<h4>Chapter 180: Chapter 180: The House Next Door is Haunted? (Extra for Monthly Votes)</h4><h4></h4>


    Chen Yunji was silent for a moment before questioning Xuan Jiu: "Are you mentally ill?"


    "Can’t be bothered with you." Xuan Jiu replied confidently with a smile.


    Huaiqing, who had been focusing his gaze on Xuan Jiu, immediately looked away.


    "I think he just has a fundamentally different way of thinking." Su Ye made his deduction: "Same goes for Chen Yunji; there’s nothing to guard against with these two."


    "These two are safe for now; they’re not like certain people who went from temporary guests to long-term residents." Li cast a cold nce at Shi Xie.


    "Well, thank you for that." Shi Xie replied with a grin: "If it weren’t for you plucking my flower, how could I have had the chance to temporarily stay here so quickly?"


    "If it weren’t for you injuring me, how could I have ended up staying here permanently?"


    "When I’m free, I’ll make it up to you with a wedding sugar gift."


    "Dawn is the perfect time for dreaming, isn’t it?" Li sneered.


    Xiao Jinsheng sat on the side, listening to their bickering, already used to such quarrels.


    "Just treat it as normal." Que Zelian advised: "After all, they’re guests."


    They’re guests—there’s no way they could maintain constant suspicion toward them.


    At least, Chen Yunji was safe.


    If Chen Yunji had any intention ofpeting for their Female Master, he would have taken action during his three months of stay here long ago.


    But all along, he and Xiao Jinsheng had kept their distance.


    Even when using the Shengli Star Map ount Li lent him, he didn’t say much, instead showing gratitude for Li’s willingness to lend it.


    Previously, Chen Yunji avoided using his own Star Map ount out of fear the Terminal might discover he had escaped from Cloud Ind.


    Now, everything had already beenid bare with the Terminal.


    It could be said that everyone was just waiting for death.


    Using his Star Map ount again was no longer an issue.


    Yet, Chen Yunji still used Li’s ount.


    For this reason, Li felt very reassured about Chen Yunji.


    No one would willingly use an ount ID named after the person they liked alongside their rival’s name, right?


    At least, Li couldn’t ept it.


    Based on everything Chen Yunji had shown during his three-month stay, the seven men didn’t harbor much suspicion toward him.


    Instead, that Xuan Jiu remained deeply unpredictable.


    But looking at him again now...


    The group realized it wasn’t that he was particrly scheming, but rather, he was genuinely mentally ill.


    When dealing with Xuan Jiu, you couldn’t interact using the thought processes of a normal person.


    If they adopted the Terminal’s mechanical way of thinking instead, it might actually makemunication with Xuan Jiu easier.


    Seeing how the seven Beast Husbands were all wary and guarded around Chen Yunji and Xuan Jiu,


    Xiao Jinsheng reassured them: "I’m not some delectable treat; why are you all so tense?"


    "They don’t even like me."


    If they did, she hadn’t felt it.


    Chen Yunji maintained a strong sense of social distance.


    As for Xuan Jiu...


    Xiao Jinsheng could only think to call him a fellow lunatic.


    She felt that her own mental state was already quite advanced.


    But after meeting Xuan Jiu, she realized he was the true master here.


    Just as Huaiqing and the others were beginning to let go of their suspicions toward Xuan Jiu and Chen Yunji, and everyone was amicably sitting at the dining table for a meal, they suddenly heard somemotion from next door.


    "Wasn’t the neighbor supposed to have moved out?" Yu Yunxiao perked up his cat ears and asked curiously.


    Curious, he got up and walked outside to see what was happening.


    Xiao Jinsheng, worried that Bai Yan might have returned, quickly followed.


    "Jinsheng, surprised?" A tall woman waved excitedly at Xiao Jinsheng.


    "Sister." Xiao Jinsheng eximed in astonishment, running toward her with a smile: "Did youe to see me? Why didn’t you message me on the Star Map so I coulde pick you up?"


    "Wanted to surprise you." Peng Qinughed, pointing to the cars parked next to the small vi next door: "Actually, I received a relocation notice for housing from the Terminal. They assigned me to a new house."


    "At first, I didn’t want to move."


    "But when I saw the address and realized it was right next to your ce, I agreed immediately."


    "I figured I’d be here today, so I decided not to tell you on the Star Map—surprised?"


    "Definitely surprised." Xiao Jinsheng marveled.


    She had guessed that with Bai Yan’s house now empty, the Terminal would surely allocate it to a new female resident.


    But she hadn’t expected it to turn out to be someone she knew.


    Xiao Jinsheng quickly invited Peng Qin and her family inside to chat. Peng Qin followed along and exined: "They’re noting in for now; they’re busy cleaning the new house. I’ll just be a guest in the meantime."


    As she said this, Peng Qin nced at Xiao Jinsheng, noticing her spiritual power was still at One Star and looking puzzled.


    She recalled their first meeting, when they had been on a mission in Mist West.


    Back then, Peng Qin couldn’t find a shelter, and Xiao Jinsheng had offered her half of her space.


    It was also during that time that she learned Xiao Jinsheng had been married for six months yet hadn’t slept with any of her Beast Husbands, and her spiritual power remained at One Star.


    How was it that after nearly six months, Xiao Jinsheng was still stuck at One Star spiritual power?


    "What’s going on with you?" Peng Qin lowered her voice, avoiding Xiao Jinsheng’s seven Beast Husbands as she asked.


    The two of them had chatted on the Star Map after parting ways.


    But even the closest of friends wouldn’t casually ask about someone else’s nocturnal activities with their Beast Husbands, would they?


    In those chats, Xiao Jinsheng had never expressed frustration about not being able to advance her spiritual power.


    Peng Qin had always assumed that after her gentle nudges, Xiao Jinsheng would sleep with her five Beast Husbands, and her spiritual power would skyrocket.


    How was it that nearly six monthster, they met again, and Xiao Jinsheng’s spiritual power was still at One Star?


    "Have you... slept with them?" Peng Qin asked in a roundabout manner.


    Xiao Jinsheng immediately understood and nodded: "Yes, I have."


    "Are they... not capable?" Peng Qin was taken aback.


    Outside of this exnation, she couldn’t think of why Xiao Jinsheng’s spiritual power hadn’t increased despite sleeping with them.


    The men around them, who had been quietly minding their own business, all paused their actions, their eyes darkening as they nced at Xiao Jinsheng.


    "It’s not like that; it has nothing to do with them—it’s my own issue." Xiao Jinsheng quickly rified.


    If she were to genuinely suggest her Beast Husbands were inadequate,


    there’d be no need to name names—


    these seven men wouldn’t let it slide that night!


    "Then..." Peng Qin began, her concern apparent, but Xiao Jinsheng silenced her by stuffing a piece of dried fruit into her mouth.


    As Peng Qin chewed the fruit, she tried to continue: "So about this..."


    Before she could finish, another piece of differently vored dried fruit was popped into her mouth.


    "Why hasn’t your ranking advanced yet?" Peng Qin mumbled through her chewing. "By the way, this white peach one is delicious." Xiao Jinsheng immediately handed her another.


    Peng Qin munched, then hesitated: "Your Beast Husbands... Hmm? Your Beast Husbands?"


    At that moment, Peng Qin suddenly sensed something off.


    She scanned the living room, her eyes widening in astonishment.


    Silently, she counted from left to right,


    then back from right to left, counting again.


    "You have nine Beast Husbands?" Peng Qin eximed in shock.


    "Don’t they fight?" Peng Qin’s voice grew softer as she asked.


    "Seven, only seven." Xiao Jinsheng quickly corrected her.


    "Two of them are my friends, just staying temporarily."


    "Oh? Friends?" Peng Qin raised a mischievous eyebrow, the corners of her lips curving into a teasing smile.


    Friends?


    Yeah, right.


    On the Mist Continent, among Beastfolk, as long as a male stayed in a female’s home, it was almost universally assumed they would eventually link their Terminal profiles and sign a Contractual Totem.


    After all, it was rare for females on the Mist Continent to be willing to ept Beastfolk who had too much contact with other females.


    In the eyes of most females, such Beastfolkcked "Beast Virtue."


    Still, since Xiao Jinsheng insisted, Peng Qin smiled and nodded: "Friends, I get it, friends."


    Then, she asked curiously: "So which two are my new inws?"


    Peng Qin was familiar with Xiao Jinsheng’s original five Beast Husbands.


    But the two neers were strangers to her.


    Xiao Jinsheng introduced Li and Shi Xie.


    Peng Qin greeted them warmly, then returned to the couch and yfully leaned into Xiao Jinsheng. "You’ve been eating so well, you rascal."


    "Stop tickling me!" Xiao Jinsheng shot back, retaliating as the two tumbled together, trying to tickle each other to no avail.


    Then, something urred to Xiao Jinsheng, and her expression turned serious. "Make sure to disinfect thoroughly before settling into the house next door," she advised.


    After all, Bai Yan had been followed by an Insect Brain.


    Xiao Jinsheng worried there might be something dirty—or dangerous—still left behind in that house.


    "The Terminal suddenly moved me here." Peng Qin’s face grew a bit troubled. "Could it be... a haunted house?"


    ——


    Sorry, everyone, taking a break on January 17th.


    Stayed up all night yesterday, and now my period’se early from overexerting myself—my eyes and stomach both hurt.


    There will be four Chapters (8,000 words) updated on January 18th and 19th.