When the Villainess Transmigrates as the Heroine of a Sadistic Novel [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Wuxia Arc

“You are the author of the previous world?” This was unexpected. Ning Yunqing had assumed she was just another transmigrator, but as it turned out, it was a small world indeed. She hadn’t even gone looking for her, and the unlucky girl had rolled right into her lap. Ning Yunqing’s face broke into a smile, which made Duan Linglan shudder. The girl stammered, “Great God, spare me. If I die now, my points will be deducted.”

Ning Yunqing remained noncommittal and simply asked, “Were you chosen by the Main God to be sent to this world?”

Duan Linglan replied, “In a way. But it cost me 2.5 million points.”

250… how fitting. Ning Yunqing searched her memory of past missions and fished for information. “Can anyone enter as long as they pay this point cost?”

“A Great God is truly a Great God. So wealthy! You actually think 250 is cheap,” Duan Linglan flattered her. “Actually, not everyone can come at this price. Others have to pay double—it’s very expensive.”

Five million points represented half the hope of returning to the real world; it certainly wasn’t cheap. Very few in the entire space would be willing to part with that. Seeing how foolish the girl was, Ning Yunqing asked, “Did you spend your points to come here because you hate me? Or is the reward just that great?”

Duan Linglan answered, “Actually, I haven’t been in the space long, and I hadn’t met you yet. I participated in the plot solicitation for this mission because…” The girl suddenly turned shy. “Because I thought I was quite talented and wanted to give it a try.”

“…” Ning Yunqing was speechless. She looked at the girl with concern. “How old are you?”

“14. Before I came to the space, I was in eighth grade,” Duan Linglan replied truthfully.

So it’s Chuunibyou (middle schooler syndrome). Having received an explanation, Ning Yunqing became more tolerant. Seeing that such a young girl had met with misfortune and ended up in this space, she felt a pang of pity and softened her tone. “Since you are young, I won’t hold it against you. However, I have one condition.”

“What condition?” Duan Linglan’s eyes lit up with hope.

Ning Yunqing said, “I want you to tell me everything you know about this mission.”

Exchanging a few words for double the points seemed like a bargain to Duan Linglan. She nodded and agreed, “Fine, it’s a deal!”

From Duan Linglan, Ning Yunqing learned that the events of her current world were being broadcast live on a specialized channel in the space. Of course, the content was edited any “harmonious” (NSFW) content was omitted, and the audience was limited to those who had contributed points to the “Angst Mission.”

Anyone who participated in the pool could enter the mission world like Duan Linglan, provided they spent 5 million points. However, authors who provided the angst material received a half-price discount, paying only 2.5 million.

Authors whose material was selected by the Main God received a 2-million-point reward, meaning it effectively cost them only 500,000 points to enter the world and take on new tasks. If they succeeded, they would receive a massive amount of points a very lucrative deal.

Ning Yunqing organized her thoughts. Aside from myself and a few others with over ten million points, anyone willing to spend five million to come here must either hate me to the core or be an author. This meant her enemies were clearly defined; she could repay them all according to their own designs in the future.

Her lips curved into a gentle smile. “Linglan, is your task to be with Xie Yushu?”

Duan Linglan shook her head. “No, my task is actually to stir up trouble and increase the difficulty for you. I only kept looking for Master Xie because… he’s really good-looking! So handsome!”

Ning Yunqing glanced at the fan-girling girl and lightly massaged her forehead. No wonder she could write such a plot. Hearing the sound of soft footsteps approaching, she frowned. She threw a white robe over Duan Linglan’s black night-suit and rose to greet the visitor. “Senior Sister.”

Duan Linglan trembled with fear, quickly wrapped herself tight in the white robe, and shrunk into a corner. Jiang Chenyue walked in, spared a glance at Ning Yunqing, and sat directly in the seat of honor. She huffed, “I was wondering where you went if you weren’t in seclusion. As it turns out, you’ve returned to your ‘greenhouse’.”

Seeing her sister preparing to use her internal power to wreck the room again, Ning Yunqing quickly intervened. “Wait, Senior Sister. I have already reached the eighth level.” Meeting those accusing eyes, she lowered her head and murmured, “I originally planned to leave tomorrow morning, but… I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I was worried you were overwhelmed by palace affairs, so I came out tonight.”

Jiang Chenyue retracted her hand, though she still sounded displeased. “I think the one you couldn’t stop thinking about is someone else.” She flicked her wrist toward the huddled Linglan and barked, “Why is she here?”

The “invisible” Duan Linglan coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed completely. In one night, she had taken four strikes in total. It was a miracle she was still breathing. “Cough, cough… Great…” Her words flowed out with the blood. She tried to explain, but before she could finish, Jiang Chenyue struck her again. Her head slumped, and she lost consciousness.

Ning Yunqing glanced at her and thought: The Great Palace Mistress is in a foul mood. She didn’t give you permission to speak, yet you dared to open your mouth. You really can’t read the room. Putting on a smile, she soothed her sister. “Senior Sister, calm your anger. That girl was only here to deliver a message.”

“A message?” Jiang Chenyue’s face was dark. Ning Yunqing explained, “While she was delivering meals to the North Pavilion, she accidentally saw Master Xie tying a note to a carrier pigeon. She was worried, but feared your majesty, so she came to me. She was going to look for me at the seclusion room, but we met on the way, so I brought her here.”

Jiang Chenyue was half-suspicious. She glanced at Duan Linglan and let out a light snort. “Since you went into seclusion, I ordered that no one disturb you. That girl dared to violate my order. She is bold indeed.”

Ning Yunqing echoed, “Yes, for openly defying your orders, I will punish her severely.”

Jiang Chenyue hummed. She turned and walked out. “I see she still has a breath left. Save her life. Once she wakes up, have her come see me.”

“Yes,” Ning Yunqing replied respectfully, thinking: She wants a confrontation. Senior Sister still has doubts about my words. It seems I need to do more. Looking down at the collapsed Duan Linglan, Ning Yunqing gave a bitter smile. “You little girl, you have a sturdy life. However, I think once you find out what happens next, you’ll wish you had died now.” Because the retaliation was about to begin.

“Hiss, so cold.” Having returned from the brink of death, Duan Linglan found herself moved from a high-class single room for maids to a drafty common room for the lowest-ranked servants. Her mood plummeted. As she sat up, the pain made her face a living “emoji pack.” She gritted her teeth and complained, “It hurts so much. These two Palace Mistresses are a pair of perverts. I wonder who wrote this script and made me suffer like this.”

The moment she finished speaking, an older maid walked in furiously and slapped her across the face. “How dare you be disrespectful to the Palace Mistresses! Men, punish her according to the rules!”

Before her soul had fully returned to her body, Duan Linglan was forced to her knees by two maids and slapped thirty times on each side. Her face swelled to twice its size, and she nearly forgot who she was. By the time she was dragged to Ning Yunqing’s quarters, she was in a daze.

It wasn’t until she saw Ning Yunqing that she felt she had found a “relative.” Tears flowed down. “Ning…” Seeing the maid beside her raising a hand again, she quickly changed her address, prostrating herself humbly and sobbing, “Second Palace Mistress, waah!”

Silly girl, she actually views me as family. Ning Yunqing dismissed the others. She looked Duan Linglan over and sighed. “We haven’t met for only two days; how did you get more injuries?”

“Great God!” Duan Linglan rose to hug her leg, but Ning Yunqing dodged. The girl crashed into the corner of a table, and a bump swelled on her forehead. “Waah!”

“…” With these skills, you dared to come and provoke me? Ning Yunqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She threw a bottle of medicine to her. “Senior Sister will be here soon. Fix your appearance. I’m warning you in advance: she is coming to interrogate you. If you don’t want to be killed, speak according to my instructions. Admit that you saw Xie Yushu sending a message via white pigeon, understood?”

Duan Linglan sat on the floor applying the medicine. Hearing Ning Yunqing’s words, she struggled internally for a moment but decided her life was more important. She nodded obediently. “Rest assured, Great God. As long as you let me live until the end of the story, I’ll listen to you.”

Ning Yunqing replied with a smile, while thinking mischievously: This silly girl is truly inexperienced. Points aren’t determined by how long you live, but by the completion rate of the task. In the current situation, staying alive just to help the enemy will result in point deductions.

A moment later, Jiang Chenyue walked in. Seeing Duan Linglan’s bruised face, she glanced at Ning Yunqing. “You used torture?”

Ning Yunqing said innocently, “Senior Sister, you wrong me. The maids brought her here in this state. She must have done something wrong and was punished according to palace rules.”

Jiang Chenyue ignored this. Sitting in the center, she asked Duan Linglan, “You saw Master Xie using a white pigeon to send a letter in the North Pavilion?”

“Yes,” Duan Linglan answered as instructed.

Jiang Chenyue asked again, “Did the Second Palace Mistress tell you to say that?”

Duan Linglan glanced at Ning Yunqing. Ning Yunqing inwardly cursed her as a “pig teammate” but maintained a calm gaze. Duan Linglan shook her head. “This was seen with my own eyes.”

“Did you see what was written in the letter?” Jiang Chenyue asked.

Duan Linglan replied, “Replying to the Great Palace Mistress, I was quite far away at the time. As soon as I approached, the pigeon flew away, so I saw nothing.”

The answer was reasonable enough. Ning Yunqing peeked at her sister, only to meet her scrutinizing gaze. She smiled and called out, “Senior Sister.”

Jiang Chenyue withdrew her gaze and ordered Duan Linglan out. Only then did she speak to Ning Yunqing. “My maid gets into trouble and would rather find you in seclusion than come to me. You certainly have your ways.”

Ning Yunqing laughed. “Senior Sister knows that I usually handle the palace affairs. The maids are likely just used to it.”

Jiang Chenyue sneered. “You know the reason in your heart. We shall not speak of this further. I am going to the North Pavilion to visit Master Xie.”

The last sentence held a hint of provocation. Ning Yunqing wanted nothing more than to pin her sister against a wall and “kabedon” her, but a small lack of restraint could ruin a grand plan. She held back, followed her sister outside, and bowed. “Respectfully seeing off Senior Sister.”

Just then, a white pigeon flew across the sky, coming from the direction of the North Pavilion. Jiang Chenyue flicked her finger and knocked the pigeon down. She walked over, saw a small tube attached to its leg, and looked at the maid beside her. The maid removed the note and handed it to Jiang Chenyue with both hands. Jiang Chenyue picked up the note and unfolded it.

“It is not yet time to act. Second Brother, remember this.” Ning Yunqing read the contents aloud. She observed her sister’s face and added: “Senior Sister, rumors say the second son of the Xie family has top-tier light-body techniques and peerless hidden weapons. Could he be hiding in the shadows, intending to harm us?”

“Send out the order: find the location of the Second Brother of the Xie family.” Regardless of whether it was true, it was better to eliminate the threat. Jiang Chenyue stared at the note, her fingers clenching tight. When she opened her hand, the paper had been turned to dust, vanishing with the wind.

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