"Damn it!" Chi Mu was startled by Little Wei, thinking some rat had just flown past him.
"Help me out here," Little Wei blurted urgently.
If Si hadn’t been completely unavailable to accompany her, she wouldn’t be suffering like this under Yuan Qiaoqiao’s whims.
The rule that each location required at least two people had nearly brought Little Wei to tears when she first heard it.
If only she’d gotten the contact info of the previous systems from Ye Jin before he left—hell, even QQ would’ve worked.
Talk about bad luck.
"Huh?" Chi Mu squinted at the figure standing in the distance. Even though they still wore Si’s appearance, his sharp eyes immediately caught something off.
"Is that Yuan Qiaoqiao?" Chi Mu asked.
Little Wei nodded frantically.
She hoped Chi Mu could see her predicament—and maybe beat Yuan Qiaoqiao up. Wait, no, scratch that. She couldn’t bear it.
Mostly, the woman was just too ruthless. Being around her made Little Wei feel like her life was constantly in danger.
Little Wei quickly explained the situation with the red-robed man to Chi Mu, who agreed without much thought.
Instantly relieved, Little Wei grinned and led Chi Mu over to Yuan Qiaoqiao.
Chi Mu immediately regretted it. The look Yuan Qiaoqiao gave him was sharp enough to kill.
He took half a step back, only for Little Wei to shove him forward.
Chi Mu: "..."
This was the worst. He never should’ve come.
"Since you’re here, let’s go," Yuan Qiaoqiao said flatly, her lips barely twitching.
Honestly, Little Wei wouldn’t have been scared if Yuan Qiaoqiao had just thrown a tantrum.
What terrified her was when Yuan Qiaoqiao stayed silent.
Exchanging a glance with Chi Mu, Little Wei had the distinct feeling Yuan Qiaoqiao was either about to explode or implode.
"If she loses it later, you better figure out how to get me out of here," Little Wei muttered.
She’d love to run on her own, but she didn’t know the area at all. Getting lost meant never making it back.
Chi Mu: "..."
"Yeah, sure. I’ll just carry you out," he deadpanned.
The map was on the pad in Yuan Qiaoqiao’s hands, so the two trailed behind her in silence, not daring to speak.
Of the three, only Yuan Qiaoqiao lacked a flying artifact—not that it mattered. She could levitate, keeping pace effortlessly.
"Is the Chaos Abyss really this far?" Little Wei asked, feeling her staff panting beneath her.
This thing was seriously struggling. Not great.
"Not really. The straight-line distance isn’t that long, but it’s a massive area full of void creatures. We’re heading to the eastern edge, so it feels longer."
In reality, they’d only been about a kilometer from the entrance earlier.
Hearing them chat, Yuan Qiaoqiao stopped walking.
"You two seem close," she remarked, turning with a faint smile.
Little Wei coughed awkwardly.
"Not really. Just acquaintances."
The weak explanation did nothing to soften Yuan Qiaoqiao’s expression.
"Uh-huh."
Little Wei: "..."
Great. Still mad.
Wait, no—she’d been mad this whole time.
If this weren’t Yuan Qiaoqiao, Little Wei would’ve rushed over, clinging to her arm and whining.
But with Yuan Qiaoqiao? That move was useless.
She’d just smirk, mutter "Lucky me," and then grab Little Wei’s chin for a rough kiss.
The mere thought made Little Wei shudder.
Yuan Qiaoqiao’s personality was terrifying enough, but now she had Si’s soul and body.
Some scary things only got scarier.
"Don’t be mad," Little Wei whispered.
Yuan Qiaoqiao smiled. "I’m not mad."
Little Wei: "..."
Wow. Please never say that again.
"You’re totally mad," Little Wei muttered under her breath.
Chi Mu was starting to regret coming. Yuan Qiaoqiao looked ready to snap, and he valued his life too much for this.
Instead of responding, Yuan Qiaoqiao stepped closer.
Little Wei scrambled back, nearly tumbling off her staff.
Holy hell, that was terrifying.
Before she could recover, Yuan Qiaoqiao suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. Little Wei trembled, her tongue tying itself in knots.
"W-what are you doing? Back off!" Little Wei was genuinely terrified.
Yuan Qiaoqiao cupped the back of her head and—before Chi Mu could blink—crushed their lips together.
Chi Mu: "..."
Absolutely unnecessary.
This was just stabbing him in the heart.
Did he not deserve basic dignity?
Little Wei froze, her staff so startled it dropped mid-air. If not for Yuan Qiaoqiao’s quick reflexes, Little Wei would’ve landed flat on her back.
"You did that on purpose!" Little Wei hissed, clutching her waist.
"Not at all. I’d never hurt you, sister," Yuan Qiaoqiao replied, oozing fake innocence.
Little Wei: "..."
That tea-scented tone—was this even the Yuan Qiaoqiao she knew?
She was ready to scream.
"Get lost," Little Wei snapped.
Yuan Qiaoqiao feared nothing—except Little Wei’s anger. She immediately let go.
Little Wei flew down to retrieve her staff, which was now shaking in her grip. Proof of just how terrifying Yuan Qiaoqiao had become.
But Little Wei wasn’t scared anymore.
Returning to her spot, she huffed.
Yuan Qiaoqiao looked mildly chastened and dropped the teasing.
As for Chi Mu? The moment Little Wei came back, he’d gone still as a quail. So much for relying on him—but now wasn’t the time to complain.
Soon, they reached the Chaos Abyss. Little Wei had never seen terrain this harsh—layer upon layer of jagged, uneven land shrouded in black mist. Just one whiff, and Yuan Qiaoqiao clamped a hand over her nose and mouth.
"Don’t breathe here," Yuan Qiaoqiao murmured in her ear.
"Is it toxic?" Little Wei whispered.
Chi Mu nodded. "Yeah. That’s why we’re split into groups. Too many people would draw the creatures’ attention. We’re just here to handle the violent ones—no unnecessary fights."
"Are they that strong?"
Honestly, this was Little Wei’s first time in the void. Talk about a reality check.
If those power-hungry cultivators dreaming of godhood ever made it here, their fantasies would shatter.
Gods weren’t the strongest.
There was always someone stronger, something greater.
"People rarely come here. You can probably guess why," Chi Mu said, summoning a protective barrier around himself before casting two more over the others.