’s fall took long-term charm bone exposure + Su Wanqing assuming emotion-severing path = no risk.

Even if Ning Yuer had sprouts, sending her to the ascetic nunnery sect would snuff them.

—

They walked slowly.

Su Wanqing’s wounds made every step painful; she limped.

Which meant Shen Xianyue caught up in under two minutes.

The cord on her wrist made tracking child’s play.

“Hey! Wait up!”

“Beautiful sister, I saved your life—and you just ditch me? That’s cold!”

Shen Xianyue pouted, voice full of grievance.

Su Wanqing flinched at the sight of her.

Two nights ago flashed back.

Her dudou… still in this demoness’s hands…

What if she’s already… done weird things with it?

Her face flushed—shame and guilt for abandoning her savior.

But facts were facts: she owed her.

“T-Thanks.”

“We’re even.”

“Even…?”

Shen Xianyue blinked.

She got it: two nights ago.

Su Wanqing kept walking, head turned, voice flat.

No choice.

She pulled out Hu Mei’s demon core.

“Fine. Ignore me?”

“No body left. You’ll need this to prove the kill, right?”

The spite only made her want Su Wanqing more.

Conquering a cold beauty? Peak achievement.

Su Wanqing was hers—marked for life.

Monk may run, but the temple stays.

“?”

Feeling demonic aura behind her, Su Wanqing finally stopped.

Shen Xianyue smirked—got her.

“Hmph~”

“Tch—”

That smug gremlin face pissed her off.

But… she did want the core.

Shen Xianyue clearly knew about the deal with Li Ziyue.

And “no body”? Believable. No reason to lie.

Li Ziyue would soon report the decoy.

But the core wouldn’t be free.

“What’s your price?”

No high hopes, but the Red Embroidery reward was too good to pass.

And she needed proof for the sect.

“Knew you’d need it~”

Shen Xianyue stepped closer.

Closer.

Until her hand nearly touched Su Wanqing’s face.

Su Wanqing instinctively stepped back—twice.

But the core dangled.

She held.

Let’s see what this demoness wants.

Simple condition? A cheek touch was tolerable.

But it wouldn’t be that easy.

If it was too much—she’d walk.

“…”

“Want it? Simple—”

Her hand landed on Su Wanqing’s cheek.

Then slid—teasing her chin.

“Depends on how well you perform~♡”

—

Meanwhile,

Thanks to the love gu, Chen Xueli sensed her master’s injury.

She knew the plan with Li Ziyue.

Something went wrong.

She’d left town.

Almost there.

—

“…”

Su Wanqing felt a growing unease.

She blamed Shen Xianyue.

But her sixth sense was screaming:

Shuraba incoming…