Transmigrated Into The Arms Of The Heroine Of A Sadistic Novel - Chapter 97

When she heard this, Lin Yanyu frowned and asked, “It’s possible, yes, but time is tight. Can we use two teleportation arrays?”

Seven days neither long nor short but the distance from Lianzhou to Zhuzhou was still considerable. If any mishap occurred along the way, they might not arrive in time for Yang Hengyu’s execution. Since they had already lost some time recovering, the only way to make it back before then was to use teleportation.

“We can.” Qin Changxin nodded. “We’re the ones who slew the Blood Leopard. If we ask the lord for permission, he’ll surely let us use the array.”

She leaned close, brushing against Lin Yanyu’s cat ears, and whispered, “Rest for today. We’ll set out tomorrow morning.”

Her warm breath tickled Lin Yanyu’s ear, making her yelp a soft “Meow!” and shrink her neck. If not for fear of reopening her wounds, she would’ve turned into her human form right then just to cuddle up with Changxin.

The special medicine from Morning Healing Valley worked wonders. After resting half a day more, they could already move normally. Still, the physician warned that once they returned home, they must rest another half month or risk permanent damage.

The next morning, just after Lin Yanyu removed her bandages and they were preparing to leave, several physicians outside suddenly knelt to the ground. A high-ranking official had arrived.

Lin Yanyu and Qin Changxin exchanged glances, debating whether to go out, but the official was already being led inside. He bowed to them and said,

“Good morning, ladies. By the lord’s command, I am here to invite you both to stay in Han’an City and serve as officials.”

He was about to read a decree, but Qin Changxin stopped him.

“Please, my lord, thank His Grace for the honor,” she said politely, “but I have only recently assumed leadership of my clan. There are many matters awaiting me I must return as soon as possible.”

The official looked troubled, then turned toward Lin Yanyu.

“Sorry, but I have to follow my master,” Lin Yanyu said, playing up her role as a demon servant.

The official pondered for a moment, then produced several magical artifacts forged by royal craftsmen. “These are masterless tools. You may each choose two as payment for slaying the Blood Leopard.”

In this world, a single artifact was worth a fortune, and for demon hunters, good ones were far more valuable than gold.

But neither Lin Yanyu nor Qin Changxin were adept at choosing them. As they stared in indecision, Lin Yanyu suddenly felt the Silver Epiphyllum mark on her fingertip grow warm. Acting on instinct, she pointed at one artifact it grew hotter. She pointed at another it cooled.

“This one,” she said, picking up the first.

She repeated the process to select the second.

After the official departed, Qin Changxin examined the items curiously. “You know how to choose artifacts?”

“Surprised? I learned it from Senior Feng Funing’s memories,” Lin Yanyu lied.

In truth, she knew it was Feng Funing’s consciousness guiding her. But since the elder had warned her never to reveal this secret to anyone not even Changxin she could only fabricate an excuse.

Having no immediate use for the artifacts, Qin Changxin stored them away, and the two went to complete their discharge from the royal infirmary before visiting the lord for farewell.

The city was still under reconstruction. The lord, clearly exhausted, didn’t speak much he merely asked after their health, approved their travel papers, and handed Qin Changxin a jade token.

“This is Lianzhou’s Demon Hunter Insignia,” he explained. “It authorizes you to command Lianzhou hunters anywhere in the human realm.”

“This is far too precious!” Qin Changxin protested, bowing deeply.

Lin Yanyu was equally shocked this reward hadn’t appeared in the original story at all.

“New clan heads must secure their positions swiftly,” the lord said meaningfully, pressing the token into her hand. “You’re still young. In time, you’ll understand my intention.”

Grateful, Qin Changxin accepted and bowed again before leaving with Lin Yanyu.

The teleportation array in Lianzhou’s capital was located within the palace. After bidding the lord farewell, they departed. By the time they reached Ningzhou’s Que Ling Island, it was already afternoon.

The demon hunters stationed there had heard of their deeds. As they left, one called out cheerfully, “You’re welcome to use the teleportation array anytime!” making the two women both amused and exasperated.

They went to seek Ye Yaozhi but found her absent. At Baicaotang, a physician named Yu Zhuo informed them, “Miss Ye went out gathering herbs in the Jixiang Marsh area. Don’t worry after your last warning, I’ve kept her close to town.”

After thanking her, Qin Changxin summoned the Wuyuan Fan, and together they flew toward the marsh.

“I’m afraid she might try to die with him,” Lin Yanyu said on the way. “In my world, people suffering mental illness can be fragile. A small trigger let alone the execution of someone they love might drive them to end their lives.”

Changxin nodded. “We’ll see when we find her. If she truly wishes to follow him in death, we shouldn’t interfere. To her, Yang Hengyu is what you are to me.”

Lin Yanyu nodded, manipulating the surrounding spiritual energy to search as they neared the marsh.

The Jixiang Marsh wasn’t large. With Lin Yanyu still recovering, her spiritual sense was weaker than her eyes. Soon, they spotted a figure resting under an ancient tree a woman in a wide hat, a herb basket in her arms, a fluffy gray tail curled around her.

Landing the fan, Lin Yanyu ran ahead, lifted the hat, and nudged her shoulder. “Ye Yaozhi, Ye Yaozhi.”

Ye Yaozhi woke groggily. Seeing them, she hurriedly knelt, clutching her basket.

“The Blood Leopard is dead. We’re going back to Zhuzhou,” Lin Yanyu said solemnly.

Ye Yaozhi hesitated, frowning. “Young Mistress, you’re still badly injured. Why return in such haste?”

“I’m fine” Lin Yanyu began, but Ye Yaozhi cut her off.

“I can smell it,” she said. “I’ve been learning from Master Yu Zhuo your scent is that of a wounded person.”

Lin Yanyu and Qin Changxin exchanged an awkward look.

“If this is about Yang Hengyu,” Ye Yaozhi said softly, “you can tell me directly.”

With a sigh, Lin Yanyu explained everything.

As she expected, Ye Yaozhi’s ears drooped and her eyes reddened.

“The master-servant bond will soon dissolve. I should be happy,” Ye Yaozhi murmured, her voice trembling. “After you saved me, I’ve thought and thought, yet even now, I can’t understand what I truly feel for her.”

Seeing her eyes well with tears, Lin Yanyu knew Ye Yaozhi still cared deeply.

“We’ll take you to see her,” Qin Changxin said. “They’ll allow visitors before the execution. You can speak your mind then.”

Ye Yaozhi nodded, slinging her basket onto her back. “Let me deliver these herbs first, then I’ll go with you.”

By the time they stepped out of Zhuzhou’s teleportation array, the midday sun blazed high.

Lin Yanyu squinted against the glare, frowning as she took out the Azure Boat Bell. Channeling a trace of demonic energy, she rang it softly, forming a cool shade above them.

The next instant, the bell was snatched from her hand.

“You’re not fully healed,” Qin Changxin scolded. “Don’t use magic.”

“I just used a little bit,” Lin Yanyu muttered.

Behind them, Ye Yaozhi watched, envy flickering in her eyes at their quiet tenderness.

Since their destination was the Feng Clan, they had chosen the nearest array. Showing Feng Mingchi’s token to the gate guards, they were led underground.

“The prisoner has remained calm since her capture,” their young guide explained as they descended. “She confessed everything, made no attempt to escape. Honestly, though the master told us to watch her closely, she’s lost her powers there’s nothing to fear from a cripple.”

The word cripple made Ye Yaozhi’s eyes blaze. She lunged, claws sprouting from her fingertips, aiming for the boy’s neck but Lin Yanyu caught her wrist just in time.

Lin Yanyu shook her head gently and rang the bell again.

Its clear sound echoed through the passage. Gradually, Ye Yaozhi calmed, retracting her claws, though tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

Yang Hengyu’s cell lay deep underground. Once they reached a wide chamber, the guide asked them to wait in the interrogation room while he fetched the prisoner.

Ye Yaozhi’s keen ears soon picked up the rattle of chains. Moments later, two hunters escorted in a tall woman, bound to a special restraining chair.

Sensing her gaze, the woman turned her head.

Yang Hengyu, dressed in prison garb, still looked composed her long black hair neat despite captivity. A single character, “Death,” was tattooed on her face, marring features faintly reminiscent of Qin Changxin’s.

“Master…” Ye Yaozhi whispered, trembling.

Though her memories were gone, seeing the woman filled her with a deep, instinctive joy. If not for the guards present, she might have thrown herself into her arms.

“Stupid wolf.” Yang Hengyu’s lips curved faintly as she murmured, then, hiding the tenderness in her eyes, she raised her voice harshly: “Coming to see me only when I’m about to die? You ungrateful cur! I bound us by blood, not to raise a servant who’d betray her master!”

Ye Yaozhi froze. All her careful thoughts her guilt, her longing, her rehearsed farewell shattered in an instant, leaving only disbelief and a rising, aching sorrow.