Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Exposure, Wearing an Apron, Taking Off the Vest, Distributing Hats…

Song Yin had disappeared again and hadn’t been seen for days.

The person accompanying her was no longer Li Xiu. That ambitious individual had directly bypassed various strict promotion procedures, going straight from an Outer Palace Protector to a quasi-Inner Palace Protector.

Li Xiu was incredibly busy, so the person accompanying her became Yao Ling.

Shen Yirong tossed the peach in her hand to a monkey swinging on a vine, then turned and waved her hand in front of Yao Ling’s eyes.

“Sorry, this subordinate was distracted.”

Shen Yirong teased her. “What’s wrong? Thinking about someone?”

Yao Ling was accustomed to Shen Yirong’s teasing and quickly lied. “No.”

Shen Yirong didn’t expose her. This person had been acting strangely ever since returning from the Nine Heavens Sect, with frequent daydreaming.

Perhaps afraid that Shen Yirong would press the matter, Yao Ling changed the topic. “The item that Master mentioned last time has been found. Should we go now?”

Shen Yirong hadn’t expected them to find what she described, even though it was so abstract. The efficiency of the Demon Palace was truly impressive.

It just so happened that she was getting bored indoors. Shen Yirong stretched and smiled. “Then let’s go.”

The two didn’t fly away directly but first went to meet Huang Li in the Outer Palace.

It was nostalgic to revisit the old place. Huang Li, having lost her status as a concubine candidate, looked radiant. She had changed out of the clothes worn during her cauldron days, now wearing a black magical robe.

The two chatted inside. Huang Li’s eyes carried a hint of guilt. She secretly peered out the window, and only after seeing Yao Ling distracted did she whisper, “The Venerable actually dismissed so many people for you.”

Shen Yirong explained, “The Venerable only recently learned about these matters. She just solved the problem when she discovered it.”

Pushing the bought magical robe towards Huang Li, Shen Yirong smiled. “Thank you for taking care of me before.”

Huang Li saw that the gift was expensive at a glance, but she didn’t decline. “Then I’ll accept it. Who would have thought you were so poor you had to borrow money from me before?”

Shen Yirong didn’t mind the teasing, but cautiously probed, “Are you satisfied with your current life?”

Huang Li put away the robe before replying, “Very satisfied. Although life isn’t as exciting as before, that person finally accepted me.”

Huang Li then sighed. “I had imagined many possibilities, even eloping and running away.”

Shen Yirong was confused. Eloping? Running away?

Huang Li felt relaxed all over. “Now I don’t have to worry anymore. After she and I are together, you must come to have a drink.”

Shen Yirong was completely lost. “Who? Who are you with?”

Huang Li was also surprised. “Didn’t we used to carry on together? Didn’t you notice that Ren Qing often came to find me?”

Shen Yirong’s eyes widened. She excitedly slapped the table and stood up. “Who was carrying on?”

Huang Li was startled by her and quickly covered her mouth. Fortunately, Yao Ling, who was waiting outside the courtyard, had no reaction.

It took some explaining before the misunderstanding was resolved.

After the explanation, both couldn’t help but lean over the table, laughing until tears welled up in their eyes.

Huang Li wiped away her tears. “That’s good. I thought I had broken up your relationship. You and the Venerable like each other, that’s the best outcome.”

Looking at Shen Yirong’s face, Huang Li sighed again. “When you first entered the Demon Palace with amnesia, you only remembered your name was Shen Yi. I was worried you might be bullied without me.”

“I didn’t expect that a fall wouldn’t restore your memory, but you became much cleverer.”

Huang Li patted Shen Yirong’s shoulder. “The Venerable is different from mortals after all. You must be careful in everything.”

“You have offended quite a few people this time. Not all of them can be clear-headed. You should pay more attention.”

Shen Yirong knew she was referring to the dismissed cauldrons. She nodded seriously. “Mm, I will.”

Listening to Huang Li’s instructions, Shen Yirong had a feeling that the story was coming to a grand conclusion.

Shen Yirong had only planned to stay for a while, but Huang Li enthusiastically talked a lot, her words filled with the sweet taste of romance.

When parting, Huang Li reiterated, reminding Shen Yirong not to forget to attend their marriage banquet.

Shen Yirong was escorted by Huang Li all the way out. Only when she saw Yao Ling outside the courtyard did Huang Li wave and walk back.

Looking at her retreating figure, Shen Yirong felt a wave of sadness again.

This was another piece of affection. Unknowingly, she had met many people here, and if her memory recovered, there would likely be even more.

The journey took them to a mortal market. Shen Yirong, who originally wanted to handle the shopping herself, discovered that Yao Ling was better at haggling.

With no use, Shen Yirong could only stand aside and watch. To be safe, they both used a disguise spell.

Shen Yirong stood watching Yao Ling battle a group of vendors, yawning boredly.

Suddenly, she heard some muffled voices covered by a spell. However, the person who cast the spell had low cultivation, and the concealment was very poor.

Shen Yirong was about to move to a quieter spot, but the conversation mentioned the Demon Venerable.

Her lifted leg retracted. Shen Yirong stood aside and listened.

“The Demon Venerable went to Tai’an again.”

“That’s not unusual. What did she steal this time? Is there anything left to steal in Tai’an?”

“She didn’t steal anything this time. Do you still remember the Sword Venerable who died many years ago?”

“I remember. I almost forgot, she died so long ago.”

“The Demon Venerable somehow found the Sword Venerable’s grave. I heard she set up some kind of seal.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a tangled fate. After all this time, the Demon Venerable’s anger still hasn’t subsided.”

Shen Yirong listened quietly to these unpleasant words. She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, looking up at the clear blue sky.

An orange cat lay down at her feet. Shen Yirong bent down and scratched the little cat’s chin. The comfortable cat closed its eyes and purred.

A faint smile appeared on Shen Yirong’s face.

At the same time, Song Yin, far away in Tai’an, looked at the white cat rubbing against her leg with complete disdain.

This was the tomb chamber beneath the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain. It was very cold inside, and thick white frost covered the walls. A black coffin sat in the center of the tomb chamber, its bottom also covered in frost and snow, like the walls.

With a soft tink, someone broke off an icicle hanging at the entrance.

Mei Xin pressed down on her hat and stooped to enter the tomb. “Want a drink?”

Song Yin did not reply.

Mei Xin didn’t feel awkward. She took out a freshly unearthed jar of peach blossom wine and poured a little in front of the coffin.

The fragrance of the wine wafted out. Song Yin frowned and raised her hand to cover her nose. “She’s not dead yet.”

Mei Xin put the wine away. “I’m used to it.”

It was meaningless to argue with an idiot like her, but thinking about it made her angry, so she couldn’t help but sting, “Aren’t you looking for your Master anymore?”

“The Heavenly Dao said she is by my side.”

It was supposed to be a heartwarming sentence, but Song Yin was a spoilsport. “It seems you have a clue. Why not just capture her, and make her give me the spatial bag?”

The spatial bag embroidered by her Master back then—Song Yin had five, and the last one was in Yun Huiming’s hand.

She had always coveted it.

For her own selfish desire, Song Yin continuously indoctrinated Mei Xin with poisonous and harmful ideas. “Don’t you think it’s too much? Hiding away on her own, faking her death to deceive people. A dishonest Master like that should be locked up somewhere.”

Mei Xin’s blue eyes were full of confusion. “That violates the rules of the Tai’an Sect.”

Mei Xin continued to ponder. “Do you want to do that to your Master?”

Song Yin paused. She had thought about it, but only thought about it. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The heart demon sneered: Spineless.

Song Yin ignored it. She looked at the coffin in the center. Her voice was much softer. “You once said you would help me with all your strength. Does that still hold true?”

“Of course. But are you really going to do that? That spell is unstable.”

“I am prepared.”

Seeing her so determined, Mei Xin couldn’t persuade her further. She turned and left the tomb.

“…Do you have a way to save me?”

Shen Shuci’s stubbornness faded after repeated failed attempts.

A smile appeared on Song Yin’s lips. “First, tell me about your surroundings.”

Looking at the constantly changing scenery around her and the floating chaotic lines of karma, Shen Shuci grit her teeth and said: The scenery is very chaotic. One moment it’s the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the next it’s the Nine Heavens Sect. There are also many clay dolls entangled with karma lines. I can’t contact the Heavenly Dao here.

Compared to Shen Shuci’s panic, Song Yin remained calm. “What scenery stays for longer? What’s special about those dolls?”

Perhaps out of trust in the female lead, Shen Shuci slowly calmed down. She carefully observed the constantly changing scenery and the pile of dolls suspended in mid-air by karma.

“The scenery of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion appears more often. Among these dolls, there’s one that looks like a small child and is very exquisite.”

“Hiss. This seems to be a simplified world, but many things are missing. I don’t smell death.”

“This child-like doll seems to be the core.”

Shen Shuci felt that this description was inaccurate, but she suddenly couldn’t think of the right words to make Song Yin understand.

Song Yin remained composed: Do you mean that doll is the protagonist of that world?

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s what I meant. Huh?”

Song Yin was very satisfied with Shen Shuci’s astonishment. She sent an ominous message: Hello.

Shen Shuci almost fainted after hearing this. She fiercely pinched the philtrum below her nose to avoid entering hibernation mode.

“What ‘hello’? I don’t understand.”

Song Yin: Annyeonghaseyo.

Korean was being spoken now. Shen Shuci suspected she was dreaming, or having a nightmare. She used the most traditional method and pinched her thigh hard. It hurt.

Could it be that Song Yin was possessed by a transmigrator?

Shen Shuci asked fearfully: Which country are you from?

Song Yin chuckled lightly: Someone from the Southern Border.

Shen Shuci couldn’t figure it out. She had completely forgotten that she was trapped in a chaotic place.

Song Yin was very pleased with her reaction and decided to stop teasing her mercifully: I cracked the bronze mirror you gave me.

Shen Shuci inhaled sharply. She suspected Song Yin was tricking her and forced herself to stay calm: Then what did the Venerable discover?

Song Yin: I discovered that Master is from another world, and I also found out who the person impersonating you is.

This single sentence shattered all her fantasies.

This person not only knew everything but knew more than she did.

At this moment, Shen Shuci didn’t care about the person impersonating her and just continuously pleaded: Venerable, she was also forced back then. You’ve already killed her once. She…

Shen Shuci couldn’t bring herself to say it. Some things, once done, were done, even with underlying difficulties.

She seemed to have made another wrong choice. She should have understood Song Yin’s terrifying nature earlier and forcibly taken the Host away, but it was too late now.

Song Yin found it amusing: You threatened me with endless hostility before. Why the change in attitude now?

Before, it was because she didn’t understand Song Yin. The more she understood, the more Shen Shuci’s temper vanished.

Shen Shuci almost lost control of her body. She still didn’t give up and continued to beg: As long as you let her go, I will do anything.

Song Yin became a little interested: Oh? Let this Venerable think.

She thought for a long time. Shen Shuci nervously awaited Song Yin’s reply, but what she got was silence.

Shen Shuci felt the other party was toying with her.

Just as her anger was rising, Song Yin’s voice rang out.

“How about this: call me ‘Mother’ once for me to hear.”

Shen Shuci: …

“Unwilling? Can’t say it? Then I’ll change the condition. How about you call me ‘Mom’?”

Shen Shuci had never seen such a malicious person. Her only mother could only be the Host. She would die before calling Song Yin that!

But…

Shen Shuci’s face turned blue then white. She opened her mouth and called out in a mosquito-like voice: Mom.

Song Yin chuckled, causing Shen Shuci’s face to flush completely red.

She said fiercely: Can we proceed now!

Song Yin’s voice remained lukewarm: Yes. But I never planned on harming her anyway.

Shen Shuci froze.

“Actually, I knew she was Master all along.”

Having been human for so long, Shen Shuci truly didn’t know what emotion or expression to use in this situation.

What should she say? Should she be angry that she was tricked, or relieved that the Host finally no longer had a threat to her life?

With this threat gone, could she still persuade the Host to leave this dangerous world?

One more thing, Song Yin seemed to be talking excessively today. Before, her words always carried a purpose, but now it felt like a kind of venting.

All emotions turned into confusion. Shen Shuci asked: You seem very sad?

Song Yin’s smile gradually faded: Mm. I watched her entire life. It was very long. Why did you bring her here?

Shen Shuci didn’t understand her past self, but the reason seemed simple.

“I felt this world was very friendly at the time, and the Host wasn’t happy in the real world. Are you feeling sorry for her?”

When emotions surged, it was always hard to breathe. Song Yin looked up, her voice tinged with bitterness: Yes. So, it’s quite good for her to remain the way she is now.

Shen Shuci seemed to hear the tremor in her voice. She suddenly felt that this person wasn’t so hateful after all, but she still wanted to take the Host back.

But those thoughts were secondary. Now, she was trapped and couldn’t get out.

She looked at the child-like doll again. There was a star on the doll’s forehead.

Shen Shuci wanted to fly up and take the doll down, but as soon as the thought occurred, all the dolls in this space looked in her direction. The doll in front of her suddenly rotated its head 180 degrees, staring at her with lifeless eyes, smiling.

Startled, Shen Shuci spoke weakly: Save me quickly.

“Mm. First, abandon your physical body.”

Yao Ling noticed that after shopping, Master Shen seemed listless, as if something was weighing on her mind.

“What is Master thinking about?”

Shen Yirong put her arms behind her head, her walking posture a little arrogant. “Thinking about my hometown.”

Yao Ling had seen her file. “Does Master want to return to the Northern Border?”

“Northern Border?”

Yao Ling nodded. “You traveled from the Northern Border all the way to the Eastern Border, and then down to this place.”

The Northern Border was the territory of the Medical Immortal Valley. Shen Yirong had no impression of that place, only remembering that the Valley Master of the Medical Immortal Valley charged six million for treatments.

Yao Ling had been observing her expression. Seeing the confusion in her eyes, she asked, “What place is the hometown Master is referring to? If not the Northern Border, is it the Eastern Border?”

Shen Yirong said awkwardly, “I don’t have any impression of those two places. I thought the cauldrons of the Demon Palace were all from the Southern Border.”

“That’s not exactly true. Because the Demon Palace treats these people very well, some individuals from the other three borders also became interested and came to the Demon Palace for refuge.”

Perhaps due to intense hatred, Yao Ling unintentionally revealed her true nature. She scoffed, “These spirit cultivators risk their lives to flee to the Southern Border, seeking protection from us heretics and demons.”

Shen Yirong looked at her. “Are you dissatisfied with the immortal sects?”

Yao Ling shook her head. “Although the Sword Venerable is gone, the major immortal sects haven’t broken the rules she established. It’s just that you can’t catch all the opportunistic people in this world. What I’m dissatisfied with is human nature.”

If the discussion continued, Yao Ling would start cursing.

She remembered the things they bought today and asked with some hesitation, “Master, are you going to cook?”

Shen Yirong lowered her hands from behind her head. She took a deep breath. “Yes. The Venerable’s birthday is approaching. I’ll make her some delicious food.”

Yao Ling’s face turned grim. She still remembered the kitchen explosion in the Demon Palace, and now it was happening again.

Yao Ling tried to salvage the situation. “The Venerable has been on a fast for a long time. Maybe change the gesture of goodwill.”

That was true, but Song Yin had everything. The only things she could give were handmade items. Embroidery was out of the question; everything she embroidered was overweight. But cooking was something she was good at.

Back in the All-Encompassing Mirror, her stir-fries were highly praised.

Speaking of which, she hadn’t thought about Little Song for a long time. Perhaps it was because the current Song Yin had no barriers with her.

Shen Yirong shook her head and refused. “No. Cooking is my only skill. Other heartfelt gestures aren’t presentable, and the Venerable lacks nothing.”

Yao Ling’s eyes widened. She rubbed her ears, suspecting she had misheard. She hesitated before saying, “Then I’ll help you.”

“You can do these things too?”

Shen Yirong was genuinely surprised. In her impression, Yao Ling also belonged to the category of favored prodigies and could actually handle mundane tasks.

Yao Ling looked a little proud. “A little bit. I did some when I was in the mortal world. Mine is more delicious than my sister’s. That person really likes strong flavors and can eat a lot.”

Shen Yirong listened to her chatter about the past. At first, she could chime in, but eventually, she became a complete listener.

Listening to her, Shen Yirong remembered the past. Song Yin had just arrived on the mountain and, as a mortal, was too hungry to sleep.

Shen Yirong listened to her constant tossing and turning and finally ignored the advice of the system in her mind.

There were pastries in her room that Mei Xin had brought back from the mortal world. Song Yin had eaten some, and there were a few especially sweet date cakes left.

She called the person up with a cold face. “Eat.”

Song Yin ate them with great relish at the time. Shen Yirong thought it was because she was too hungry.

It was just her and Song Yin on the mountain, so she developed the bad habit of secretly observing Song Yin.

Song Yin would quietly eat a piece of sickeningly sweet cake after practicing her sword. Shen Yirong then realized that the other party genuinely liked them.

Thinking things over, Shen Yirong wondered where Song Yin had gone.

Although it had only been a few days since they last met, Shen Yirong felt uncomfortable, as if she was experiencing withdrawal.

She couldn’t help but ask again, “When will the Venerable return?”

Yao Ling had lost count of how many times she had answered this question. She said helplessly, “This subordinate is not sure.”

Shen Yirong knew she was asking too much. She simply transformed her longing into strength and dove into the kitchen.

Yao Ling helped on the side, skillfully preventing Shen Yirong from making mistakes, but one moment of inattention and she found Shen Yirong putting in a lethal amount of sugar.

Yao Ling shrieked and tried to salvage the dish, pouring out as much sugar as possible, but Shen Yirong stopped her.

Shen Yirong was not Qi Wu. Yao Ling dared to scold Qi Wu but would absolutely not dare to be insolent in front of this Master Shen.

But with so much sugar, one bite would be overwhelmingly sweet.

Yao Ling urged, “Master, this is too sweet.”

Shen Yirong poured in a little more. She said matter-of-factly, “I know. The Venerable loves sweet things.”

Yao Ling felt speechless. The Venerable had been on a fast for how long? Even they, her subordinates, didn’t know what the Venerable liked to eat. How could this person know?

If anyone knew, it would probably be the Sword Venerable, since the two had spent so much time together, although their relationship was purely one of hatred.

But the person in front of her only resembled the Sword Venerable. How could those people at the Nine Heavens Sect not have noticed?

Yao Ling’s eyebrows twitched. She had mentioned the Sword Venerable several times today. It felt as if something was about to happen.

But that was impossible. The Sword Venerable’s story had already ended. She died four hundred years ago, so completely that not even her soul could be found.

Could the Sword Venerable suddenly leap out in front of her?

“Boom!”

A loud noise interrupted Yao Ling’s wild thoughts.

“People of the Demon Palace, listen up! I have an important matter to report to the Venerable!”

Shen Yirong, wearing an apron and her hands covered in flour, desperately pressed her right eye twitching.

Why did she have a bad feeling…

Yao Ling had already flown out to meet the enemy. Shen Yirong cautiously poked her head out and saw a crack appear in the Demon Palace’s barrier.

A person wearing a green cauldron uniform of the Demon Palace, holding a green lamp, was suspended in the air.

She was surrounded by the Demon Palace crowd but was completely unfazed, calmly watching the increasing number of Demon Palace disciples below.

Qi Wu’s face was darker than her clothes. “Are you looking for death?”

The woman’s cultivation wasn’t high, but the lamp-like artifact in her hand made people wary, hence the standoff.

Seeing the crowd growing, the woman was very satisfied. As she scanned the people, she saw Shen Yirong, who was still confused.

She bit her lip and pointed at Shen Yirong. “Protector Qi, Shen Yi died a long time ago! The person standing here now is the Sword Venerable who possessed Shen Yi’s body! She is Shen Yirong!”

In an instant, everyone’s attention focused on Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong, whose secret identity was suddenly exposed, was completely dumbfounded. Huang Li had told her this morning that someone might be unhappy and cause trouble. Was it happening this afternoon?

Panic welled up inside, but she maintained a poker face.

Shen Yirong angrily retorted, “If I were truly the Sword Venerable, why would I possess the body of my enemy’s cauldron?”

People began whispering.

“That’s true, why would she possess her enemy’s cauldron? Wait, and sleep with her enemy?”

“No, that might actually be possible. Didn’t the Sword Venerable dote on our Venerable and only treated her poorly out of love turned to hatred?”

“Yes, yes. Look, her face hasn’t changed. She just gained the Venerable’s favor under a different identity.”

“Hiss, she’s scheming and calculating. I’ve witnessed it.”

The crowd’s suspicion deepened, and their gaze toward Shen Yirong showed contempt.

No? That’s not right!

How could I forget that!

Calm down! Shen Yirong, calm down! There’s still hope!

Shen Yirong remained unfazed. “If I were truly the Sword Venerable, how could the Venerable, who spends every day with me, not see it? Do you think the mighty Venerable, who strikes fear across the world, is a fool easily manipulated by her enemy?”

Shen Yirong scanned the area, thoughtfully presenting a ‘hat’ to everyone present: “Are you questioning the Venerable?”

Immediately, the murmuring ceased. The entire scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The green-clad woman’s eyes widened in shock.

It could be done this way?

Seeing the crowd’s attention shift back to her, she desperately raised the lamp. “This is the Soul-Guiding Lamp, which can detect a person’s soul! We’ll know if she’s the Sword Venerable by testing it!”

Shen Yirong stepped forward and sneered. “How do you prove it’s the Soul-Guiding Lamp?”

Not giving her a chance to explain, she continued, “Your cultivation is merely at the Golden Core stage. How did you steal this artifact from the number one immortal sect in the Northern Border?”

“That’s because I…”

Shen Yirong interrupted her again, then pinned another accusation on her. “I’m afraid you were dismissed by the Venerable and, harboring resentment, you turned your anger toward me and brought this lamp to frame me!”

“I didn’t!”

Shen Yirong roared again, “Impudent! Protector Qi! Drive out this unwelcome guest who slanders my reputation!”

Qi Wu was stunned for a moment. She had never seen Shen Yirong like this. “Yes.”

The green-clad woman was truly panicking now, but her eyes suddenly lit up. She shouted, “Venerable!”

Song Yin arrived in a red robe, moving gracefully, a slight smile on her lips, looking calmly at Shen Yirong.

It was as if she was saying, How interesting.

Shen Yirong’s heart sank instantly.