Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Phew~

　　Agony is a memory etched deep into the marrow, and Bai Ling’s recollection of her past life’s decade was crystal clear.

　　A family trip turned disastrous, leaving Bai Ling as the sole survivor of the Bai family overnight. After months of wandering, she finally returned to the city, only to discover that her family’s assets had been seized. She had no choice but to seek refuge with distant relatives, living under their roof.

　　Resigning herself to this life of humiliation, an unexpected gift of spiritual energy awakened the power of the “Inner” Foundation Stone within her. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarked on an investigation, which ultimately brought her peril.

　　Over those years, Bai Ling endured countless assassination attempts—some natural like car accidents, poisoning, shootings, and others orchestrated by spiritual power wielders.

　　Though she survived, one such attempt left her index finger severed and her middle finger nerve-damaged, rendering it uncontrollable.

　　After surviving the relentless assassinations, Bai Ling gradually amassed some strength, gathering a few companions. Together, they grew stronger while continuing the search for the truth.

　　Her power increased day by day, and the clues slowly unraveled the mystery. Everything seemed to be improving.

　　Back then, Bai Ling believed her tragic life was finally turning around, until that fateful day when the most trusted companion—a gentle girl—walked beside her on the road and plunged a knife into her lower back.

　　Moments later, she found herself surrounded by numerous spiritual power users.

　　It was a trap.

　　She would never forget how the girl she trusted stood beside her enemy, looking at her as if she were already dead.

　　”The remnants of the Bai family, we spared your worthless life back then, yet instead of being grateful and crawling away, you dared to come here to die. Today, I’ll grant you your wish.”

　　”You probably didn’t expect it, did you? Even your most trusted partner is nothing more than our lapdog. What makes you think you can fight against us?”

　　”Hahahaha!”

　　Aaaaah!!!

　　Bai Ling went berserk, fighting off enemies despite her severe injuries. The ten-mile stretch of the Tianhai City river ran red with blood.

　　But a few days later, exhausted and severely blood-loss-stricken, she collapsed by the riverside and passed away.

　　Was this truly the end?

　　That’s what Bai Ling thought as she closed her eyes, but when she opened them again, she found herself ten years in the past, right back when she started living under someone else’s roof.

　　Yes, she had been reborn.

　　With the memories of her past life, the immense power she possessed before death—reaching Fifth-tier—and an overwhelming rage and hatred towards this world, she had returned from hell.

　　Standing on the embankment overlooking the river shimmering under the night sky, the moonlit water reflected brilliantly, as though it had never swallowed the blood of those who met untimely deaths.

　　The white-haired maiden curved her lips into a sinister smile.

　　There were so many names on the list; where should she start her revenge? Ah yes, beginning with these so-called distant relatives.

　　This family also benefited from the downfall of the Bai clan, receiving part of the inheritance and aiding those who attempted to assassinate her.

　　However, at that moment, Bai Ling noticed a blonde busty girl holding a box of strawberries, wobbling her way back home.

　　It was her.

　　Yuan Xiaoling, the pampered daughter of the Yuan family—beautiful and well-endowed—had many admirers in her past life, including one of Bai Ling’s enemies.

　　Whether or not her past-life nemesis succeeded in seducing her no longer mattered because Bai Ling herself had a score to settle with Yuan Xiaoling.

　　As a spoiled rich girl, Yuan Xiaoling looked down upon Bai Ling, delighting in mocking her. Though she lacked the power to harm Bai Ling directly, Yuan Xiaoling always showed up first to kick her when she was down.

　　”Oh my, Bai Ling, how did you lose even your fingers? What will you do now?”

　　”Here’s a riddle: why is Bai Ling the politest person in school? Because she doesn’t give anyone the middle finger, hahaha.”

　　”What kind of person has no mother, no father, and no fingers?”

　　”Hey, now you don’t even have kidneys? Oh well, guess you won’t need them anyway without fingers.”

　　Even when Bai Ling lay dying by the riverbank, Yuan Xiaoling happened to pass by.

　　”Wow~ Bai Ling, you’re bleeding so much.”

　　”You’re so generous, mind if I dip some bread in your blood?”

　　”Alright, respect for the dead. In a few days, I’ll burn a hand for you since you didn’t have one in life. Maybe it’ll make up for your misfortunes in the afterlife.”

　　”Don’t forget to collect it on the seventh day!”

　　Not waiting until the seventh day, Bai Ling returned to the human world the day after her death, ten years prior. She grabbed Yuan Xiaoling as she passed by and dragged her into an empty room, binding her there.

　　With the power of a Fifth-tier Inner Foundation Stone, capturing her was as easy as catching a chicken.

　　Crackling flames illuminated the room as Bai Ling finally saw fear flicker across the once-smug face.

　　Not enough!

　　”Do you know the difference between pain and wounds?” Bai Ling gently caressed Yuan Xiaoling’s face. “Wounds heal and fade with time, but pain gets etched into the neural memory. Later, when something similar happens, you’ll instinctively avoid it and feel terrified.”

　　”Like hatred—it doesn’t fade with time, it only grows deeper!”

　　Looking into Yuan Xiaoling’s frightened, vacant eyes, Bai Ling whispered softly, “Now, choose a method of pain.”

　　In reality, Yuan Xiaoling wasn’t frozen in terror; she was shocked by the System’s instructions.

　‘Uh, uh, don’t you see what’s happening here? You want me to humiliate her?!’

　【I see, but the contract has been made, and the rules must be followed.】

　The System sounded equally helpless.

　Yuan Xiaoling pouted.

　‘Sorry, can’t do it.’

　【According to the rules, failure to comply with the contract will result in the retraction of all granted abilities.】 The System stated dispassionately, 【I will return you to the scene of the car accident and leave. Initiating reverse space travel…】

　‘Wait, wait, wait! Let me think of something, alright?!’

　Having barely convinced the System to hold off, Yuan Xiaoling inwardly groaned. How could she possibly humiliate the protagonist in this situation? She didn’t have that kind of skill!

　”Hmm, can’t decide, huh?” Bai Ling blinked her crimson eyes. “Then I’ll use them all.”

　And with that, she extended the glowing iron rod.

　”No, no, no! I’ll pick another, another!” Yuan Xiaoling panicked.

　Humiliation could wait; she needed to survive this moment first.

　Bai Ling clicked her tongue lightly, seemingly regretful. With a clang, the iron rod was tossed aside, sending sparks flying.

　Then, the young woman extended her fingers, examining them carefully under the firelight.

　It was just after returning from exile, six months of starvation had left her already slim body even weaker, and her fingers were thin and frail.

　But in Bai Ling’s eyes, they were ten thousand times more precious than the finest jade.

　Perfect hands, mine alone…

　On the other side, Yuan Xiaoling was observing them too—yeah, they looked delicate and fragile.

　So it shouldn’t hurt too much, right?

　”Phew~” The blonde busty girl let out a sigh of relief.

　Bai Ling’s smile vanished.

　The sound of her exhale was soft, but in the small, quiet room, it was unmistakable—not to mention for someone with heightened senses due to spiritual energy.

　【Ding Dong! Congratulations, host, you’ve completed the rookie task: Humiliate the Protagonist Once (1/1). Settlement pending shortly.】