The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 18.1

In the early morning, golden light seeped through the gaps in the bed curtains, landing squarely on Chi Jinnian’s eyes.

Still half asleep, she turned over and murmured as she slowly woke.

Her eyes fluttered open, and after focusing on the scene before her, Chi Jinnian rubbed her eyes and closed them again.

This had to be the wrong way to wake up she must still be dreaming!

When she opened her eyes once more, the sight confirmed the truth: she had climbed onto Yuan Shao’s bed! Again! Her head was pillowed on the other’s arm, and her hand was, as usual, draped over their waist.

This time, not only had she embraced their waist, but her forehead was also pressed against their cheek, their breaths mingling.

Startled, she rolled over, only to tumble straight onto the floor. Fortunately, the bedding she had laid out the night before cushioned her fall, sparing her any injury.

The knotted silk thread was still tied around her wrist. At this moment, Yuan Shao lay asleep on the inner side of the bed. Perhaps disturbed by her movements, Yuan Shao turned over, facing inward.

Panicked, Chi Jinnian untied the thread from her wrist, slipped on her shoes, and fled the room.

That morning, she plunged her face directly into a basin of cold water. But reality proved this wasn’t a dream. She tried hard to recall the events of the previous night, how she had ended up in Yuan Shao’s bed, but her memory remained blank.

Climbing into bed… she truly had no recollection of it.

Luckily, Yuan Shao was still asleep. Chi Jinnian could pretend nothing had happened, as if she had slept on the makeshift bedding all night.

After steeling herself, she calmly went to prepare breakfast as though nothing were amiss.

During the meal, Yuan Shao’s expression was as warm and gentle as ever, never mentioning a thing. It seemed they were unaware of the bed-climbing incident.

But then Chi Jinnian reconsidered after all, Yuan Shao would be leaving today. This would all be over soon! Whether they suspected anything or not hardly mattered anymore.

After breakfast, once they had packed the necessary supplies, Chi Jinnian led Yuan Shao to the boundary of the demon realm.

Passing through a dense forest and emerging from the mist, they spotted a translucent, bubble-like crystal floating in the air, the entrance to the Water Mirror.

“Master, that’s it!” Chi Jinnian pointed ahead.

Yuan Shao followed her finger and immediately sensed the immense spiritual energy concentrated there, reinforced by layers of formations. Compared to that, her own weakened spiritual power was no match.

Yet, when she saw the faint sparkle in her little disciple’s eyes as they gazed at the crystal, Yuan Shao strode forward without hesitation.

Upon entering the Water Mirror, they were greeted by a picturesque landscape, a sky so blue it looked freshly washed, dotted with white clouds, lush green grass below, and clusters of blooming flowers. A babbling brook lapped against the rocks along its banks, producing a gentle, rhythmic sound.

In the distance, barely distinguishable from the clouds, was a faint white silhouette. Chi Jinnian knew, that was where the giant serpent lurked, the final boss of this small dungeon. According to the plot, with Su Tingxi’s support, Yuan Shao would defeat the serpent, obtain its gall, and greatly enhance her powers.

With Wei Yang present, Su Tingxi must have already been inside this Water Mirror for a full day and night, and most of the monsters and beasts along the way should have been dealt with. So now, Chi Jinnian needed to take Yuan Shao straight to the vicinity of the giant serpent to await the male lead’s appearance, that would complete her mission perfectly.

Thinking this, Chi Jinnian stretched out her hand, pointing toward the distant snowy mountain. “Master, we’re going there.”

Upon entering the Water Mirror, Yuan Shao had sensed that all the formations and spiritual energy here seemed to converge at the peak of that snowy mountain. The journey there would undoubtedly be fraught with peril. Yet despite the dangers, her little disciple was determined to go. Yuan Shao didn’t want to question the reason behind it.

All she knew was that if A’Nian wanted to go, then she, as her master, would accompany her. She would protect her at all costs.

The two began walking inward. At first, the sun was bright, and the air was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. But as time passed, the sky gradually darkened, and the surroundings grew colder.

By the time they neared the mountaintop, snow had even begun to fall. The icy wind whipped the snowflakes through the air, stinging their skin. Fortunately, Chi Jinnian had prepared thick cloaks in advance, which helped ward off much of the cold.

As night fell, the two decided to rest in a cave and continue their ascent at dawn.

After lighting a fire, Chi Jinnian left Yuan Shao to warm herself while she retrieved food from her Qiankun pouch, heating it over the flames for Yuan Shao to eat.

Yuan Shao wasn’t particularly hungry. Instead, she quietly shifted the stone she was sitting on closer to Chi Jinnian.

Chi Jinnian glanced at her, and Yuan Shao coughed lightly into her fist. “Sitting closer will keep us warmer.”

Chi Jinnian thought this made sense, so she also moved her own stone closer to Yuan Shao, and the two sat shoulder to shoulder.

The fire crackled as the wood burned, and Yuan Shao hugged her knees, watching Chi Jinnian roast the food in a daze, especially those slender, pale wrists, which looked somewhat bare.

Meanwhile, Chi Jinnian skewered a pastry on a stick, heating it slightly before handing the first one to Yuan Shao. “Master, you eat first.”

Yuan Shao, still distracted by Chi Jinnian’s wrists, was startled by the sudden appearance of the pastry but took it nonetheless. She tore off a small piece and placed it in her mouth.

Sweet, warm, and comforting.

As Chi Jinnian roasted the second piece, she asked, “Master, do you know why I insisted on bringing you here?”

Yuan Shao looked at her but didn’t answer, waiting for the explanation.

“Inside this Water Mirror, there’s a giant serpent. Its gallbladder is highly nourishing and would greatly benefit your cultivation.” Chi Jinnian kept her eyes fixed on the pastry, trying not to let Yuan Shao see her unease.

Yuan Shao blinked slowly. So that was it. She had braved such dangers all for her sake.

Suddenly, the pastry in Yuan Shao’s mouth lost its flavor. She twirled the stick between her slender fingers. “You seem, very eager for me to cultivate.”

Whenever her little disciple was by her side, eight out of ten sentences revolved around cultivation. Did her current lowly cultivation level make her seem inadequate, even, disappointing?

Perhaps having someone like her as a master was embarrassing, which was why Chi Jinnian was so desperate for her to improve as soon as possible.

Yuan Shao stared blankly at the pastry in her hand, but Chi Jinnian didn’t notice. At this moment, her attention was entirely focused on the flames licking the surface of the cake. Afraid that a moment’s distraction might burn the golden-hued treat, she kept her eyes on the fire as she replied, “Of course. Master is a phoenix soaring through the nine heavens, born with nobility in her bones. I know that even though Master doesn’t say it now, she must be sad inside. If helping Master return to her peak sooner can bring her joy, then of course I should strive for it.”