Chapter 0231

But now it didn’t matter anymore—Luo Tangji was already her defeated opponent, no longer a threat.

"Luo Tangji, from this moment on, there’s no place for you in the Luo family."

Luo Yao’s voice was icy and authoritative, like a judge delivering a death sentence.

There was not a trace of pity in her eyes, only the cold ruthlessness reserved for enemies.

"Luo Yao, you actually used BBQ? That’s so dishonorable! You didn’t win fairly!" Luo Tangji roared in indignation.

In her eyes, Luo Yao’s use of such an unexpected tactic violated the principles of fair combat.

Luo Yao scoffed. "Your biggest weakness is clinging to the old ways."

She looked at Luo Tangji with mockery, twirling the dagger in her hand as it glinted coldly under the sunlight.

In this ever-changing world, Luo Tangji was still shackled by outdated combat methods and beliefs—and that sealed her fate.

With a swift motion of the dagger, Luo Tangji followed in Wolf Fang’s footsteps.

Her body slowly collapsed, the light in her eyes fading, as if the flame of life had been snuffed out in that instant.

Watching her own mentor fall to the ground, Luo Yao bent down to pick up the keys. Then, she tore open Luo Tangji’s clothes and lifted her severed head.

The scene was bloody and horrifying, yet Luo Yao’s face showed no fear.

She stared at the empty battleground, lost in thought, her mind swirling with countless reflections.

"That shadow just now… was it the one I killed when I was little?"

She pondered silently, a flicker of doubt flashing in her eyes.

But she had no time to dwell on it—she needed to leave immediately.

Without another thought or hesitation, she walked away from this place drenched in blood and secrets.

Returning to the old mansion, Luo Yao changed into fresh clothes. Every movement tugged at her wounds, making her wince, but she gritted her teeth through the pain and hurried toward the estate.

At the same time, she pulled out her phone and called Lin Ran. She desperately wanted to hear his voice, to know if he was safe.

But the response was a robotic message—the number was out of service.

Her heart sank. A sense of foreboding washed over her.

She glanced at her phone again and froze.

Lin Ran’s location… had disappeared.

Her hands trembled slightly, her chest tight with worry and fear. She had no idea what had happened to him, and for a moment, she was even afraid to call the estate for answers.

But in the end, she dialed the estate’s number anyway—

Ten hours earlier, at Skygarden Estate. Lin Ran was sitting in the living room.

"Meow—"

Suddenly, he heard a familiar, long-absent meow. The sound was crisp and unmistakable, cutting through the silence of the estate.

"Finally, you’re here."

A faint smile of relief crossed Lin Ran’s face as he stood up and turned toward the source of the sound.

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Little Black had arrived.

"If you hadn’t shown up soon, I was going to put out a bounty for you," Lin Ran teased.

[Little Black: "You think you’re funny?"]

The cat’s disdainful thoughts echoed in Lin Ran’s mind as it sauntered in with graceful steps, its sleek black fur shimmering under the light like fine satin.

Its eyes brimmed with arrogance, looking at Lin Ran as if he were a naive child.

Lin Ran: "Alright, you’re as sharp-tongued as ever. What took you so long?"

Little Black shot him a sidelong glance, and Lin Ran instantly felt scolded. That look seemed to say, "Hmph, since when do I answer to you about my schedule?"

"Actually, I’ve already decided on my wish. And you’ve got good timing—Luo Yao won’t be back today," Lin Ran said with a grin, knowing this was a rare opportunity.

[Little Black: "Or maybe I came because I knew Luo Yao wasn’t here."]

The cat’s voice echoed again in his mind as it leaped onto the sofa, sitting elegantly with its tail flicking lazily.

Lin Ran nodded. "I was just being polite, and you’re already acting all high and mighty? Don’t think I don’t know how you curse me out in your head."

[Little Black: "Are you gonna spit out your damn wish or not?"]

"Huh? Of course. I’ve had it planned for a while."

["Then stop wasting time. Where are we going this time?"] Little Black sounded impatient, its gaze urging him to hurry up.

Lin Ran leisurely raised a finger. "First, you owe me a compensation wish. I’ll start with that one."

A sly smile played on his lips.

Little Black: ??? Its eyes filled with confusion.

"Don’t tell me you forgot. Last time, you said you’d owe me an extra wish. You’re not trying to weasel out of it, are you?"

[Little Black: "Tch… who said I’m backing out? Fine, go ahead."]

It refused to let Lin Ran accuse it of being an untrustworthy cat.

Only then did Lin Ran’s face light up with triumph as he pulled out a collar from behind his back and dangled it in front of the black cat.

"Put this on."

The collar was specially made, adorned with intricate patterns and a tiny, nearly invisible tracker.

"Meow—"

Little Black’s pupils dilated instantly, followed by its furious mental protest.

["What the hell? You’ve been corrupted by Luo Yao, haven’t you? I’m not your pet! No way in hell am I wearing that. A cat with dignity would rather die than be humiliated!"]

Its body tensed, arching like a miniature lion ready to fight.

Lin Ran: "This is for your own good. It’s too much trouble tracking you down every time. You’re not going to break your word, are you?"

He tried to reason with it, his eyes hopeful.

Little Black’s expression turned utterly defeated—a look one wouldn’t expect from a cat, as if it were the feline equivalent of Lin Daiyu or the Zhang Benzhihe of the ping-pong world.

["I’d rather die than wear it. Pick another wish."] It refused firmly, unwilling to surrender its freedom.

"Fine, I’ll change it." Lin Ran shrugged helplessly.

Little Black exhaled in relief, grateful that Lin Ran was finally acting human again.

It settled back down, though its eyes remained wary.

Lin Ran’s voice turned serious. "I need an immunity token."

All traces of teasing were gone from his expression.

[Little Black: "What the hell? Why don’t you just fly to the moon?"] Little Black stared at Lin Ran in shock, never expecting him to make such a request.

Lin Ran: "Hold on, hear me out. You can rewind time, right?"

[Little Black: "That’s right. Such a trivial thing is well within this cat’s expertise."]

Little Black lifted its head proudly, brimming with confidence in its abilities.

Lin Ran nodded: "Exactly. This 'get-out-of-death-free card' isn’t for me—it’s for Luo Yao."

His gaze softened at the mention of Luo Yao, his heart swelling with affection.

[Little Black: "What do you mean?"]