After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Difficult to Learn

They had now each grasped a piece of the other’s dark history.

The closer they drew to the Soul Tower, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Yan Huaixi had nothing to fear personally, but with a string of wounded followers behind her, she propped up a barrier to hide everyone’s presence.

As they ventured deeper, the death energy which repelled the living grew heavier, and the strength of the undead entities increased. However, the spirits wandering outside were no match for those inside the tower. Furthermore, these ghosts were naturally countered by soul cultivators. Yan Huaixi casually plucked a clean leaf and blew a short tune; the ghost that had just conjured a wall of fog instantly dissipated along with its trap.

A look of wonder flashed in Yu Yingxia’s eyes. So you really can blow a tune with just a leaf.

Sensing the admiring gaze beside her, Yan Huaixi dealt with the obstructing spirit and turned to Yu Yingxia. Noticing the girl’s curiosity toward the leaf in her hand, she teased, “Want to learn?”

Yu Yingxia gave a helpless smile. “I’m afraid my talent for the Way of Music is so poor it would infuriate you.”

Even the flute-playing of the Sect Master of the Earth Fiend Sect had received a “bad review” from Yan Huaixi. Yu Yingxia feared that if she proved to be “rotten wood that cannot be carved,” she would annoy Yan Huaixi into “cleaning up” this particular piece of dark history by force.

“What does that matter? If your talent is poor, it’s poor. Your gifts lie in the Way of Painting and the Way of Souls. No one in this world is perfect. If you’re curious and want to learn, I’ll teach you.” If the musical masters who had once been scolded by Yan Huaixi until their Dao-hearts nearly shattered heard such “reasonable” words, they would probably crawl out of their graves in indignation.

“Besides, you aren’t studying this professionally. It’s just for fun. It doesn’t matter even if you learn it poorly.”

Under Yan Huaixi’s “honeyed” persuasion, Yu Yingxia finally wavered.

She took the leaf Yan Huaixi handed her and listened to the explanation throughout the journey. Having mastered the theoretical knowledge, Yu Yingxia tried it with full confidence.

The leaf only emitted a strange pffft sound.

“Pfft.” Zhao Xi lowered her head, but her shaking shoulders made it clear who had laughed.

The Zhao family members walked in the rear; only Zhao Xi walked in the middle between the couple and the rest of the team. Perhaps because she still harbored a sliver of hope, she walked faster, watching Yan Huaixi’s every move.

Though much time had passed, and even if that child had grown up, her personality might have changed completely. Zhao Xi knew she was likely chasing a delusion, but then she heard the other girl blow that bizarre sound. She failed to control her mouth in time, and before she could cover it, the laugh escaped.

Yan Huaixi could have held it in, but Zhao Xi’s laugh was infectious. A glint of amusement appeared in her eyes. Fortunately, Yu Yingxia’s face was flushed red with embarrassment and she didn’t dare look up; otherwise, she would have discovered that more than one person was laughing at her.

Now, we’ve both caught a glimpse of each other’s embarrassing pasts, Yan Huaixi thought, her smile deepening before she instantly schooled her expression.

She said seriously to Yu Yingxia, “Ignore her. Blowing a leaf is inherently difficult. For a beginner, what you just did was actually quite good.”

Zhao Xi silently retreated back into the family group. I’m sorry. They were kind enough to save us, how could I laugh? So inappropriate. I must self-reflect when I get back! She began wondering how to compensate for the “emotional damage” her laughter had caused.

Yan Huaixi continued to coax Yu Yingxia, hoping to restore her confidence. But before she could finish, they arrived at the Soul Tower.

“Wait… let’s finish dealing with the danger here before learning more,” Yu Yingxia whispered, tugging at Yan Huaixi’s sleeve. She desperately wanted the other woman to forget what just happened.

Can soul cultivation allow one to alter someone else’s memory at its peak? She knew she couldn’t do anything to Yan Huaixi, but she really wished she could make the other witness forget that sound!

Yan Huaixi looked at Yu Yingxia, who seemed ready to bury herself in the dirt, and suppressed another smile before looking up at the tower.

The Soul Tower area was eerily quiet. Normally, it should be busy, as the Qian family had supposedly set an ambush here. Curiously, all the figures she had sensed earlier were gone.

Have they entered the tower? Or perhaps the Zhao family weren’t the only unlucky ones, and the Qians had gone to hunt the third family.

“You there, which floor is that ‘space’ you mentioned?” Yan Huaixi looked back at the wounded.

“Third floor,” the heavily injured man gasped out, looking like he was about to faint again.

“That’s not too dangerous then.” Yan Huaixi looked at the Inverted Soul Tower. The eighteen floors grew more dangerous the further down one went. Of course, risk and reward coexisted; the treasures at the bottom were beyond imagination.

The third floor corresponded roughly to the stages of Refining Essence into Qi and Refining Qi into Spirit. Yingxia could likely handle it alone, let alone with Yan Huaixi there.

“Are you truly certain you know nothing about why the Qian family has gone mad?”

Thinking Yan Huaixi suspected them of colluding with the Qians, the Zhao Elder hurried to vow: “I swear by the Heavenly Dao! I am the leading elder of this trip, and I know nothing of the Qian family’s actions!”

“I don’t mean anything by it. I just think the Qian family hid it well if the other two families didn’t notice a thing.” Yan Huaixi chuckled, a meaningful glint in her eyes.

“It was our negligence,” the Elder sighed.

“Regrets are useless now. I’ll take you inside to find that hiding spot. When the time comes, I’ll find a way to open a passage out of here. This realm repels the living; once the passage is open, you should be teleported out automatically. Stay sharp.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Zhao Xi bowed gratefully, followed by the rest of the Zhao clan.

The gates of the Soul Tower were open, covered by a layer of pitch-black, murky light—like the maw of a giant beast.

Yan Huaixi took Yu Yingxia’s hand. “Don’t let go, no matter what happens. It might be a bit bumpy when we enter.”

“Okay.” Yu Yingxia gripped her hand tight.

The light at the door was a teleportation array. This ancient formation likely needed repairs; being sent through felt like being caught in a whirlpool at sea. Yu Yingxia thought she was prepared, but she was nearly tossed away upon entry. In the nick of time, she threw her arms around Yan Huaixi.

In that moment, a thought flashed through Yu Yingxia’s mind: Her waist is so slim…

Then she heard a soft chuckle, and the woman pulled her gently into her embrace. The turbulence lasted only ten seconds or so before they hit solid ground.

Upon entering, Yan Huaixi had flicked out several threads of spiritual energy to tether all the Zhao family members together, preventing anyone from being flung to a different location.

Before Yu Yingxia could process being in Yan Huaixi’s arms, she met Zhao Xi’s curious gaze. She let go of Yan Huaixi as if she had touched a hot coal.

Yan Huaixi looked slightly disappointed. I really need to get rid of these extra people quickly, or they’ll keep interrupting my time with Yingxia.

“There’s nothing good on the upper floors. I’ll take you straight to the third.” Yan Huaixi wrapped everyone in spiritual energy and moved at top speed to the third level.

Before Yu Yingxia could even see the first floor, the scenery shifted. The first floor had been pitch black, but the third was slightly brighter—filled with countless mirror-like objects. Every mirror reflected her image, giving Yu Yingxia a sudden, skin-crawling sensation.

If it reflected everyone, that would be one thing. But Yu Yingxia only saw herself in the mirrors, as if her companions were all ghosts!

“Don’t fall for it.” Yan Huaixi covered her eyes. “These are the Mirrors of Accusation. Once you fall in, the things inside will interrogate you. They are stubborn, meddlesome entities. If your will is even slightly weak, you’ll be trapped forever.”

As Yan Huaixi spoke, her own reflection in a nearby mirror became horribly distorted, as if filled with an unventable rage.

How ugly.

Yan Huaixi kept Yu Yingxia’s eyes covered and drew her pipa. A melody sharp with killing intent instantly shattered the surrounding mirrors. The things inside shrieked, cursed, and vanished with the shards. Further away, transparent “Mirror Spirits” crawled out of the untouched mirrors, hoisted them onto their backs, and fled in all directions.

“Finally, those things have been taught a lesson!” Zhao Xi felt a sense of vengeful satisfaction. Those mirrors were a massive headache that usually wasted hours of their time with zero reward. She marveled at the Senior’s strength; even her family elders didn’t have such a clean solution.

“You can open your eyes now.”

Yu Yingxia saw that the area was now perfectly clean—not even a shard remained.

“The Mirror Spirits are gone. Is that guy still awake? Have him lead the way.”

The dying man was fed a medicinal pill to give him a bit of strength. “Let me see… go left. There should be an inconspicuous path, only wide enough for one person. At the end, turn right. That’s the nest of the Mirror Spirits… a very, very large mirror. Behind that mirror is the space I mentioned.”

“Behind the Mirror Spirit’s core? Are you sure that’s not a trap?” Yan Huaixi raised an eyebrow.

“N-no, it’s safe. I’ve been inside… cough cough…” The man coughed up more blood in his agitation.

Yan Huaixi’s divine sense swept the area. There was indeed a massive, thick mirror hidden away, with traces of spatial fluctuations behind it. It was likely a small, depleted inheritance space—the treasures were gone, but the pocket dimension remained.

“I’ve found it. Follow me.”

After navigating the narrow paths, they reached a wide clearing. A massive mirror stood before them, but this one reflected no one.

The man who had given directions was carried in on a stretcher. He looked up with anticipation, but soon, a look of shock crossed his face.

Yan Huaixi stared at the mirror expressionlessly for a moment. The surface rippled, and a larger Mirror Spirit crawled out. It very tactfully dragged its mirror to the side, revealing the entrance to the space.

“…” Yu Yingxia had expected a fight, but she didn’t expect the spirit to be so “compliant” so quickly.

“Wait. Don’t go back in yet.” Yan Huaixi suddenly stopped the Mirror Spirit. The poor thing trembled. It had to obey; this “God of Slaughter” was a soul cultivator the ultimate counter to their kind.

“D-do you have a command?” its voice shook.

“Look at him,” Yan Huaixi pointed to the man on the stretcher. “Is there something wrong with him?”

Everyone looked on in shock. Some even wondered if Yan Huaixi had gone mad.

But the Mirror Spirit, terrified of displeasing her, hauled its ten-meter-high mirror over and reflected the man’s image. The man’s terrified expression was vividly captured, but the face reflected in the mirror was… entirely different.

Even the Zhao Elder froze. Who is this in the mirror?

The man’s eyes went hollow for a split second. In that breath, the Mirror Spirit interrogated his heart.

“His soul has been swapped. He is not the original,” the Mirror Spirit pointed out.

The impostor suddenly snapped out of it, scrambled off the stretcher, and tried to bolt. His movements were so agile there was no sign of injury.

But within a few steps, he found himself unable to move. No he saw his body still running forward! Only then did the agony of a shredded soul hit him. His soul had been ripped out of his body by force! His soulless body ran a few more steps before collapsing.

His soul was left dangling in mid-air, its wretched wails echoing through the chamber. Yan Huaixi manipulated the soul-threads in her hand; the enemy’s soul was now merely a toy in her grasp.

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