Transmigrated Into The Arms Of The Heroine Of A Sadistic Novel - Chapter 44

The situation was urgent. Zhuang Jingwei, having received no response from Feng Xianchen, merely turned back to glance at her before silently flying forward on her sword.

As they passed over the Hundred Birds Ravine and the Fragrant Lake, they found the corpses in the ravine had vanished, and the bird demons that once covered the lakeshore were gone as well only faint traces of blood washed clean remained.

“They took the bodies back?” Feng Xianchen asked.

“It’s been long enough they’d have to.” Lin Yanyu controlled her spiritual energy, turning it into threads that extended ahead to scout. “Senior Sister Zhuang, does the Academy really dare send just us to meet the Island Lord?”

Zhuang Jingwei, unaccustomed to such a form of address, still replied calmly, “My master gave me a teleportation talisman. If necessary, I can crush it to safely return us to the rendezvous point. Also, other exorcist factions have sent people to locate the Island Lord.”

Lin Yanyu noticed the word ‘locate’ instead of ‘meet’ and gave a small “hmm?” “So… the Island Lord is missing, and we have to find her?”

“You can think of it that way.” Zhuang Jingwei changed direction, weaving past several towering trees as they moved deeper inland.

Lin Yanyu assessed their team’s strength it was impressive enough, but none of them had fought together before. Without coordination, a battle with the Island Lord could get messy; she’d likely have to focus on supporting Qin Changxin’s spellwork.

“What kind of person is the Lord of Que Ling Island?” she asked, trying to see how much Qin Changxin’s knowledge matched the original records.

Qin Changxin, having answered something similar before, recalled and said, “According to the records, her name is Pu Wei. She’s a rare black peacock demon, fond of wearing robes embroidered with green-blue peacock patterns at a glance, you’d mistake her for a blue peacock. Her life-bound weapons are twin black feather shaped blades, like curved knives, said to be forged from her own tail feathers.”

That matched perfectly with the original story. Lin Yanyu nodded, satisfied, then turned to Feng Xianchen. “You and Senior Sister Zhuang have met her before, right?”

She remembered that Feng Xianchen and Zhuang Jingwei had both visited Que Ling Island once.

Feng Xianchen nodded. “Yes, but the Island Lord was in a foul mood then. We spoke through a silk screen. Her voice was low maybe deliberately so it carried authority. Hmm… maybe about ten times sterner than Senior Sister Zhuang?”

“Do not compare me so casually,” Zhuang Jingwei interjected. “Pu Wei is a ruler in her own right. I am not her equal.”

The “emotionless mission cat” ignored the jab and continued, “When was that last meeting?”

“A few years ago, I think?” Feng Xianchen said uncertainly. “It’s in the mission records I don’t really remember.”

“Why bring that up?” Zhuang Jingwei asked.

“If her behavior was strange back then if she refused to meet in person then maybe she was already in contact with Xiao Xianyi,” Lin Yanyu said thoughtfully. “The peacock clan are known for their vanity. If she became corrupted, she’d hide the obvious signs like claws or deformed wings things that would mar her beauty.”

She paused, recalling the novel’s description. “If the corruption only left markings on her skin something makeup could hide then no one would notice, and her beauty would remain.”

Ye Yaozhi, ever the scholar, nodded vigorously. “I can confirm! In the demon realm, the peacock tribe regardless of gender love grooming and disguises.”

As they spoke, their flying swords entered a fog-shrouded forest.

Qin Changxin waved her Wuyuan Fan, dispersing the mist.

“These mists are strange they seem to follow living beings,” she said seriously. “We saw something like this before don’t know if it’s a natural barrier or demon-made.”

“The mist outside the island is likely natural to keep intruders out,” Lin Yanyu explained. “But inside, such toxic fog would hinder daily life. Unless this is a treasure ground or a forbidden area, native residents would’ve removed it.”

Feng Xianchen and Ye Yaozhi nodded in understanding, but Qin Changxin’s sharp mind caught the implication. “If this isn’t a forbidden area yet the poison remains… that means whoever set it expected outsiders to interfere.”

“That’s also what the elders believe,” Zhuang Jingwei added before Lin Yanyu could answer. “If we’re ambushed, Feng Xianchen, stay with me. Changxin, watch Lin Yanyu. As for the wolf girl”

“She’ll act on instinct,” Lin Yanyu cut in. “Help if she can; if things get bad, run. She’s a wild demon, untrained no point forcing her.”

Zhuang Jingwei just glanced at her but didn’t argue. She turned to Ye Yaozhi. “Don’t try to run again.”

Ye Yaozhi lowered her gaze meekly.

With roles assigned, their swords descended toward the Island Lord’s territory. Zhuang Jingwei studied her map just ahead, a colossal banyan tree loomed behind the mist, its trunk far thicker than any they’d seen.

“That’s where she resides.” As she spoke, their swords lowered to a foot above the ground, weaving between roots to avoid ambush.

Lin Yanyu began recalling the novel’s sequence: by this point in the original timeline, the Island Lord had already turned into a “beast of corruption,” rampaging across the island. There was still time to prevent that.

She carefully spread her senses through the surrounding energy. As they passed a clear brook, she suddenly shouted, “Two o’clock direction projectiles incoming! Move!”

She was quick, but her use of modern military terms confused the others. They froze instead of dodging.

Luckily, Ye Yaozhi reacted on instinct her claws shot out, deflecting four poisoned blades mid-air.

Feng Xianchen, seated in the “two o’clock” direction, nearly froze in shock before scrambling toward Zhuang Jingwei. “Th-thanks!” she stammered to Ye Yaozhi.

Lin Yanyu also jumped but didn’t need to block none had aimed at her. After a beat, she too extended her claws, slashing down any further incoming darts.

Qin Changxin and Feng Xianchen quickly raised a barrier, and only once it stabilized did the two cat demons withdraw their claws.

“When you said ‘two o’clock direction,’ you meant northeast?” Zhuang Jingwei asked.

“Yes,” Lin Yanyu replied, then caught herself she was about to say it was a “demon-world expression,” but realizing Ye Yaozhi might call her out, she changed tack: “Just something I came up with myself.”

“Not very practical,” Zhuang Jingwei frowned. “If you’re going to assist Changxin, you’ll need to learn the human terms quickly.”

Lin Yanyu, guilty, nodded obediently and edged closer to Qin Changxin.

When in Rome, she thought. Time to learn the local ways.

Que Ling Island was surrounded by water, its interior full of streams and banyans. The banyans served as natural frameworks for the avian tribes’ homes and nests.

Beyond the ambush site, they soon reached a heavily guarded banyan grove. Trees were connected by vine bridges; nests and houses perched high above, their roots twisting across the ground.

The guards were half-human, half-bird humanoid bodies with wings on their backs. When they saw Zhuang Jingwei and Feng Xianchen dismount, they hurriedly made way.

“The Island Lord has heard of what happened at Hundred Birds Ravine and Fragrant Lake. Please, come in!”

“They’re with us,” Zhuang Jingwei said, motioning to her teammates. “We’ll all meet the Island Lord together.”

“This…” the guard hesitated. “The Island Lord is unwell. Too many visitors may worsen her condition. Please understand.”

“What about Yu Mao?” Lin Yanyu asked. “She promised to meet us again after delivering a message to the Island Lord. Can we see her?”

“Oh, Xiao Mao? She’s at home crying! Several of her patrons died!” sighed another guard. “She’s only a messenger you can see her freely, but don’t upset her.”

Lin Yanyu nodded. “Then let’s split up. You and Feng Xianchen go meet the Island Lord we’ll talk to Yu Mao.”

Zhuang Jingwei sensed her authority slipping but valued strength above pride. She nodded. “One quarter-hour meet at the guest tree.”

Thus, Lin Yanyu, Qin Changxin, and Ye Yaozhi followed a guard across the vine bridges toward Yu Mao’s home.

Though sturdy, the bridges swayed badly. Lin Yanyu and Ye Yaozhi, forest dwellers by nature, crossed with ease, but Qin Changxin hesitated, pale. After a few steps, she grabbed Lin Yanyu’s hand.

Realizing the girl’s fear of heights, Lin Yanyu gently pulled her close, guiding her forward.

Since Qin Changxin was taller, the sight was almost comical. Young birdfolk flying past chirped excitedly:

“The human female is so delicate afraid to walk a bridge!”
“The books say those dressed like her are nobles she must be a young lady from an exorcist family, with two demon bodyguards!”
“No, no the wolf’s the guard. The cat’s too familiar what guard hugs her mistress like that?”

Lin Yanyu’s sharp ears caught every word. She glanced at her arm sure enough, it was wrapped around Qin Changxin’s waist.

Afraid the girl might misunderstand, she quickly shifted her hand forward, wrapping her arm around Qin Changxin’s front instead.

Startled by the sudden touch at her abdomen, Qin Changxin froze and looked down her face immediately turned red.