My Archenemy Is Soft and Delicate - Chapter 3

Dou Yingjun spun a wild tale — how perilous the cave had been, how brilliant Yang Chunyu’s swordsmanship was, and how she herself had barely managed to entangle her way into becoming Yang Chunyu’s disciple. By the end of it, her throat was dry from all the fabrication.

Lu Ming eyed her suspiciously. “If this cave is truly that dangerous, then I must see it for myself.” She turned as if to enter.

Dou Yingjun was quick to stop her. “Senior Sister, that really isn’t necessary.”

She glanced up at the sky — it was already the final day before the Illusory Realm of Clear Radiance would close. By afternoon, the mirage would vanish, and it wouldn’t open again for another nine years.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “We should head out.”

Lu Ming’s gaze flickered between Dou Yingjun and Yang Chunyu, finally settling on the way their arms were brushing together. Her eyes narrowed. “Master, please lead the others back first. I’ll stay behind to investigate this cave.”

Dou Yingjun subtly tugged at Yang Chunyu’s sleeve. With a faint hum, Cunqing slipped from its sheath — a gleam of blue light darted into the cave. The mountain trembled once before the cavern collapsed in on itself with a thunderous rumble.

“There’s no need,” Yang Chunyu said calmly. “It’s time to go.”

Lu Ming looked at the fallen rocks blocking the entrance and felt a surge of frustration. Last night, after Master had gone in, the cave had been sealed by a barrier; they couldn’t enter or reach her, so they had no choice but to wait outside the entire night.

Once the group gathered their belongings, several impatient cultivators mounted their swords and took off first. Everyone was eager to leave the illusion realm.

Dou Yingjun had walked in on her own two legs, but walking out would be far too slow. Now that she was pretending to be Yang Chunyu’s disciple, wouldn’t it make sense to have her “Master” take her along?

No. That would be too risky. The entrance to the illusion realm was chaotic — if she left with the others, she might find a chance to slip away. But if she stayed with Yang Chunyu, escape would be impossible.

As she was scanning the group for someone gullible enough to trick into taking her, Lu Ming suddenly approached.

“Junior Sister,” she asked, “what’s your name?”

The girl before her no longer bore any resemblance to the small child from twenty years ago. To Dou Yingjun, the sight felt almost unreal — like looking through lifetimes.

Yang Chunyu, who had been tending to the wounded disciples, froze mid-motion when she heard the question.

“He Ye,” Dou Yingjun said after a brief pause. “My name is He Ye.”

Yang Chunyu’s hand clenched sharply, her expression darkening.

“He Ye?” Lu Ming frowned, tilting her chin with a hint of arrogance. “Like the lotus leaves in a pond?”

“It’s not—”

“Lu Ming,” Yang Chunyu interrupted abruptly. “Take the others and leave first.” She stood behind Lu Ming, eyes shadowed as they fixed on Dou Yingjun, as though suppressing something turbulent and deep.

“Wait—Senior Sister Lu Ming, take me with you! I don’t want to go with Master!” Dou Yingjun blurted out.

Lu Ming turned back in surprise, while the other cultivators exchanged strange looks.

Dou Yingjun didn’t care. She shamelessly moved to follow Lu Ming, but Yang Chunyu stepped in front of her, blocking the way.

Expressionless, Yang Chunyu’s voice was low and steady — the kind of calm that came before a storm. “You all go ahead. He Ye and I have matters to discuss.”

Sensing the shift in her tone, the remaining cultivators hurried to leave, slipping away in a flash. In moments, only Dou Yingjun and Yang Chunyu remained.

“What are you doing?” Dou Yingjun hissed, watching her last chance at escape disappear before her eyes. She wanted to cry. At this point, she’d take anyone — just someone to carry her out!

Yang Chunyu regarded her in silence. “You really want to leave?”

“Of course I do,” Dou Yingjun shot back, as if it was obvious. “What, should I stay and wait for you to expose who I really am — and then die for it?”

“You think I want to expose you?”

Her confusion deepened. They were on opposite sides — wasn’t that the natural outcome? Since when did Yang Chunyu turn into such a naïve fool?

Dou Yingjun didn’t answer, but her shifting expression said plenty.

Then, Yang Chunyu took a step toward her.

They were too close — toes touching toes, foreheads nearly bumping. Their breaths mingled in the narrow space, the air thick with something tense and unspoken.

Dou Yingjun instinctively stepped back.

“What are you doing?”

Before she could finish, Yang Chunyu advanced again. Dou Yingjun retreated another step, but the woman didn’t stop.

Step by step — one retreat, one pursuit.

Until Dou Yingjun’s heel caught on a rock near the collapsed cave. She stumbled, her balance faltering.

She could have steadied herself—

—but Yang Chunyu lunged forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. The world spun for a heartbeat before Dou Yingjun found herself pinned against Yang Chunyu’s chest, both of them half-fallen to the ground.

Yang Chunyu held her tightly, forcing their bodies flush together, her eyes boring into hers. “Do you really think I want you dead?”

Dou Yingjun faltered, a flicker of guilt creeping up. “Isn’t that what you want?”

Her tone had lost some of its bite. She tried to look away, but Yang Chunyu’s hand came up, gripping her chin and turning her face back, as if searching for an answer in her eyes.

“Let go!” Dou Yingjun mumbled, words muffled by the pressure on her cheeks.

She regretted teasing Yang Chunyu so much when they were young — now all those little tricks were being used against her!

They glared at each other, neither yielding, until Dou Yingjun finally gave in with a muttered, slurred plea. “I know you didn’t mean it. Just—just let go already.”

If she didn’t, Dou Yingjun thought miserably, she was going to start drooling. Her jaw hurt.

Yang Chunyu released her at last. Dou Yingjun collapsed against the soft warmth beneath her, taking a few moments to catch her breath.

“What exactly do you want from me?” she asked weakly.

Her cheeks were flushed red — with irritation or embarrassment, she wasn’t sure — marked with clear finger-shaped impressions.

Yang Chunyu looked at her steadily, eyes dark and unreadable.

“That,” she said quietly, “is what I should be asking you.”

“What exactly do you want to do?”

“And what exactly do you want me to do?” Yang Chunyu asked silently in her heart.

Dou Yingjun had always been set against her—constantly trying to run away, refusing to turn back or admit fault. Stubborn and willful, she would rather walk straight into darkness than yield.

Countless times, Yang Chunyu had chased her all the way to the demonic territories, only to see her face again—but never once did she succeed.

She turned that place upside down, searched every nook and cranny, even went so far as to check the pickling cellar—and still, there was no trace of the hidden Dou Yingjun.

She was always hiding, always avoiding her, never giving a reason.

It left Yang Chunyu tormented, anxious, and helpless. She longed to confront Dou Yingjun face-to-face, even if it came to blows—better to fight until both were wounded than to never speak at all.

But when she truly stood before her, all those wild, furious thoughts that had haunted her for years scattered like smoke. Her heart leapt, and the corners of her lips rose uncontrollably.

Just seeing her—just that—wrapped Yang Chunyu in a joy so fierce it almost hurt.

“I just want to live,” Dou Yingjun said, “and take revenge.”

She rose, patted the dust off her clothes, and looked down at Yang Chunyu.

The sunlight blurred her expression, but the light pierced straight into Yang Chunyu’s chest, bright enough to make her shiver.

“What are you staring at?” Dou Yingjun muttered, hesitating before continuing,

“Believe it or not, thirteen years ago I was ambushed by Changshan. My cultivation was destroyed, and I was trapped in the Abyss of Demons. It took me years to claw my way back to daylight.”

“Oh?” Yang Chunyu sat up. “So you’re saying all those years—the murders, the fires, the atrocities committed by the demon sect—had nothing to do with you?”

Dou Yingjun knew perfectly well how unbelievable her story sounded. She had no proof, and it stripped her too clean of blame. She didn’t expect Yang Chunyu to believe her anyway.

“Think what you like. I’ve said what I came to say. Whether you believe me or not—it’s up to you.”

“I believe you,” Yang Chunyu replied at once, firm and steady.

Dou Yingjun froze, unsure what expression to make. “Well, fine, believe me then,” she muttered.

Did she have to say it so loudly? It wasn’t like she was deaf.

“Since you believe me,” Dou Yingjun went on briskly, “then take me to the entrance of the illusion realm later. Once there, we’ll part ways and never cross paths again.”

Her plan sounded perfect in her head.

“We’re not the same kind of people,” she continued. “There are too many eyes on you. If I stay near you, I’ll be discovered easily.”

And once discovered—no matter which side found her—her death would be neither quick nor kind.

“I won’t stop you from leaving,” Yang Chunyu said lazily, “but isn’t this a bit heartless of you, Junior Sister He Ye?” Her tone turned sharp and mocking toward the end.

Dou Yingjun flushed with embarrassment. “Senior Sister, what are you even talking about? I don’t even know what really happened last night—especially at the beginning!”

It wasn’t like she wanted it to happen. How could anyone blame her for that?

It definitely wasn’t her fault. Normally, she couldn’t stand being within a thousand miles of Yang Chunyu—they’d never gotten along. Why would she suddenly throw herself into her arms?

Obviously, it was Yang Chunyu who took advantage of her while she wasn’t in her right mind!

“Then let me tell you,” Yang Chunyu said evenly, smoothing out her sleeve.

“You were poisoned by Half-Moon Ecstasy. I merely helped you neutralize the toxin.”

Half-Moon Ecstasy—a potent aphrodisiac. Once ingested, it demanded intimate release every half month, or else the victim’s body would rupture and die.

“Impossible.” Dou Yingjun instinctively denied it. “I’ve been careful every step of the way. Other than Twin-Life Flower, I’ve touched no other herbs.”

Yang Chunyu looked up at her. “The Twin-Life Flower grows in symbiosis with Half-Moon Ecstasy. The latter hides inside its pistil. Normally, when using Twin-Life Flower, the pistil must be removed.”

“I recall,” Yang Chunyu added, “you were dozing off when that was taught in alchemy class.”

Dou Yingjun went rigid. The karmic slap of her inattentive youth had finally come full circle.

“You’re lying to me,” she said weakly.

Yang Chunyu chuckled. “Believe it or not—it’s up to you.”

“I believe you.” Dou Yingjun stepped forward, carefully taking Yang Chunyu’s hand and giving it a little shake, voice soft and pleading. “Senior Sister, please save me.”

“Right now, you’re the only person who knows how miserable I’ve become. If even you refuse to help me, I’ll truly have nowhere to turn—no path left to live.”

Sweet words cost nothing. She’d said worse to survive before. A little flattery was a small price to pay for her life.

“Senior Sister, I’m counting on you.”

“Why should I help you?” Yang Chunyu pulled her hand free, cold and impassive. “What can you possibly give me?”

So now she wanted repayment for saving her? How shameless!

Dou Yingjun bit back her temper and grabbed Yang Chunyu’s fingers again, giving them a coaxing shake. “I may be useless now, but I can still stay with you. When you’re busy, I can cook, clean, take care of you—make sure you’re perfectly looked after.”

“Stay with me?”

Yang Chunyu’s gaze darkened. That was the only phrase that registered. “You’re lying to me again?”

“How could I?” Dou Yingjun rushed to appease her, stroking the tiger the right way. “You’re the only one I can rely on now. Please don’t deceive me. If you hand me over or trick me into death, I wouldn’t even have the strength to fight back.”

Yang Chunyu’s grip suddenly tightened, crushing her fingers until they ached.

“When,” she asked in a low voice, “have I ever lied to you?”

From childhood to now, it had always been Dou Yingjun who teased and deceived her. How could she ever bear to do the same to Dou Yingjun?