After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Corpse Nest

If she had to die, she wanted to choose the way she could accept more.

Within moments, the terrifying sounds in the pigsty ceased. Two bodies lay motionless in the filth not yet dead, but breathing so shallowly they were on the brink.

Yan Huaixi spared their lives and kept their souls intact because she still had a great use for them.

“We’re in luck. These two are core corpse-refiners.” Yan Huaixi confirmed their identities from the memories she had just read. As core members, they not only possessed a vast stash of living corpses but also knew that their buyer was a Refining Void and Combining with Dao cultivator from the Tianqiu Sect.

There were only three such cultivators in the Tianqiu Sect: the Sect Master, Yin Duo, and Fang Yuetong.

If this news broke, the Tianqiu Sect would become quite lively.

Unfortunately, Yan Huaixi was wary. She worried that Fang Yuetong might not be able to emerge unscathed from such a storm. Otherwise, by using her status as the Sect Master’s trusted “hidden mole,” she could have easily plunged the sect into a civil war of mutual suspicion.

She wondered what Si Jinglan’s plan was. She didn’t doubt Si Jinglan’s ability; she only worried the methods would be too extreme or sinister.

Fine, as long as she isn’t too mean to Fang Yuetong, anything else goes.

Yan Huaixi bound the two dying men and tossed them into her spatial storage with a look of pure disgust.

However, after viewing their memories, one thing struck her as odd. She had originally thought Yin Duo was merely using “corpse refining” as a pretext to frame her and eliminate his rivals. But the number of living corpses they controlled likely exceeded that of the Changsheng Gate.

What did Yin Duo want with so many corpses? She was almost certain the old man had another motive one that these low-level refiners weren’t privy to.

Perhaps I can investigate further from within the Tianqiu Sect.

Yu Yingxia remained silent. She felt she was facing a problem more headache-inducing than being bait: the “compensation” Yan Huaixi mentioned.

She admitted she had misunderstood, but Yan Huaixi had a track record. She couldn’t voice her complaints, so she focused on thinking of a suitable compensation.

Yan Huaixi lacked nothing… no, that wasn’t true. It was just that the things she lacked, Yu Yingxia couldn’t provide. Like the corpses of Yin Duo and Yan Zheng. Even a hundred Yu Yingxias couldn’t manage that.

“What are you thinking about?” Yan Huaixi patted her back gently.

“Thinking… about how to compensate Sister.” Yu Yingxia tried to make her voice sound like it wasn’t squeezed through gritted teeth.

“Then think carefully.” Yan Huaixi sounded quite expectant.

Yu Yingxia sighed internally. Fine, fine, I’ll think.

“Sister, did you see anything in their memories about my bounty poster?”

“I did. It’s still about those ‘Immortal Pills.’ Fang Yuetong caused them heavy losses, but they can’t retaliate against her, so they targeted you. Plus, you killed two of their assassins, and those who felt they lost face put you on the poster.”

Yu Yingxia was likely the lowest-ranked person on their bounty list. Aren’t they embarrassed to post that?

She snorted. “They only know how to pick on the softest targets.”

“Of course. Otherwise, should they go to Fang Yuetong? They’d be scared to death before they even found her.” Yan Huaixi chuckled and rubbed her hair. “Don’t be angry. I have a way to make that poster void.”

“How?” Yu Yingxia looked curious.

By dealing with the employers, of course. If no one pays the bounty, the poster becomes useless.

But Yan Huaixi didn’t want to appear too bloodthirsty in front of her, so she said with a smile, “Just leave it to me.”

Since Yan Huaixi didn’t want to elaborate, Yu Yingxia didn’t press. As long as the bounty was gone, she was satisfied. She sighed and gave a soft “Thank you,” only to hear the “greedy” cat say:

“And how does Yingxia plan to thank me for that?”

Great. The compensation from before, plus a thank-you gift… I owe her two gifts now?! Yu Yingxia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Yan Huaixi felt no shame. Having been the Master of the Changsheng Gate for so many years, she had developed a very thick skin. She didn’t expect anything expensive. Her gaze lingered on Yu Yingxia’s lips… A pity my little rabbit can’t read my mind.

She had to find a way to make her understand. Yan Huaixi was not one to deprive herself.

“Let me think more. I will definitely prepare a proper gift for Sister.” Yu Yingxia really wanted to pinch Yan Huaixi’s face to see if it was as thick as she imagined. But she didn’t dare.

“I shall look forward to it, then.” Yan Huaixi beamed, and Yu Yingxia could only nod helplessly.

“It’s getting late. I’ll notify Fang Yuetong and let her clean up those two pieces of trash.” Yan Huaixi suddenly swept Yu Yingxia up.

It was Yu Yingxia’s first time experiencing a bridal carry. Startled, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Yan Huaixi’s neck.

Because Yan Huaixi couldn’t stand the stench of the area, she used the fastest way to return to their courtyard. However, as soon as they entered the house, she sensed a group of people approaching stealthily.

They wore cloaks designed to hide their forms, but such tools weren’t enough to hide their soul signatures from her. Once the soul was exposed, she could tear through their disguise effortlessly.

She set Yu Yingxia down. The girl’s heart was still thumping.

Yan Huaixi made a “shh” gesture, wrote a note, and slipped it into the pouch used to contact Fang Yuetong.

The shadowy figures lingered at each house, making marks like thieves. Yan Huaixi identified them as members of the Tianqiu Sect’s Judicial Hall. Their sneaky behavior was a sharp contrast to their “immortal” demeanor at the bookstore earlier. Yan Huaixi couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the absurdity.

Yu Yingxia relaxed slightly upon seeing Yan Huaixi smile.

Soon, the figures reached their door. They dug a small hole, performed a spell, buried an object, and camouflaged the spot before moving on.

Once they were far away, Yan Huaixi led Yu Yingxia outside. Yan Huaixi crouched down and tapped the ground a few times. A rune flashed briefly.

“What is it?” To Yu Yingxia, these runes were gibberish.

“A Demon-Suppressing Nail,” Yan Huaixi said. “If a demonic cultivator passes by and leaks even a trace of demonic Qi, it will lock on and attack. It’s a crude method, but by casting a wide net, they might catch something. Assuming, of course, that such a nail works on me.”

Yan Huaixi guessed their goal. Unfortunately for them, she had never practiced the demonic arts of her sect, nor had she “fallen” into madness. Yin Duo had painted her as a heartless monster, and the sect members were naive enough to believe it.

“However, if you hadn’t destroyed your cultivation and restarted, this nail would have worked on you.” Yan Huaixi stood up, not forgetting to tease her.

Yu Yingxia shot her a reproachful look. “Should we just leave it there?”

“Leave it. Most demonic outcasts wouldn’t dare cause trouble in a town right under the Tianqiu Sect’s nose. Any they catch will likely be their own people. Let the Judicial Hall deal with it; it’s not our problem.”

Night had fully fallen. Nearby houses lit their candles.

“Snap.” The sound of a dry leaf being crushed.

Yan Huaixi’s hands immediately formed a seal. Years of survival had taught her to instinctively attack any silent, unknown presence.

Wait— Yan Huaixi halted mid-attack. The blurry presence suddenly became clear. A tremor in their bloodline connection allowed her to stop the spell at the very last microsecond.

Fang Yuetong?

The figure stepped into the moonlight. It was indeed Fang Yuetong. Her face was grim, her brow furrowed likely because the search for the mole wasn’t going well.

Why is she acting like a thief at this hour? Yan Huaixi frowned. Fang Yuetong was usually straightforward and never hid her presence.

“Miss Fang… you’re here.” Yu Yingxia felt something was off. The “Samoyed” angel vibe was gone, replaced by something dark and brooding.

Yu Yingxia’s soul cultivation moved instinctively. Her soul power sensed a minute, subtle discrepancy.

“Yes. The Sect Master is conducting a thorough search for moles; no one is allowed to leave. I can’t leave temporarily, but your situation is more urgent, so I left an avatar there and snuck out myself,” “Fang Yuetong” explained mechanically.

“It’s late. Come inside,” Yan Huaixi said, gesturing for her to follow.

“Miss Yu, you said you caught core members of the corpse-refiners. Where are they?” “Fang Yuetong” looked around while walking. “The leads at the sect have gone cold. Those two might provide new information.”

The moment she finished speaking, a sharp edge of soul power pierced the air, aimed directly at her forehead. “Fang Yuetong” instinctively raised her power to block, but the moment she did, a nail burst from the ground beneath her feet!

She blocked the frontal attack but failed to guard against the Demon-Suppressing Nail a tool specifically designed to pierce demonic Qi!

With a sound of tearing flesh, “Fang Yuetong” groaned. The faked expression was instantly replaced by a sinister malice.

“How did you find out?”

Yan Huaixi sneered. “It was just a test. Your acting was terrible.”

“And I should thank the Judicial Hall for their nail. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known you’d fallen so far into the demonic path.”

Triggered by the Qi, the Judicial Hall members who had just left sprinted back. They arrived only to see their own sect’s “prodigy” impaled by their nail!

“Impossible!” Shock froze them in their tracks.

Yan Huaixi struck again, this time aiming for the face of the fake Fang Yuetong. She wanted to see who was wearing this skin and how they managed to mimic the Yan bloodline’s aura.

“Rip!” The sound of skin being torn away was ghastly. Yan Huaixi pulled off a mask, but it was just empty skin.

Oh no!

Yu Yingxia had retreated to a safe distance when the fight started. She knew she couldn’t interfere in a battle of this level; her job was to not be a burden.

However, a foul wind whipped past. In the darkness, a blurred figure slashed the skin of her throat.

Cold sweat rolled down Yu Yingxia’s forehead. She gritted her teeth, refusing to make a sound, even as she felt warm liquid trickling down her neck. The power gap was too vast for her to react.

Yan Huaixi’s attack followed instantly, her eyes burning with icy rage. She no longer hid her strength. Powerful spiritual energy and soul arts bypassed the figure to strike its head. To avoid hurting Yu Yingxia, her control was surgical.

The power that pierced through the thing’s head caused an explosion in the distant sky, tearing fissures in the space itself.

Yet, the headless thing did not fall. It let out a bizarre laugh.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve found you.”

Ever since learning Yan Huaixi had escaped, he had been unable to sleep, searching for her to no avail. He had used her name to eliminate rivals, claiming she was lurking nearby for revenge. He never expected the lie to be true she was right under his nose!

He had wasted months. With so much time to recover, she had likely healed the wound Fang Yuetong dealt her. Without that lingering sword intent, Yin Duo wasn’t certain he could kill her.

And now, his secrets had fallen into her hands. If he hadn’t noticed something off about the “out of control” Fang Yuetong, he would still be in the dark.

But he had made another absurd discovery: Yan Huaixi valued this girl more than he could have imagined. The moment his cover was blown, he chose to seize Yu Yingxia.

It was a delightful surprise…

His laughter was still echoing in the wind when another “surprise” was hand-delivered by the hostage himself.

He felt a sharp, piercing pain in his abdomen. Looking with his divine sense, he saw a finger bone thrust into the shadow.

Despite his formless body and the fact that Yan Huaixi’s attacks hadn’t truly harmed him, this finger bone made his soul tremble with terror.

This bone could seal Yan Huaixi’s power. For those outside the Yan family, while it wasn’t as potent, it still served as a powerful lock.

Yan Huaixi’s injuries weren’t fully healed. Yu Yingxia’s first instinct was that she couldn’t let Yin Duo face Yan Huaixi at full strength. Yan Huaixi had previously returned this artifact to her because she feared Yan Zheng would sense it—now, it was her only trump card.

Was Yu Yingxia afraid? Of course she was.

Her legs were like jelly. If she hadn’t clamped her jaw shut, her teeth would be chattering. Her hand holding the bone was shaking violently. The enemy had the power to crush her with a single thought! His killing intent was purer and darker than anything she’d felt from Yan Huaixi.

But some things come before fear.

Like the warmth that hadn’t yet faded from her palm when Yan Huaixi held her hand. Like the way she had just carried her and shielded her from the sounds of slaughter.

Even if there was a element of “utility” in that tenderness, Yu Yingxia accepted it. If something happened to Yan Huaixi, she wouldn’t survive anyway. Both paths led to death, but she was more afraid of Yan Huaixi getting hurt. She chose the death she could accept.

She was prepared for the backlash. Fortunately, because of Yin Duo’s contempt for her, she successfully drove the bone into his shadow-soul. Yan Zheng was right; this is a good item.

In a brief eye contact with Yan Huaixi, she saw both reproach and pride. Reproach for taking such a risk, and pride in how quickly she had grown.

“Yan… Zheng?” Seeing the finger bone, his first thought was of a betrayal by his ally.

His distraction lasted only a moment. He immediately moved his weapon to slit Yu Yingxia’s throat, but it was too late. Yu Yingxia felt herself wrapped in familiar spiritual power and flung away, as a red silhouette blocked the path between her and the avatar of Yin Duo.

“Yan Huaixi!”

Yu Yingxia reached out desperately, wanting to tell her not to push herself, to wait until she was fully healed. But there is no room for hesitation when two master cultivators are fighting for their lives.

The shockwave from the collision of their powers threw her back. In her fading consciousness, she heard the enemy’s roar: “How dare you?!”

Is there anything in this world Yan Huaixi doesn’t dare to do?

Yan Huaixi’s laughter was far more unrestrained than his. “If you dare dig a Corpse Nest under this city, why wouldn’t I dare? We’ve known each other for years; why not invite me to see the ‘results’ you’ve cultivated here? As you said, I’m an expert in this field.”

A deafening explosion followed. The night of Sanxi City turned into day in an instant. With his soul restricted, Yin Duo couldn’t stop her. Yan Huaixi blasted a massive, deep crater into the earth.

A sky-high stench of death and dizzying ghostly Qi erupted from the hole. Now, no one could hide it anymore!

She had learned from the refiners’ memories that a massive nest of living corpses was hidden beneath this peaceful, bustling town.

They say the most dangerous place is the safest. Yu Yingxia chose to hide here, and Yin Duo chose to hide his secret here. Sanxi City was truly ill-fated.

“Fine! You seek death, and I shall grant it!” The man whose secret was exposed resolved to bury the secret and the witness together in the depths.

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