The Villainess Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 38

As the familiar name leapt from Bai Fenghe’s lips, Yun Chuanzhi froze for a long while before leaning forward to confirm, “What?”

Thinking that Yun Chuanzhi might be illiterate, Bai Fenghe extended her index finger and traced the air. As if her fingertip were dipped in white clouds, three bold, elegant characters appeared in mid-air.

“There, Yun Chuanzhi,” Bai Fenghe repeated.

She hadn’t misheard; it was indeed those three characters. For a moment, Yun Chuanzhi couldn’t describe the shock in her heart. It felt as if, after half a lifetime of being displaced and living under a different guise, she had suddenly run into an old friend on the street whom she had long forgotten.

A gale seemed to stir in her mind, leaving her feeling unsteady and dazed.

Seeing her staring blankly and silently, Bai Fenghe actually felt a bit unnerved by the gaze. She dispersed the characters in the air and unconsciously pulled her collar tighter, saying with displeasure, “You don’t like it?”

“No,” Yun Chuanzhi snapped out of her daze and replied with a smile. “Since the Sect Leader has bestowed this name, I naturally like it. From now on, I am Yun Chuanzhi.”

“Mm.” Bai Fenghe glanced at her suspiciously a few more times before standing up and walking toward the bed. Her drooping shoulders betrayed her exhaustion. “This Seat is tired. You may go out.”

Yun Chuanzhi obeyed and turned to leave, but Bai Fenghe suddenly changed her mind. Her voice drifted over lightly, “Forget it. You stay for now.”

With you in the room, I can sleep more soundly, Bai Fenghe thought to herself, though she didn’t say it aloud. She simply lay down into the bedding in silence, closing her eyes as her breathing became shallow.

Though Yun Chuanzhi didn’t understand why she was being asked to stay, she followed orders obediently. She took the scissors to snuff out the candles, leaving only a small one by the window, which cast undulating shadows as the breeze blew.

The night wind was slow, and the flower shadows flickered. The cicadas were not loud tonight, making it exceptionally quiet.

Yun Chuanzhi sat on Bai Fenghe’s daybed with her legs crossed, dozing off. After an unknown amount of time, Bai Fenghe’s voice rang out again.

“Yun Chuanzhi, have you ever felt lonely?” she asked.

The sleepiness Yun Chuanzhi had just conjured was forcibly dispelled. She struggled to open her eyes, thought for a moment, and spoke, “Of course.”

Bai Fenghe asked again, “For example?”

Why is this ancestor in the mood to think about such things in the middle of the night? Yun Chuanzhi was so tired her eyelids were fighting to stay open, and her reactions were much slower. After a long pause, she answered, “For example, when it feels like I’m the only person left in the world.”

“It feels like?” Bai Fenghe’s tone rose slightly at the end.

“I mean, when I realize that in this life, there is no longer anyone left to miss me.” Yun Chuanzhi shifted her position to curl up on the daybed, staring at the flower shadows outside the window. The hazy moonlight covered the window paper, staining it with a layer of silver frost.

This reminded her of Wujian City during a heavy snowfall, where the ruins were covered by flakes, and the filthy, muddy earth was given a mask of sanctity. It was as if all sin had been sealed away.

The heavy snow had also buried the little that Yun Chuanzhi had left. The grave that had just been filled, before a headstone could even be erected, was hurriedly hidden by the impatient snow. Everywhere she looked was a vast expanse of white; she could no longer find even that small mound of earth.

Sister Guiren had died on the day she had long ago calculated. This was the third parting Yun Chuanzhi had experienced.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, as she reminisced, Yun Chuanzhi fell asleep. Her heavy breathing filled the quiet night. Bai Fenghe tossed and turned, becoming increasingly wide awake.

She bit her lip, starting to regret keeping Yun Chuanzhi there. She picked up a pillow, intending to throw it to wake her up, but when she saw the girl’s thin back curled away from her, she stopped.

Forget it. Bai Fenghe lowered her gaze. She gently set the pillow down and walked slowly to the window, looking at Yun Chuanzhi by the moonlight and the mottled lamplight.

“Why are you still so thin? It’s as if my Gundan Sect has mistreated you,” Bai Fenghe muttered displeasurably. She reached out to nudge Yun Chuanzhi’s shoulder, flipping her over so she was lying flat on her back.

The daybed was a bit narrow. Though Yun Chuanzhi was short, she still couldn’t fully stretch her limbs, pressing awkwardly against the backrest. However, she was sound asleep; she seemed to be dreaming, as her brow was tightly furrowed.

“Heartless thing, yet you still have nightmares,” Bai Fenghe chuckled, pulling her sleeves close. She watched for a moment, then suddenly leaned over and reached out, intending to carry her back.

But as her jade-white hands touched the girl’s shoulders, she froze as if realizing something. She straightened up, and a silk ribbon extended from her sleeve, quietly encircling Yun Chuanzhi and lifting her into the air.

She silently brought her to Lingshui’s room and set her down before vanishing like light smoke.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, Yun Chuanzhi woke up on the bed. With bleary eyes, she saw Cheng Jinshu also waking up and Lingshui already fully dressed. She offered a morning greeting.

“The Sect Leader is returning to the sect this morning. You two get up quickly; don’t make her wait.” Lingshui finished hurriedly and went to prepare breakfast, leaving Yun Chuanzhi and Cheng Jinshu to yawn at each other.

Yun Chuanzhi rubbed her sleepy eyes and suddenly realized something was wrong. She asked, “Wasn’t I keeping watch in the Sect Leader’s room last night? Did you bring me back?”

“I went to sleep the moment I got back to the room. How would I have the strength to bother with you?” Cheng Jinshu shook her head. Too lazy to wash up properly, she simply stood up and used spiritual power to manifest her clothes. “Perhaps you walked back yourself and forgot.”

Is that so? Yun Chuanzhi looked at herself suspiciously, feeling that it likely wasn’t the case.

But she didn’t dwell on it. After tidying herself up a bit, she followed Cheng Jinshu out.

A light morning mist shrouded the courtyard. The rising sun pierced through the fog, draping the towering ridges in the distance with a shimmering veil of light.

Today, Bai Fenghe was rarely not wearing purple. Instead, she wore a green silk dress with a narrow waist and wide sleeves. Her hair was loosely pinned, and from behind, she looked remarkably elegant and refined.

She stood with her back straight, listening to two people rambling on about something.

“Mother!” Once Lingshui recognized the two people, she lunged forward like a gust of wind, pulling her parents apart. She didn’t even dare to raise her head. “What are you doing here!”

“Lingshui,” Bai Fenghe spoke up with a serious expression to lecture her. “How can you be so disrespectful to your parents? Step back.”

Lingshui’s eyes widened slightly. She looked up to meet Bai Fenghe’s gaze, then folded her hands before her and bowed her head. “Yes.”

She nervously looked at City Guard Jiang, then at the visibly emotional Li Chengxian, before bowing and retreating. Yun Chuanzhi and Cheng Jinshu pulled her between them, whispering in her ear.

“Don’t you think my aunt’s outfit is a bit different today?” Cheng Jinshu whispered.

Yun Chuanzhi nodded in agreement. “It’s much more elegant today. She isn’t wearing any gold, silver, or jewels. She looks like one of those ascetic cultivators who doesn’t eat the food of mortals.”

At this moment, Lingshui nervously gripped the long whip at her waist, her lips pressed thin, saying nothing.

“Immortal Master Bai, I heard you are the Leader of a peak on Mount Buxi. For someone of such high status to be willing to take my daughter as a disciple, I am truly grateful.”

Li Chengxian, eyes red, bowed to Bai Fenghe. Bai Fenghe raised a hand to give him a virtual support, maintaining a steady and composed face. She said warmly, “Please, rise.”

On the other side, City Guard Jiang pressed her hands together in prayer. “Lingshui is our only daughter. We have long hoped she would become a cultivator to bring honor to our family. In the past, whenever we asked, she would avoid the subject. I worried for so long, but now that I’ve met her Master in person, my heart is finally at ease.”

“As the City Guard, I had heard of the Sect Leader’s great name. Fortunately, the rumors have now been debunked, restoring your reputation. I hope you will guide Lingshui more in the future. We both thank you.”

Just as Li Chengxian was helped up, Jiang Fangyu knelt down. Bai Fenghe hurriedly stopped her as well, smiling softly. “City Guard Jiang is dedicated to the people; I have great admiration for that. Furthermore, Lingshui is one of my own; she is clever and attentive. You need not worry; I will certainly teach her well.”

Hearing this, Jiang Fangyu and Li Chengxian were moved to tears of gratitude. They grabbed the food and wine they had prepared and tried to thrust them into Bai Fenghe’s hands. Naturally, Bai Fenghe declined, and the three of them ended up in a polite scuffle in the narrow courtyard.

Yun Chuanzhi and Cheng Jinshu stood aside watching the scene, both tightening their lips to keep from laughing out loud.

“Who did Bai Fenghe learn this noble and upright act from? She actually pulls it off,” Yun Chuanzhi teased behind her hand. “Was she always this obsessed with saving face?”

“She’s much more restrained now. It was even worse when my Grandmaster was still alive,” Cheng Jinshu laughed, imitating Yun Chuanzhi by covering her mouth. “But I didn’t expect the Sect Leader would actually help Lingshui maintain her lie.”

“I didn’t expect it either, that she actually has a bit of human touch,” Yun Chuanzhi said. She lowered her hand and looked at Bai Fenghe, unable to suppress the curl of her lips.

The mist had completely vanished, and sunlight finally flooded the courtyard unobstructed. Bai Fenghe eventually accepted the gifts from City Guard Jiang and Li Chengxian. With a helpless, shallow smile, she called Lingshui over, “Lingshui, hold these for me.”

Lingshui stepped forward quickly to take them. Her clear eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Bai Fenghe, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Bai Fenghe didn’t look at her. Her skirt fluttered as she bypassed everyone to head out the door. City Guard Jiang and Li Chengxian bowed behind her with tears in their eyes.

Lingshui also said her goodbyes and followed Bai Fenghe while wiping her eyes. Yun Chuanzhi was the last to step over the threshold. She paused, then turned back and stood before the weeping City Guard Jiang.

“City Guard Jiang.” Yun Chuanzhi reached into her robe and pulled out the bag of spirit stones Bai Fenghe had given her. She felt an immense pang of regret; she had treasured these stones for two days, not even daring to touch them.

Now, before they could even get warm in her hands, she was about to let them go.

Lingshui had mentioned her clan had been cultivators for generations and could easily obtain Phoenix Tears. This proved she was born into a wealthy family. Furthermore, though Jiang Fangyu and Li Chengxian were mediocre among their kin, they were still cultivators. Logically, such a family shouldn’t be this poor.

So, she spoke, “I heard you built a place in the city called the Hall of Jewels, specifically to take in children left homeless by disasters. Li Dagou must have been one of those you took in before he ran away.”

City Guard Jiang lowered her head to wipe her tears with her sleeve, replying with a smile, “As the City Guard, I don’t have much talent. I can only do small things within my power.”

Yun Chuanzhi looked at her and said nothing more. She suddenly reached out and placed the bag of spirit stones into the City Guard’s palm, then turned to leave.

Ignoring the shocked calls from the City Guard behind her, she pulled the door shut, ran a few steps to catch up with Bai Fenghe, and walked behind her gloomily.

Bai Fenghe turned slightly, her peripheral vision sweeping over Yun Chuanzhi. Her hair shimmered in the sunlight as she quickly looked away and continued her pace.

Ahead, Cheng Jinshu was rambling to Lingshui, seemingly trying to comfort her. To the right, they passed the gate of the Military Department. A troop of “Earth Gods” riding tall horses stepped out with their heads held high.

At the same time, the sound of operatic singing drifted from deep within the prison, a voice full of twists and turns, sounding heartbroken.

“The maple forest road is stained with blood; a year has passed, who speaks of every day and night? Another year of blooming flowers, yet the departed one is nowhere to be seen.”

Accompanied by the sound of a blade hitting the ground, the singing stopped abruptly. A deathly silence fell over the vast Military Department drill grounds. Bai Fenghe, however, acted as if she heard nothing. With an unchanged expression, she walked calmly through the long street.

“You not like those spirit stones? Why give them away?” Bai Fenghe slowed her pace until Yun Chuanzhi was side-by-side with her.

“Perhaps it’s because I hate being hungry,” Yun Chuanzhi smiled. She tossed her one remaining spirit stone into the air and caught it, her answer seemingly irrelevant to the question.

She simply hated having an empty stomach, and she hated seeing those skin-and-bone children go hungry. Seeing them reminded her of her younger self, going hungry for three to five days, fainting from hunger only to wake up still starving. It was wretchedly pitiful.

Besides, now that she was at Mount Buxi, those spirit stones weren’t of much use anyway.

“Don’t worry. You won’t go hungry again,” Bai Fenghe said. Her voice was very soft and lazy, sounding almost surreal.

“What?” Yun Chuanzhi looked up.

“I said,” Bai Fenghe smiled faintly, “I want to drink chicken soup again.”

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