"Mama?"
When Mu Qinglan heard this title symbolizing responsibility, family affection, and status, she was somewhat dumbfounded.
Even out of shock, the girl's mouth slightly opened, her beautiful eyes unfocused, showing a rare trace of bewilderment.
Mama? What mama?
Were there other people here besides herself?
Or was the other party calling her? But she was clearly a sixteen-year-old pure-hearted girl who hadn't even kissed anyone, how could she suddenly be elevated to a completely different generation?
She must be hearing things, definitely hearing things!
The girl laughed nervously, her pupils returning to calm, like an unruffled sea surface.
"Mama?"
Seeing that she didn't seem to respond, that light, cute, milky voice curiously repeated.
?!!!
Now Mu Qinglan could hear clearly—it was calling her.
In that instant, all the excuses in the girl's heart vanished like smoke. It felt like the sky was falling down, with only the word "Mama" echoing repeatedly in her mind.
Although Mu Qinglan wasn't some pink-haired socially anxious person who would lose her composure in a wheelchair and become a cyber mental patient, under the impact of this terrifying title, she still briefly entered a state of shutdown, like those characters in anime who suddenly turn to stone.
The eyes in the shadow stared at her in confusion.
Looking left, looking right.
The big eyes sparkled with bewildered light.
It wasn't until much later that the girl came back from her shutdown, and the shadow became animated, with countless blood-colored eyes simultaneously showing a hint of affection.
"Mama!"
Mu Qinglan met its gaze, stiffening for a moment.
"Call me sister."
"Mama!"
"Sister."
"Mama!"
"..." Mu Qinglan tried not to get hung up on the title issue and asked, "Can you change your form?"
These special creatures are born with some basic common sense, so Mu Qinglan wasn't worried about it not understanding.
"What does Mama want me to become?"
Hearing this, Mu Qinglan paused, organized her words, and said: "A cat, have you heard of this creature?"
"I've seen it."
After the shadow spoke, all eyes simultaneously closed, and then all the shadows in the room returned to normal.
When Mu Qinglan looked again, a black cat strutted out from the corner, lightly jumped onto the girl's lap, and quietly gazed at her.
"Like this?"
"This is good." The girl breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, even knowing that the creature before her had signed a contract with her and would most likely not harm her, seeing those dense, omnipresent blood-colored eyes in the shadow still scared Mu Qinglan somewhat.
Now it was much more comfortable.
After all, what bad intentions could a cat have?
This cat even had a clear foolishness in its gaze, looking as if it would be easy to deceive.
"..."
The black cat's blood-colored eyes stared at her, round and wide.
"Why do you call me Mama?" Mu Qinglan asked.
"Mama is Mama."
The black cat's voice was tender and childlike, but it carried an indisputable firmness.
Mu Qinglan was silent for a moment, knowing she couldn't argue with it, so she simply decided not to think about this matter for now. Instead, she organized her language to exercise her most skilled ability.
That is, infant early education.
"How do you feel about me?"
"Like."
"Do you want to stay by my side forever?"
"Want."
"But some people don't want that."
"!"
"There are bad people outside constantly watching me. If I'm caught by them, I won't be able to keep you company anymore." Mu Qinglan's expression seemed a bit downcast.
"!!"
"But I'll miss you."
"!!!"
The black cat stared at her with big eyes, its small brain working rapidly.
Separation is a common thing, but for a little creature that had been born just a few hours ago, being separated from its mother was simply the most terrifying thing in the world.
It didn't doubt at all that what Mama said was false, nor did it doubt whether this girl, so different from itself, was really its mother.
The inherited memory said that the first thing you see and feel close to is your mama.
The little creature believed it without question.
On this side, Miss Mu Qinglan, who was habitually performing the traditional art of being a bad woman, looked at the cat on her lap and felt somewhat helpless.
After all, she could only see a face full of cat fur when she looked down, unable to read accurate emotions.
But she thought it must be frightened.
"Bad people?"
The cat asked.
Mu Qinglan patiently explained: "People who want to hurt me are bad people. People who are good to me are good people. There are many bad people outside the house."
"Bad people!"
The cat bared its teeth, obviously feeling deep hatred for those bad people mentioned by the white-haired girl.
Seeing how easily the little thing could be deceived, the corners of Mu Qinglan's mouth curled up.
Not feeling guilty at all.
The little one had just been born, at the perfect age for developing worldviews. For the healthy growth of her pet, shouldn't she intervene? Especially in distinguishing between good people and bad people—it mustn't get it wrong.
Very simple.
People who are good to Mu Qinglan are good people; people Mu Qinglan doesn't like are bad people.
The main point was a double standard.
Seeing that the cat seemed to have absorbed this viewpoint, Mu Qinglan asked:
"Do you have a name?"
"Mama choose."
She should choose? Mu Qinglan was in a dilemma for a while. She was terrible at naming, and seeing the expectant look in the cat's eyes, she painfully swallowed back names like Xiaohei, Dabai, Li Goudan, and Li Gouhai that had rushed to the tip of her tongue.
Thinking of the nickname "Ah Chi" (Eater) that players had given to [Great Shadow] in her previous life, Mu Qinglan had an idea.
"How about calling you 'Ah Qi'?"
She couldn't really call it Ah Chi.
"Ah Qi."
The cat narrowed its eyes and repeated the name, its little tail swaying back and forth—it seemed to be happy.
"Ah Qi will be called Ah Qi from now on."
(tl/n: These are stereotypical, unimaginative pet names in Chinese culture - Xiaohei (Little Black), Dabai (Big White), and Li Goudan/Li Gouhai (basically equivalent to naming a pet "Spot" or "Fluffy").
"Ah Chi" literally translates as "Eater". Guess it would be too ominous to name it like that, so she just changed the name for similar in sounding "Ah Qi" which is simple but cute nickname for a pet that means "Number Seven". Using “Ah + number” is a common casual or affectionate naming style in Chinese. Don't know why exactly seven but whatever)
○
After getting its name, Ah Qi didn't stay long before returning to Mu Qinglan's shadow to sleep.
After all, it had just been born.
And when they signed the contract, Mu Qinglan had stuffed in a bottle of blood essence from a fifth-rank shadow-oriented warrior, which would take more time to digest.
Even as a world boss with a boundless future, Ah Qi still needed time to develop.
However,
It should be enough to handle the upcoming Human Gate test.
Even a bit too much.
This was the only T0 profession in the late game. Fighting against these supernatural beings who could only dominate in the early game was like an urban warrior general rampaging through a kindergarten—simply effortless.
Add in the assistance of a world boss, it would be even more crushing.
The mechanist profession had extremely rare inheritance and quite strict awakening conditions.
Most people had never even heard of it.
Even the upper echelons of Great Xia at most knew the name, with very few having any real understanding of it.
The truly formidable aspect of the mechanist profession was that it could contract a completely independent puppet beast under its control, and this puppet beast was considered as one entity with the main body.
That is to say, Mu Qinglan could bring Ah Qi along when entering a domain.
Many people in Great Xia knew that the Imperial Spirit Sect also had similar contracting methods.
But those couldn't allow both parties to enter a domain simultaneously.
And a profession that allowed a supernatural being and a beast to enter a domain at the same time—anyone could understand how precious that was.
Therefore, Mu Qinglan was determined that anyone who saw her full power would have to die.
She didn't want to be troubled.
'Mechanists are very weak in the early stages, with their strength entirely dependent on their puppet beasts, so even if people could get transformation scrolls in the early game, no one would play them. But now with Ah Qi, I'm not worried about this,' Mu Qinglan thought.
'In terms of strength, no one at the same level can defeat a world boss. And after Ah Qi digests that bottle of blood essence, it should reach eighth rank. Then I can take it to bully little kids.'
'Hmm, it should wake up before the day after tomorrow.'
Mu Qinglan breathed a sigh of relief. If the trump card she had worked so hard to obtain couldn't be used in the Human Gate test, she would have been quite upset.
But now, others would be the ones feeling upset.
Time to blow up some fish~
Thinking this, the smile at the corners of Mu Qinglan's mouth became more apparent.
Although she had become a sixteen-year-old single mother, she had also gained strength!
When she first transmigrated, she was somewhat worried about being assassinated the next day, but in just three short days, she had already achieved this level.
Mu Qinglan slowly lowered her head.
The arms reflected in her blood-colored eyes were still fair.
But she knew she was very different from before.
With two world bosses serving her, she had clearly drawn a line between herself and her past.
Now, she seemed capable of changing the world, and also changing...
The predestined ending of Prince Qi's mansion.
This was something players couldn't do, geniuses couldn't do, and even Prince Qi, who had reached the second rank in the martial realm, couldn't do!
But—
She could do it.
"That's right, I can do it."
The white-haired girl confirmed once more.
○
At this moment, in the Crown Prince's mansion.
"What? They didn't return?!"
Upon hearing the news reported by his subordinate, the Crown Prince's face changed drastically. His right hand, holding a teacup, instinctively clenched into a fist, gripping tightly.
Bang!!!
The porcelain cup decorated with colorful glaze suddenly shattered.
Tea mixed with porcelain fragments splashed everywhere.
"How could..."
Behind the desk, the Crown Prince stared, unaware that his palm had been cut by porcelain fragments and was bleeding.
Before deciding to make a move against Mu Qinglan, he had repeatedly sent people to confirm: she was just a mortal, with a rather domineering personality, not seeming to have much scheming ability, but...
But in just three short days.
Two fifth-rank subordinates of his had fallen there one after another!
This was fifth rank, absolutely top experts in the entire Great Xia.
Sending one fifth-rank expert already showed how seriously he took Mu Qinglan. The first time, it could be said that the demon made a mistake, and she borrowed the power of the Six Bureaus. But what about the second time?! He had sent a fifth-rank assassin and someone with an innate destiny trait, and they also failed?
He didn't believe in so many coincidences!
The only explanation was that Mu Qinglan had been hiding her abilities before, deceiving everyone including him and his spies!
"Such deep scheming!" the Crown Prince gritted his teeth.
Thud!
The woman opposite put down her teacup: "Though it's a pity that assassin fell, it's still acceptable. As long as Your Highness's loyalist with the innate destiny trait doesn't have any problems."
Hearing this, the Crown Prince nearly fainted with anger.
To ensure Mu Qinglan's death, he had specifically had the assassin bring Zhu Yan along to secretly eliminate Mu Qinglan using her trait ability.
But who could have imagined that not only was Mu Qinglan not eliminated, but both of them had fallen there?
"I had her bring Zhu Yan along."
The Crown Prince took a deep breath, his expression bitter.
"..."
The woman said nothing, not knowing what to say.
After all, she could understand the Crown Prince's current feelings.
In half a month, the Crown Prince was about to launch a shocking assassination operation against Prince Qi's faction, with the lost Zhu Yan being the main force.
Without Zhu Yan, completing the assassination was almost a fantasy.
This miscalculation had shattered the Crown Prince's mansion's months-long plan in one go.
"Mu Qinglan... huh?"
The woman silently noted this name.
Planning to investigate when she returned.
Behind her, a fox tail flashed briefly in the shadow.
○
At the same time.
While Mu Qinglan was looking forward to the future and the Crown Prince was impotently raging, Miss Shen Yao, who had stayed up late last night, was miserably preparing for her eight o'clock work.
Yes, the Six Bureaus required starting at eight.
Shen Yao entered her office and was slightly startled.
"Why are you here?" Shen Yao asked.
A girl with a lively smile stood in the room.
"Hmph! I'm a constable who caught a major criminal! Why can't I be here?"
"Although you gave me the information, Sister, I still deserve some credit! Others never tell me this kind of information. Sister is so good, I want to follow you from now on!"
Bai Yuyu's voice was somewhat excited.
After all, this was a rare major case, something that would add luster to her resume if mentioned.
For a girl who was very interested in investigations, it was indeed exciting.
Shen Yao's gaze was cold. She ignored her, first returning to her seat, picking up the documents her subordinates had already placed there, reading for a little while, tasting her tea, and only then looking up at the girl sitting opposite her.
She knew that Bai Yuyu was the type of person who had only three minutes of enthusiasm for anything.
So she wasn't in a hurry to respond.
Sure enough, when she looked up again, the little girl was already sitting up straight.
"How did Sister know he had a problem?"
The little girl's voice was sweet.
"Secret," Shen Yao said coldly.
"Oh? Se-cret," the little girl repeated with exaggerated intonation, then excitedly said: "I've told you all my little secrets, shouldn't you tell me yours too?"
Bai Yuyu leaned forward, raising her hand to swear: "I won't tell anyone."
"Not convenient," Shen Yao said.
"What's not convenient?" Bai Yuyu persisted.
"You don't know that person." Shen Yao said indifferently: "And I think she probably doesn't want to be harassed by you all day."
"Eh?"
Bai Yuyu was stunned.
If an ordinary person were rejected in this way by this ice mountain chief constable, they would certainly know when to retreat.
But Bai Yuyu was different. She had a fierce personality and was the very best of friends with Shen Yao, perhaps the only friend of this ice mountain. Having been acquainted for a long time, her speech was naturally much more casual.
And also...
"She?" Bai Yuyu asked curiously.
Shen Yao realized her slip but just lowered her head to look at the files. But the more she acted this way, the more curious Bai Yuyu became, like a little cat continuously scratching an itch inside her heart.
"Who is she? Who is she?"
The little girl's crisp voice echoed in the room like an oriole.
"Just a friend," Shen Yao was annoyed by the questioning, her voice cold. She deliberately mocked: "A friend I met while working on a case, mature and steady, much more reliable than you."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Bai Yuyu immediately became alert.