Chapter 116: Infinite Cannon Fodder (6)

Tong Ling lowered her head and sniffed her arm. “Nonsense! I’m clearly not smelly! Miya, your nose must be broken!”

Miya had never encountered such a foolish person before. Did she think he couldn’t detect her scent? No matter how far she stood from him, he could always pick up on her aroma.

When they first entered the castle earlier, her presence was still fresh; even after getting rained on, that natural blend of rainwater and her body odor… wasn’t unpleasant at all.

But then she claimed to have gone for a bath—only to return smelling overwhelmingly like that damned fish!

It was as if the fish, in its mating season, had purposefully left a strong scent mark on her, irritating Miya greatly.

Wasn’t this woman trying to get back together with me? How did she end up associating with those crude, savage beasts so quickly?!

The fact that such a potent smell remained suggested what unspeakable acts they might have committed behind his back!

Moreover, this woman now brazenly clung to another useless man—is she provoking or insulting him?

As these thoughts swirled through Miya’s mind, his anger grew. Recalling how he had patiently waited downstairs for her to find him just moments ago, he felt once again deeply manipulated and humiliated.

Miya’s lips curled into a ferocious snarl. “You’d better explain yourself clearly—what’s going on between you and that damned fish!”

“If I’m not satisfied,” Miya’s gaze turned icy and piercing as he looked at Tong Ling, “whether it’s that damned fish or you, neither will be spared.”

“Are you really that bothered, Miya?” Tong Ling raised her eyebrows, her voice dripping with disdain. “Is what I do with others such a concern for you?”

Involuntarily tightening his grip, Miya sneered, “Me, bothered by you? Keep dreaming!”

“Ouch—” Tong Ling’s face paled instantly, a pained cry escaping her lips. “That hurts! You lunatic, you’re hurting me!”

Miya saw tears welling up in her eyes, her gaze fixed on him with resentment. Yet, due to those tears, instead of intimidation, her expression conveyed only vulnerability—a pathetic sight.

She was merely an ordinary human, even weaker than most. With just a hint of force, he rendered her completely immobile.

This woman should know better than to provoke him so casually; he was no longer that “fool” from her memories who would tolerate such behavior.

“Let go!” Bai Bei tried to stop the red-haired youth but found himself completely helpless.

Tong Ling had one of his arms in a death grip, while his other arm remained necrotic. Any sudden movement could reveal his abnormal state to his girlfriend. Trapped, he could only issue a cold warning, “Release her at once!”

Miya held Tong Ling’s wrist with practiced ease, his fingers gently caressing it as if snapping it were child’s play. It was strange—his touch felt foreign against Tong Ling’s skin. Had he ever touched her before? Why couldn’t he remember anything?

The sense of unease intensified when he heard Tong Ling laugh.

“You’re taking this out on me?” she said through gritted teeth, managing a radiant smile despite the pain. “Jealousy rears its ugly head again, Miya. You’re jealous because someone else’s scent lingers on my body.”

“The more furious you become, the clearer it is that you care about me.” Tong Ling stepped closer to Miya, tilting her head back and exposing her neck. “Squeezing my wrist isn’t enough. See? You could grasp my throat like this, causing me even greater pain…”

Miya frowned deeply. “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Where does this woman find the courage to say such things?

“Of course I’m afraid,” Tong Ling replied with a sidelong glance at Miya. “But when I think about why you’re taking out your anger on me, I can only feel happiness.”

“You’re jealous,” Tong Ling stated firmly. “Why else would you be so angry?”

“I am not!” Miya refused to be misunderstood by this woman. He swiftly released his grip.

As soon as he let go, clear finger-shaped marks appeared on the woman’s pale wrist. Within moments, her wrist swelled, turning red against her snow-white skin—a stark reminder of the injury she’d sustained.

Tong Ling lifted her wrist, pressing her lips gently against it in a kiss. “Look, these are love bites from Miya.” She chuckled softly. “Can you see how much you love me?”

The woman gazed at him with tear-streaked yet clear eyes, her expression a mix of smugness and pride.

Miya should have hated that arrogant demeanor of hers. But as she kissed her wrist, his heart—though it no longer beat—seemed to thump violently once more.

Has my mind truly broken down? How can I find this woman astonishingly beautiful right now?

“You’re overthinking,” Miya stepped back, unwilling to engage further with this woman. If possible, he wanted nothing more than to distance himself from her entirely.

There was no way the person clinging to her in his memories could be him; he would never fall for someone like her!

She was merely “trash,” and there was no need for him to waste energy on such refuse.

As for dealing with her, Miya knew if he tried to kill her, she’d mistake his intent as love, deepening her delusions even further.

He couldn’t let her get what she desired. He didn’t love her, nor would he ever kill her out of so-called “jealousy.”

Miya decided to spare Tong Ling, determining their relationship would end here.

Tong Ling had no intention of letting Miya go. Who could imagine leaving unscathed after hurting her? He must pay for his actions.

The dynamics between Tong Ling and Miya instantly shifted. Tong Ling softened her voice and said, “Miya, weren’t you curious about my relationship with that fish? I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

In a low voice, Miya replied, “No, I don’t want to hear it anymore.”

Tong Ling ignored his refusal and continued slowly, “I kept a fish in my bathtub. He was beautiful, with a deep blue tail. Looking at him felt like gazing into the vast ocean. He wasn’t just any ordinary fish; he was so agile and full of energy…”

“Enough!” Miya bit his inner cheek until blood seeped out. “What happened between you two has nothing to do with me!”

“Look at this dress on me,” Tong Ling said as she tightened her grip around Bai Bei’s stiff body. She lifted the hem of her skirt for Miya to see. “This is a dress personally made by my A-Bai. Isn’t it lovely?”

Tong Ling turned her head towards Bai Bei with a smile. “A-Bai, you’re truly so good to me.”

Bai Bei realized he had become his girlfriend’s tool for boasting. Everything she did was aimed at provoking the young man before them.

Did Tong Ling actually like this person? Bai Bei couldn’t be sure, but if it meant getting rid of him, he didn’t mind being used as a prop.

“As long as you like it,” Bai Bei said, looking at Tong Ling’s wrist with concern. “Your hand is swollen so badly. I’ll go get a cold towel for you.”

Tong Ling released her grip on his arm. “Okay, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

As Bai Bei passed Miya, he lowered his voice. “It’s time for you to leave.”

Miya shot him a dark look before turning and leaving.

Tong Ling hummed as she slowly descended the stairs.

The commotion caused by these three had been significant; as soon as Tong Ling reached the bottom, all eyes in the room were drawn to her.

Arnold, dressed in his cultivation robes, approached her with a concerned expression. “Ling, are you alright?”

Upon seeing Arnold’s gentle demeanor, Tong Ling immediately changed her act. She raised her hand, placing her red-swollen wrist before Arnold’s gaze, and complained in a coquettish tone, “Ohh, Arnold, this hurts so much!”

Seeing the misty look in her eyes, Arnold sighed softly. “Do you still do such things knowing it will hurt?”

In his memories, whenever Tong Ling faced troubles, she would always confide in him. This intimate gesture from her now mirrored those past recollections perfectly.

“Whoo, comfort me quickly.” Tong Ling lifted her wrist higher. “Come on, Arnold, just blow some air on it and I’ll feel better.”

Arnold lowered his gaze and, following Tong Ling’s instructions, gently blew on her wrist with good-natured patience.

“Is this better?” Arnold asked.

“Not enough,” Tong Ling said as she pulled on Arnold’s sleeve cuff with her other hand. She led him over to a table in the castle hall and placed her wrist directly in front of Arnold, resting her chin on it. “Keep going.”

She wanted to see just how long he could keep up this charade.

Both Arnold and Mia harbored malice towards her; while Mia openly displayed his hostility, Arnold acted like nothing had ever happened between them. He remained courteous and caring, even referring to himself as her “friend” in front of Mia and others. If they were indeed friends, then showing extra concern for her would be only natural.

”…,” Arnold remained silent.

He continued blowing softly for a few more moments before gently suggesting, “I’m afraid this won’t suffice. I’ll go look for some medicinal ointment…”

“Tsk tsk, what ointment can compare to your healing touch? But if you don’t want to continue, then sit beside me instead—let me have my fill of gazing at you.” Tong Ling’s flirtatious words flowed effortlessly from her lips.

Feeling helpless, Arnold replied, “Are you teasing me again?”

“Do you think I’m teasing you?” Tong Ling countered, throwing the question back at him.

”…,” Arnold fell silent once more.

This woman was truly a demon…

After observing for quite some time, Mu Bai’s curiosity about NPC “Lingling” reached its peak. He stepped forward hesitantly and said, “Um… I noticed your hand is injured. My companion here is a doctor; he can treat you…”

Standing beside Mu Bai, Li Yun hastily interjected, “Miss Ling, rest assured, I’m a licensed physician. I even brought medication with me when I arrived.” As he spoke, Li Yun waved his fake medical license before the NPC’s eyes. “I assure you, I am a genuine doctor.”

“Pfft,” Tong Ling couldn’t help but chuckle at this declaration. She scrutinized the two players with amusement, her smile radiant. “What should I do? Compared to a proper doctor, I’d rather have an improper one attend to my ailments.”

Never having been so flustered by an NPC before, Li Yun turned beet red, coughing awkwardly.

Off to the side, Chu Yue and Zhuang Wu simultaneously extended their thumbs in admiration towards this feisty NPC.

Having experienced several dungeons already, they had never encountered such a fierce woman.

This woman had a former boyfriend constantly at her beck and call, yet her relationships with other men were equally ambiguous. They overheard her mention keeping fish in her bathtub—what kind of fish could drive Miya to near madness? It certainly left room for wild speculation…

Now this woman had set her sights on even the male players, dropping flirtatious lines left and right.

Terrifying! Just think of her ability to ensnare men—it’s downright frightening!

Chu Yue couldn’t help but say with a hint of envy, “If only I possessed that talent.”

He scrutinized NPC Lingling carefully before sighing, “She’s beautiful, has an amazing figure, and knows just what to say… Waaah! She isn’t just a pretty face; she’s a true player!”

Zhuang Wu nodded in agreement. “A real master at catching men!”

“Can NPCs actually develop relationships with players?” Chu Yue whispered to Zhuang Wu as he leaned against him. “Do you think Li Yun will be able to resist?”

“It depends on whether he’s a man of integrity,” Zhuang Wu replied cryptically.

Li Yun stood silent, caught off guard by these words.

Seeing that the players had calmed down, Tong Ling playfully extended her hand again and batted her eyelashes. “Sorry, I was just joking around. It’d be great if someone could heal me—thank you so much!”

“Oh right, who might you all be?” Tong Ling asked amicably, showing interest in learning about the players.

Initially, Li Yun had thought Lingling would be difficult to approach. After all, their first impression of her had been quite strong—the kind of woman who bossed her “boyfriend” around freely. If it weren’t for needing information from the NPC, he wouldn’t have considered approaching her at all.

Who could have predicted that upon actually conversing face-to-face, he’d find her… quite pleasant?

“Miss Ling, I’m Li Yun.” Li Yun bowed his head to examine Lingling’s wrist. It looked rather gruesome, but thankfully, there were no fractures. Seems like Miya hadn’t been too ruthless after all.

Arnold graciously stepped aside for this doctor, moving off to the side without a word, content to quietly observe from afar.

Mu Bai also introduced himself briefly.

“No need to call me Miss Ling,” Tong Ling said. “I’m Tong Ling, but you can just call me Lingling.”

Li Yun’s player ID was simply ‘Doctor’. From the very first dungeon, he had acquired healing skills, and later on, he obtained medical kit item cards within other dungeons. Naturally, he decided to specialize as a healer.

Healing minor injuries like swollen wrists? No problem. This player could even reattach severed limbs if needed—his medical prowess was nothing short of remarkable.

Pretending to rummage through his ever-present backpack, Li Yun produced a salve and carefully applied it to Lingling’s wrist. “This ointment will have you feeling better in no time. It’s my exclusive secret formula. Don’t worry, Little… Lingling.”

When Bai Bei descended the stairs with a cold towel in hand, he was greeted by this scene:

An unfamiliar man cradling his girlfriend’s wrist, applying ointment while she gazed not at him but another stranger…

That damned fish, those cursed redheads, these accursed monks…

Now even these people had joined ranks against him.

Bai Bei’s grip tightened on the towel as he carved their faces into his heart with an icy expression.

How utterly detestable—there are far too many of these blasted souls.