After Swapping Identities With My Archenemy - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Are You Two Together?

There is a common myth that you should play dead when encountering a bear. In reality, if a bear intends to attack, your best options are to either eliminate it or run though, in the mountains, a human is unlikely to outrun one. The main reason bears don’t eat humans is a lack of interest, not because we aren’t on the menu. Experienced hunters always carry a rifle before heading into the wilderness for self-preservation.

Playing dead wasn’t an option. Jiang Huaiyi saw Song Rong’s legs shaking so violently she was about to collapse. Wanting to offer some encouragement, Jiang Huaiyi caught her eye.

“Rong,” Jiang Huaiyi said, “if you sit down now, you’ll just die faster.”

Song Rong: “…” She forced herself to stand upright.

Jiang Huaiyi smiled, satisfied. It seems my ‘comfort’ was effective; she’s standing tall now.

She counted seven bears. The group they had seen earlier was clearly just the tip of the iceberg. Despite the roaring bonfire, the black bears showed no fear of the flames and lunged forward. Faced with a frontal assault from such massive predators, Jiang Huaiyi’s first instinct was to bolt, but they were trapped.

As the bears closed in, the thunderous crack of two gunshots rang out.

The smell of gunpowder filled the air. Jiang Huaiyi instinctively covered her head. It was the sound of a traditional hunting rifle—loud and devastating. Looking back, she saw Shen Wensi holding a long-barreled shotgun, her hand slightly numb from the recoil.

Jiang Huaiyi was stunned. Where did she get that? Shen Wensi’s preparation was far more extensive than she had imagined.

Calmly, Shen Wensi reloaded. Two bears were already down. Another gunshot echoed, and a third bear collapsed just two steps away from the group. Within seven paces, the gun was undisputed king. The remaining bears, seeing their kin fall, turned into black blurs and vanished into the darkness.

The Misunderstanding

“Why do you have a gun?” Jiang Huaiyi asked softly once the danger had passed. She was so used to Shen Wensi’s martial arts prowess that seeing her use a firearm felt strange.

Shen Wensi looked down, her black hair swaying in the wind, making her pale skin look even more porcelain. She reached out and brushed Jiang Huaiyi’s cold hair. “To protect you, of course.”

Jiang Huaiyi’s heart skipped a beat. Her face grew hot, though she wasn’t sure if it was the biting wind or Shen Wensi’s words.

Nearby, Chu Lianxue (the Senior Sister) walked up to Shen Wensi and began whispering. Because of the silence of the woods, the words drifted right into Jiang Huaiyi’s ears: “Are you two in a relationship?”

Jiang Huaiyi’s hand slipped, nearly dropping her water bottle. Her ears turned a fiery red. She pulled her hat down and sat further away, eavesdropping.

Even the usually cynical Mu Ze approached Jiang Huaiyi with a rare look of sincerity. “If something is really going on between you two, don’t worry about what those old fossils in the Sect say. Life is short; you have to fight for yourself. When you have the wedding, just don’t invite them. I’m on your side.”

Jiang Huaiyi nodded absently. She realized that in the eyes of the occult world, “Shen Wensi” was a lonely, friendless genius much like herself.

Meanwhile, Chu Lianxue was becoming increasingly excited. “I’ll tell Master and Uncle to pick an auspicious date for the ceremony! My little sister has really outdone herself not only the best in the occult world but she’s landed a wife too!”

Jiang Huaiyi spat out her water in a spray.

“Don’t rush,” Shen Wensi said seriously to the group. “I still need to ‘train’ a bit more.”

The Reality of the Heart

While the others laughed, Jiang Huaiyi felt a complex tide of emotions. She knew Shen Wensi’s “training” comment was likely just a factual statement about her current goals, but she couldn’t stop her heart from racing.

Was she actually falling for her? Shen Wensi was steady, kind, and powerful the complete opposite of the “burden” Jiang Huaiyi felt herself to be. She only cares for me because we are bound by this mission, Jiang Huaiyi thought, her heart cooling as fast as the mountain air. A beam of light feels warm, but it doesn’t belong to the person it shines upon.

That night, they took turns guarding the small wooden hut. Jiang Huaiyi lay on the straw next to Shen Wensi. She stayed perfectly still, listening to Shen’s light breathing, unable to sleep.

Suddenly, a warm tear escaped and wet her hair. She sniffled quietly.

In the darkness, a hand reached out and gently touched her forehead. A soft, melodic voice whispered in her ear:

“Why do you have a fever?”

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