The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v3c55

Chapter 55: Collaboration

“Little Black Kite? Little Black Kite?”

The one-eyed girl waved her remaining right hand in front of the teal-haired girl’s face until a flicker of awareness returned to her eyes.

Luo Ling, finally regaining her senses after withdrawing her consciousness from the Luo Ling puppet, nodded slightly to Xuanyuan Linglong, offering an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, Sister Linglong, I was… a little distracted just now.”

“Hehe, want some grapes?”

Xuanyuan Linglong didn’t seem to mind, just chuckled softly and popped a grape into Luo Ling’s mouth.

Caught off guard, Luo Ling swallowed the grape, smacking her lips slightly. Although she couldn’t taste anything, she felt a refreshing current flow through her abdomen, quickly spreading throughout her body before dissipating.

For a moment, even her mind felt clearer.

…Clearly, this grape wasn’t ordinary.

Recently, Xuanyuan Linglong seemed to have developed an addiction, constantly feeding Luo Ling various foods, all of them high-quality.

Luo Ling couldn’t even refuse because Sister Linglong always took advantage of her moments of distraction, bringing the food directly to her lips, forcing her to eat.

After a few times, Luo Ling gave up struggling and simply accepted Sister Linglong’s kindness.

What Xuanyuan Linglong offered was naturally good stuff, but it was a bit of a waste to nourish a puppet.

Of course, perhaps for the Xuanyuan clan, this level of supplement was just a snack, and wasting it didn’t matter.

Besides, the Xuanyuan clan wasn’t poor. They controlled Kunlun’s Ruins, the origin territory of Great Xia Imperial City, possessing resources unmatched by any other faction. This was one of the reasons for the Xuanyuan clan’s powerful fighting force.

“Delicious, right? I just picked them from my granduncle’s courtyard,” Xuanyuan Linglong said with a smile.

“Hmph, you have the nerve to say that. Those were for my wine. You stole them all.” Xuanyuan Gong, standing beside them, said with a dark expression, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

He turned to Luo Ling. With his strength, he naturally noticed something was off with Luo Ling just now.

But without a thorough examination, he couldn’t find any clues. It seemed she was just distracted.

Xuanyuan Gong had naturally heard a lot about this “Miss Black Kite” from Xuanyuan Linglong, all positive comments. He hadn’t had the chance to meet her in person before, and today… she didn’t seem particularly noteworthy.

“Perhaps… Sister Linglong is just addicted to raising a daughter?”

Xuanyuan Gong felt suspicious, but he couldn’t interfere in this matter.

Even after retirement, Xuanyuan Linglong still held considerable influence within the strength-oriented Xuanyuan clan.

Without prestige, she wouldn’t have been able to temporarily take over Xuanyuan Gong’s duties and manage the Xuanyuan clan.

And now, all the Xuanyuan clan’s higher-ups had returned. This massive war machine finally had its control panel back, operating smoothly again, revealing its fangs.

Whether it was the Fairy or the Doomsday Messengers, Xuanyuan Linglong no longer needed to worry about them.

After her temporary management authority ended and she returned to her “retired” state, Xuanyuan Linglong was finally free, but she couldn’t completely relax. As one of the strongest fighters of the Xuanyuan clan, there would be many opportunities for her to act in the future.

“I came here to discuss something.” Xuanyuan Gong found a place to sit down, facing Luo Ling, and said seriously, “It’s about a collaboration between the Xuanyuan clan and the Jingwei forces.”

“Jingwei forces?”

Hearing this, Luo Ling’s mind was still elsewhere and subconsciously replied, “Why are you looking for me if you want to collaborate with the Jingwei forces?”

Xuanyuan Linglong and Xuanyuan Gong both looked at Luo Ling, their expressions turning strange.

The reason was simple.

“Miss Black Kite’s” identity was Jingwei’s Godchosen. This… had been confirmed by multiple sources.

The most direct evidence was her appearance.

Anyone who had seen Jingwei, even just Her Dharma Idol, would recognize the connection between this teal-haired girl and Jingwei at first glance.

It was… too obvious, practically written on her face.

“…Sorry.” Luo Ling quickly adjusted, her mind exhausted from constant multitasking. “I… actually haven’t been Lord Jingwei’s Godchosen for long. My older sister, Iris, is His God’s Favored, and she can truly represent Jingwei.”

“Actually, we just want to collaborate with you, Little Black Kite.” Xuanyuan Linglong added, winking at Luo Ling. “It doesn’t matter whose Godchosen you are. Even if you were Naraku’s, Guixu’s, or Knight’s Godchosen, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Ahem, it would be a problem. Openly siding with a Taboo Godchosen is courting death.”

Xuanyuan Gong started sweating upon hearing this. Why did Sister Linglong always say such inappropriate things in such… official settings?

Even the Xuanyuan clan was unwilling to provoke the notorious Taboo Godchosen.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t defeat them, but… who would willingly invite trouble from lunatics?

They had witnessed those crazy and obsessive personalities before…

Others called the Xuanyuan clan lunatics, but the Xuanyuan clan knew that the true lunatics were the Taboo Godchosen.

Not long ago, a Naraku Godchosen, along with a few of Guixu’s Godchosen, caused chaos in the Thunder Marsh, and Lord Lei was still troubled by this matter. Unfortunately, in this situation, he couldn’t even ask for help. Even the Xuanyuan clan didn’t want to deal with such a troublesome task.

“Yes, I understand.”

Luo Ling nodded. She wasn’t surprised by this.

She had sensed it before. Sister Linglong had been hesitant, testing her attitude.

And now, they were just making it official.

However…

Luo Ling was curious. Why did they say it was a collaboration with the Jingwei forces?

“Sister Linglong said that because this matter needs to be announced publicly, we… can only use the name of the Jingwei forces.” Xuanyuan Gong blushed slightly and said awkwardly, “After all, our Xuanyuan clan also has a reputation to uphold…”

They couldn’t just say it was a collaboration with an individual. The Xuanyuan clan had always been independent. Collaborating with a single outsider, let alone forming an alliance with an entire faction, was a rare occurrence.

Xuanyuan Linglong’s initial suggestion was to directly announce this relationship publicly, but Xuanyuan Gong vehemently opposed it. He had spent a lot of effort persuading her to reach the current compromise.

Xuanyuan Gong couldn’t do anything about his grandniece, whom he had watched grow up. She had always been willful since childhood, and even now, as a mother of three, she hadn’t changed.

Forming an alliance with the Jingwei forces had a plausible explanation for outsiders.

Since Jingwei, in legends, was the deceased spirit of one of the Emperor’s daughters, it seemed more normal for the Xuanyuan clan to seek collaboration based on this connection.

The Xuanyuan clan wasn’t completely indifferent to public opinion. Maintaining their long-established image required careful planning from the higher-ups. Xuanyuan Gong, his edges smoothed by time, could only vent his anger briefly before calming down and thinking of solutions.

T/N: I was a little unsure about Jingwei’s gender, as she was often referred to with gender-neutral terms and addressed by the title “Lord,” even though, according to legend, Jingwei is a woman (among other things). But this line finally clarified that she is, indeed, a woman. Or did they mention her gender before, and I didn’t catch it? I don’t remember. Too many names for me, haha.😔

… I fixed some pronouns I used for Jingwei in previous chapters, but I’m not sure if I caught them all.

This was the case for the higher-ups of the Xuanyuan clan. The Xuanyuan disciples only needed to follow orders and fight with all their might, while the clan elders had many more things to consider.

“The so-called ‘Jingwei forces’ seem to consist of only my sister, Iris, and me.” Luo Ling said, then a thought suddenly struck her. “However, if there are other members, would they also be included in this collaboration?”

There were many individuals closely related to her in Starry Victoria.

Her sister, Elsa, Linna, Alyssa, Stasha… they could all utilize Jingwei’s power to a certain extent through Luo Ling. In critical moments, they might be useful, at least they could use the name of the Jingwei forces and the Xuanyuan clan to move around Great Xia Imperial City.

Without Iris knowing, Luo Ling had recruited many new members for her… She wondered how Iris would react if she knew about this.

“Of course,” Xuanyuan Linglong nodded without hesitation.

“No, wait…”

Xuanyuan Gong panicked, pulling Xuanyuan Linglong aside for a hushed conversation before returning, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Miss Black Kite, I’d like to understand… there wouldn’t suddenly appear a hundred or so Jingwei Godchosen overnight, right…?”

He hadn’t heard of any Jingwei Godchosen before. They had basically vanished hundreds of years ago due to certain incidents.

Based on his previous understanding, Xuanyuan Gong believed the Jingwei forces currently consisted of only Black Kite and Iris. That was why he allowed Xuanyuan Linglong to handle this matter.

“Not many, less than ten,” Luo Ling said.

“That’s good, I have no problem with that.”

Xuanyuan Gong breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again.

“Also…”

“Granduncle, don’t you have other matters to attend to?” Xuanyuan Linglong interrupted him.

“Although I do…”

Xuanyuan Gong’s troubled expression was evident. These were tumultuous times, and the Xuanyuan clan had many matters to deal with, but regarding this so-called collaboration… his grandniece always seemed to favor outsiders, and he couldn’t help but worry.

“Now that you and Little Black Kite have reached an agreement, isn’t that enough?” Xuanyuan Linglong said, waving her hand dismissively. “Go on, go on, don’t disturb our girl talk. Don’t you think you’re a bit of a third wheel?”

Since when did we become besties?

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Gong’s chubby face crumpled, but he still sighed and stood up.

He couldn’t just sit here forever, and if Xuanyuan Linglong was determined to do something, he couldn’t stop her even if he stayed.

Of course, the most important reason was that Xuanyuan Gong knew Xuanyuan Linglong wouldn’t do anything to harm the Xuanyuan clan.

It was just… as the Clan Leader, he had to consider far more than Xuanyuan Linglong.

“Sigh, I’m old and useless…”

Xuanyuan Gong sighed and shook his head, but quickly noticed Xuanyuan Linglong’s sharp, sword-like gaze, carrying a terrifying killing intent, and quickly added, “I’m talking about myself, myself!”

“Hehe.”

Xuanyuan Linglong just chuckled coldly. She seemed to have a strong aversion to people mentioning her age—of course, perhaps this was something all girls, even old girls, disliked.

Seeing this, Xuanyuan Gong didn’t dare stay any longer and quickly fled.

“Is this… really okay?”

Luo Ling asked. Although she was meeting Xuanyuan Gong for the first time, she had heard many stories about the current Clan Leader of the Xuanyuan clan, all about his ruthlessness and cruelty, practically a demon god.

But before Xuanyuan Linglong, he was like a useless elder who only spoiled his juniors, even leaving with his tail between his legs.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Come, have some more grapes.” Xuanyuan Linglong brought another grape to Luo Ling’s lips, smiling. “He just insisted on coming over for a formality.”

“Uh, we haven’t discussed the specific terms yet, have we?”

Luo Ling opened her mouth naturally, being fed by Xuanyuan Linglong.

“There aren’t any specific terms. We just consider each other as part of the other’s forces—since the so-called ‘Jingwei forces’ consist of only you and Iris, and perhaps a few others, it’s basically just us unilaterally opening up everything to you.”

Xuanyuan Linglong explained, “If you’re considered an elder within the Jingwei forces, you’ll enjoy the treatment of an elder in the Xuanyuan clan, able to use our intelligence network, access our resources, and even mobilize the Xuanyuan Guards if necessary.”

The Xuanyuan Guards were the core strength of the Xuanyuan clan, five people forming a squad, fifty people forming a formation, five hundred people forming an army. Almost all of them were experts capable of using Authorities. In Victoria’s Company, they could at least be branch office directors.

Great Xia Imperial City had a long history. Although due to human limitations, the top-level experts weren’t much different from Victoria’s, the difference in their core strength was significant, more than just an order of magnitude.

“In that case… does Iris get the treatment of the Clan Leader?” A strange look appeared on Luo Ling’s face. Miss Iris… somehow became an existence at Xuanyuan Gong’s level?

“Not exactly. She still has the authority of an elder, but she’ll be on equal footing with the Clan Leader.” Xuanyuan Linglong shook her head and answered.

Xuanyuan Gong’s previous concern was that a thousand or eight hundred Godchosen would suddenly appear within the Jingwei forces, most of them at the elder or protector level, which would significantly impact the Xuanyuan clan.

Of course, this situation that worried Xuanyuan Gong was impossible. Where would Luo Ling find another thousand or eight hundred Godchosen for Iris…

“Sister Linglong, I’ve always had a question,” Luo Ling took a deep breath, looked directly into Xuanyuan Linglong’s eye, and asked softly, “But… I don’t know if I should ask.”

“Just ask. Why are you being so polite with me?”

Xuanyuan Linglong leaned back in her wheelchair, responding to Luo Ling’s gaze with a smile.

“Honestly, you seem… a little too good to me.” Luo Ling pondered for a moment and asked, “Why?”

“Can’t it be because you’re cute?” Xuanyuan Linglong’s lips curled up slightly, and she leaned closer.

“We both know that’s not a valid reason.” Luo Ling sighed and continued, “You know, you’re not even seeing my true appearance.”

This was the first time Luo Ling had been honest with Xuanyuan Linglong. Sister Linglong’s sincerity made her relent. Constantly deceiving her… made her feel guilty.

“I know that,” Xuanyuan Linglong said, her gaze unwavering, a strange glint in her remaining eye. “You look even cuter when you’re being serious.”

“Ahem…”

Luo Ling coughed, her face slightly flushed.

She was never thick-skinned, always shy.

“Besides, I already knew this before. Your current appearance should be based on ‘Iris,’ right? You two aren’t really sisters. You’re just using her power.” Xuanyuan Linglong said faintly.

Deducing this information from Xuanyuan Mu Yan’s description wasn’t difficult, especially since Xuanyuan Linglong had vaguely suspected it from the beginning.

“If you want to hear the truth, I can tell you.” Xuanyuan Linglong reached out and scratched Luo Ling’s nose. “It’s just intuition. You know, a woman’s intuition… is never wrong.

Little Black Kite is a good girl. I like you, so I want to build a good relationship, that’s all—if all relationships are interpreted from the perspective of transactions and investments, it would be too impersonal, wouldn’t it?”

“…That’s true.”

Luo Ling thought for a moment and nodded.

Regardless of the reason, whether it was “liking” or “expecting returns,” Sister Linglong had indeed been very kind to her, and the result was the same.

“We’ve almost finished investigating the matter of the Fairy and the Heavenly Woman Ba.” Xuanyuan Linglong said, then, seeing the surprise on Luo Ling’s face, she smiled and continued, “Why that expression? Don’t underestimate the Xuanyuan clan’s intelligence network. We’re not just battle maniacs, but a true war machine.

War isn’t just about fighting. Other aspects are equally important. What we showed before was just a small demonstration. No one can stop the Xuanyuan clan when we go all out.”

Xuanyuan Linglong’s smile was filled with confidence, as if her words weren’t just a metaphor, but an objective fact.

Just like before, Xuanyuan Linglong shared the Xuanyuan clan’s intelligence with Luo Ling. To Luo Ling’s surprise, among the suspected hiding places of the Fairy listed by the Xuanyuan clan was the old world relic at the edge of the world.

Moreover, even the Heavenly Woman Ba’s true whereabouts were among their deductions.

More importantly, the Xuanyuan clan confirmed a piece of information that Luo Ling had been doubting.

“Sister Linglong, do you mean…” Luo Ling’s expression turned serious, “The Doomsday Messengers’ headquarters… was really attacked?”