After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Blessings

True to her promise, Yu Yingxia prepared a table full of Yan Huaixi’s favorite sweet soups and pastries. When Yan Huaixi saw the table gradually being filled, a look of surprise crossed her face.

“Is today… some kind of festival?” she asked. Why else would there be such a lavish spread? She even briefly suspected if the girl was preparing her “last meal.”

Yu Yingxia explained with a smile, “It’s not a festival. I’m just celebrating your escape from danger.”

And celebrating that I’ve lived another day.

“What is there to celebrate about that?” Yan Huaixi snorted, though her tone sounded pleased.

“As long as you are safe and sound, it is worth celebrating.” Yu Yingxia’s words came from the heart not just because their lives were linked, but because she genuinely wished for Yan Huaixi to live in peace.

Yan Huaixi met Yu Yingxia’s gentle and sincere gaze, and for a moment, she was speechless.

It felt as though she hadn’t received a blessing like this since her home was destroyed. In the Changsheng Sect, enemies and so-called allies alike did nothing but curse her to death. She had faced too much malice originating from the soul; she had almost forgotten what a simple, pure blessing felt like.

For some reason, she felt a slight discomfort near her wound. No perhaps it wasn’t the wound, but the heart beside it. She pondered for a long time but couldn’t understand the strange sensation in her chest, so much so that she didn’t give Yingxia much trouble when it came time to take her medicine.

When Yan Huaixi’s mood seemed at its most relaxed, Yu Yingxia made a soft suggestion: “I made a bit too much, though. The flavor will change if these sit for another day. May I take what’s left in the pot outside to share?”

“Suit yourself.” Yan Huaixi’s thoughts were a bit scattered, so she agreed without thinking. She knew Yingxia often distributed sweets to the local children, using it as an opportunity to build rapport with the neighbors, which resulted in the “sisters” being well-looked after by the community.

The well-fed “large cat”—cough, Yan Huaixi—was indeed easy to talk to. Yu Yingxia’s peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents. That radiant joy made Yan Huaixi instinctively look down at her sweet soup. Perhaps because she had lived in rotting darkness for too long, even a little sunlight felt like it might burn her eyes; she wasn’t quite used to it.

However, Yu Yingxia’s outward display of emotion lasted only a moment before she regained her calm composure.

Yan Huaixi watched her leave the room. Not long after, the sounds of children playing drifted in from the courtyard, interspersed with Yingxia’s crisp laughter. The girl was always more cheerful outside than when she was by her side.

Yan Huaixi didn’t find the noise annoying. Instead, she savored a long-lost sense of “human vitality”—ordinary, peaceful, and vibrant. She didn’t even realize that the expression on her face was softer than it had been in years.

In the eastern street, Yu Yingxia was the most popular person among the children. They happily accepted treats from her and shared stories they had overheard from their parents or elsewhere. Because of this, Yingxia was always the first to know the local gossip.

“I heard a wild beast ran into the city last night! It made a huge noise, it was so scary!” a little girl said, still visibly shaken. “Sister Yu, don’t go out at night. They say when it gets dark, tigers and wolves come down from the mountains to hunt.”

Yu Yingxia patted the child’s head, indicating she understood.

“No, no, it wasn’t a beast! My mom and dad said the immortals came to subdue a monster!” a chubby boy gestured wildly. “They peaked outside last night and saw several immortals flying through the air on swords, whoosh whoosh!”

This immediately drew excited gazes from the other children, who begged him for more details.

While handing out soup, Yu Yingxia caught a glimpse of a white hem not far away. Knowing who it was, she crept up and tapped the shoulder of the person hiding behind the wall.

“Why is an immortal hiding here? Won’t you have some sweet soup?”

The person hiding in the corner was Fang Yuetong. Having heard Yingxia’s footsteps long ago, she wasn’t startled. She looked toward the children shyly and said sheepishly, “I saw you were preparing it for the kids, so I…”

She was too embarrassed to compete with children for food.

“I accidentally made too much, and the kids are helping me finish it. But they have small stomachs; you’ve come at the perfect time, Immortal. I didn’t know how to handle the leftovers. If you don’t mind…”

“I don’t mind!” Fang Yuetong’s eyes lit up instantly.

Yu Yingxia suddenly found the protagonist quite cute—provided she wasn’t pointing a sword at her.

She brought out a small stool for Fang Yuetong. As the girl sat and sipped the soup with a satisfied expression, Yingxia took the chance to ask, “Were the monsters from last night caught?”

Fang Yuetong nodded. “I actually came to tell you that. The Poison Corpses have all been captured, so you don’t need to worry anymore.”

“Is there any clue about… the person behind them?” Yingxia asked cautiously. She knew the question was a bit pointed, but the protagonist was upright and direct; once she decided someone was trustworthy, she didn’t suspect easily.

Fang Yuetong assumed she was just curious. “The corpses were caught, but the perpetrator hid their tracks well. My Master cannot use the corpses to lock onto the devil’s location; he only guesses she hasn’t left the vicinity yet.”

Yu Yingxia fell into a brief silence. Hearing the word “Master,” she was certain there was a conspiracy.

What did the villain Yin Duo want? Nothing more than the Path to Immortality. But his own talent had reached its limit. His lifespan was nearing its end, yet he was stuck at the early stage of Refining Emptiness into Dao. He likely had no hope of a breakthrough in this life.

Thus, he was searching for any way to become an immortal at any cost. His first act was destroying Yan Huaixi’s family because their ancestors truly produced an immortal, and legends said they possessed a secret manual for ascension. (Though if it were true, wouldn’t everyone in the Yan family be immortals? The requirements must be incredibly harsh.)

Fear of death drove Yin Duo to grasp at any straw. He masterminded the massacre and walked away clean. But his hopes were dashed; he didn’t find what he wanted. Years later, he repeated the act with another family rumored to have an immortal treasure. Again, he found nothing—except a baby hidden by her mother.

He discovered the infant possessed an extremely rare constitution and top-grade spiritual roots—the kind of talent “fed by the heavens.” Compared to this baby, his own talent was insignificant. He found a new shortcut: wait for the child’s roots to mature, then transplant them into himself to break his limitations.

But because he targeted the protagonist, every scheme became a whetstone for her growth. He failed to steal Fang Yuetong’s roots and instead watched her grow stronger. Now, he had to play the role of the “kindly Master,” likely coughing up blood in private from frustration.

Unfortunately, Yan Huaixi and herself one a villain, one a cannon fodder didn’t have such good luck.

Yu Yingxia sighed. She looked down at Fang Yuetong, who looked up in confusion, her cheeks puffed out from chewing like a little hamster holding a nut.

Now that Yan Huaixi coughed blood every time she moved, Yingxia couldn’t rely on her frail body. But the shadow of the Tianqiu Sect loomed over them. The only one who could break this stalemate was the protagonist sitting right here.

Yu Yingxia gave her a very sweet smile. Since you’ve had so much of my soup, you’d better work hard in the future!

Fang Yuetong hugged her bowl tight. For some reason, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

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