Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 260 A Battleground!
Unexpectedly, this woman actually came to my door herself.

Moreover, she used the same method as Bai Yingluo, disguising herself as a homeless refugee in an attempt to get close to him.

However, her acting skills are still a bit lacking compared to Bai Yingluo, who has completely fallen for the role.

However, since you're so eager to investigate, I'll give you a chance.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye smiled slightly, "You want to go to the government office as a maid and serve me?"

Xia Ling Shuang lowered her head and replied in a timid yet expectant tone, "Your Excellency, I know my status is lowly and I dare not ask for too much. However, Your Excellency has saved the lives of us disaster victims, and I have no way to repay you. I only wish to serve you as a slave day and night to repay even a fraction of your kindness."

Her words were sincere and heartfelt, and she adopted an extremely humble posture, perfectly portraying the image of a grateful and vulnerable young girl.

Hou En, who was standing to the side, was so touched that he couldn't help but say, "Brother Chen, look how pitiful this girl is, why don't you..."

Qian Yi also thought the girl was quite nice. Although her background was somewhat unclear, she was really beautiful and seemed to be deeply in love with Brother Chen. Taking her into the backyard as a concubine would be a wonderful thing.

Chen Ye glanced at the two of them without saying anything, then bent down and reached out to help Xia Ling Shuang, who was kneeling on the ground, up.

"Since you have such a kind intention, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse." Chen Ye's voice softened a bit. "It just so happens that my residence is short of a maid to manage chores. If you don't mind, you can come back with me."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ling Shuang was overjoyed, her face showing a look of being flattered and grateful. She repeatedly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. Shuang'er kowtows to you!"

"Alright, get up." Chen Ye waved his hand, then turned and walked towards the government office. "Hou En, Qian Yi, I'm leaving things here to you. Make sure there are no problems with the repairs and order of the camp."

"Yes! Don't worry, Brother Chen!" the two quickly bowed and replied.

……

Chen Ye led Xia Ling Shuang back to the backyard of the government office.

All the way, Xia Ling Shuang kept her head down and followed closely behind Chen Ye, perfectly portraying the image of a timid and cowardly girl who was full of hope for the future.

But in reality, a storm was raging inside her.

The closer she got to this man, the more she felt a stirring from the depths of her soul.

The emotion she had forcibly suppressed now lingered in her mind like a leech.

This made her feel increasingly agitated, and she even began to doubt her own Dao heart.

Could it be that I've encountered some inescapable inner demon?

Soon the two returned to the courtyard where Chen Ye lived. As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, a beautiful figure came out from the side room to greet them.

"Chen Lang, you're back."

Her voice was soft, sweet, and filled with deep affection and joy.

It was Bai Yingluo.

Today she wore a light blue dress, her hair was simply tied up in a bun, and her face was without makeup, which made her look even more elegant and refined.

At this moment, she was looking at Chen Ye with tender eyes, looking exactly like a young wife waiting for her husband to return home.

However, when her gaze fell on Xia Lingshuang behind Chen Ye, her eyes, which should have been full of tenderness, narrowed instantly.

It's like a cat that's being affectionate with its owner suddenly seeing another stray cat intruding into its territory.

At the same time, Bai Yingluo's aura also changed.

Although she still wore a gentle smile on her face, in Chen Ye's eyes, the rose-gold light on her body that represented admiration was instantly stained by a strong dark green that represented jealousy and hostility.

Just then, Xia Lingshuang also raised her head.

When she saw the lingering tenderness on Bai Yingluo's face, the Holy Maiden of the Wrathful Soul Sect was also overwhelmed with emotion!

Based on her understanding of Bai Yingluo, that expression was not feigned, but rather a genuine emotion from the bottom of her heart.

So Bai Yingluo has truly fallen for him!

This discovery also brought Xia Lingshuang's curiosity about Chen Ye to an unprecedented peak.

Who exactly is this man? And what kind of sorcery did he use to turn the Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Sect into this state?

Just as Xia Lingshuang was filled with shock and disbelief, Bai Yingluo had already moved gracefully to Chen Ye's side, affectionately taking his arm before turning her gaze to Xia Lingshuang with a gentle and kind smile on her face.

"Chen Lang, who is this young lady?" Her voice was still gentle, but her smile carried a hint of scrutiny and an unmistakable possessiveness.

"Oh, her name is Shuang'er. She's a destitute refugee. I took pity on her and brought her back to the manor to be a maid," Chen Ye explained casually.

"So that's how it is." Bai Yingluo nodded, then looked at Xia Lingshuang with a pitying gaze. "What a pitiful child. Chen Lang, you are so kind-hearted that you can't bear to see others suffer."

She praised Chen Ye, but her eyes were like knives scraping across Xia Ling Shuang.

Xia Ling Shuang sneered inwardly, but on the surface she appeared even more pitiful. She glanced timidly at Bai Yingluo, then lowered her head and whispered, "Shuang'er greets Madam."

The word "Madam" made Bai Yingluo's smile deepen.

She gently patted Xia Lingshuang's shoulder and said softly, "Sister, there's no need for such formalities. You can stay in this courtyard from now on. I happen to need someone to talk to!"

These words were perfectly worded, both highlighting her status as the lady of the house and keeping Xia Ling Shuang firmly under her control.

Xia Lingshuang naturally understood her meaning. She scoffed at Bai Yingluo's hypocrisy in her heart, but on the surface, she appeared to be extremely grateful and nodded repeatedly: "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. Shuang'er... Shuang'er will definitely serve Madam wholeheartedly."

Chen Ye stood aside, watching the scheming and intrigue unfold in a flash, and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

These two vixens are really interesting. One plays the role of a virtuous and generous mistress, while the other plays the role of a weak and pitiful innocent girl. Their acting skills are so good that they should be performing in operas.

But that alone isn't exciting enough.

A hint of amusement flashed in Chen Ye's eyes, and then he calmly activated the talent of the Throne of Desire.

He did not create new desires, but merely gently stirred the flame of desire in Xia Ling Shuang's heart that represented hostility and disgust towards Bai Yingluo.

boom!
Xia Ling Shuang felt a surge of inexplicable anger rising from the depths of her heart. Looking at Bai Yingluo's face with its fake smile, she felt an indescribable disgust and revulsion.

In particular, the way she linked arms with Chen Ye was extremely irritating.

Why?
Why should you, a lowly woman, be able to stay so intimately by his side, while I have to grovel before you here, acting like a servant?

This sudden surge of intense emotion caused a barely perceptible change in Xia Ling Shuang's eyes. Although she quickly suppressed it, the chilling killing intent that was revealed in that instant did not escape Bai Yingluo's perception.

Bai Yingluo's smile froze for a moment, then her eyes turned deep.

Chen Ye took in their reactions and knew that the time was right. He gently pulled his hand away from Bai Yingluo's, patted the back of her hand, and said gently, "Alright, Shuang'er is in your care from now on. You must treat her well. I have some official documents to deal with, so I'll go to the study first."

After saying that, he glanced at Xia Ling Shuang and added, "Shuang'er, from now on you will follow Miss Yuan's arrangements. If you don't understand anything, just ask her."

"Yes, sir," Xia Lingshuang replied respectfully.

"Mm." Bai Yingluo nodded obediently and watched Chen Ye walk into the study.

After Chen Ye's figure disappeared through the study door, the smiles on the faces of the two women in the courtyard, who had been so affectionate, vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, icy expression.

An invisible killing intent collided and surged between the two.

Several butterflies in the surrounding flowerbeds seemed to sense this terrifying aura and scattered in fear.

"hehe……."

In the end, it was Bai Yingluo who broke the silence first.

She crossed her arms, looked Xia Ling Shuang up and down, and a cold, mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Xia Lingshuang, you bitch, why aren't you staying in your valley? What are you doing here?"

Faced with Bai Yingluo's undisguised mockery and hostility, Xia Lingshuang merely glanced at her coldly, her eyes equally filled with disdain and contempt.

"What I do here is none of your business," her voice returned to its usual coldness, without a trace of the previous weakness. "But you, Bai Yingluo, a dignified Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Sect, have come to this mortal land to be a caged bird for a man. It's truly an eye-opener."

"What did you say?!"

The words "canary" were like the sharpest dagger, piercing Bai Yingluo's heart.

What she was most proud of was her ability to manipulate people's hearts and treat men as playthings.

But now she is trapped in an emotional vortex from which she cannot extricate herself, and has become a weapon for others to attack her.

Especially since the person who attacked her was her greatest nemesis in life! In an instant, an uncontrollable rage erupted from the depths of Bai Yingluo's heart, burning away her remaining rationality.

"Xia Lingshuang! You're asking for death!"

Bai Yingluo let out a sharp shout, no longer caring about pretense. With a swift movement, her five fingers formed a claw, and she directly grabbed at Xia Ling Shuang's face.

Her claw strike appeared ordinary, but it actually contained a secret technique of the Nine Nether Sect. Her fingertips were surrounded by pink energy that was barely visible to the naked eye. If someone were to get a firm grip on her, they would be disfigured at best, and their soul would be damaged at worst, leaving them mentally impaired.

Xia Ling Shuang's eyes flashed with a cold light upon seeing this.

"I'm afraid you won't succeed!"

Instead of retreating, she advanced, extending her hand as well, black energy swirling between her fingers, to meet Bai Yingluo's attack.

The techniques of the Wrathful Soul Sect are known for their ruthlessness and viciousness. Her grab was also an extremely vicious move, capable of tearing a person's flesh and soul apart together.

However, just as the two jade hands, powerful enough to split rocks, were about to collide, they seemed to be of one mind and simultaneously reduced their strength by ninety-nine percent.

Because they all knew that this was Chen Ye's government office, and his study was just a few steps away.

Once they unleash their true power, not to mention this small courtyard, the entire Pingyang Prefectural Government Office would probably be reduced to dust in an instant.

That will inevitably alarm Chen Ye.

Bai Yingluo didn't want Chen Ye to see her fierce side and ruin her gentle and lovely image in his heart.

Xia Ling Shuang didn't want to expose her hard-won infiltrated identity due to a momentary impulse, causing her plan to investigate Chen Ye's secrets to fail.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, what should have been an earth-shattering battle between the demonic saintesses took a dramatic turn.

Snapped!
A crisp sound.

Bai Yingluo's hand failed to grab Xia Lingshuang's face, but was precisely blocked by the other party.

Xia Ling Shuang's black aura also dissipated without a trace. Her palm collided with Bai Ying Luo's palm, and the sound was like two ordinary women pushing each other.

Bai Yingluo was even more furious when her first attack failed.

"You bitch! I'll tear your mouth off!"

She completely abandoned any semblance of saintly demeanor, and like a shrew whose beloved toy had been snatched away, she pounced on Xia Ling Shuang and grabbed her hair.

Xia Lingshuang was caught off guard by Bai Yingluo's sudden move, and her long, black, shiny hair was immediately grabbed tightly by Bai Yingluo.

The sharp pain in her scalp enraged Xia Ling Shuang.

Since her debut, when has she ever suffered such humiliation?
"Bai Yingluo! You've gone mad!"

Xia Lingshuang screamed and, not to be outdone, reached out to tear at Bai Yingluo's clothes.

Hiss—!
A sound like cloth tearing.

Bai Yingluo's light blue dress had a large tear at the shoulder, revealing her fair and delicate skin and the pink straps of her bodice.

"Ah! You dare to tear my clothes!"

Bai Yingluo felt like she was about to explode with anger. She gripped Xia Ling's hair even tighter and used her other hand to slap him across the face without any hesitation.

Xia Lingshuang protected her face while kicking Bai Yingluo's calf.

And so, these two demonic enchantresses, whose mere stomp could strike fear into the hearts of countless cultivators in the boundless desert, were now locked in a fierce brawl in this small courtyard, just like two ordinary women arguing over a lover in the street. They were pulling each other's hair, tearing at each other's clothes, scratching each other's faces, and kicking each other's legs.

"You shameless slut! How dare you seduce my man!" Bai Yingluo shouted angrily as she tore at him.

"Your man? What a joke! I don't even know who's been clinging to you like this. Whether he'll even accept you is another matter!" Xia Lingshuang retorted without backing down.

"I'll tear your mouth apart! I'll teach you to talk nonsense!"

"Let go first! It hurts so much!"

"You're dreaming! I'm going to scratch that vixen's face to shreds today!"

"you dare!"

If this scene were to reach the Boundless Sands, it would probably shock everyone.

Who would have thought that the fateful duel between the White Saintess of the Nine Nether Sect and the Holy Envoy of the Wrathful Soul Sect would not be a clash of earth-shattering secret techniques, but rather such a down-to-earth brawl between shrewish women?

A full quarter of an hour later, the two women finally stopped fighting, panting heavily.

At this moment, they had lost all their saintly demeanor. Xia Lingshuang's hair was a mess, and there were several clear red marks on her face.

Bai Yingluo wasn't in much better shape; her dress had been reduced to strips of cloth, her face was bruised, and there was even a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.

Even so, the two held on tightly to each other, neither willing to let go first.

"Bai Yingluo, let go first!" Xia Lingshuang said, barely suppressing her anger as her hair was being pulled.

"Why should I let go first? Why didn't you let go first?" Bai Yingluo, whose underwear was being pulled, retorted defiantly.

The two remained locked in this stalemate for a while, until Xia Ling Shuang finally couldn't take it anymore and said coldly, "How about this, we'll count to three, and then let go together, okay?"

"Hmph!" Bai Yingluo snorted coldly, which was considered an admission, since continuing this stalemate would not benefit either of them.

"one two Three!"

As soon as the word "three" was uttered, the two released their grip simultaneously, immediately stepped back, and created distance between themselves. They then glared at each other, their eyes filled with a furious rage that seemed to want to devour the other alive.

"Huff...huff...Xia Lingshuang." Bai Yingluo gasped for breath, saying fiercely, "You just wait, I'll remember this!"

"Likewise." Xia Lingshuang's voice was also a little hoarse. "Bai Yingluo, if you dare touch my hair again, I'll never forgive you!"

The two then engaged in a fierce eye-to-eye battle for a long time.

Finally, Xia Ling Shuang looked down at her disheveled appearance and frowned.

"Bai Yingluo, if we keep fighting like this and someone sees us, we're both doomed."

Bai Yingluo naturally understood this principle, but when she saw her torn dress, she was so angry that she wanted to rush up and fight Xia Lingshuang to the death.

Seeing that the war was about to reignite, Xia Lingshuang took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and then said, "Bai Yingluo, how about we make a deal?"

Bai Yingluo looked at her warily: "What kind of deal?"

“Internal strife is pointless.” Xia Lingshuang’s eyes deepened. “Our goals should be aligned.”

"Unanimous?" Bai Yingluo scoffed. "I don't care what you want to do. I only have one goal: to stay by Chen Lang's side. And anyone who dares to lay a finger on him is my enemy, including you!"

As she finished speaking, a cold, murderous glint flashed in her eyes.

Xia Lingshuang looked at her possessive behavior towards her food and felt both contempt and shock.

This witch is too deeply poisoned; there's no saving her.

"Don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards him," Xia Lingshuang said slowly. "On the contrary, I am now full of curiosity about him, so I will not hurt him before I find out his secrets."

"Do you think I'd believe you?" Bai Yingluo sneered.

"Believe it or not," Xia Lingshuang said, brushing the dust off her clothes. "But right now we have to solve our current predicament, and you don't want to go see your Chen Lang looking like this, do you?"

That finally hit the nail on the head.

Bai Yingluo looked down at herself, and her face immediately turned extremely ugly.

"Then what do you think we should do?"

A glint of light flashed in Xia Ling's eyes.

"It's simple, let's call a truce for now and leave each other alone! In front of Chen Ye, you can continue to be your Miss Yuan, and I'll continue to be my Shuang'er, but in private, let's not bother each other."

Bai Yingluo remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, before finally nodding reluctantly.

"Okay, I agree! But I'm warning you beforehand, Xia Lingshuang, don't try anything funny behind my back, especially don't do anything to Chen Ye, otherwise..."

"Don't worry," Xia Lingshuang interrupted her directly, "I have no interest in your messy affairs."

(End of this chapter)