When the Villainess Transmigrates as the Heroine of a Sadistic Novel [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Wuxia Arc

“Senior Sister.” Ning Yunqing walked toward her, a faint smile on her face and not a trace of panic. This slightly surprised Jiang Chenyue, who thought to herself: Junior Sister has always feared me; seeing her this happy now, I wonder what ghostly schemes she’s cooking up.

Jiang Chenyue glanced at Ning Yunqing and walked straight to the bedside to sit down. Her gaze fixed on Xie Yushu’s face as she let out a cold snort. “You came to see him?”

Ning Yunqing denied it. She had clearly come to disfigure him.

“The martial arts world says: ‘One look at Master Xie ruins one’s life.’ If you had informed me before coming to see him, perhaps I wouldn’t blame you,” Jiang Chenyue said indifferently. The underlying meaning was: You snuck here secretly, I am very unhappy, and I’m going to cause trouble for you.

Ning Yunqing didn’t want trouble from her lover; she wanted to be affectionate. She explained, “How can rumors be taken seriously? Senior Sister, don’t joke. Yunqing came looking for you.”

“Oh?” Jiang Chenyue finally moved her gaze to Ning Yunqing, looking as calm as a breeze. This girl was truly hard to read.

“It was Yunqing’s fault for displeasing Senior Sister this morning. I came specifically to ask for your forgiveness,” Ning Yunqing bowed slightly, speaking respectfully. “I went to the Moon Pavilion and saw you weren’t there, so I came here to try my luck. I didn’t expect to actually find you. Senior Sister, Yunqing wouldn’t dare go against your wishes. I didn’t report in only because I wanted to leave quickly if you weren’t here, lest…”

By the end of her sentence, she sounded aggrieved, her eyes reddening slightly. Ning Yunqing was four years younger than Jiang Chenyue, currently in the prime of her youth. Though Jiang Chenyue had a solitary nature, she still held affection for this sister she had watched grow up. Seeing the girl on the verge of tears, a spark of pity moved her.

She stood up and paced over to Ning Yunqing. As their eyes met, Ning Yunqing immediately deployed her “Best Actress” skills from the previous world, letting a single tear slide down her cheek.

Jiang Chenyue wasn’t good at comforting people, but seeing the girl weeping, she couldn’t bear it. She clumsily raised her hand, her fingertips brushing the cheek to wipe away the tear. Before she could withdraw, Ning Yunqing grabbed her hand.

Clasping Jiang Chenyue’s soft hand in both of hers, Ning Yunqing sobbed, “Senior Sister.”

Jiang Chenyue suppressed the urge to pull away and softened her voice slightly, attempting to coax her. “Alright. You were distracted during practice; my punishment wasn’t unjust.”

“…” Ning Yunqing acknowledged her lover’s “low EQ martial arts fanatic” setting. She blinked her watery eyes and pouted. “But you didn’t have to hurt me. My shoulder still hurts.”

What is wrong with this girl? Jiang Chenyue was confused. Aside from when their master was alive to back her up as a child, she had never seen her sister have the courage to scold her. Her thoughts shifted, and after a moment, she finally found a reason: “You… could it be that your ‘monthly visitor’ has arrived?”

“…” Does Senior Sister have a hidden ‘funny’ attribute? Ning Yunqing burst out laughing and pulled Jiang Chenyue outside. “I’ve thought of a new sword move. I hope Senior Sister can give me some pointers.”

Jiang Chenyue was a martial arts addict; she cared far more about techniques than handsome men. Since Ning Yunqing put it that way, she didn’t complain and followed her.

Under the high moon, Ning Yunqing stood elegantly with her long sword. Her body moved, the wind followed, bringing bursts of plum fragrance. Watching from a distance, Jiang Chenyue suddenly felt that her sister’s white silhouette, moving like a startled rabbit, possessed the beauty of an otherworldly fairy. Furthermore, observing the sword style, it was clearly a set of moves designed to counter the technique Jiang Chenyue had used that morning.

Jiang Chenyue’s brow furrowed. Realizing that Ning Yunqing had broken her move in just one day, she felt the urge to go into closed-door cultivation to study her own techniques.

After finishing the routine, Ning Yunqing expected her martial-obsessed sister to offer some praise. Instead, she turned to see a face that was hard to read. Another one who doesn’t follow the script. Ning Yunqing sighed inwardly and tried calling out, “Senior Sister?”

Jiang Chenyue spoke flatly, “I shall go into seclusion for a few days. The Palace affairs are left to you.” With that, she turned toward the back mountain. After a few steps, as if remembering something, she warned: “I do not wish to see you sneaking into the North Pavilion again.”

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister. Yunqing will obey you in everything,” Ning Yunqing replied with a smile.

They were meant to be obedient words, but paired with that faint smile, the tone felt different. Jiang Chenyue vaguely sensed a hint of doting. She glanced back at her smiling junior sister and thought: Such abnormal behavior… it must be the ‘monthly visitor’ after all.

“Go back and rest,” Jiang Chenyue left a word of concern, tapped her toes, and vanished.

The next morning at dawn, a maid reported that the rescued gentleman had woken up. “Mhm,” Ning Yunqing hummed softly, wiping her long sword and ignoring the maid. She leaped out, her sword moving like a swimming dragon as her thoughts drifted: Xie Yushu is awake and Jiang Chenyue is away. It’s the perfect time to strike.

However, striking now would be the same as telling her sister she did it. Knowing her sister’s personality, she would be “abused” to within an inch of her life.

Ning Yunqing didn’t like the “Love-Hate” route; she was used to being the one in control, and being abused felt uncomfortable. Recalling her lover’s cold words from yesterday, she frowned: She doesn’t want me ‘sneaking’ in? Then I’ll go there openly.

“In that case, let us go to the North Pavilion and take a look.”

“Yes.” Hearing the Second Palace Mistress’s order, the attending maids couldn’t hide their joy. Seeing the smiles on their faces, Ning Yunqing sneered lightly. “Why are you so happy to see that gentleman? Could it be you’ve taken a liking to him?”

Her voice was soft and she wore her usual faint smile, but the maids didn’t dare joke as they used to. They fell silent like cicadas in winter, hanging their heads obediently. They kept their heads down all the way to the Pavilion; even with the handsome man right in front of them, they didn’t dare look up.

Xie Yushu thought to himself: Seeing these maids so cautious, they must be punished often. Nether Palace is truly not an orthodox sect, as my brother said. I wonder how many good girls they’ve harmed. But then—his gaze drifted to Ning Yunqing’s face, and his heart skipped a beat. What a beautiful girl. How can such a stunning woman be a female devil?

Xie Yushu felt a bit of regret. Propping himself up, he bowed to Ning Yunqing. “Thank you for saving me, Miss. I am Xie Yushu. May I ask your name?”

“So it is the Third Son of the Jiangnan Xie family,” Ning Yunqing caught the regret in his eyes and mocked him inwardly. You collapsed at my doorstep and you’re asking who I am? She asked gently, “Jiangnan is far from here. How did Master Xie get injured and end up here?”

Xie Yushu replied thoughtfully, “I am untalented and enjoy traveling. I didn’t expect to be targeted by local bandits. My skills were insufficient, so I fell to a sneak attack. I’ve made a fool of myself before you.”

“Think nothing of it,” Ning Yunqing brushed him off with a smile. “Since you were harmed by bandits nearby, could you tell me the location and their appearances? I will send people to find them and avenge you.”

Is she taking my side? Has she fallen for my ruse? Xie Yushu said softly, “Thank you for your kindness, but heaven values life. Let us spare them; they are likely just desperate people.”

“Desperate people?” Ning Yunqing sneered. “No matter how hard life is, one shouldn’t attack others. If you let them go today, they might harm someone else tomorrow. Who knows if those victims will be as lucky as you to be saved by me?”

Xie Yushu froze. Unable to fabricate a location or appearance, he tried to change the subject. “So it was you who saved me. I am eternally grateful. Indeed, it is rude of me not to know my benefactor’s name.”

Ning Yunqing smiled, sticking to the previous topic and refusing to fall for the bait. “I wasn’t the only one who saved you. If you wish to repay the favor, tell me about the bandits so no more innocents are harmed.”

Why is she different from other girls? She doesn’t follow my lead at all. Xie Yushu was troubled. Nether Palace had eyes everywhere; if he made up a story and they found nothing, he would be exposed and his plan would fail.

“Why are you silent? Do you have something difficult to say?” Ning Yunqing pressed him. Xie Yushu had no choice but to cover his chest, cough twice, and whisper, “I… I feel unwell. Could I…?”

Another stupid one. Ning Yunqing, who had already devised a thousand counter-strategies, mocked him inwardly while maintaining a warm smile. “In that case, rest well, Master Xie.” She then led the maids out.

Xie Yushu breathed a sigh of relief. That was close; he almost slipped up.

Outside, Ning Yunqing felt a headache coming on as she thought about those naive young maids. If given the chance, these girls would take over her plot points and end up even worse—not only abused by the First Palace Mistress but by her as well.

Because of her sexual orientation, Ning Yunqing was very tolerant of other women, as long as they didn’t cross her bottom line. She offered a kind warning to these girls who were about to court death: “Master Xie was brought back by Senior Sister. Before her seclusion, she did not order anyone to serve in the North Pavilion.”

The maids understood. This was the Second Palace Mistress hinting that if they went to serve him without orders, they would be punished by the First Palace Mistress. Prioritizing their lives, they replied, “Yes. Thank you for the reminder, Second Palace Mistress.”

Ning Yunqing returned to her room in peace. She was a light sleeper. Around 9 PM the next night, she sensed someone standing beside her. Opening her eyes, she found Jiang Chenyue.

“Senior Sister?” Still half-asleep, Ning Yunqing’s voice was soft and sweet.

Jiang Chenyue’s heart softened. After a moment of hesitation, she turned around. “Never mind. Go back to sleep.”

“Senior Sister,” Ning Yunqing called from behind. Seeing her still intending to leave, she quickly used her light-body technique to catch her hand and gave it a shake. “Has Senior Sister come out of seclusion because she wants to spar with Yunqing?”

Her secret thought having been guessed, Jiang Chenyue looked down at her. Seeing her misty, innocent appearance, she gently pulled her hand away. “It’s late. Go to sleep.”

“Senior Sister, I…” Ning Yunqing wanted to say more, but was cut off by Jiang Chenyue. “Didn’t you say you’d obey me in everything? Now, I am telling you to go to sleep.”

Is this… concern? Ning Yunqing nodded. “Yes, Senior Sister. Yunqing will go to sleep right now.”

Watching the girl obediently return to her bed, Jiang Chenyue turned to leave, a hint of a smile hidden on her lips: She’s half-asleep; what’s all this talk of sparring? If she gets hurt by me again, who knows how much she’ll blame me for ‘bullying’ her.

The next day, thinking she had disturbed her sister’s rest, Jiang Chenyue didn’t call her to practice. Instead, she went to the North Pavilion first. To keep Xie Yushu from catching a cold, the room hadn’t been ventilated, and the smell was pungent. Jiang Chenyue frowned and waved her hand; the maids quickly opened windows and lit incense.

Once the odor was replaced by fragrance, Jiang Chenyue walked in. Seeing the state of the room, her brow furrowed even deeper. She said coldly: “Go and bring the Second Palace Mistress here.”

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