Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Could It Be…

Song Yin lacked nothing in terms of treasures, so there was no reason for her to keep this old garment there. Could it be?

Shen Yirong’s expression was strange.

Seeing Shen Yirong stop moving, the slightly muddled Song Yin coughed twice and asked, “Didn’t find it?”

Shen Yirong snapped back to attention. She gave Song Yin a deep look before asking, “Almost. Are you alright?”

Song Yin’s voice was weak, “Can’t die.”

She said she couldn’t die, but her voice sounded increasingly faint. Shen Yirong pushed aside the pile of spiritual stones next to her. The spiritual stones covered the clothes. Looking to the left, she found some small porcelain bottles.

The bottles had labels. Shen Yirong picked up a bottle of hemostatic pills.

Song Yin on the ground closed her eyes, her breathing very light, looking like a fragile butterfly.

This appearance was truly too pitiful, and Shen Yirong temporarily set aside her suspicions.

The wound was on the right shoulder. Shen Yirong reached out to unbutton her clothes. The originally drowsy person raised her hand and waved Shen Yirong’s hand away.

Song Yin’s face seemed slightly flushed. She didn’t dare to look at Shen Yirong’s face, merely gasping as she reached out to Shen Yirong, “Let me do it myself.”

Seeing a suspicious blush appear on the other party’s face, Shen Yirong narrowed her eyes, “Is Your Excellency feeling shy?”

Song Yin’s face grew redder. She answered expressionlessly, “No.”

As the words fell, Song Yin’s right shoulder seemed to gush blood, perhaps from anger.

Shen Yirong quickly put the bottle into Song Yin’s left hand.

The injury to her right shoulder rendered Song Yin’s right hand useless. She had to bite open the lid with her teeth, but undressing with one hand was also difficult, so she froze again.

She silently shifted her gaze to Shen Yirong’s face, wanting to say something, then silently looked away.

Shen Yirong was originally pondering the matter of the clothes. Seeing Song Yin like this, the corner of her mouth subtly curled up again.

The current Song Yin seems quite cute.

Shen Yirong felt she must be crazy to associate “cute” with Song Yin.

This was the Demon Venerable, the most dangerous woman under heaven.

It must be because of the face. Song Yin was currently wearing her, Shen Yirong’s, face, which was why she found Song Yin cute.

Narcissism aside, Shen Yirong still took the medicine bottle from Song Yin’s hand. Seeing the other party open her mouth to speak, Shen Yirong placed a finger on her lips, “Your Excellency, this is my body.”

Shen Yirong’s implied meaning was that there was no need to be shy, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. The person lying down seemed even more uncomfortable, her body stiff as a hard bed board.

The dizziness from blood loss, the pain in her shoulder, and an inexplicable sense of shame rendered Song Yin unable to think. She closed her eyes in a gesture of surrender.

Shen Yirong didn’t understand why Song Yin’s breathing suddenly became rapid. She unbuttoned the clothes and professionally treated the wound.

The wound was deep enough to expose the bone, yet Song Yin didn’t utter a sound.

The medicine Song Yin carried on her was indeed extraordinary. As soon as the medicinal powder was sprinkled, the bleeding stopped, and the flesh healed at a visible speed. However, the clothes were stained with blood and torn, making them unwearable.

Shen Yirong rummaged through the spiritual ring and found a white robe. She reached out to help the other party change clothes, moving to untie the waistband.

Unexpectedly, the severely injured person sprang up into a sit-up.

Song Yin stared intensely at Shen Yirong, “No.”

Shen Yirong was somewhat helpless. She felt again that the other party’s harem was for naught. Thinking that the other party was injured because of her, she sighed resignedly, “Your Excellency, the clothes are dirty. I’ll help you change.”

Song Yin clutched her waistband, “You can just use a spell.”

Shen Yirong sighed again, this time longer, “Your Excellency, I can’t completely control your body. Look.”

Saying that, she casually performed a spell. Song Yin’s sleeve fluttered upwards, looking somewhat like swaying kelp, followed by a snap, and the kelp split open.

Looking at the bravely sacrificed sleeve, Song Yin was silent. If that spell were cast on her body, it might fold her up.

She took the clothes from Shen Yirong’s hand, her voice still cool, “I’ll do it myself.”

Shen Yirong was a bit unnerved. Wouldn’t Song Yin see her naked then?

Thus, she too felt inexplicably shy, “Let me do it instead.”

Unfortunately, Song Yin ruthlessly refused her, “No need.”

Song Yin pursed her lips and stood up, swaying a few times. She said with distaste, “Your body is too weak. I’ll train you in the future.”

Shen Yirong’s so-called shame instantly vanished. She laughed awkwardly, “How can I trouble Your Excellency?”

Song Yin glanced at her, her look carrying an undeniable authority. She then took the clothes and walked into the inner room.

Looking at Song Yin’s back, Shen Yirong couldn’t help but grumble, “I thought she was cute just now, heh.”

The wind outside was still noisy, but this dilapidated house remained undisturbed. Song Yin’s departure brought a strange sense of relaxation to Shen Yirong.

Many blood drops were on the floor. Shen Yirong cleaned them with a purification spell, and the smell of blood in the room dissipated.

Now, she finally had a chance to observe the layout of the room.

Looking around, many paintings hung on the flaking walls. Perhaps because no one had visited for a long time, the paintings were covered with a thick layer of dust. Shen Yirong swept the dust off the paintings with a flick of her sleeve, allowing them to see the light of day again.

The paintings showed no signs of yellowing, and the ink looked as if it had just been painted, but the artwork…

Shen Yirong looked at the pile of stick figures and burst into laughter, “Hahahaha, what is this? So ugly. Even a chicken scratching in the snow would be more artistic.”

“Achoo!”

Shen Yirong rubbed her nose, “Who is cursing me?”

Remembering that this was the cultivation world, and this house might have been left behind by a powerful being before ascending, perhaps that powerful being heard her and was cursing her?

Shen Yirong immediately behaved. She apologized a few times and looked at the paintings on the wall again, thinking that since this was deliberately left as a path of survival, there might be a way to break the sword formation.

There were many paintings on the wall. Most were recognizably landscapes, seemingly depicting a mountain, and from the same angle.

Shen Yirong thought for a moment. She took down one of the paintings and went to the window on the right side of the room, but the sword formation was already active. The mountain body was concealed within the swirling wind and sand, making it impossible to see clearly.

Shen Yirong tried several times, holding up the painting, but finally put it back with a sigh.

“Did you find anything?”

Shen Yirong turned around and found that the other party had changed clothes, but her complexion was still poor.

There was nothing she could do. Shen Yirong hadn’t cultivated for long. Her reaching the Golden Core stage relied on that one accident with Song Yin.

With her cultivation suddenly leaping, her body hadn’t kept up with the training. Just as Song Yin said, her body was too weak.

Song Yin also saw the clumsy-looking paintings. She evaluated them coldly, “So ugly.”

Shen Yirong felt her nose tickle again. She rubbed it with confusion and looked at Song Yin, “Is Your Excellency familiar with this? How should we proceed?”

Song Yin walked to the window, looking at the wind and sand, “I only know that Qingjing Mountain punishes those who speak vulgar language, but I didn’t expect it to be related to the Sword Venerable.”

Normally, Song Yin wouldn’t bother trying to solve the formation; she would just forcibly dismantle it, but she couldn’t now.

This body was too weak, and she wasn’t quite accustomed to it. Just using a simple clothes-changing spell had taken a long time, and she still hadn’t managed to cast it in the end.

But if this sword formation was truly related to her Master, perhaps they didn’t need to do anything.

Song Yin suddenly recalled something. She looked at the paintings on the wall again. No matter how many times she looked, she couldn’t, in good conscience, say they were beautiful.

Her expression shifted several times. Finally, she silently thought: Master has so many friends; these might not be painted by her.

Although she said this, Song Yin’s gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong didn’t notice. She was deep in thought. Song Yin’s words just now enlightened her.

She closed her eyes and softly called out: Sword Spirit.

“What’s wrong? Huh? Master, why are you…? Did you possess that abnormal person?”

Shen Yirong was speechless: Quickly look at how to break this sword formation.

The Sword Spirit sensed the formation and said nonchalantly: “This is simple. Master, you just need to shout one thing.”

Shen Yirong was full of expectation: Shout what?

The Sword Spirit’s voice was bashful: “Call me the Sword Venerable Adult.”

Shen Yirong thought the other party was bargaining with her, so a vein throbbed on her forehead: I think you want to be beaten to death by me.

The Sword Spirit quickly explained: “It’s the password. If Master shouts it out, the sword formation and the wind will make way for you.”

Shen Yirong was bewildered. Why did she feel that the original owner was not very serious?

That password was too embarrassing!

Moreover, Song Yin was right here.

No shouting! Not even if I die!

The fox demon was carried by the wind to the mountaintop, but the wind only delivered her and didn’t manage her landing.

The immobilization spell hadn’t lifted yet. The fox landed on her butt in a very inelegant posture, instantly making her face twist.

However, the immobilization spell broke upon landing.

The little fox bit her lip, rubbing her assaulted butt, then limped toward the pavilion on the mountain.

She walked to the bench in the pavilion and sat down, but winced and stood up again.

“Hiss!”

This was the center of the storm. The noise outside didn’t affect the inside. On the stone table in the pavilion were two wine cups. The wooden pillars of the pavilion had many claw marks left by animals sharpening their claws.

The wine cup opposite the fox was filled with wine, but the liquid was slowly decreasing.

The fox demon felt deep heartache watching the descending wine. This was something the Sword Venerable left behind. The more consumed, the less there was. When the wine ran out, the sword formation would never be activated again.

She muttered to herself, looking at the wine cup, “Those two swapped bodies and should be unable to exert their original strength. They must have been killed by the sword formation.”

The fox closed her eyes. Her divine sense detected no living things, only the hum of the sword formation and the noisy wind.

She relaxed completely and said happily, “It seems they are dead.”

A sarcastic voice sounded behind her, “Is that so?”

The familiar voice made the fox demon freeze. She turned around and saw Shen Yirong right behind her, with Song Yin standing a little farther away.

She instantly wanted to run but was caught by Shen Yirong by the tail.

“Switch our bodies back, or else.”

Shen Yirong mimicked Song Yin’s tone, paired with Song Yin’s face, instantly scaring the fox into unconsciousness.

The Sword Spirit laughed wildly in her mind.

“Hahahahaha, this fox demon is such a coward. Seeing her full of killing intent, I thought she was something amazing.”

“Don’t you recognize this fox?”

“Hiss, no. Master saved so many people; how could I remember every one?”

Shen Yirong heard a hint of nostalgia in the Sword Spirit’s tone.

As she listened, Shen Yirong reached out and turned the wine cup on the table. With a click, the sword formation and the strong wind slowly subsided. Only the trees on the mountain could not be restored.

From the corner of her eye, the fox’s eyes opened a crack, as if peeking at her.

Shen Yirong was already in a bad mood, so she subtly curled her lips. Lightning gathered in her palm, poised to strike the fox.

The fox instantly thrashed, terrified, “No, no, no! I’ll talk!”

The lightning in Shen Yirong’s palm remained, but it didn’t move closer to the fox. Her eyes were cold, looking like she would take the fox’s life if she wasn’t satisfied.

The fox was being held upside down, tears welling up. She choked out, “I really didn’t lie. Your bodies will naturally switch back after a while.”

Shen Yirong hated such vague terms. Usually, they concealed a big trap. She frowned, “How long is ‘a while’?”

The fox’s eyes began to dart around, and she stuttered, “Uh, hehe, not long, just… just one year.”

A big trap indeed!

Before Shen Yirong could flare up, Song Yin silently drew her sword. She flicked the blade, and the long sword hummed, clamoring for blood and flesh.

Song Yin suddenly smiled. The smile was as villainous as could be, “One year? How about I just kill you directly, and this spell will be instantly broken?”

The fox was trembling with fear, even shaking Shen Yirong’s hand holding her tail. She wailed, “Boohoohoo, Sword Venerable Adult.”

Song Yin said ominously, “Say that again, and I’ll kill you.”

The fox covered her mouth with her front paws. She suddenly thought of something and said anxiously, “There is another way! You two come back to the Fox Clan territory with me. When the Moon Lake opens in three days, the water can switch you back.”

The fox didn’t seem to be lying.

If they flew quickly on their swords, the Fox Clan territory could be reached soon. However, that was the fox demon’s territory, and it was hard to guarantee she wouldn’t employ some tricks.

Shen Yirong was a bit worried, but Song Yin beside her sheathed her sword and said, “Let’s go.”

Perhaps because she was aware of Song Yin’s protagonist identity, Shen Yirong trusted her completely. Whatever the protagonist did must be right.

Although she believed the fox, she was too prone to running away and disappearing without a trace.

Shen Yirong suddenly remembered the Immortal Binding Rope that Senior Sister had given her, which was in her spiritual ring.

She took it out without hesitation and tightly bound the fox’s four legs.

Looking at Shen Yirong’s face, the fox didn’t dare to struggle at all, only occasionally whimpering.

Song Yin watched from the side and suddenly turned her face away, “That’s enough. Let’s go.”

Shen Yirong acted as if she hadn’t heard. This time was different from when she controlled the drunk Song Yin. The drunk Song Yin was too clingy, and that time was out of necessity.

But this time was a well-deserved lesson for the fox. Shen Yirong felt a justifiable excitement for doing something naughty. She tightened the knots and answered brightly, “Wait, I’ll double-check.”

Song Yin: “…It’s really enough.”

Shen Yirong ignored her again.

Looking at the fox tied up and shivering on the ground, Shen Yirong clapped her hands with satisfaction and then pretended to threaten, “You better behave.”

The fox’s mouth was also bound. She nodded with tearful eyes.

The fox regretted it immensely. Before she set off, the Fox Clan elders advised her not to go to the Southern Territory. She was angry then, but now she was utterly remorseful.

She also couldn’t understand how these two walked out of the sword formation. She wanted to ask, but she couldn’t open her mouth.

Shen Yirong lifted the utterly miserable fox, and casually gave the fox’s head a pat.

As she was about to pat again, the fox in her hand was snatched away. The thief, Song Yin, said expressionlessly, “You focus on riding the sword; I’ll carry her.”

Shen Yirong looked regretfully at the fox demon in Song Yin’s hand, but Song Yin was right. Given her current condition, she needed to concentrate on sword riding.

“Tsk, Master, why don’t you take this chance to slap that abnormal person to death?”

The Sword Spirit’s voice was full of excitement at the prospect of killing Song Yin. Shen Yirong was somewhat speechless.

She ignored the noisy Sword Spirit and flew towards the Fox Clan territory on her sword with Song Yin.

This time, with Song Yin guiding her from behind, Shen Yirong controlled the sword very well and didn’t overspeed again.

However, the closer they got to the Fox Clan territory, the closer they were to the sword-like mountain.

She heard Su Yu say that sword was called Jiangxue.

Upon reaching the entrance, the fox demon, who had been quite obedient along the way, suddenly began to struggle, seemingly wanting to say something.

Shen Yirong waved her hand and loosened the binding on her mouth.

The fox demon pleaded with a mournful face, “We’re almost there. Can you untie me? You can place a curse on me. I will definitely not deceive you.”

Shen Yirong glanced at Song Yin. Seeing the other party nod, she sternly placed her finger on the fox demon’s forehead.

The fox demon felt something swirl inside her body, finally coiling around her heart, startling her into a cold sweat.

She was indeed resentful inwardly, even hating Song Yin to death, but now she could only droop her head dejectedly.

Shen Yirong glanced at her, then landed the sword, putting away the Immortal Binding Rope.

The fox demon immediately transformed into human form upon regaining her freedom.

As the other demons had said, the Fox Clan territory was tightly enclosed by a barrier. Fox demons were patrolling near the barrier.

Qing Li, in human form, tidied her attire, sweeping away her earlier weakness and dejection.

She put on that fake smile and walked towards the patrolling fox clan members.

The originally somewhat lax fox demons immediately opened the barrier and knelt down on one knee, shouting tremblingly, “Welcome back, Your Majesty!”

Qing Li’s smile remained unchanged, but her voice was chilling, “You have become so slack in my absence. Go and receive your punishment. If there is a next time, I won’t mind peeling off your skin and turning it into a banner.”

The kneeling fox demons kept trembling. Hearing that their lives were spared, they repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing our lives.”

Qing Li impatiently waved her hand, and those few fox demons retreated.

Shen Yirong was astonished, but she was more concerned about whether their bodies could be switched back and the matter of the Myriad Manifestations Mirror.

She was led along while thinking, arriving at the Fox Clan’s palace, which was no different from a mortal one. Shen Yirong quickly lost interest after looking at it for a while.

The two were arranged to stay in a palace. As they entered, a completely peeled white fox pelt was spread on the floor at the doorway.

Song Yin walked past her, her voice unusually calm, “Although that fox is despicable, she did indeed slaughter the White Fox Clan with bloody means.”

She circled the room, “No abnormalities. You’ve been riding the sword for a long time. You can sleep if you’re tired.”

Shen Yirong deliberately avoided the fox pelt and stepped across the threshold. She looked at Song Yin’s slightly weakened face, “Is your injury better?”

“I’m fine.”

Song Yin felt very tired, but she forced herself to stay awake, always afraid that Shen Yirong would run away if she fell asleep.

But Shen Yirong looked full of energy, making Song Yin feel like she couldn’t keep up.

Song Yin forced herself to be spirited, “We can get fox bones here, but do you really want to repair that mirror?”

Shen Yirong sat down on the bed. She looked at Song Yin, who was struggling to stay awake, and thought of the old garment in the space.

Naturally, she couldn’t ask directly. Given Song Yin’s temper, if she had truly done such a thing and someone found out, one of them would have to die.

Either Song Yin would be angered to death, or she would be silenced by Song Yin.

However, the last time Song Yin was exposed, the consequences didn’t seem that serious.

Shen Yirong’s mind was a mess.

What is this person thinking? She’s even pretending to be her past self. Could it be to amuse me?

That was a bit too ridiculous.

But the other party had a wide range of acting skills, evolving from the smiling-dimple Protector to the weak and helpless cultivator. How difficult would it be to play a righteous and innocent past version of herself?

Hiss! Does this person have an acting addiction?

Shen Yirong’s expression changed rapidly. If little Song was also an act, then she, Shen Yirong, had been deceived by the same person three times and failed to recognize her every single time!

Song Yin saw Shen Yirong sitting with a gloomy face, not answering her.

No one had dared to give her a cold shoulder since she became the Demon Venerable. Song Yin’s tired mind was tinged with displeasure, but remembering her frequent inner demons, that displeasure took on a different flavor.

It turned into fear.

When the inner demon acted up, it always replayed the rainy day when she personally killed her Master.

Song Yin didn’t know if the inner demon’s experience would be the same after the soul swap, but to make the other party relive her past death—wouldn’t that be too cruel?

She couldn’t help but call Shen Yirong, “Shen Yi.”

Shen Yirong looked up from her distress over constantly being deceived, her face displeased, “What is it?”

Seeing that the usual smile was gone from her face, Song Yin became even more certain of her guess.

The arrogant Demon Venerable thought and thought, then finally got up and sat beside Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong watched her inexplicably stand up, inexplicably sit next to her, and inexplicably take her hand.

Song Yin knew her behavior might be strange, but previously, whenever she got close to Shen Yirong, her inner demon would abate significantly, preventing her from having to soak in the cold pond as before.

Song Yin’s face and voice were cool, yet what she said was, “Does this feel better?”

Better for what? I’m not injured.

Looking at the peculiar Song Yin, Shen Yirong even wondered if the other party was possessed? Or perhaps suffering from multiple personality disorder due to playing too many roles?

The Sword Spirit’s voice was also full of panic: Master, is she sick?

Shen Yirong, confused by Song Yin, subconsciously shook her head when she heard the Sword Spirit’s voice.

Song Yin saw her shake her head, and her heart immediately sank.

Could it be that this simple contact is no longer effective? Does it need to be more intimate?

But now that their bodies were swapped, looking at her own face always felt strange.

Song Yin suddenly thought of spiritual cultivation.

That was a fusion between the souls, concerning only the two souls.

Shen Yirong was unaware of the other party’s thoughts. She still hadn’t figured out the matter of the clothes.

Taking advantage of Song Yin’s moment of distraction, she waved her hand, and the Myriad Manifestations Mirror flew out of the other party’s arms and landed in her palm.

Song Yin was startled. She reached out to take it back but was easily grabbed by Shen Yirong’s hand.

Looking at Song Yin’s angry eyes, Shen Yirong feigned confusion, “Didn’t you give me this mirror?”

Song Yin calmed down. She slowly retracted her hand, reverting to her aloof demeanor, “It was just an unconscious reaction.”

After a while, she couldn’t help herself again, “You really want to see her? Now is not a good time.”

Shen Yirong toyed with the two mirror fragments. If she hadn’t been suspicious, she would certainly have followed Song Yin’s lead, but now things were different.

Heh, just acting. I can do it too.

A look of yearning slowly appeared on Shen Yirong’s face, “But I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

Song Yin was slightly agitated, “But!”

Song Yin stopped. Saying more would arouse suspicion. She gritted her teeth and gave up persuading, only saying coldly, “Suit yourself.”

Shen Yirong, having received permission, was extremely happy, “Then I want to see her tonight.”

And the sun had already set.

Song Yin: “…”

This feeling was like knowing her own death date, utterly powerless.

She simply took off her shoes and lay down on the inner side of the bed, turning her back to Shen Yirong and ignoring her.

However, she wasn’t angry. She quietly circulated the spiritual energy in her body, trying to change her appearance.

She sighed in relief when she discovered she could change her face, but then she ran into a new problem.

She also had to change her body shape, and her clothes.

The clothes were in the spatial storage, which she couldn’t open now. Only Shen Yirong could open it.

Wait!