Little Pink Starfish

Hua Rongyue slowly descended the stairs, already slipping fully into her role as soon as she reached the first floor. Her entrance drew the attention of many diners below.

Tonight, she was very different from how she usually appeared. In everyone’s mind, Hua Rongyue was not someone who enjoyed high-profile theatrics in public. Yet tonight, the moment she stepped down the stairs—composed, detached, yet impossible to ignore—she became the quiet center of the room, simply through her presence.

Her transformation was jarring, especially for those not well acquainted with her.

“Whoa, is that Hua-ge?” Zhang Yue whispered from the crowd. He watched her descend quietly, with a powerful aura, and didn’t even dare to speak too loudly.

Among the crowd were several seasoned elders from Six Doors. One older man, with white beard and sharp eyes, lit up when he saw Hua Rongyue and nodded in approval. “This kid’s got poise,” he remarked.

“Uncle Jin, you’re actually complimenting someone today?” a mature, graceful woman beside him said, laughing.

“If it’s good, I’ll praise it,” Uncle Jin replied. “She’s far better than what you lot warned me about. You were scaring this old man for nothing.”

During the earlier carriage commotion, Hua Rongyue hadn’t encountered these elders—they had departed ahead of her. But they’d heard she was mild-mannered and weren’t sure whether she could handle her duties. Her first appearance tonight pleasantly surprised them.

Hua Rongyue, of course, noticed Wang Lingchao and the others, but pretended not to see them. She calmly boarded the same carriage she arrived in and followed a Six Doors coachman toward the Qinhuai riverside. Once she stepped onto that land, she knew every move she made would be scrutinized. Although no one yet knew she was “Yi Linglong,” if that identity were discovered later, it could be troublesome. If she was going to play this role, she might as well play it all the way.

She arrived first at the pleasure boat. Just yesterday, Li Zixin had told her not to come here unless absolutely necessary. Hua Rongyue had firmly promised she wouldn’t. Of course, Li Zixin would never understand why she’d spoken so resolutely at the time.

But now, as she stepped onto the boat, Hua Rongyue finally understood what “the seductive world of wealth and beauty” truly meant. Even the air carried a faint fragrance. Laughter filled the atmosphere. The moment she appeared, her graceful figure caught the madam’s attention and she was promptly invited to the VIP seat.

She sat sipping wine, waiting for the “play” that was to unfold tonight. Her gaze wandered to the center of the boat, where a mesmerizing dancer was performing—and Hua Rongyue recognized her instantly.

This was the infamous “madwoman” from the original timeline—the dancer who had once killed many.

She moved with captivating charm. On her cheek, below her eye, Hua Rongyue spotted a small butterfly painted on her skin—clearly to conceal the red birthmark beneath.

But while the dancer’s performance enchanted the crowd, the minds of Six Doors members present were elsewhere. Their focus was on Hua Rongyue and Wang Lingchao.

Wang Lingchao eventually arrived, stepping slowly into the scene. Hua Rongyue watched him approach, noting how others began melting into the crowd. The dim, suggestive lighting of the pleasure boat seemed to transform into the spotlight of a stage.

—Tonight, Wang Lingchao would loudly expose the identity of “Yi Linglong,” letting all of Qinhuai River know that Hua Rongyue had arrived.

As more people disappeared into the backdrop, the play had clearly begun.

Wang Lingchao looked at her from afar. In his eyes, Hua Rongyue saw a trace of provocation. He raised his wine, taking a sip as if offering a silent toast—but the message in his gesture was more of a challenge: “Are you ready?”

Hua Rongyue lowered her gaze and pretended not to see.

The dancer’s movements became more intense as Wang Lingchao stepped down from his seat. His expression grew increasingly solemn, his steps slow but deliberate.

The other guests kept eating and drinking, unaware of the martial artist weaving silently through the crowd like a ghost. His eyes were fixed on Hua Rongyue. His footsteps made no sound on the wooden planks of the boat.

Hua Rongyue lowered her head slightly, using her cup to hide a chuckle. Not bad—he’s skilled.

Some of the seasoned Six Doors operatives nodded subtly in acknowledgment.

Wang Lingchao’s ranking on the Hero List was not undeserved—he was definitely among the top young talents in the martial world. But that alone was not enough.

He’d also investigated Hua Rongyue. In truth, he hated her—just a nobody who climbed by relying on connections. Why should someone like her outshine him? When he heard she was going to Qinhuai, he immediately decided to come along—this was his chance.

Everyone said she was gentle, but to Wang Lingchao, gentleness meant weakness. If he could suppress her publicly, he’d dominate the younger generation in Jiangnan.

She might be a fake, but she was representing the legendary Yi Linglong.

Even if things went badly, Wang Lingchao had already planned his exit. If he failed to perform, at worst, he’d be seen as incompetent. Six Doors wouldn’t dare replace this “Yi Linglong” due to the risk of exposure—but they might very well blame him. Still, that was a price he was willing to gamble with.

He radiated a subtle killing intent, aiming to intimidate her the moment they met—scaring her into forgetting her lines. But as he approached and looked up…

He froze.

His original plan was to sneak up, pretend to attempt an assassination, then shout her identity. But it was already too late for stealth. Somehow, even the most lecherous, drunken guests had all turned their eyes from food and beauty to Hua Rongyue.

She wasn’t doing anything. Just drinking wine. And yet, she commanded attention, naturally drawing focus—and in doing so, drawing focus to Wang Lingchao, too.

It was uncanny. Perhaps it was easier to see from the outside—Uncle Jin, standing at the perimeter, could perceive it clearly.

“She’s remarkable,” he said.

It felt mystical, but wasn’t magic. Hua Rongyue hadn’t used any charm techniques—Uncle Jin could tell. What captured attention was her aura, her expression, her posture—her entire presence was harmonious and compelling.

Like a dancer under a spotlight, her every move drew the eye—even amid a sea of other performers.

Some might dismiss looks and presence as superficial, but Uncle Jin wasn’t so narrow-minded. He knew exactly how much advantage a striking presence could provide—and how rare it was to possess.

Facing her, Wang Lingchao saw every detail—her face, her movements, even the tiniest of expressions.

She lounged there, sipping wine, eyes never even meeting his. In that moment, Wang Lingchao nearly believed she really was Yi Linglong, and he was just some no-name assassin.

No! Wang Lingchao caught himself, shocked. How did I get so distracted?

Looking around, he realized sneaking up now was pointless. Instead, he strode up to Hua Rongyue and declared in a righteous voice:

“Yi Linglong! Today is the day you die!”

His voice rang out loud and clear, sending ripples of shock through the crowd.

He was impressive—his expression fierce, his voice sharp. A timid person might have been cowed.

But when Hua Rongyue turned her gaze on him, it was cool and composed.

That gaze… it was hard to describe. Emotionless. Detached.

As if looking at someone utterly insignificant.
As if looking at a junior trying to provoke.
As if looking at another forgettable assassin.
As if looking at a mere insect.

In that moment, Wang Lingchao truly believed—this person must be Yi Linglong.

He tried to find a crack in her act. There was none. Her presence was seamless.

Uncle Jin’s eyes narrowed.

Wang Lingchao, startled, reflexively slashed with his knife.

And at that moment—
A pale, slender hand gently caught the blade between two fingers.
Wang Lingchao froze in place, unable to move forward another inch.