After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Treating the Injury

Take off your clothes; Sister will help you apply the medicine.

“There’s movement! Everyone, stay alert!” The Sect Leader of the Tianqiu Sect was the first to sense the abnormal spiritual fluctuations coming from the corpse nest. These ripples were so potent they made even a Refining Void and Combining with Dao Sovereign like her feel a sense of danger.

If that person was truly inside, such fluctuations were only logical.

However, she never would have guessed that Yan Huaixi, intent on protecting another, had no intention of a head-on collision. Furthermore, the traitor within the Sect had prepared a “grand gift” for her down below!

BOOM!

Another explosion thundered from beneath Sanxi City. Something was surging. The Sect Leader stared into the fissures, her eyes widening in shock. What are those things that look like a swarming mound of ants from a distance?

Yan Huaixi soon provided the answer. As the “ants” were tossed from the depths into the sunlight, the Sect Leader finally saw them clearly: the dense black shadows were individual living corpses! Some were species she had never even seen before!

These powerful monsters were not something ordinary cultivators could handle. The Sect Master and Elders, who had intended to focus entirely on Yan Huaixi, were forced to join the fray. Meanwhile, Yin Duo cared nothing for the lives of others. He only wanted to silence witnesses. Even if he couldn’t kill Yan Huaixi, he had to ensure those who might know his secret never spoke again!

The chaos was a perfect opportunity for murder. Since these corpses were his creations, he didn’t worry about them attacking him. But as Yin Duo masked his aura to strike, a sword glare grazed past his side. Behind him, a corpse that hadn’t even intended to attack him was sliced in two.

“Master, be careful.” Fang Yuetong’s voice was chillingly calm amidst the bedlam, like a bucket of ice water poured over him.

Under Fang Yuetong’s steady gaze, Yin Duo’s hand trembled on his sword. Weighing his options, he was forced to strike down his own painstaking creations. At the very least, he couldn’t expose himself now. He secretly commanded all the corpses to hunt down the members of the Judicial Hall at all costs.

The powerful corpses had developed their own thoughts; they didn’t want to abandon their chance to escape for Yin Duo’s order. But Yin Duo had anticipated this, planting unbreakable restrictions in their bodies from the moment of their birth. They were forced to obey.

The problem was where were the targets?

In the confusion, they vaguely sensed the locked-on auras, but the scent of living humans was so thick in the air it interfered with their senses. They couldn’t pinpoint their location.

“Not a single corpse must leave this place!” the Sect Master commanded. Many of these monsters only existed in ancient texts; letting even one loose would be a catastrophe. In a way, these things were more dangerous than Yan Huaixi!

Fortunately, the barriers had been set in advance. No one would escape unless Yan Huaixi tore through the seal while the Sect Master was distracted.

The Sect Master prepared for the worst, expecting a knife in the back from Yan Huaixi at any moment. Yet, when the dust settled and every corpse was slain, she still hadn’t sensed Yan Huaixi’s spiritual ripple. Her divine sense swept the battlefield repeatedly, but the target was nowhere to be found.

“Sect Master, did you find them?” Fang Yuetong approached, her expression slightly dim. Fang Yuetong rarely showed emotion; strangers thought her cold, but the Sect Master knew she was simply bad at expressing her delicate inner feelings.

“I found no one. Not Yan Huaixi, nor Wen Xin’s group.” The Sect Master had initially been relieved that Yan Huaixi hadn’t caused more trouble, but seeing Fang Yuetong’s rare dejection made her angry. What a good child. To make her look like this means she’s truly hurt. That despicable Yan Huaixi, to have the heart to lie to a child like this! Next time I see her, we’re settling the score!

Fang Yuetong bowed her head, looking pitiful, but she quickly steadied herself. As long as they were alive, she would find them again.

“Don’t be sad. Yan Huaixi is cunning. Take it as a lesson,” the Sect Master consoled her. Of all the children in the sect, she favored Fang Yuetong most. Though not her direct disciple, she intended for Fang to succeed her.

The Sect Master’s gaze turned worriedly toward the distance. It was one thing for Yan Huaixi to vanish, but the Judicial Hall disciples weren’t strong enough to evade her sight on their own—unless Yan Huaixi had sheltered them.

Every disciple had a Life Tablet. No news of their breaking had come, meaning they were still alive. Wen Xin was like a daughter to her, the future head of the Judicial Hall. The Sect Master refused to believe she had colluded with a demon.

Sect Master, I think there’s something wrong. Senior Sister Wen is not that kind of person. It’s all too convenient.

The Sect Master looked at Fang Yuetong, surprised by her sudden insight. You remember the outer elder who was almost silenced? Fang continued via transmission. You suspected he was being silenced to cover a secret. What if Senior Sister Wen is in the same situation? Only, one was guilty, and she is innocent.

The Sect Master looked at her deeply. That doesn’t sound like something you would say. She knew Fang; it usually took her time to connect such dots. Furthermore, this implied Yin Duo who accused Wen Xin was a suspect.

But I think it makes sense. Fang Yuetong was a woman of logic, especially when it was logic shared with her by Si Jinglan.

You’re right. Another possibility is that Wen Xin’s group knows a secret or knows exactly who we are hunting, and someone is desperate to kill them. They don’t dare show themselves because they don’t trust us to protect them from a mole.

Do you know what that means?

I do. Master would be a prime suspect.

The Sect Master nodded. It’s good that you know. I don’t believe Wen Xin would do this either. Patrol the area quietly. If they have a grievance, they will try to sneak back. When they do, you meet them.

The Sect Master maintained a look of appropriate worry, ensuring no one noticed her silent exchange with Fang. It wasn’t until Yin Duo looked over that she spoke to the elders: “This was likely the enemy’s nest. We must check for stragglers so the people of Sanxi City can live in peace before we fill this place in.”

The elders agreed. After clearing the surface, the Sect Master led them, specifically Yin Duo, into the corpse nest. She immediately saw the epicenter of the explosion. The chaotic, violent power there was so strong that weaker cultivators felt their souls being tugged away.

“Everyone below the Refining Spirit and Returning to Void stage, get back to the surface!” she ordered. “This is Yan Huaixi’s power. One slip and your soul will be ruined!”

“So this is the demon head’s power… terrifying.” Even the elders felt immense pressure. “It seems she has fully recovered. We missed our chance.”

“But our Fang Yuetong is superior,” an elder added, looking for comfort. “If she could wound her once, she can do it again.”

Fang Yuetong remained silent. She wanted to say that the battle had been strange. Yan Huaixi’s power had seemed bottomless. Fang had intended to trade her life for a strike, but at the last moment, Yan Huaixi had seen something that shocked her. The tables turned; Fang was unharmed, and Yan Huaixi fled, gravely wounded. Why didn’t she strike? In the courtyard, she had never felt malice from her. And the woman beside her… was that the Left Protector Yu Yingxia? It didn’t feel like her at all.

Fang’s intuition was sharper than most. When I find them, the truth will come out!

She was full of drive, but the two she sought were already on a spirit ship heading back to the heart of the cultivation world. Sanxi City was on the edge of the Northern Territory; Yan Huaixi’s base was in the Southern Territory. They were worlds apart.

On the spirit ship, Yan Huaixi listened to Si Jinglan’s report. Hearing that Fang Yuetong suspected Yin Duo, she smirked. At least one of them isn’t hopeless. With Fang suspicious and Si Jinglan watching, she could leave in peace.

Yan Huaixi leaned her chin on her hand, watching Yu Yingxia admire the view from the window. It was Yu Yingxia’s first time on a spirit ship. Outside, clouds swirled over mountain ranges, and immortal cranes flew alongside. One friendly crane even landed on the deck. Yu Yingxia, a lover of fluffy things, fed it spirit fruit. The crane nuzzled her face, making her laugh.

“Tch.” A small sound of displeasure came from Yan Huaixi. The crane immediately fled in terror.

Yu Yingxia looked at her, helpless. Cranes are cute, why scare it? Yan Huaixi put on an innocent face. I just coughed. Who knew it was so jumpy?

Knock, knock.

A servant entered with tea and pastries. She moved silently, like a ghost. When she closed the door, she shot a cold, sharp look at Yu Yingxia. Yu Yingxia sipped her tea, feeling the liquid turn cold in her mouth from that glare.

So cold, she sighed. It wasn’t the first “look” she’d received. She understood; the followers saw her as a traitor who had wormed her way back into their master’s trust. They couldn’t defy Yan Huaixi, but they could stab her with their eyes.

The ship was disguised as a merchant vessel. Yan Huaixi had several “clean” organizations, and this was one. Yu Yingxia had nowhere to hide. Doctor Jiang Li had met them there and warned her: Stay close to the Master. Don’t wander off, or “accidents” might happen.

“Try her cooking. I had her make it to your taste, not too sweet.” Yan Huaixi’s voice was uncharacteristically tender. Her followers, who had never seen her like this, naturally saw Yu Yingxia as a “calamity.”

“It’s good,” Yu Yingxia said, eating a milk cake.

“My personal guards haven’t developed a habit of cooking. You’ll have to make do for a few days. I’ve already sent word to hire good chefs for our return.” Yan Huaixi had already begun remodeling her sparse residence, adding the flowers and plants Yu Yingxia liked. Though Yu Yingxia hadn’t arrived yet, her reputation had; the followers there were already gritting their teeth to “welcome” the Left Protector.

“It’s no trouble. This girl’s cooking is much better than yours,” Yu Yingxia teased.

Yan Huaixi went quiet. Cooking was indeed her weakness. She considered having the servant teach her. Why not ask Yu Yingxia? She knew the girl wouldn’t let her near a stove. The subordinates? They wouldn’t dare criticize me even if I blew the kitchen up.

As she pondered, a warm hand covered hers. “Sister, I’ll cook whatever you want. Just… stay away from the kitchen, okay?” Yu Yingxia sensed a dangerous “bright idea” forming. The ship is in the air; please don’t explode it!

Yan Huaixi huffed, looking defiant. It’s just a kitchen. She stood up and walked over to Yu Yingxia. Under the girl’s confused gaze, she leaned down and lightly pinched Yu Yingxia’s waist.

Yu Yingxia’s face changed instantly. Not from ticklishness, but from pain. She had been battered in the nest; her back and arms were likely covered in bruises. She hadn’t even dared lean against her chair.

“You’re in pain and didn’t tell me?” Yan Huaixi had noticed her stiff posture.

“It’s just some bruises, I’m fine.”

“Stubborn. Go to the inner room and lie down. Don’t forget what you promised me.”

Yu Yingxia hadn’t forgotten, though she hoped Yan would. “Doctor Jiang is here, I shouldn’t trouble Sister—” She stopped at Yan’s “try me” look.

“Embarrassed to let me see? When it comes to surface wounds, I’m just as good as Jiang Li.”

Yu Yingxia bit her lip and walked into the inner room. Think of it as a doctor’s visit, she told herself. Yan Huaixi followed like a victorious cat. She expected Yu Yingxia to stall, but when she entered and closed the door, she was greeted by the sight of a fair back covered in dark purple bruises.

The composed Yan Huaixi instinctively looked away. A strange emotion boiled in her chest, and she froze.

“Sister?” Yu Yingxia looked back, confused.

Her unguarded, innocent look made Yan Huaixi feel a flicker of guilt. The teasing words she had prepared died in her throat.

“Lie… lie on the bed. Your injuries are mostly on your back.” Yan’s voice sounded calm, but the slight tremor at the end gave her away. She wanted to see Yu Yingxia blush, not expose her own lack of composure to a rabbit.

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