?Xin Liangmu
I was born among beggars. It seems that my parents died of an epidemic not long after I was born. I was probably lucky and survived.
I was disliked by everyone since I was a child, and I was treated like trash wherever I went.
Later, I was adopted by people from a brothel and became their handyman.
As I grew older, my appearance changed, and the madam began to harass me frequently, which disgusted me.
When I resisted, she hit me and wouldn't let me eat, so I looked younger than other children my age.
Later, I learned to act weak so that the madam would take pity on me, give me a bite to eat, and spare me a beating.
As I grew older, I would occasionally encounter customers who came to the brothel. They mistook me for a woman, and the madam had the idea of having me serve customers, to provide pleasure for those with special fetishes.
And she actually did it.
I secretly hid a knife, killed the guest, and obtained a booklet on him that recorded the art of Gu poison.
I know that Gu poison is prevalent in Miao areas, but I have never had the opportunity to come into contact with it.
So I started to teach myself Gu magic. I didn't want to live this kind of life where I was trampled underfoot and trampled on by others anymore. I must sit in a position above everyone else.
I found out which families had secret scrolls or books about Gu techniques and Gu worms.
At first, I just wanted to steal, but I was chased away with sticks. I resisted and accidentally killed someone. I took the secret scroll that recorded various powerful Gu techniques and began to study them.
But I still felt it wasn't enough. I used my own strengths to pretend to be weak and deliberately approach those who had secret manuals on Gu techniques or Gu worms at home, and then threatened them to hand over the manuals.
Some people were very obedient; after they handed over the secret manual, I spared their lives.
But some people don't know this and are unwilling to give it to me, so I kill them and they find it themselves.
I learned from other secret scrolls that the Sacred Silkworm Gu can control hundreds of Gu and even cure hundreds of poisons; it is an extremely powerful Gu worm.
However, one must find the Gu creature record to know how to cultivate it.
I learned that the Wu family possesses this record and has been cultivating the Sacred Silkworm Gu.
I used the old method to enter the Wu family. When they were completely unsuspecting, I used a poisonous Gu on them.
Just to be on the safe side, I used Ulana's sister; even if they noticed something, they wouldn't suspect her.
However, Ulana knew martial arts and was more vigilant, so to be absolutely sure, I deliberately chose to make my move when she was away.
I only want the Sacred Silkworm Gu and the Collection of Gu Items, but they say that the Sacred Silkworm Gu was eaten by a child.
I think they just didn't want to give it to me, so they made up such an absurd reason.
I didn't let them get away with it.
But I didn't expect Ulana to come back so early. I only found the second volume of the Gu Collection and left in a hurry.
She chased after me very quickly. I thought I was going to be killed by her, but I was so lucky that I was saved by a stupid woman.
Suddenly, a woman appeared and asked Ulana to save the man on her back.
She smelled very strongly of medicine, but there were other scents mixed in with the medicine, as if they were deliberately masked.
I was curious and took another look at her. Her clothes looked like those of people from the Central Plains, but the decorations on her ears were strange, shimmering in the moonlight, and her eyes were so bright.
She seems to really want to save that man, but why did she approach Shia?
I glanced at the man; with such severe injuries, he was surely going to die.
After she left, I secretly followed her for a while.
Just as she reached the riverbank and found herself with nowhere to go, she vanished into thin air.
I've only ever seen this ability in storybooks; it's impossible for someone to have it unless they're a deity.
I thought to myself, she must be a goddess.
Later, I was valued by the Miao King and became a sorcerer. In order to prevent Xia, the "living sacred silkworm gu," from leaving, I recommended her to be the saintess.
In order to maintain good relations with the Central Plains, and because the Miao king was unwell, I went to offer birthday wishes to the Empress Dowager on his behalf.
I picked up a cat on the road and wanted to try making a Gu puppet to raise Gu worms, so I kept it with me.
I accidentally discovered that the Empress Dowager was keeping male lovers, and I promised myself I wouldn't tell anyone.
The way she looked at me reminded me of the way a brothel owner would look at me when I was a child, and it made me feel nauseous.
She even wanted me to enter her palace.
In order to maintain good relations between the Central Plains and Miao regions, I couldn't be disrespectful to her, so I used looking for a cat as an excuse to distance myself from her.
I bumped into someone by the river in the Empress Dowager's palace.
I thought I would never see her again in this lifetime, but I never expected to run into her again.
She wanted the cat I was holding, so I gave it to her.
And secretly, I thought, since I gave her the cat, could she give me something in return...?
I want her eyes, but I think if I gouge them out, they might not be as bright and clear.
Moreover, her voice and appearance are so perfect, so I think it's better to be whole.
I think that if we have the chance to meet again in the future, I must win her over.
Before returning to Miao territory, I met the Regent, the man she had carried on her back all those years ago; he was truly alive.
The desire to win her over became even stronger...
Many years later.
I used Xia to come to the Central Plains and was appointed by the emperor. In order to establish myself, I even endured the occasional harassment from the empress dowager.
Soon I became the Imperial Advisor, but in reality I didn't have much power; it was just an empty title.
I tried to subtly inquire about Lin Miao, but all I got was news that she was dead.
I don't believe it, how could a goddess possibly be dead?
But I still felt uneasy. I drew her portrait. To satisfy my desire to see her, I replaced the face of a corpse that had been made into a puppet with her face. It was pleasing to the eye.
The only downside is that she's missing her eyes.
Two or three years later, the Empress Dowager ordered me to assassinate the Regent.
Unexpectedly, she appeared.
It just appeared out of thin air...
I am even more convinced that she is a goddess. I have found that whether it was ten years ago or ten years later, she only saved the Regent.
I'm very dissatisfied. Shouldn't the goddess save everyone? Why did she only save him?
Especially after I learned that she was going to be engaged to the Regent, I couldn't describe how I felt, but I had only one thought: I wanted her to belong to me alone, and for her eyes to look only at me.
I know the Empress Dowager has been using me, so I need to have my own plans.
I cultivated symbiotic Gu and soul-capturing Gu, but both of these Gu worms need to be cultivated using my own body in order for them to take effect.
I think even goddesses eventually run out of magic and become ordinary people.
She can get hurt, she can get poisoned, just like any other ordinary person.
My chance has come.
When she was questioned by the Empress Dowager after being poisoned by the Gu, I knew she must have forced the Gu worms out.
But I didn't expose her, because I also wanted to use the Empress Dowager's plan to take her out of the palace.
I planted a symbiotic poison in her eyes.
Symbiotic worms can sense each other, and I think that way she will keep watching me.
I have burned all the books on the secret techniques of Gu worms that record the symbiotic Gu, including all other secret scrolls on Gu worms and Gu techniques. No one can find a way to expel the symbiotic Gu.
Although I have successfully cultivated the Soul-Capturing Gu, I need to obtain the first volume of the Gu Collection to control it.
I think she must have known. Logically speaking, since the goddess has pity on humanity, she would have told me where the first volume of the collection was in order to save Ulana and the others.
As long as I can control the Soul-Seizing Gu, I can sit in that position above ten thousand people.
But if I fail, I know I will surely die.
But at least she will be buried with me. I was born alone, and when I die, I want someone to be with me, I want her to be with me.
I have never experienced familial love, romantic love, or friendship; I don't understand these emotions.
No one taught me; I only know how to use these things to achieve my goals, because that's the only way I can survive.
As she was dying, Ulana asked me, "My family treated you so well, and my sister liked you so much, why did you still do this?"
I thought about it carefully and replied, "Because they didn't give me what I wanted, so they deserve to die."
Ulana was furious and stabbed my heart with a sword.
At the moment of my death, I felt like I was hallucinating.
I went back to my childhood and was treated like trash, driven away by others.
But someone reached out to me, and I saw those clear, moon-like eyes, and I wanted to grab her.
But I couldn't catch her no matter what I did. Her face became blurry, and darkness enveloped the surroundings. I had no strength left.
Finally, my life came to an end...
...
Lu Ke
My father was beaten to death for gambling, and my mother sold me.
I managed to escape with great effort. This is my only chance. If I fail to escape, I will be enslaved.
But he was still caught by his creditors and inevitably received a severe beating.
I thought I would be taken away and live a life of darkness from then on.
But I was rescued by someone who bought me from the creditor.
He's a bit taller than me; he's like an older brother.
He took me to the restaurant and told me that I would live there from now on.
She taught me to cook, to read, and even taught me some martial arts to improve my health. I am very grateful to her.
He also introduced me to his master and told me that this place would be my home from now on.
I can always smell a faint milky scent on him, but I feel that this scent should only be found on young girls. After thinking about it, I can picture Brother Lin dressed as a woman in my mind.
I feel like I'm sick.
Until one day I accidentally discovered his female body.
I was stunned. "You...who are you?"
She touched her face and said calmly, "I just took off my human skin mask. I am your senior brother, Lin Miao."
"You..." I was so shocked I didn't know what to say.
She was amused by my dumbfounded look, and the corners of her lips curved into a beautiful smile. "So, what do you want from me so late?"
"I...I...I just...Master asked me to give you the bracelet during the day, but I forgot...I forgot, so I rushed over to give it to you." I had never seen such a beautiful woman before, and I couldn't speak clearly.
During the day, I was curious why Master gave Brother Lin a gold bracelet meant for women, but I never expected that he was actually a woman.
Memories of our past interactions filled my mind, and at that moment, an idea popped into my head.
I want to marry her.
Later I heard my master say that the gold bracelet was part of her dowry.
I couldn't help but voice my thoughts directly, and she rejected me just as decisively.
I thought she thought I was too young to understand anything.
But I'm very serious; I won't give up until she gets married.
However, by the time I grew up, she had already gotten married.
I've thought countless times, if I had been born a few years earlier and met her sooner, would I have been able to be with her?
However, this is just wishful thinking.
Therefore, there are no "ifs"...
——
End of extra chapter~
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