Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

"You want eighth rank spell books? No, no, absolutely not!"

Inside the National Advisor's mansion, Ning Shuyu shook her head like a rattle drum.

She had originally been wondering what reward that child from Prince Qi's family would choose from the imperial offerings, given that she had accidentally gotten involved with Jiang He and saved her life.

But who would have thought that after sitting down to chat for a while, her first request would be this?

What did she want eighth rank spell books for?

She couldn't even learn them—was she going to keep them as mementos?

Cultivation should be done honestly, step by step. Don't aim too high and end up hurting yourself...

These principles flashed through Ning Shuyu's mind.

But before she could speak, she saw that spreading glow of sunlight before her eyes.

Ning Shuyu: "..."

Her mouth opened and closed twice, as if weighing her words, before finally advising:

"You're ninth rank. Eighth rank spell books are completely useless to you. They might even disrupt your thinking with their contents. Listen to your sister's advice—why bother?"

"You gave me seventh rank secret texts."

Jiang He sat beside them, glancing at her quietly.

"That's because your destiny trait is special."

"The tide rises and falls—being able to learn the next level's water spells early allows you to gather momentum for advancement. You used that 'momentum' this time, so next time you advance it'll be during an ebb tide."

Ning Shuyu lightly glared at her with beautiful eyes.

"Besides, many spells have been passed down for hundreds or thousands of years. There are reasons they're set at certain ranks. Why must you be so stubborn?"

Mu Qinglan smiled obediently, knowing her request was hopeless.

But she had no choice.

After all, from a reasonable perspective, the other party truly cared about her future and was looking out for her. She couldn't very well stubbornly oppose her.

Then mid-month it would be.

After speaking, Ning Shuyu leaned down to pinch Jiang He's cold little face, feigning anger:

"Your elbow is turning outward!"

Jiang He kept a straight face: "Qing Qing is my good friend. I'm not turning outward."

Ning Shuyu couldn't believe it, pointing at herself:

"Then what about me?"

Jiang He: "Aunt Ning."

In that instant, Mu Qinglan felt like this Great Xia National Advisor had turned into a statue, frozen in place.

Sympathy.jpg

Mu Qinglan's eyes took on a hint of amusement as she went with the flow:

"Aunt Ning, don't we still have business to attend to?"

"Don't call me aunt!"

Being called that, and compared to the two youthful beautiful girls beside her, Ning Shuyu felt she really was getting old.

"Sister Ning."

Mu Qinglan changed her address quickly, naturally knowing how to please people.

"Hmph, little Qinglan come with me. Jiang He, you stay here."

Ning Shuyu stood up, leading Mu Qinglan to the National Advisor mansion's treasury to select her reward for meritorious service in protecting the princess.

Speaking of which, this merit for protecting the princess was something Jiang He had helped her claim.

Otherwise it really would have been questionable.

Although the imperial family looked unfavorably upon Prince Qi's faction, they could still manage the basics of rewarding merit and punishing crimes. So after confirming her merit in protecting the emperor, they considered Mu Qinglan's profession and asked the National Advisor's mansion to handle the reward.

Of course, the imperial family would also provide compensation.

"National Advisor."

The guards at the treasury entrance bowed.

"This is the princess from Prince Qi's family, Mu Qinglan. I'm taking her to select a treasure. Elder Pang should have already explained the circumstances to you in advance."

Ning Shuyu said indifferently.

"Prince Qi's princess?"

"The one from the night banquet?"

The guards exchanged glances, remembering the treasury elder's instructions, and bowed before stepping back.

The two slowly walked over.

As they approached the treasury's main door, Mu Qinglan could see extremely faint blue threads winding through the air, fewer toward the back and sides.

At the main door, all the light converged and intertwined into a mass.

Tightly locking that heavy door.

Ning Shuyu didn't even glance at the lock. Somehow, with a casual tap, she scattered all those countless light threads, revealing the jewel-filled treasury behind the door.

Mu Qinglan was surprised for a moment: "Fluorite?"

"And night-shining pearls."

Ning Shuyu smiled, seemingly enjoying seeing others' amazement upon first witnessing so many treasures.

But she was disappointed. Mu Qinglan maintained a gentle smile throughout, refreshing like a spring breeze yet hard to fathom.

Prince Qi's treasury wouldn't be better than mine, would it?

Ning Shuyu wondered, muttering to herself.

But she didn't know that these fine things looked just so-so to Mu Qinglan. Not to mention anything else, just by the end of version 4.0, the items in her inventory alone would definitely not be inferior to this treasury.

Not to mention the resources she had spent.

Of course, that was just a game.

So although Mu Qinglan wasn't shocked, her eyes still brightened slightly as she looked around, a hint of desire arising in her heart.

If only she had an inventory, and no one was watching...

How wonderful that would be...

"Over there are weapons—swords, blades, and such. We magicians don't really need them, so there are fewer."

Ning Shuyu led the way in front, always feeling Mu Qinglan's gaze was strange:

"Here are rare resources that might awaken a postnatal destiny trait, plus pills, spiritual plants, defensive gear, and even offensive implements suitable for us magicians… Do you see anything you like?"

Mu Qinglan didn't rush to speak, going around the shelves twice, feeling these things were all decent.

But...

Not good enough.

Her gaze was burning, her smile sweet and lovely as she took her hand: "Could the National Advisor recommend something? I can't choose well."

Ning Shuyu was helpless.

She also knew Mu Qinglan was being clever.

She personally went to several shelves to retrieve five brocade boxes, laying them out one by one.

"These few are undoubtedly good things for someone at fifth rank. The imperial reward would at most be at this level."

"So stingy?"

"It's already quite good. You're not part of the imperial family."

Mu Qinglan nodded casually, scanning the treasures with a noncommittal air.

Two defensive items, three weapons.

Seeming to notice her gaze, Ning Shuyu actively explained:

"The other categories are useless to you. Pills and medicines—your Prince Qi mansion's collection is no worse than mine. Resources and such—your body is too weak and needs conditioning, so it wouldn't be convenient to use them even if you took them. As for spirit pets... I can help you keep an eye out if you want, but there really aren't any suitable ones right now."

Ning Shuyu looked troubled.

"It's fine. I've already troubled Sister Ning enough. I'll just choose one from what Sister Ning has given me."

Mu Qinglan disdained spirit pets but still put on an appearance of considering her feelings.

Ning Shuyu was moved. Read full story at N0veI.Fiɾe.net

"Can I look at them one by one?"

"Look as you like. Choose your favorite."

Mu Qinglan nodded lightly, already having a plan in mind.

Just use the system to check their effects.

Handle each one, and the most suitable item for her could be selected.

However, Ning Shuyu gave her these things to choose from but mysteriously didn't explain their effects—what was that about?

Though curious in her heart, her hands didn't stop moving as she picked up the small shield placed on the far left.

[Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Shield (Purple): Extremely fast speed, adjustable size...]

[Iron Horse Military Diagram (Purple): Created by a magician proficient in calligraphy and painting, can summon painted armor when spiritual power is injected...]

[Dream Spirit Bell (Purple): ...]

Ning Shuyu smiled:

"Among these five items, one is a gift my master gave me for breaking through to fifth rank. After I broke through the Heaven Gate later, it became useless, so I put it in the treasury, thinking to give it to my future disciples."

"If..."

"If?"

Mu Qinglan asked puzzledly, holding a bottle in her hand. She seemed somewhat curious and even shook it by her ear.

Rumble!

The roar of raging waves echoed within the bottle.

As if it contained a churning, restless sea.

"If you choose it, I can give you some additional rewards."

Ning Shuyu's expression remained unchanged as she spoke calmly.

Mu Qinglan put down the small bottle she was holding and picked up the last brush, frowning and pondering for a long time.

She looked like she couldn't decide.

Finally she let out a breath.

"Then this one?" Mu Qinglan shook the blue and white porcelain bottle in her hand.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"..."

Ning Shuyu let out a long breath, feeling this little brat caused her much more trouble than well-behaved Jiang He.

"Why did you choose this one?"

"Why?" Mu Qinglan glanced at the deep purple glow in her hand and smiled lightly: "Perhaps because it feels destined?"

[One Moment Sea]

[Weapon (Purple)]

[Effect: Can pour out shadows from the bottle, enhancing the power of shadow-type spells]

[Note: Shadows refined and collected by the former sect master of the Imperial Spirit Sect after standing in the Shadow Sea for one moment, gifted to his beloved disciple]

Wasn't it all written in this note?

How could she guess wrong?

"Destined?"

Ning Shuyu's expression was complex for a moment, thinking that your fate with Jiang He was much deeper than with me.

But this was indeed selected.

After two seconds of silence, she asked:

"Would you be willing to become my nominal disciple?"

"Only nominal?"

Mu Qinglan's eyes flickered for a moment. If it was only nominal, it didn't seem very interesting...

"The heir to Great Xia's first sect master—do you think people from your noble families have a chance at that? It definitely has to be someone with a clean background!"

Ning Shuyu said irritably.

Mu Qinglan put on an I was wrong, I'll be obedient expression: "I'll listen to the National Advisor."

"Now you're calling me National Advisor?"

Ning Shuyu crossed her arms, her tone wistful: "I wonder who was just fooling around with Jiang He outside, calling me 'aunt' over and over, making me feel old."

"Sister Ning."

Mu Qinglan's voice was sweet.

"...You're much more clever than Jiang He. Don't bully her."

Ning Shuyu shook her head, thinking about what she should give this nominal disciple as a gift for the Imperial Spirit Sect's future.

She'd already given the Dragon Summoning Hairpin to repay Prince Qi's old favor. What else could she give?

She had a weapon now.

Spells...

Ning Shuyu glanced at Mu Qinglan.

○

"I already told you! Don't look at high-level spell books—they'll easily lead your current thinking astray!"

Ning Shuyu snapped shut the small booklet in Mu Qinglan's hands, her tone unfriendly.

"I know, Sister Ning~"

Mu Qinglan stuffed the small booklet into her wheelchair's compartment, raising her hand in promise with an appearance of never looking at it again.

"I should have known not to give you this thing." Ning Shuyu complained.

Mu Qinglan smiled without speaking.

She glanced at her skill bar. You gave well!

[Shadow Mage lv3]

Mu Qinglan truly hadn't expected that coming to the National Advisor's mansion for a reward would also yield an unexpected surprise.

Seventh rank secret spell, Shadow Mage.

This was a good thing—the core skill for magician players who focused on shadow magic.

In the game, it was a passive that could grant players more mana, increase the power of basic shadow spells, and a series of other enhancement effects.

In reality,

—Its effect was extremely simple and brutal.

Control shadows.

Not controlling shadows to condense into spikes or blades, but controlling shadows—condensing them into whatever you wanted, not limited by traditional shadow spell restrictions. Even things like condensing shadow tentacles could be accomplished.

Naturally, such a versatile ability was extremely difficult to master.

Not to mention becoming proficient.

But...

'Doesn't matter, I can allocate points.'

Who would bother with such effort when you could cheat? Times had changed!

'This seventh rank spell should be different from ninth rank ones somehow. Too bad now isn't the time—I'll have to wait until I'm back at the mansion to try it.'

Mu Qinglan's hands itched unbearably, longing for a fight.

Returning to the back courtyard, when Jiang He learned that Mu Qinglan had been accepted as a nominal disciple by the National Advisor, she showed no expression, just took a small waist token from her belt.

Mu Qinglan also produced the matching one, smiling.

Seeing their secretive gesture like exchanging passwords, Ning Shuyu shook her head and said casually:

"You'd better not go out these next few days. Stay home and prepare for the Human Gate assessment in a few days."

"Still the eastern district?"

"It's the eastern district, but it's different." Ning Shuyu sighed. "Before, the eastern district was under martial law simply because conflicts kept happening there and people died. Actually, there wasn't much real danger, but now…

The eastern district has lost a divine artifact."