After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Heart-to-Heart

She wanted to be more base; she didn’t want to take things slow anymore.

“These things are but dead objects, meant to be used. Since I have no use for them, you should simply take them.” Yan Huaixi searched Yu Yingxia’s face for a look of joy, but Yu Yingxia’s reaction was not what she expected.

There was little surprise; instead, there was an indescribable, lingering melancholy.

“You’re not happy?”

“No, it’s just… I feel I have no way to repay you.” Yu Yingxia lowered her eyes slightly, hiding her emotions.

No way to repay?

Was there a second half to that sentence? A spark of inspiration flashed through Yan Huaixi’s mind, but she waited in vain for Yu Yingxia to finish the thought.

However, Zhao Ying, who hadn’t quite grasped the gravity of the atmosphere, joked: “If you can’t repay her, shouldn’t you ‘pledge your life in marriage’?”

Yan Huaixi suddenly felt that Zhao Ying had finally become smart. Before she could test the waters with a similar joking tone, Yu Yingxia waved her hand and laughed: “That’s not a joke to be made. Sister is a future immortal; how could I dare harbor such delusions? Besides, I intended to repay her kindness. To ‘pledge my life’ would be like taking the gift and the giver having my cake and eating it too.”

Yu Yingxia looked at Yan Huaixi’s stunned expression and immediately added a flattering smile. She thought her words, which both praised Yan Huaixi and clarified her own humble stance, were exactly what the other woman wanted to hear. Little did she know, Yan Huaixi was currently swallowing a mouthful of regretful “blood.”

Zhao Ying didn’t understand the “having the cake and eating it too” metaphor at first, but after a moment, she burst out laughing. It was an exceptionally funny way to put it.

However, her laughter was instantly cut short by a chilling, cold gaze. Her voice caught in her throat. She stole a glance the Lord’s eyes were terrifying. Zhao Ying was bewildered. How did I upset her this time? Was she just having a run of bad luck where every word she said offended the boss?

“Yingxia, actually… you don’t need to belittle yourself.” Yan Huaixi glared at Zhao Ying for starting the topic, then tried to find the words to let Yu Yingxia know that she wasn’t some untouchable figure—that she could have those thoughts, and that everything she had said before about not wanting a relationship didn’t count!

Before meeting Yu Yingxia, Yan Huaixi had never known the feeling of slapping her own face. Now, she was experiencing it repeatedly.

“I know.” Yu Yingxia blinked understandingly. “Sister is focused solely on cultivation and has no interest in matters of the heart.”

No—I am very interested!

“Don’t worry, Sister, I remember everything you said. I know you did it for my own good, so I wouldn’t waste my feelings on a hopeless cause.” Yu Yingxia put Yan Huaixi on a pedestal, but Yan Huaixi wasn’t happy at all. She felt a suffocating pressure in her chest.

Yan Huaixi didn’t want to be the “Saint” in Yu Yingxia’s mouth. She wanted to learn from the “base” version of herself in that book provided, of course, that this rabbit didn’t find out.

She caressed Yu Yingxia’s cheek, her gaze deep enough to swallow her like a dark sea.

The smile in Yu Yingxia’s eyes faded slightly. Yan Huaixi’s expression was strange, as if she were a prey trapped in a cage. Even Zhao Ying, who was usually out of the loop, sensed the atmosphere was bizarre. She felt like an intruder—an awkward third wheel.

Should I sneak away?

No one spoke. In the silence, a trace of ambiguity lingered.

“Buzz! Buzz!”

The newly born Top-grade Spirit Tool broke the silence. The spirit brush in Yu Yingxia’s hand flew out, hovering in front of her and swaying side to side, as if indignant that she had ignored it until now.

To ensure the bonding process went smoothly, Yan Huaixi had taken a sample of Yu Yingxia’s blood and given it to Zhao Ying to incorporate during the forging. This made the artifact naturally close to her from birth.

The brush possessed a spark of intelligence and was attempting to merge its spiritual aura with Yu Yingxia’s energy.

“The little fellow wants to recognize you as its master,” Zhao Ying said, recognizing the behavior after handling thousands of artifacts.

“You should go bond with it quickly. You two need time to synchronize. It’s a Top-grade tool, so it will take longer. Don’t miss the secret realm opening,” Zhao Ying urged earnestly.

“Okay,” Yu Yingxia nodded.

“She’s right. Go bond with the brush, Yingxia. The Lost Realm of Souls is opening unusually early this year. I’ve never seen it open this soon. Reports say spiritual energy is already leaking from the entrance. It could open in a month, or six at most.”

“This realm is a perfect training ground for a soul cultivator; it’s just right for your current level.” Yan Huaixi’s expression was more complex and intense than gentle. “When you come out of seclusion, let’s have a real talk.”

Upon hearing “real talk,” Yu Yingxia grew nervous. Is she going to talk about my identity? Is the reckoning coming? But the other woman didn’t look like she was looking for a fight.

Fine. What will be, will be. She needed to straighten out this mess eventually.

“Okay. I have things I want to say, too.” Yu Yingxia grabbed the swaying brush and stroked it soothingly. Yan Huaixi watched the brush being coddled like a child and let out a silent “hmpf.”

Back when I was most guarded and treated her the worst, I used to get that kind of treatment too. Tsk, no wonder the ‘me’ in the book got addicted.

“Master? What are you doing?” A young girl poked her head out from behind the Forge Tower door. Seeing the two figures outside, she immediately yanked Zhao Ying inside and pulled the door shut.

The girl was sharp; she knew the Lord would much rather she disappear quietly than interrupt a private conversation.

“I was delivering the artifact. What are you doing?” Zhao Ying frowned at the door. “The Lord definitely knew you were there. Why didn’t you greet her?”

“Oh, my dear Master, haven’t you heard the rumors? Standing there only interrupts lovers’ pillow talk. That’s a great way to get on her bad side. The Lord probably already finds you annoying.” The girl spoke with feigned wisdom.

Zhao Ying was shocked. Only two words echoed in her brain: LOVERS!!!

“That girl is the Lord’s Dao Companion?! How is that possible? I didn’t hear a thing!” Zhao Ying, shut away in her tower, was completely out of the loop. She had assumed Yan Huaixi would never be associated with that term.

“That’s because you never come out. I couldn’t find a chance to tell you! It’s definitely true—Hall Master Teng knows! And before, Miss Yu’s spiritual energy was practically soaked in the Lord’s aura. She’s probably hiding it now, but if you felt it, you’d understand.” The girl winked at her teacher.

“No wonder…” Zhao Ying realized. But based on the conversation she’d just overheard, things were complicated. The Lord was clearly pursuing her, but Miss Yu seemed… hesitant. They were in a tug-of-war. No wonder everything Zhao Ying said was “wrong.”

“We should stay out of her sight for a few days. Come, I haven’t checked your progress in a while; let’s see if you’ve been slacking.”

The girl immediately regretted her meddling as she was hauled away.

Yu Yingxia returned to her room with the artifact. Yan Huaixi gave her various instructions for the bonding. Since the brush was a gentle object, not a malicious one, Yan Huaixi wasn’t worried about accidents.

However, the brush was mischievous. Once the door was closed and Yan Huaixi was gone, it showed its true colors. In the absence of the woman it couldn’t beat, it began “painting” everything in the room with ink. Within moments, the room was filled with inked animals, plants, and little trinkets!

Just as Yu Yingxia was losing control, the brush started drawing on the window. Suddenly, Yan Huaixi opened it.

The brush froze in mid-air. Yan Huaixi rapped it sharply with her knuckles. It was a Top-grade tool sturdy enough not to break and Yan Huaixi didn’t hold back like Yu Yingxia did.

Yu Yingxia sighed in relief, sharing a look with Yan Huaixi that clearly said: Good hit! Her own strength was too low; if she tried to discipline the brush, it would probably think she was just tickling it.

The chastened brush finally settled in Yu Yingxia’s hand. It realized that while Yu Yingxia was gentle, the scary woman outside would beat it if it didn’t behave.

Yan Huaixi smiled and teased the brush: “This artifact is mediocre and disobedient. Perhaps I should just break it and melt it down.”

Yu Yingxia played along: “I’ll do whatever Sister says.”

The little thing was so terrified it practically burrowed into Yu Yingxia’s arms, initiating the bonding process immediately for fear of being thrown back into the furnace.

“I’ll be outside guarding you. If it misbehaves again, just call me,” Yan Huaixi said warmly.

“It should be good now, right?” Yu Yingxia played the “good cop.” The brush tip nodded frantically. It wasn’t that it disliked Yu Yingxia; it was just hyperactive.

The bonding took longer than expected because of the spiritual energy feedback. A month into her seclusion, the three major families controlling the Lost Realm of Souls sent word: the opening was imminent.

Usually, the gates stay open for only two hours. If you miss it, you can’t enter. After fifteen days, the realm closes, and all survivors are expelled. If you die inside, your soul is lost forever.

Yu Yingxia remained in seclusion with no movement. Yan Huaixi was prepared to miss the opening entirely, but fortunately, on the very day the gates were to open, Yu Yingxia finally emerged.

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