Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

"No..."

Lou Ming couldn't understand why the future saintess she had been optimistic about just moments ago now wanted to kill her?

This gave her an unreal feeling—was she dreaming?

Or had she been caught in some dream-related demon magic?

But the increasingly approaching sense of dread that made her heart race wildly, pupils contract, and every hair stand on end indicated this wasn't a dream.

This was reality!

"Who are you?!"

Lou Ming's expression was as ugly as if she had just swallowed two pounds of bitter melon mixed with cinnamon, star anise, and Sichuan pepper—a true mix of complex flavors.

"I'm the saintess you selected."

Mu Qinglan still wore that soft smile.

Previously, Lou Ming had thought this little girl's smile was truly beautiful, more fox-like than actual fox spirits, but now she felt this person's ancestral bloodline might be snake demon, just wearing fox demon skin.

Their fox clan didn't have ones like this!

Lou Ming retreated two steps, glancing fearfully at the fox phantom above that was continuously accumulating power.

The power of a second-rank demon saint couldn't be completely sealed in that small token, so releasing this power completely required a very brief preparation time.

Of course, this power would also actively protect the user, preventing injury.

Mu Qinglan carefully sensed the terrifying demon power surging around her, thinking that if she wanted to kill Lou Guanyue, she'd have to deal with this thing first.

But at least she now knew of one trump card.

"Sister Ming won't attack me now?"

Mu Qinglan tilted her head like an innocent, romantic little girl: "When the token just starts accumulating power, the defense should be weakest, right?"

Lou Ming's eyes turned red:

"Aside from the instant of activating the token, how could I possibly break through this demon power barrier!"

Mu Qinglan nodded: "Then thank you."

She wondered why her father hadn't given her such a good thing, but then remembered her adoptive father's profession—warrior. Then never mind, he definitely wouldn't know such high-end operations.

Warriors were strong but had fewer tricks.

Ice Mountain Shen and little Bai were the same—in terms of ability versatility, they were far inferior to her good friend miss.

"You...!"

Lou Ming's throat sweetened, her vision darkening.

"Sister Ming's eye for talent is really good, spotting me, this undercover agent from Western Mountain Province, at first glance." Mu Qinglan continued to provoke her anger.

Western Mountain Province was one of Great Xia's five major provinces, the highest administrative division.

It also directly bordered fox clan territory.

Her father was the leader of Western Mountain Province's army, Great Xia's General Pacifying the West.

So saying she was an undercover agent wasn't wrong.

"You're a Great Xia undercover agent?!!"

Lou Ming felt her vision darkening further, almost unable to see clearly. No, you're clearly a proper ancestral reversion super demon clan—why would you be a human undercover agent??

"Yes indeed~" Mu Qinglan looked pleased, skillfully using provocation techniques.

Warning, warning, warning—

Lou Ming was getting angry.

"Originally I planned to continue infiltrating for a while, but hearing Sister Ming was coming to inspect, my superiors told me Sister Ming was someone without much brains, so I really wouldn't have revealed myself now otherwise." Mu Qinglan smiled.

Lou Ming suddenly became alert:

"Then why are you exposing your identity now? Isn't this ruining everything?"

"Who says it's ruined?" Mu Qinglan didn't look at her, casually playing with her slender fingers. "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know—as long as I send you to death, nothing will be ruined."

"Without Lord Qingge personally coming, you can't kill me." Lou Ming tried to stay calm.

"General Mu arranged people for me."

"How could humans so easily infiltrate demon clan heartland?"

Lou Ming sneered. Undercover agents raised from childhood were one thing, but human experts entering demon clan core territories would definitely be discovered, and vice versa.

"Not even Sister Ji?"

Lou Ming's expression froze: "Who?"

"Ji Xinchan, Sister Ji." Mu Qinglan smiled like a life-claiming black and white impermanence spirit.

"Killing me requires deploying a third-rank grandmaster skilled in infiltration?" Lou Ming panicked briefly before noticing the problem.

Ji Xinchan was Prince Qi's mansion's secret guard commander, third rank, skilled in stealth.

"Sister Ji definitely can't kill a weakling like you, but her subordinates can. Anyway, you'll at least be severely injured soon, so killing won't be difficult. But I'm kind-hearted and will leave Sister Ming a good reputation—how about 'died together with human assassins targeting the saintess'?"

Mu Qinglan continued smiling.

She seemed very confident... Facing danger, Lou Ming quickly analyzed in her mind.

This undercover agent with terrifying talent who could even rise to saintess position—she didn't doubt Prince Qi was providing strong support behind the scenes.

Calling in a fourth-rank assassin would be no problem at all.

Could she survive?

Lou Ming thought repeatedly for several seconds and reluctantly confirmed—no.

From the moment she handed over Demon Saint Qingge's remote strike, she had fallen into a death trap.

For Lou Ming, death wasn't scary—what was scary was meaningless death, wrongful death, desperate death. Her heart immediately made a firm decision: even in death, she had to take down her opponent!

She couldn't let such a terrifyingly scheming person remain in the world.

Otherwise, the fox clan would never have peace!

Lou Ming made her decision but showed no expression while looking at Mu Qinglan.

She knew that while the phantom was accumulating power, she couldn't possibly break through the energy barrier to severely injure or even kill Mu Qinglan who was protected by the token.

But after the phantom released that strike, there would be no more barrier.

So her only chance was to release an attack toward the completely unprotected Mu Qinglan at the instant the phantom attacked her!

Even if she was seventh rank, or even sixth rank, she absolutely couldn't withstand this fourth-rank master's furious strike!

Lou Ming stared at her with splitting eyes.

Mu Qinglan didn't care much—this was just a virtual character from the Human Gate anyway. She was willing to treat her politely but didn't mind offending anyone.

After leaving, who would recognize her?

She'd just be another good wheelchair girl.

Whoosh—

The wind grew stronger, making the entire city lord's mansion flee in terror with no one daring to stay and see what was happening.

Lou Ming gathered her demon power, the violently burning demon power rushing through her blood vessels as if about to ignite.

Boom!!

The gray fox phantom swept its tail.

A gray-black light wave rippled out, annihilating everything like a calm sea surface that was quietly rising—no one knew how many people were buried within.

Swoosh—

A drop of black dew flew extremely fast toward Mu Qinglan.

Being Qingge's subordinate and skilled in similar techniques, this strike that would be nearly fatal to ordinary fourth ranks could only severely injure Lou Ming.

Hum!

Gray radiance spread out.

The moment she was caught in the gray light, Lou Ming's vision went black as if thunder had exploded. The next instant, her demon power boiled, meridians snapped, and she vomited blood profusely.

She was pressed deep into the ground, sinking over a meter!

Blue bricks exploded, stone fragments flying.

'This is... second rank.'

But while vomiting blood, Lou Ming's eyes held a trace of excitement.

'Is she dead?' She instinctively looked over there.

Hm?

What was that?

After forcing herself to see the situation clearly, Lou Ming's pupils contracted—she only saw a pitch-black sphere standing there, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.

After a long while, the sphere dispersed.

"How are you!!"

Lou Ming's eyes flashed with fear.

"How am I?" Mu Qinglan was in a good mood: "Sister Ming wants to ask how I survived that attack?"

Lou Ming lay on the ground, eyes wide with unwillingness: "Trading life for life, why..."

"Why? Because Sister Ming, you're not worthy."

After confirming Lou Ming's life was ending, Mu Qinglan smiled: "I already said Sister Ming's brain isn't good. Just provoking you a few times made you want to die together with me, but someone who's lived this long—how could I not guard against this?"

"If you had tried to run, I really couldn't have done anything to you, since this is just an ability projection. Oh right, let me tell Sister Ming another secret—I didn't actually invite anyone over."

"You..."

Lou Ming swallowed bloody saliva.

"Sister Ming wants to know why I wasn't hurt? Telling you doesn't matter." Mu Qinglan smiled: "Divine artifact—ever heard of one?"

"!"

Lou Ming's eyes widened in disbelief, and at that instant, a black light silently drilled into the back of her head, instantly shredding her consciousness before her breath completely faded!

In the dust filling the sky, Mu Qinglan exhaled.

"Ah Qi, thanks to you."

This successful kill of the inspector was the result of multiple coincidences overlapping. Normally speaking, achieving such a feat in the Human Gate would be pure fantasy.

First, the ceremony participant's strength had to far exceed ninth rank.

This alone eliminated almost one hundred percent of people, since everyone came to take the Human Gate assessment—how many had strength far exceeding their level?

Second, they needed a divine artifact they could activate.

Though divine artifacts were strong, activating them often came with many costs. Like the imperial Great Vajra Destruction Pestle, it not only required extremely high physical conditioning but consumed enormous spiritual power with each swing.

The Boundary Shadow Pearl was among the few—its absolutely singular defensive ability lowered its usage requirements.

But even so, divine artifact contract requirements were extremely harsh.

The devil clan had only activated it before, not completely controlled it.

Only through Ah Qi contracting it could Mu Qinglan successfully bring this divine artifact into the Human Gate—

Ordinary equipment couldn't be brought in, but divine artifacts, with that divine character, were naturally different from ordinary equipment.

A bit like the Fire Qilin from CrossFire.

Lots of effects.

Mu Qinglan leaned back in her chair, petting Ah Qi who was also exhausted today, feeling somewhat excited. This had to deserve an invincible evaluation, right?

Thinking this, the girl's form gradually faded.

Disappearing without a trace.

○

Soon, urgent shouts came.

"Over here! Quick! The inspector and saintess are both here!"

"They're both... hm? Isn't that the inspector lying on the ground? Who did this? Where's the saintess?"

The fox clan officials who had fled earlier returned here, looking at each other.

At this time, all of Canghai City slowly shattered like a mirror surface, then dissolved into flowing light.

In the dark world, the great formation flickered once.

○

In the darkness, Mu Qinglan slowly opened her eyes.

Wearing a somewhat cloying smile on her face.

Like a white-haired, proud big cat that had caught seven mice for fun, she sat alone in her wheelchair, utterly charming.

'This time they can't possibly give me an ordinary evaluation, right? Come on, some SSR.'

Logically speaking, the tasks she had completed could definitely be called perfect without any issues.

Every task perfectly completed, surviving to the end, and almost wiping out all human spies in Canghai City—undoubtedly worthy of triple purple evaluation.

Top evaluation, couldn't be higher.

But people always needed dreams—above the best, they could pursue even better.

Maybe there would be a surprise?

After all, this time she had schemed to kill a fourth rank—killing a fourth-rank expert in the Human Gate was absolutely unprecedented and unrepeatable. Mu Qinglan wasn't worried about others replicating it.

There was also some subtle luck involved.

Even doing it again, Mu Qinglan couldn't guarantee absolute success.

'Fourth rank... without the Boundary Shadow Pearl, I couldn't have taken her life-trading strike…'

Supporting her chin with one hand, Mu Qinglan reflected on her reckless actions.

If the Boundary Shadow Pearl hadn't been charging for several days with enough energy to operate, even if she could activate the divine artifact with her seventh-rank spiritual power, she couldn't have blocked a fourth-rank demon master's desperate strike.

Divine artifacts were strong but not invincible.

Her current same-rank strength was nearly invincible, and with multiple destiny trait bonuses, even cross-rank challenges weren't impossible.

But she couldn't be arrogant...

'Need to be more careful. I was too bold before. Must be careful, must hide…'

'Must quietly push forward and deliver fatal strikes at key moments…'

Mu Qinglan muttered a few words and looked up.

At this time, the Human Gate evaluation also gathered into countless light points, like gold characters on black paper, slowly unfolding before her.

[Main task completed, your faction contribution enormous, ranked first]

[Human Gate opened]

[Secondary tasks being searched]

[You successfully survived to the end in the Human Gate ceremony, task one completed]

[You killed seventeen humans far stronger than you, task two perfectly completed]

[Your reputation is unmatched, task three perfectly completed]

[You left the demon clan inspector with unforgettable memories until death, task four perfectly completed]

[You became demon clan saintess, task five completed]

[You killed two Human Gate ceremony participants, score increased]

[Hidden task completed (Fox Clan's Sorrow): You killed fourth-rank demon master Lou Ming, evaluation massively increased]

[All tasks completed, total evaluation ranked first]

[Your score exceeds the limit]

The gold characters in the black world slowly faded without even giving a MVP designation.

"Tsk..."

Mu Qinglan pouted.

Really, for players who broke records, couldn't they give some record-breaker reward?

Thinking of how hard she had worked yet could still only get triple purple evaluation, Mu Qinglan felt heartache, her lying-flat heart beating restlessly.

Huff... huff...

After sighing for a long time, Mu Qinglan finally recovered and looked at the three purple halos slowly appearing before her.

The halos were mysterious and grand, but unfortunately Miss Mu had developed refined tastes. Fresh chapters posted on novęlfire.net

Naturally she found them less attractive.

Of course, she still had to take what she should take. She couldn't refuse due to disdain—at most she'd go back and curse the dog company and dog planners, wishing them early ascension.

My turn, draw cards!

Mu Qinglan's finger swept through the void, tapping three times.

Instantly.

Three purple lights filled her vision, then gradually dimmed, revealing three jade tablets with purple light around their edges.

The tablets opened one by one.

[Flow State (Purple): Your mind is extremely focused. Spell consumption moderately reduced, spell frequency slightly increased]

Reduced cooldown, increased mana—Mu Qinglan made a simple evaluation. Pretty good.

Another tablet.

[Spider Mistress (Purple): You manipulate hearts like a spider queen plucking her web. Moderate improvement in charm and mental aspects, slight improvement in abnormal status resistance]

Average.

The bad woman wasn't worried about lacking charm.

"Come on, something good, dog company!" Mu Qinglan complained dissatisfiedly. These two destiny traits were indeed good but not the most suitable for her—she was always greedy.

At this moment, as if hearing her call.

Before the third purple tablet opened, a golden thunderbolt crashed down, striking directly into the jade tablet. Mu Qinglan watched all this and couldn't help being confused for a moment.

The tablet's purple color slowly faded.

Golden light continuously seeped from inside the tablet, illuminating the jade warm yellow and transparent, extraordinarily noble.

"This is..."

Mu Qinglan said in a tone mixing confusion and certainty: "Gold-plated?"

You thick-browed, big-eyed dog company, playing this trick on me?

Playing with her?

But despite her emotional ups and downs, for a golden destiny trait, she felt she could hold some expectant psychology to see this thing's specific effects.

The golden light scattered.

The tablet's effect finally shone forth.

[Mechanist's Unity (Gold): You are alone, we live in groups]