Transmigrated Into The Arms Of The Heroine Of A Sadistic Novel - Chapter 82

By the time Ye Yaozhi was settled down, night had already fallen deep.

“Why didn’t you ask the Feather Clan to strengthen surveillance this time?” Qin Changxin asked as they walked back to their quarters.

“If she’s truly determined to escape, no amount of surveillance will stop her,” Lin Yanyu said. “I want to give her this one chance. What happens next depends on her own choice.”

Qin Changxin blinked, thoughtful. “You seem different.”

“Different how?” Lin Yanyu asked curiously.

“When Ye Yaozhi betrayed you and defected to Yang Hengyu, it was you who dragged her back from Hengyu Tower, ready to execute her,” Qin recalled. “I remember your words then ‘A demon who breaks the rules deserves death.’”

“Oh, that.” Lin Yanyu smiled. “Back then, hesitation would’ve only brought disaster. But things are different now. Yang Hengyu’s been stripped of her powers and sent back to the Feng clan under guard. Ye Yaozhi’s movements are under our control. Besides, her entanglement with Yang Hengyu wasn’t entirely her choice.”

She paused, looking up at the clouds drifting across the night sky. Her voice softened.
“Though she was forced into it, she’s tried hard to find her way back. A soul that seeks repentance I want to forgive that. And more than that, if we hadn’t gone after her tonight, she’d be dead at the bottom of that river.”

As she spoke, they reached their quarters. Sharing a glance, they pushed open the door together.

“With Ye Yaozhi’s matter settled, we should head to Lianzhou soon,” Lin Yanyu said, lying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling. “The rejuvenation elixir can be delivered later. First, we need to understand Lianzhou’s situation and see if anything’s changed. Communication in this world is difficult I’m worried Feng Qianchen and Senior Sister Zhuang might face something they can’t handle.”

Even though Feng Xianchen and Zhuang Jingwei’s tragic deaths were now part of the past, as long as Xiao Xianyi still lived, she couldn’t relax.

“You seem even more anxious than I am,” Qin said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“After living twice, there’s no way I’m dying again,” Lin Yanyu murmured, the word dying barely audible.

The room was dark no lamps lit. Lin Yanyu could see perfectly in the dark, but when no answer came from Qin, she grew uneasy. Just as she opened her mouth to change the subject, a familiar breath brushed her face, warm and close and then lips pressed against hers.

Lin Yanyu froze. She knew Qin was kissing her but the touch was gentle, careful, even keeping just enough distance so as not to press down on her.

“Wh–why so suddenly…” Lin gasped when Qin finally let her go.

“Every time I’m sad, you let me touch you,” Qin said, her face close, her smile teasing. “Now that you’re sad, isn’t it fair I comfort you this way?”

Lin Yanyu felt danger looming and her cat ears twitched nervously. “The the demon form and human form aren’t the same for me mmph…”

But Qin clearly wasn’t in the mood to hear excuses.

In the darkness, Lin Yanyu could see her expression clearly—those eyes glowing soft as water, yet her movements fierce, as if wanting to devour her whole.

Suddenly Lin Yanyu realized she was making excuses. Damn it, she was the worst.

To her, there was a difference between her cat form and human form. But to Qin Changxin whether she was a cat or a cat-eared woman she was still Lin Yanyu.

Every time she’d nestled into Qin’s arms, it had been, to Qin, both a signal and an invitation.

Lin Yanyu had slept through the day, and Qin hadn’t forgotten to wipe her clean after her injuries. Even after running around earlier, Lin Yanyu still smelled faintly of the floral scent from the handkerchief used on her.

But tonight, Lin Yanyu had woken before Qin could do that.

Half an hour later, Lin Yanyu had shifted into a small black cat, curled up at the foot of the bed, glaring at the bucket of hot water newly brought into the room.

Qin, barefoot and wearing only a bathrobe, was walking toward her.

Steam filled the air, condensation collecting on the spirit lamp’s glass.

“What if I can’t walk tomorrow?” Lin asked nervously as Qin lifted her by the scruff of the neck.

“When you called me ‘my lady,’ you didn’t think about what ifs,” Qin replied bluntly, holding the cat as she leapt lightly into the wooden tub without splashing a single drop. “If you really can’t walk, so be it. I’m used to carrying you anyway.”

Before Lin could reply, she shifted back to human form, her hands resting on Qin’s arms, her face tilted up.

“You’re right,” she murmured, ears drooping. “Since I called you ‘my lady,’ I’ll be your lady for life… I just ask that you show mercy.”

Qin agreed.

They say in water, the skin is less sensitive to touch though it dulled sensation, for Lin Yanyu it was more than enough.

At first she’d nearly bolted from Qin’s clumsy inexperience, but Qin learned quickly, and before long Lin was soft and pliant in her arms.

By the time Qin carried her out of the tub, the water was completely clouded.

At dawn, Lin Yanyu woke, mortified beyond belief. She burrowed into the blanket, refusing to get up.

Her lady had indeed shown mercy but honestly, a quick death might have been kinder!

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the rising steam from the tub; every time she opened them, she saw Qin sleeping peacefully beside her. Restless, she sighed softly, thinking, The girl learns fast too fast. If it were me, I’d never manage such skill in unknown territory.

After a while, she lifted her hand and looked at the silver mark on her fingertip.

It had regained its color. Last night, when she’d shifted back to human, it had faded exactly as Feng Funing had arranged beforehand.

Feng had once told her: if the mark faded before anything happened, it meant she gave her consent and would not intrude.

Hearing Qin stir beside her, Lin quickly curled her hand into a fist and tucked it under the blanket. Then she slid closer and hugged her.

“…Kitty,” Qin mumbled sleepily.

Lin didn’t answer. She only parted her lips slightly and bit her shoulder.

“Ow biting cat!” Qin laughed, suddenly awake.

Lin rested her head on Qin’s back, arms around her neck. “Your biting cat is right here, my lady. Do you still like her?”

Qin chuckled and turned to face her.
“When you learn how,” she said seriously, “I want to try it too.”

“I’m not as good as you,” Lin teased, poking Qin’s palm lightly with her clawed fingertip. “I can’t bear to cut my nails.”

“I don’t believe that,” Qin said, narrowing her eyes. “You don’t seem like someone who only enjoys and never gives.”

“Fine, fine but not now.” Lin caught her wrist and guided her hand up to touch her cat ears. “Until we deal with the Blood Leopard affair, we can’t really relax.”

From Sparrowfeather Island to Lianzhou, the fastest route was by water or flying artifact two to three days at most.

Thanks to Qin’s restraint, Lin could still move easily. After saying farewell to the island master and giving Ye Yaozhi a few words of advice, they spoke with Lu Qiuyun who preferred traveling by land then set off by the No-Grudge Fan, gliding along the waterways away from the island.

“Why didn’t you mention transporting the rejuvenation elixir to the island master?” Qin asked on the way.

“Because Yang Hengyu’s ‘Thousand Mile Delivery’ with the Huixing Sword won’t be unknown to Xiao Xianyi,” Lin explained. “Without Yang and the sword, he’s lost his greatest asset. What do you think someone like him would do to rebuild it?”

“He’ll probably activate the Still Beauty Formation ahead of schedule,” Qin said after thinking. “And maybe try to control the Lianzhou princess to prevent more betrayals.”

“Exactly. Which means using the rejuvenation elixir to persuade the princess probably won’t work,” Lin said, nodding. “Senior Feng likely knows that already but I think he’ll still bring the elixir himself. Even if it’s useless, it’s another bargaining chip.”

They hurried onward. After a day and a night, they reached the waters outside Lianzhou City.

It was noon, the late spring air already thick with heat. Rain fell heavily over the area. As Qin steered the fan through the storm, Lin conjured a spiritual barrier to shield them from the wind and rain.

“Lightning’s building up in those clouds,” Lin warned after a while. “Your fan’s metal it might attract strikes. Let’s find shelter and wait for the rain to pass!”

Qin looked around, spotted what seemed to be a dock, and dove down.

Lin landed first, feeling the planks soft beneath her feet and sinking slightly. Looking down, she saw the boards were already rotting through. She stepped forward quickly until she reached solid ground.

Behind her came the sound of an oil-paper umbrella opening. She turned her head just as Qin walked up beside her, umbrella in hand.

“Why not just use your spirit barrier?” Lin teased but she still slipped her hand into Qin’s, keeping the barrier up with her other hand, leaning close as they walked along the muddy path toward the village.

Lightning ripped across the sky, dark clouds folding lower and lower. Rain hammered against umbrella and barrier alike, flowing down in rivulets.

“What place is this?” Qin asked.

“According to Senior Feng Funing’s memories, this should be Evening River Village, near Morning-Heal Valley,” Lin replied. “That valley is where the cat clans gather in the human realm. The cats trade goods with villagers below, and in return, they protect them when they come up the mountain to gather herbs or graze.”

“I didn’t expect humans and demons could coexist peacefully here,” Qin said, surprised. “Then we must be close to Lianzhou.”

“Yes, the outskirts. The royal city’s still some distance away.” Lin guessed her thoughts and quickly added, “We’ve traveled long enough through damp air. Let’s rest half a day before going on. The village should have horses or carts we can hire”

Before she could finish, a jolt of instinct sent alarm bells ringing in her mind.

She turned sharply to the right, her spiritual energy sweeping into a narrow alley.

Ten seconds later, her energy tendrils dragged out a cat covered in blood.

The rain was so heavy that as the cat rolled on the ground, most of the blood washed away, revealing fur patterned like ancient coins.

It stared at them with glowing red eyes, one leg twisted at a grotesque angle, back arched, teeth bared in wary aggression.

But it was too small barely the size of two shoes. Its killing intent failed to be intimidating.

“How could there be an injured cat here?!” Qin gasped only to see Lin Yanyu’s face darken, killing aura surging.

“XIAO. XIAN. YI!