Category: Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples

Chapter 8: Drunken Frenzy

Yan Chuyue had been feeling quite down lately.

Especially when reading the booklet summarizing recent events around the Heartflame Empire, her mood worsened.

What happened?

Firstly, the man she met in Cloudmist City vanished overnight.

Although she understood that abandoning his identity and starting anew was a reasonable course of action after those incidents, he could have at least told her who he was now.

Did she hold so little weight in his heart…?

Of course, Yan Chuyue, or rather, Gong Youyuan, wasn’t one to dwell on romantic matters.

Since she couldn’t contact him, she focused on her cultivation and gathering information.

Then she noticed something strange.

The Hehuan Sect and Dongyang Sect, who were supposed to be fighting, hadn’t clashed at all.

Instead, they jointly explored a secret realm, and the Hehuan Sect members were subsequently eliminated by a combined force of the Heartflame Empire and Dongyang Sect.

And supposedly, the mastermind behind this was an immortal master from a sect she had never heard of.

“What? What? What is all this?”

Yan Chuyue wanted to reread her own novel. This was utterly absurd.

Although this world generally followed her plot, some people seemed to be ripping up her script and rewriting it.

If this was happening now, would the future deviate even further from her original plan…?

Then, something even more unexpected happened.

After the Cloudmist City incident, Yan Zilan hardly dared to make a move against her, secretly plotting something bigger instead.

However, as soon as Yan Chuyue left the pharmacy, she was knocked unconscious and stuffed into a sack.

Later, she woke up in a moving carriage. After what seemed like a short journey, she was taken out.

When the sack was removed from her head, her eyes almost popped out.

“Aunt Lingyue?”

Yes.

The one who kidnapped her was Shangguan Lingyue.

This made Yan Chuyue both amused and bewildered.

“Aunt Lingyue, this is the capital… what’s going on?”

Shangguan Lingyue helped her down from the carriage and led her towards her manor. “To keep things secret, I had to resort to this. You’re not angry, are you, Chuyue?”

“Angry? Not really…”

Yan Chuyue smiled wryly. “But please explain why you kidnapped me.”

This was getting more and more confusing.

In her novel, she wouldn’t meet Shangguan Lingyue for at least another six months, and there was no such absurd kidnapping incident.

“About that…” Shangguan Lingyue chuckled awkwardly. “I’m not entirely sure either. You can ask the Immortal Master who asked me to bring you here.”

“Immortal Master?”

“You must have heard of her, right?” Shangguan Lingyue said. “That Immortal Master who almost eradicated the Hehuan Sect. Her activities are around your area.”

…What a coincidence!

She had been wondering who this person was, and now she was told that this person wanted to see her.

Just who was this person…?

As she was thinking, a black-haired girl walked past.

She had seen this girl before…!

Wasn’t this the disciple of that Young Master Guan Yilin?

“Miss Qiu Ming?” Yan Chuyue asked instinctively.

But when Qiu Shui looked up, she saw a stranger.

“Who are you?”

Oh right, she had used a disguise before. This girl was seeing her real face, so it was normal for her to not recognize her.

Wait… Yan Chuyue suddenly realized something.

Why was this girl… here?

If she was here, did that mean Guan Yilin was also here?

No… the identity of Guan Yilin was most likely fake. Then this person’s true identity… could it be the Immortal Master? So that’s why she was called here.

“But I remember the Immortal Master being a woman…”

Just then…

A lazy and slightly crazed voice came from behind her.

“Little Qiu Shui~~~”

A woman with a veil and flowing hair stumbled in, a gust of wind swirling around her. She leaped over Yan Chuyue and landed in Qiu Shui’s arms.

Qiu Shui: “…Master?”

Shangguan Lingyue: “…???”

Yan Chuyue: “…???”

Before Qiu Shui could ask, a strong smell of alcohol wafted from her master.

She… had been drinking?

Qiu Shui couldn’t help but ask, “What happened? Did you drink in the palace?”

Gong Yiling, slightly dizzy, rubbed Qiu Shui’s cheeks, distorting her face.

“Mmm… mmm… Little Qiu Shui, heeheehee.”

She nuzzled Qiu Shui’s chest, acting drunk and unrestrained.

“Master!”

Feeling a strange sensation on her chest, Qiu Shui turned to Shangguan Lingyue and asked, “What… what in the palace could have made her like this?”

Shangguan Lingyue stroked her chin. “Based on my estimation, she probably drank my brother’s special wine, Sleep Till Daybreak.”

“Sleep Till Daybreak?” Qiu Shui was puzzled. “Master isn’t usually so careless.”

“This wine has a unique characteristic,” Shangguan Lingyue explained. “It doesn’t taste like alcohol at first, more like juice. It has a slight alcoholic scent, but it doesn’t feel intoxicating.”

“But two hours after consumption, its potency hits you all at once, and it’s much stronger than any other wine on the market.”

“That’s why… it’s called Sleep Till Daybreak.”

“What Sleep Till Daybreak?”

Gong Yiling flailed her arms around drunkenly. “I’m not drunk! Not drunk, not drunk, not drunk! I’m not drunk!”

Her voice wasn’t just lazy; it was seductive, almost bone-melting.

“Yes, yes…” Qiu Shui said with a wry smile. “Master isn’t drunk. Master isn’t drunk.”

“Heehee… I can still drink, still drink.”

“No more, no more. Master, why don’t you go and rest?”

“No… heehee, Little Qiu Shui, why is your chest so soft? So soft…”

Qiu Shui: “…”

Shangguan Lingyue: “…”

Yan Chuyue: “……………”

Yan Chuyue was speechless.

Could… could this person really be the young master from before? No way, no way, no way, right?

7. Slaughter, Just Slaughter

This was no longer a novel experience.

These people constantly tried to test her, but she couldn’t sense it, or rather, she couldn’t react in time. By the time she realized what was happening, their probing was already over, and they had returned to their seats.

This was a fully automated testing process, requiring no effort from her. Convenient, but also terrifying.

“Forgive my offense.”

The Grand Elder was surprised by her composure.

His palm strike, just an inch further, would have unleashed its full force upon her.

But she showed no reaction. This could only mean one of two things: either she was incredibly weak, or incredibly confident.

The former was unlikely, so he concluded that this woman was almost certainly not involved with the poisoning. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so calm.

“If there’s a next time,”

Gong Yiling took a deep breath, “find someone else to treat your illnesses.”

That close call had startled her, her heart pounding, almost causing her to hyperventilate.

“So, Immortal Master, do you know how to cure this poison?”

Seeing the Grand Elder’s silence, the Emperor, although surprised by the poisoning, was more overjoyed than worried. The woman’s identity as a member of the old sect was practically confirmed.

Gong Yiling said bluntly,

“It’s a secret poison from the Myriad Demons Palace. The antidote is also a secret. Ask them for it.”

“The Myriad Demons Palace…”

The Emperor and the Grand Elder exchanged glances.

The Myriad Demons Palace wasn’t highly ranked among the Five Demonic Abysses, and their Palace Master wasn’t much stronger than the Grand Elder at his peak. They usually kept a low profile.

But when they acted, they were ruthless and persistent.

“But why the Myriad Demons Palace?” The Emperor frowned. “The Heartflame Empire has no dealings with them, except for that one time their Young Palace Master came to trade for a treasure and stayed in the capital for a few days.”

“Those demonic bastards have no logic in their actions,” the Grand Elder said.

Hearing this, Gong Yiling pursed her lips.

Old man, there’s a demonic cultivator standing right in front of you…

“Especially that Palace Master of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, Gong Muzhi. Eccentric, ruthless, promiscuous, and cruel…”

“Cough…”

Gong Yiling coughed loudly, interrupting his clearly biased words.

—What did my mother ever do to you, old man? She’s just a quirky woman. In the novel, Gong Muzhi was simply unrestrained, following the principle of “kill anyone who gets in my way.” A ruthless person who showed no mercy.

But she wasn’t some heinous villain.

“Speaking ill of a Palace Master behind their back isn’t very gentlemanly.”

She had initially intended to cure the Emperor for free as a demonstration of her skills, but now she had changed her mind.

She had to make them pay, to avenge her mother.

“Back to Your Majesty. Although I can’t cure the poison, I can suppress its effects and ensure it doesn’t worsen, even if you consume more of it.”

The Emperor was overjoyed. “How do you intend to do that, Immortal Master?”

“Just take this pill.”

Gong Yiling held out a bottle of pills.

An anxious guard instinctively reached for it, but Gong Yiling quickly withdrew her hand, clenching it into a fist.

“What are you doing? Trying to rob me?”

“Don’t be impudent!” The Emperor understood her meaning.

“What compensation do you require, Immortal Master?”

“Three hundred high-grade spirit crystals,” Gong Yiling said, making an exorbitant demand. “And three sets of Flame King Soft Hedgehog Armor, crafted with the Heartflame Empire’s unique forging technique.”

“What did you say!?”

The others almost cursed.

What a joke!

These items might not sound like much, but that was three hundred *high-grade* spirit crystals, not spirit stones.

That alone was worth almost a hundred million taels of silver. And the Flame King Soft Hedgehog Armor wasn’t ordinary armor; it was a quasi-immortal artifact that could be worn by anyone, regardless of cultivation level.

The old blacksmith who crafted it had passed away. His disciple, although possessing the blueprints and having assisted in its creation, wasn’t skilled enough to replicate it.

So, the imperial palace only had ten sets, a national treasure.

Each set was worth over thirty million taels. She hadn’t even been willing to sell one to the Young Palace Master from the Myriad Demons Palace for fifty million.

So…

This Immortal Master was demanding compensation worth over two hundred million taels!?

“Immortal Master, isn’t this a bit…”

The Emperor frowned hesitantly.

“Five hundred crystals, four sets of armor.” Gong Yiling raised the price without hesitation.

But before they could protest, she added, “Your Majesty’s poison only requires a hundred high-grade spirit crystals. But the Grand Elder’s injuries are more complicated, requiring rare ingredients from my sect’s ancestral collection, such as the Heavenly Treasure Kirin Fruit, the Seven-Colored Nine Radiance Flower, the Other Shore Twin Flowers, and the Dragon Heart Grass.”

She listed several rare and precious ingredients from the book. Any mention of them would send alchemists into a frenzy.

And none of them were actually needed.

This was just a way to inflate the price. The more impressive it sounded, the more they would think it was worth it.

Spending a hundred million taels on these herbs… might not even be enough to acquire them. That was the truth.

“So, the four sets of Flame King Soft Hedgehog Armor are for curing the Grand Elder’s injuries.” She casually tossed the bottle of pills to a nearby guard and stood with her hands behind her back. “The other four hundred high-grade spirit crystals are for my inconvenience. Pay up or not, it’s your choice.”

But after she said that, unless the Emperor was an idiot, how could he refuse?

Completely fooled by Miss Gong’s expert-level deception, the Emperor and the Grand Elder actually thought…

The price wasn’t that unreasonable.

After all, treasures from the old sect were at least a thousand years old, not to mention the quantity required. The actual cost would be astronomical.

Was this Immortal Master, despite her harsh words, actually giving them a discount?

If Gong Yiling could hear their thoughts, she would say,

“Yes, it’s a discount. For daring to insult my mother, I’ll break your legs and take your pants!”

Chapter 6: Your Life Is Like a Candle in the Wind

This was the first time Gong Yiling had strolled through the imperial palace.

She suppressed her curiosity, trying to maintain the image of a reclusive expert.

But… this was the imperial palace!

As a 21st-century youth, her greatest interest was watching historical dramas, always harboring a fascination for ancient palaces.

Now, walking through one, it felt like a dream come true.

Fortunately, the guards treated her as an important figure and didn’t dare look directly at her, failing to notice her gawking at everything around her like a country bumpkin.

Ah, the lights, the water, the gold and silver threaded cloud patterns, the Armstrong—no, there was no such thing.

Anyway, despite knowing this place was fictional, the grandeur of the palace satisfied a small part of her.

Finally, she arrived at the back garden and saw the current ruler of the Heartflame Empire, Shangguan Long.

Well… she didn’t have high expectations for this emperor.

According to the timeline, he was currently poisoned by a secret drug from the Myriad Demons Palace. Ordinary physicians couldn’t detect it, and if left untreated, he would become bedridden in three months.

When he appeared in the novel, he was already a dying old man, and his death marked the beginning of the palace arc.

But now, he seemed healthy and possessed the aura of an emperor.

As she was observing him, a clueless eunuch suddenly scolded, “Who are you? Why aren’t you bowing before His Majesty?”

Gong Yiling thought inwardly,

Was the Emperor of the Heartflame Empire more important than the Sect Master of the Great One Engineering Sect?

If she bowed rashly, wouldn’t it make her seem weak and insignificant?

Her current inaction, however, intrigued Shangguan Long.

If she were an imposter… she wouldn’t be so calm and silent.

This person was the real deal.

“There’s no need for such formalities, Immortal Master,” the Emperor rebuked his eunuch. “It is I, this sickly emperor, who should apologize for my appearance.”

It seemed her act was perfect.

Arrogance was the way to go.

“Sickly?” Gong Yiling chuckled. “If Your Majesty still believes it’s just a cold or a deviation during cultivation, you’ll be bedridden in three months and preparing for your funeral in eight.”

Her words shocked everyone present.

Did she mean—it was poison…!?

The eunuchs and guards immediately retorted, “Insolent! How dare you speak such nonsense about His Majesty! He is in perfect health! How dare you claim he only has eight months to live!”

Gong Yiling raised her eyebrows. “You should ask yourself that, Head Eunuch Gao.”

Her words shifted Shangguan Long and the Grand Elder’s attention to the eunuch. They remained silent, waiting to see what else this Immortal Master would reveal.

“You’re slandering me!” Head Eunuch Gao denied vehemently. “I’ve served His Majesty for decades! How could I possibly harm him!?”

“You did it unintentionally, or perhaps you were deceived.”

Gong Yiling walked towards him and snatched the bowl of honey water from his hand.

“This honey water contains a rare poison, Serpent’s Hundred Herbs Incense. It’s colorless, odorless, and non-toxic on its own, but combined with another undetectable poison, it forms the deadly Serpent Scorpion Three Hundred.”

“Consuming small doses of either poison daily for two hundred and forty days will cause the internal organs of any cultivator below Immortal Mansion realm to rot, leading to death.”

“His Majesty’s current condition suggests he has been poisoned. Only a highly skilled poisoner or a physician specializing in toxicology would be able to detect it.”

Of course, besides this condition, she also had her knowledge of the plot. She could even pinpoint the culprit directly, but that would be too suspicious.

“What!?”

Head Eunuch Gao, terrified by her detailed explanation, immediately knelt down.

“I truly didn’t know! Why would there be poison in the honey water? I prepared it myself…”

“Serpent’s Hundred Herbs Incense can be disguised as a spice.” Gong Yiling said, “Think carefully, Head Eunuch Gao. Did you add any spices to the honey water? Where did you get them?”

“Spices!?”

Her words jogged his memory.

“I remember now! Little Li gave me a bottle of spices from the Baiyao Dynasty a while ago, claiming it was extremely rare and expensive. It smelled wonderful, and we tested it, and there were no signs of poison, so I…”

He looked at another eunuch standing nearby. “It was you! It was you all along!?”

Little Li’s expression changed drastically.

However…

Before anyone could react, Little Li struck his own chest, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.

A guard checked his body and reported, “His heart has been pierced. He’s dead.”

Hearing this, Head Eunuch Gao, now undeniably implicated, trembled and kowtowed repeatedly.

“Your Majesty, spare me! Please!”

“Although I was foolish, please consider my decades of loyal service and spare my life!”

“Take him away and imprison him.” The Emperor’s voice was devoid of emotion. “We’ll decide his punishment after investigating this matter thoroughly.”

“Yes!”

The guards dragged the wailing eunuch away.

The remaining two, the Emperor and the Grand Elder, were now deeply intrigued by Gong Yiling.

“You saw through the poison at a glance. I knew no one would dare impersonate the Great One Engineering Sect. You truly are an Immortal Master.”

The Grand Elder was even more direct.

To confirm she wasn’t the poisoner herself, he suddenly attacked her with a palm strike infused with wind and thunder energy.

But by the time Miss Gong realized what was happening, the elder’s palm had already stopped inches from her face.

What the fuck! That was scary!

 

Chapter 5: Guests of the Palace

“My brother hasn’t been feeling well lately. He went to bed right after shenshi (3-5 pm), so I could only mention this to him this morning.”

Shangguan Lingyue, still in her formal armor dress, said, “If you’re ready, please come with me to the palace.”

“He agreed?”

“This is a serious matter. My brother wants to meet you in person before making a decision.” Shangguan Lingyue continued, “Let me confirm once more, you’re not just boasting, are you?”

“And how would you confirm that?”

Gong Yiling chuckled. “Should I find the Hall Master of the Hundred Ghosts Hall and experience the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger myself, then come to you for treatment?”

Shangguan Lingyue laughed.

This senior had a point.

Whether she was boasting or not could only be determined after she treated the Grand Elder.

How could she, a complete layman in these matters, judge such things?

“At least…” Shangguan Lingyue smiled sheepishly, “since Miss Gong knows it’s the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger, shouldn’t you ask me to prepare some rare medicinal herbs?”

“When did I say I needed rare herbs?”

Gong Yiling waved her hand dismissively.

She had no idea what was needed.

More than herbs, she needed a capable assistant.

“I only need an assistant. You don’t need to tell her why. Just bring her to me.”

“An assistant? Who?”

“You should have met her. The eldest daughter of the Yan family, Yan Chuyue.”

Hearing this name, Shangguan Lingyue was even more surprised than Shangguan Ziyuan. “Chuyue?”

This was understandable.

As one of the Twin Pillars of the empire, Shangguan Lingyue had a good relationship with Yan Chuyue’s father, Yan Yingyao.

Naturally, when he was still alive, she often visited their home, discussing military tactics and occasionally checking on Yan Chuyue.

After Yan Yingyao and his wife passed away, Shangguan Lingyue was worried about Yan Chuyue being mistreated and wanted to take her in, but with the frequent wars among the Four Heavenly Kingdoms, the Crimson Flame War God couldn’t spare the time to care for a child.

Moreover, at the time, the Yan family’s second branch seemed to be taking good care of Chuyue, so she didn’t worry too much.

In fact, until now, the Yan family maintained a facade of caring for Yan Chuyue, and she, being deceived, didn’t notice anything amiss and never complained to her adoptive mother.

Hearing Yan Chuyue’s name now made her, as the adoptive mother, very confused.

“Why… Chuyue?”

“You won’t understand even if I explain. You’ll understand after you bring her here.” Gong Yiling said, “Now, take me to the palace.”

“…Okay.”

…

…

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace’s back garden.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

A pale, middle-aged man in a luxurious robe coughed repeatedly, prompting the Head Eunuch to offer him honey water.

“Your Majesty, please have some.”

Emperor Shangguan Long waved it away impatiently.

“It’s just a cough. I don’t need this.”

He focused on the Go board before him, but just as he was about to place a stone, the white-haired elder opposite him said,

“I resign.”

The Emperor paused, then said dejectedly, “The game is far from over. Why would you resign, Elder? You’re ruining my fun.”

“Your Majesty desires victory, but I don’t.” The Grand Elder’s words had a deeper meaning. “Since I don’t, why struggle?”

“What are you saying, Elder?” The Emperor retorted. “Both Ziyuan and Lingyue have brought news of someone who can cure your injuries.”

“And Ziyuan’s life token, although almost shattered, has been restored. If they didn’t kill her, she must have been saved by an expert.”

“Is this what you call an unclear outcome?”

The Grand Elder smiled wryly. “I’ve tried countless methods before, and every time, I was just as hopeful as now.”

“This injury is perhaps retribution for my past mistakes. Your Majesty shouldn’t have allowed Ziyuan to seek a cure. This wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

For this centenarian elder, the injury wasn’t just physical. The constant pain of the Myriad Souls Heart Erosion Finger had also taken a toll on his spirit.

But this wasn’t a positive change; it was a pessimistic resignation to his fate.

“Elder, you haven’t avenged yourself. How can you give up so easily… cough, cough, cough…”

The Emperor’s anxiety triggered another coughing fit.

This time, it was more severe. He even coughed up blood, staining the Go board.

“Your Majesty…”

“Your Majesty!”

“It’s nothing.”

The Emperor patted his chest, suppressing his cough. “Just a minor ailment. There’s no need to panic.”

“You’ve been coughing up blood for over a week,” the Grand Elder said. “What did the imperial physicians say?”

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not poison. Seems like I deviated during cultivation, causing qi stagnation in my lungs. It requires long-term treatment.”

“Even if it’s not poison, you should still be careful, Your Majesty.” The Grand Elder said, “Your situation is different from mine. Perhaps you should let that descendant of the old sect try.”

“You still don’t believe she’s from the old sect?”

The Grand Elder sighed. “The old sect suffered a greater calamity than the Cloud Rainbow Sect. No one knows what exactly happened. Only a few escaped and founded the Cloud Rainbow Sect.”

“To claim to be a descendant, she must have the corresponding abilities. If she can’t even cure your ailment, how can she be from the old sect?”

The Emperor didn’t reply.

He wasn’t doubting or confirming her identity. He simply found her recent actions intriguing.

In just a few days, she had caused quite a stir in the Eastern Capital. And everyone who met her felt she was mysterious, likely the descendant of the old sect, as she claimed.

Having her on their side would be a great asset against the other three kingdoms and the Five Demonic Abysses.

Especially… against the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace.

Before their next game could begin, a guard brought in a veiled woman.

“Your Majesty, the woman General Lingyue mentioned, I’ve brought her here.”

—

—

 

4. Intimate Contact

Although Qiu Shui was in a much better situation than Gong Yiling—after all, she was the one doing the touching, not the other way around!

But the sensation under her hand told her that the Young Palace Master’s chest was very soft—no, this was a woman’s most private area! How could she just casually touch it?

Gradually, Qiu Shui, the “perpetrator,” blushed and lowered her gaze.

Just then, she heard a voice,

“Qiu Shui, bite me!”

“Huh?”

Qiu Shui froze.

Bite? What was the Young Palace Master talking about?

“I need a drop of my blood, but I can’t do it myself. I need your help.”

“And that help is…” Gong Yiling looked pointedly at the short distance between Qiu Shui’s mouth and her own neck.

All Qiu Shui needed to do was lean in and take a bite.

Simple, right?

“Bite my neck. If you bleed, please aim at the white rope. It needs my blood to loosen.”

It sounded like there was no other way.

But the thought of leaving a teeth mark, or perhaps first a lip print, then a teeth mark, on Master’s neck…

Just the thought made her blush.

“Don’t worry, Qiu Shui, this isn’t betraying your master. Otherwise, we’d have to call Chun Lian and Ziyuan over.”

“No!”

If they saw her and Master tied up like this, knowing their personalities… they would probably want to try it too.

Besides, she was embarrassed to let others see them like this.

Qiu Shui felt immense pressure, the true essence within her churning with a strange excitement. Even she couldn’t help but break out in a sweat.

“Then I’ll…” Qiu Shui nodded. “Do it.”

She carefully brought her lips to Gong Yiling’s neck, opened her mouth, revealing her small, sharp teeth, and gently bit down.

“Hiss—”

Gong Yiling suppressed a moan, clenching her teeth.

Not from pain, but from the sensation of being nibbled on the neck.

It felt incredibly strange.

A conflicting desire to both continue and stop spread through her, making her head spin.

Why?

Why did being bitten on the neck by a beautiful girl feel like this?

She felt her strength draining away, a tingling sensation spreading through her body.

This time, she didn’t need a system notification to know she was heading down a strange path.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long.

Qiu Shui released her after a gentle bite, and Gong Yiling felt something warm trickling down her neck.

Now, Qiu Shui just needed to get the blood onto the white rope, and everything would be fine.

Just as she was thinking this, Qiu Shui’s true essence suddenly surged.

It burst forth from her meridians, forming a cocoon-like structure around her.

A cocoon of true essence, a sign of forming a nascent soul.

Gong Yiling’s heart skipped a beat, a strange premonition washing over her.

No way…

This couldn’t be happening…

She needed to call the police…

“Master…” Qiu Shui said hesitantly, “I think… I’m about to break through.”

“Wait, untie this rope first—”

Before Gong Yiling could finish, Qiu Shui entered a meditative trance, unresponsive to her calls.

Aaaaaaah…

Untie the rope first, damn it!

Gong Yiling was pinned beneath Qiu Shui, unable to move, unable to sleep.

System: “The system has just updated with a sheep-counting lullaby function. Press 1 to access.”

“…I think you’re doing this on purpose.”

System: “This is probably the only way you’ll ever increase your affection level with her.”

“Huh?”

Before she could ask, a series of notifications bombarded her.

“—Notification: Achievement completed: Slept in the same bed with Yin Qiushui.”

“—Notification: Achievement completed: Groped by Yin Qiushui.”

“—Notification: Affection level with Yin Qiushui has exceeded 50. First stage affection quest completed. Since the first stage reward [Qiu Shui’s Worn White Silk Stockings] has already been obtained, the second stage reward will be:”

“[Qiu Shui’s Worn Nipple Covers]”

What next? Worn panties?

But these weren’t actual worn items, but strange and powerful artifacts. Clickbait titles were the worst!

…Wait.

Miss Gong suddenly realized a serious problem.

“Hold on, what do you mean ‘the first stage reward has already been obtained’? Wasn’t that an extra reward?”

System: “It was just an incentive. Did the host want to freeload another reward?”

Gong Yiling: “Who’s freeloading who? I feel like I’m being freeloaded by you.”

System: “The system reserves the right of final interpretation for all distributed items. If the host is dissatisfied…”

“Then there’s nothing you can do.”

Gong Yiling: “Hey, watch your attitude! I’ll—”

“One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four sheep, five sheep, six sheep…”

Gong Yiling: “…”

This was giving her a headache.

Forget it.

Miss Gong listened to the sheep counting in her head and gave up.

Arguing with the system was pointless. She looked down at Qiu Shui’s peaceful, sleeping face and chuckled helplessly.

Seeing a beautiful girl’s sleeping face up close, feeling Qiu Shui’s breath on her neck… this wasn’t an experience one could easily have.

If she ignored the sensation on her chest… she could probably fall asleep.

Just…

“I asked for a lullaby, not you counting sheep with your broken system voice. How am I supposed to sleep like this?”

“No internet connection. Only local version available. Take it or leave it.”

…

…

“Miss Gong, what are you…?”

Shangguan Lingyue looked at Gong Yiling, whose fatigue couldn’t be hidden by her veil, and thought she looked like she hadn’t slept well.

And not just that, she was also walking strangely, holding her waist and dragging her feet, as if she had been engaged in strenuous activity all night.

“I went for a run around the city last night. A bit too much exercise.”

Gong Yiling said without missing a beat. “But enough about me. General, you must be here about that matter. Any progress?”

 

 

 

v2c3. You call this White Silk?

Gong Yiling, initially confident, was defeated by Qiu Shui’s unwavering gaze after a long staring contest.

“But with Qiu Shui here…”

“What if Master gets married?”

“Then I’ll take Qiu Shui with m… Married?”

Gong Yiling finally registered the word.

Married.

Married to whom?

Why get married?

“Yes,” Qiu Shui blinked. “Master is old enough to get married now. It depends on what the Palace Master decides.”

“Are you kidding? My mother has never been married, how could I…”

Eh?

Gong Yiling suddenly realized something.

Her cheap mother gave birth to her at the foot of a Daoist mountain, and then twelve years later, she was sent back.

There was one person missing from this story.

Who was her father???

Neither here, nor in the book, was there any mention of Gong Yiling’s father.

As if her mother reproduced asexually.

What a joke.

However, there was a mysterious person who brought her to the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, and this person never appeared again, even after Gong Yiling’s death in the original story.

Surely they weren’t just a forgotten plot thread, right? Right? Right?

“Ahem…”

Thinking about her possibly non-existent father, a product of her mother’s carefree lifestyle, Gong Yiling cleared her throat.

“Actually, I don’t want to get married at all, unless it’s to a woman.”

Qiu Shui froze.

A woman…?

Master wanted to marry… a woman!?

“Why a…” Qiu Shui lowered her gaze, a hint of concern in her voice. “A woman?”

“I’d also like to ask why a—”

Gong Yiling retorted, but as she was about to strike a cool pose, she forgot how close Qiu Shui was.

She stepped forward and kicked Qiu Shui’s shin.

Qiu Shui stumbled and fell onto the bed, pulling Gong Yiling down with her.

This time, pinned beneath the girl, Miss Gong instinctively grabbed Qiu Shui’s clothes.

And Qiu Shui’s hands landed… right… there.

“—A man?”

A strange sensation spread through her chest. Realizing what was happening, she quickly pushed Qiu Shui away.

But at that moment, a sudden voice echoed in her mind.

“Item [Qiu Shui’s Worn White Silk Stockings]: System storage time has expired. The item will be delivered to the host via system methods.”

W-what? Worn white silk stockings? What was that?

Oh right, there was such a thing. After not claiming the reward back then, she had completely forgotten about it.

Yes… she forgot!

But the system never mentioned a storage time limit. Why so sudden?

And it wasn’t just sudden.

After pushing Qiu Shui away, she found the so-called “worn white silk stockings” inexplicably wrapped around their waists.

Then, due to the elastic recoil, Qiu Shui was pulled back onto Gong Yiling.

This time, the girl’s actions were bolder, her hand landing exactly where it had been before.

“Ah—”

Gong Yiling let out an involuntary moan, her face burning.

And even more bizarrely, these weren’t ordinary stockings—they were clearly Binding Immortal Ropes.

Now they were completely entangled, inseparable.

Was the system doing this on purpose…? No, it definitely was!

“Master?”

Qiu Shui tried to move, but… the more she struggled, the tighter the ropes became, her hand pressing against Gong Yiling’s chest.

And the ropes were getting tighter and tighter.

“Don’t move.”

Enduring the sensation on her chest, Gong Yiling opened the item’s information panel.

“Item Name: [Qiu Shui’s Worn White Silk Stockings]

Acquisition Method: Quest Reward

Item Level: EX

Attack Power: 0

Defense Power: Soft, resilient, smooth

Innate Skill [Yin Qiushui Affection +]: Passively increases affection level with Yin Qiushui by 30 points while equipped.

Innate Skill [Indestructible]: Cannot be damaged by combat or any other effects.

Active Skill [Binding of Gods]: Upon activation, the Indestructible effect only applies to cultivators below Earthly Nether realm. Randomly binds up to six people, including the user, within a 100-meter radius. The more they struggle, the tighter the ropes become. The holder can also tighten the ropes at will.

Note: Do not use for unusual games, to avoid being twisted into a pretzel.”

She knew it!

The system’s items never matched their names. The anti-mother sword was a pen, the KFC bucket was a recording device, so how could these stockings be actual stockings?

Although she was curious, Qiu Shui never wore stockings!

However…

Since she could control the ropes, it should be fine.

Gong Yiling mentally commanded them.

“Loosen.”

…

“Loosen!”

…

“Loosen!!!”

…

Wait, System, this isn’t working! Why aren’t they loosening?

System: “You haven’t claimed ownership. Are you trying to PUA them?”

Gong Yiling: “Why do I need to claim ownership? I could use the other two items immediately.”

System: “Items are not all the same. Once, I slid tackled—”

Gong Yiling: “You slid tackled???”

Miss Gong felt the system was becoming increasingly nonsensical.

System: “I mean, this item requires ownership. Everyone has to.”

Gong Yiling, speechless: “Then tell me, how do I claim ownership?”

System: “Simple. Just a drop of your blood.”

A drop of blood.

Gong Yiling instinctively tried to bite her finger.

But… she quickly encountered a problem.

As soon as she raised her hand, the ropes tightened, interpreting it as struggling. Her chest was being flattened by Qiu Shui.

This was bad. At this rate, it wouldn’t just be her chest suffering. This feeling was unbearable!

Was there any way to draw blood…?

Ah! Right!

Gong Yiling looked at Qiu Shui’s small, sharp teeth, visible in her panicked expression, and had an idea.

“Qiu Shui, bite me.”

 

 

2. Sleep!

Although Gong Yiling’s carriage had dawdled for a while, their aversion to “freeloading” ultimately made them faster than Shangguan Lingyue’s.

They arrived at a manor in Yanlie City almost simultaneously.

Shangguan Lingyue, seeing no movement from the other carriage, approached and asked,

“What’s Miss Gong doing inside?”

“Ah…” Qiu Shui found this difficult to explain.

She peeked inside at the “madwoman,” assessed whether her master was presentable, then opened the curtain.

“See for yourself.”

Shangguan Lingyue peered inside and froze.

Gong Yiling, still wearing her veil, was snuggling Shangguan Ziyuan, her hands roaming over the girl’s body, muttering, “Meow, meow, meow…”

She let out manly whimpers and other strange, nonsensical sounds.

Shangguan Ziyuan, thankfully in her Little Heehee form, seemed perfectly content, even purring.

“This…?”

Chun Lian, even more directly, was hugging Gong Yiling’s waist from behind, also fast asleep.

“Master probably hasn’t slept well lately, and Xinyao and Chun’er are just tired from playing.”

Qiu Shui explained to Shangguan Lingyue, “If it’s not urgent, could you allow them to sleep a bit longer?”

After these past few days, Qiu Shui had matured considerably.

Combined with her calm and serious nature, she spoke to Shangguan Lingyue with composure and grace.

“It’s nothing urgent.”

Shangguan Lingyue shook her head. “I’ll discuss the Grand Elder’s treatment with my brother.”

“When your master wakes up, let her stay here. This is my manor outside the inner city. Everything has been arranged.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Shangguan Lingyue didn’t have anything else to say to Qiu Shui, exchanging a few pleasantries before leaving.

Qiu Shui was left alone, watching the three sleeping figures inside the carriage, a tinge of jealousy rising within her.

“So Master prefers girls with half-demon bloodlines…”

As the “eldest disciple,” she sat on the Cloud-Treading Colt, stroking its now white fur, and stared at the sleeping Gong Yiling, lost in thought.

If only she also had the talent for acting cute and spoiled, or could transform into a cat girl or fox girl…

Strange thoughts filled her mind.

She poked her own cheeks with two fingers, trying to imitate a cute expression.

The next second, Miss Gong opened her eyes.

From Gong Yiling’s perspective, she had been happily playing with a cat in her dream, forgetting everything else.

But the cat suddenly stopped moving, and she instinctively opened her eyes to check.

And she saw Qiu Shui making a cute face.

Clear eyes, a gentle smile, and an adorable pose.

She couldn’t help but ask,

“Qiu Shui?”

“W-wha—!?!”

Qiu Shui’s face flushed crimson, and she quickly buried her face in the Cloud-Treading Colt’s fur, avoiding her gaze.

What was going on?

Gong Yiling, still confused, scratched her head.

A few seconds later, she finally realized.

They had arrived.

She sat up, waking the two sleeping girls.

“Mmm… are we there?”

The three sleepily jumped out of the carriage, stretching in unison.

Qiu Shui also dismounted.

She looked at Gong Yiling, who seemed oblivious to the earlier scene, and sighed.

Then, she regained her usual composure and said calmly, “The general has returned to the palace to report. She asked us to stay here and said she would inform us if anything happens.”

—*Silly Master.*

“I understand.”

As Gong Yiling led them into the manor, servants rushed forward to welcome them.

This manor was far more luxurious than any ordinary inn.

Not only did they have imperial chefs preparing their meals, but there was also an indoor bathhouse comparable to the one in the Blood Orchid Palace.

And most importantly, Shangguan Lingyue had assigned each of them a large room with a bed that could fit four people.

Yes.

Four people.

Seeing the bed, Gong Yiling felt like it was a sign from the heavens.

Although she didn’t think the four-in-a-bed situation would happen again…

That night, as agreed, Qiu Shui came knocking with her pillow.

Miss Gong had just finished a cycle of cultivation, her righteous cultivation finally reaching the peak of Core Formation—after depleting most of her spirit stones.

Opening the door, she saw Qiu Shui with her hair down, probably fresh from a bath.

With her long hair loose, she looked even more like a beautiful and intelligent upperclassman.

Holding a pillow, her eyes darted around nervously, her long eyelashes fluttering. She seemed hesitant to speak.

Sleeping with Master was Chun Lian’s idea, and she had just gone along with it.

It wasn’t awkward when they were all together, but now, alone with Master, Qiu Shui felt a bit embarrassed.

“Um…”

“Why are you standing outside?”

Gong Yiling pulled her inside and closed the door with a smile.

“I…” Qiu Shui was still a bit reserved.

But seeing the messy state of the room, she immediately started tidying up, muttering,

“Honestly, Master, you make a mess everywhere you go. Is it so hard to put things back in their place?”

“To be honest, it is.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that why I have Qiu Shui?”

After helping to spread out the second blanket, Gong Yiling turned around with a smile.

Qiu Shui was staring at her, hands on her hips, the distance between them barely two finger-widths apart.

 

v2c1. A Few Things About the Journey

The carriage ride from Yueyang City, where the Dongyang Sect was located, to Yanlie City, the capital of the Heartflame Empire, took about seven or eight days.

Of course, Shangguan Lingyue wouldn’t have this esteemed guest travel in an ordinary carriage.

They were riding the legendary Cloud-Treading Colts.

Despite their name, these colts didn’t actually tread on clouds.

Their most distinctive feature was their peculiar appearance.

How peculiar?

They were entirely white, fluffy like cotton balls. When resting, they tucked their heads under their forelegs, and since they squatted, their legs were hidden from view, making them look like clouds drifting on the ground.

Yes, other people’s Cloud-Treading Colts were magnificent steeds that could gallop on clouds.

These Cloud-Treading Colts were so-called because riding them felt like treading on clouds.

Ah, the profoundness of the Chinese language.

Of course, these colts’ speed was even more peculiar than their appearance.

When happy, they were white clouds, slow as snails. When sad, they were gray clouds, much faster than ordinary horses. When angry, they were dark clouds, their speed lifting the skirts of anyone along the way.

So, to make them go fast, you had to keep them angry. The angrier they were, the faster they ran, the faster they ran, the angrier they got, until they surpassed the speed of light and spontaneously combusted.

The above was just a setting; no idiot would actually try time travel this way.

But this setting… was a bit problematic.

For example—

“So cute!”

Chun Lian and Little Heehee, riding the colts, buried themselves in their fluffy fur, almost disappearing from sight.

The Cloud-Treading Colts, supposedly enraged by a special pill, were now happily nuzzling the two girls, purring contentedly.

Their dark color quickly turned white, and then they began to move at a snail’s pace.

Seeing the scenery barely moving outside, Gong Yiling couldn’t help but rub her forehead.

“Should I pull them back?” Qiu Shui, amused by the sight of the two girls, asked.

“Forget it, let them play. We’ll arrive a few days later, no big deal. They’ll get tired eventually.”

As she spoke, Gong Yiling continued flipping through the strange, worn book in her hand.

It was titled:

*Divine Forging of Creation – Volume 1*

She had found it this morning while randomly rummaging through her Universe Ring.

Seeing the book, Qiu Shui suddenly remembered, “I think I’ve seen this before. I took it from that dilapidated room.”

“Daoist Daman’s place?”

“Yes.” Qiu Shui nodded. “I wanted to tell Master, but we were in a hurry to collect the treasures… and then…”

She stuck out her tongue sheepishly. “I forgot.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like it would run away.”

Miss Gong hadn’t been interested in the book initially, considering the state of the other items in that room.

Except for that peculiar pill.

But this book surprised her.

Not only was it legible, but its contents were astonishing.

Daoist Daman was a quasi-immortal level blacksmith. Many of his creations were reforged and enhanced, which was why they were so famous.

And his forging skills came from this book.

The first page read:

—This book was written by an ancient forging god named Zhuge Shenqi. It contains conventional and unconventional forging methods, detailed in Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively. This volume contains all the secrets of conventional forging.

Note: Blacksmiths are the best.

The book described various forging methods for different grades of equipment, and the later chapters detailed the creation of immortal weapons.

Like the Broken Steel Holy Sword (a sword), the Rotating Blue Lancer (a spear), Star Platinum (a pair of gauntlets), Avalon in Dalian (a healing-enhancing head ornament, a flower), and I Only Feel Sorry for My Brother (a throwable lollipop weapon).

Perhaps already desensitized by the anti-mother weapon and the Genshin Impact KFC collaboration, Gong Yiling didn’t find these names strange.

It was probably just the AI’s doing.

She was even curious about that throwable lollipop classified as an Immortal Artifact.

However, learning blacksmithing wasn’t easy. Although Miss Gong was an engineering student, she wasn’t a blacksmith.

And blacksmithing in this world was definitely more complicated. She hadn’t seen any signs of Gong Yiling possessing any special forging talent.

But she could try it sometime. Perhaps Gong Youyuan had included it in her original setting but left it out as a discarded idea?

She closed the book, feeling a wave of drowsiness, and stretched.

“I’m going to take a nap. Qiu Shui, can you keep an eye on this guy and make sure it doesn’t bump into anyone?”

“Understood.” Qiu Shui nodded, then looked at the Cloud-Treading Colt outside, puzzled. “But… can it even bump into anyone?”

“Of course it can.”

It was about time.

Suddenly, the Cloud-Treading Colt bucked, throwing the two girls into the carriage. Its color turned dark, and it sped off.

“Ah?”

The two girls, confused, looked at each other and then at Gong Yiling.

“These Cloud-Treading Colts are starved for three days and nights before departure. When they’re angry, they don’t feel hungry, but once they’re happy, they become hungry. You two were just petting it without giving it any food.”

“That’s called freeloading, and they hate freeloaders.”

“Eh… is that how it works…?”

“I don’t have the food they eat. At this speed, we should arrive at the capital tonight. You can feed it then.”

“Oh…”

Seeing them settle down, Miss Gong found a comfortable position and fell asleep. But soon, she felt the two girls snuggling up to her, their little hands fidgeting around her waist.

But whatever…

She yawned, grabbed something to use as a pillow, and drifted off.

Soon, her hands also started fidgeting, rubbing and kneading.

In her dream, Miss Gong was petting a cat.

69. Departure for the Heartflame Capital!

At the city gate, a large crowd had gathered.

However, they completely ignored Shangguan Lingyue as she passed through.

Instead, when Gong Yiling and her disciples appeared, the crowd surrounded them.

What was this? Were they seeking revenge?

Before Gong Yiling could ask, Elder Yan emerged from the crowd, followed by several Dongyang Sect members holding a banner.

“Sect Master Yan, what is this?”

“Knowing that Immortal Master is leaving, these people came to see you off.” Elder Yan gestured to the teary-eyed crowd.

“Thank you, Immortal Master, for eliminating the monster in our city!”

Why were they still talking about this? She still didn’t know which “monster” she had supposedly gotten rid of.

“Thank you, Immortal Master, for eradicating the city’s bullies!”

Oh, that… Chun Lian deserved most of the credit for that.

“Thank you, Immortal Master, for dealing with the Hehuan Sect!”

The Hehuan Sect… Speaking of which, not finding Wu Shijie meant the danger wasn’t completely over.

But he shouldn’t be stupid enough to come here alone seeking revenge. What could one person do?

But for the city’s residents, it was indeed a great relief.

“All these are great deeds benefiting the people.”

Elder Yan bowed deeply to Gong Yiling. “If Immortal Master could stay longer, we would extend our hospitality further. But since you’re in a hurry, we can only express our gratitude in a different way.”

He waved his hand, and his men unfurled the banner.

It read: “Living Bodhisattva.”

“Pfft…”

Gong Yiling almost spat out blood.

This banner… was truly something.

“This banner also bears the names of everyone present. Although it’s not worth much, we know you don’t lack money, Immortal Master. Please accept this as a token of our gratitude.”

Well…

Gong Yiling muttered inwardly.

She was actually quite short on money, but she couldn’t act like a beggar.

“Qiu Ming, take it.”

She had Qiu Shui accept the banner and said calmly, “I’m just a passing Kamen Rider.”

Elder Yan was taken aback. “How did you know I wanted to ask for your name?”

Gong Yiling: “…Huh?”

“You see, you’ve done so many good deeds, and the city’s residents want to erect a monument in your honor. So, we wanted to know your name.”

A monument… were they serious?

Although she knew about commemorative monuments, erecting one for a living person felt strange.

“Does it have to be my real name?”

“This is one of the few things the people can do for you, Immortal Master, if you’ll allow it.”

“Fine.” Gong Yiling stood with her hands behind her back, a mischievous thought crossing her mind. “Just write ‘Gong Youyuan.’”

—Much later, when someone happened to pass by and saw the name on the monument, they were stunned.

But that was a story for another time. Now, besides the grateful citizens and the Dongyang Sect members, one other person also remembered this name.

“Gong Youyuan…”

A mysterious woman in a black cloak gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

“When I have the chance, I will avenge my ruined breakthrough! I swear!”

Her eerie blue eyes had vertical pupils, unlike a human’s, and a few strands of rare silver hair peeked out from under her hood.

Gong Yiling suddenly felt a hostile gaze upon her.

But when she tried to find its source, it vanished without a trace.

Was it just her imagination?

She frowned.

But before she could think further, Shangguan Lingyue’s voice called out from afar.

“Miss Gong, let’s go.”

Did she hear the name too?

Gong Yiling didn’t think much of it. As the “creator” of this world, her sister wouldn’t include her own name.

She walked over to Shangguan Ziyuan, who had slipped away due to her fear of crowds, and patted the girl’s head gently.

“Big Sister…” Shangguan Ziyuan looked at her with worried green eyes.

“Why are you calling me Big Sister like Little Heehee?”

Shangguan Ziyuan paused, lowering her gaze. “Is it not allowed?”

“If you want to call me that, I don’t mind.” Gong Yiling smiled. “Are you ready?”

“Ready… for what?”

“Since I dared to tell Shangguan Lingyue about curing your master, it means I’ve made this information public. Those with ulterior motives will surely act.”

“Shangguan Qingyun…”

Gong Yiling sneered. “In his faction, he’s just a pawn.”

She knew this quite well.

Shangguan Qingyun was the apparent mastermind, Prince Changning Shangguan Yaochang was the instigator and liaison, and the true mastermind was the Young Palace Master of the Myriad Demons Palace, one of the Five Demonic Abysses, Tian Shangque.

That guy was a true lunatic, whose greatest desire was to kill his own father. He should try using the anti-father weapon.

He was essentially trying to build a force to rival his father, which was why he reached out to the Heartflame Empire.

“As long as you have the will to fight back, I’ll help you as much as I can.”

Although…

Gong Yiling still didn’t know how to turn things around.

“Why… would you help me so much, Big Sister?” Shangguan Ziyuan couldn’t help but ask. “We barely know each other…”

Because of that damned system.

Ahem, Gong Yiling wouldn’t say that.

In fact, it wasn’t entirely because of the system. The quest, and her desire to change the novel’s tragic ending, were also factors.

And among these reasons, one held more weight.

“I used to have a younger sister, but I treated her badly and resented her for a long time. If I could, I would apologize to her.”

Gong Yiling sighed softly.

“Now, I don’t want anyone who treats me well, or calls me ‘Big Sister’ (‘Brother’) sincerely, to suffer. Is that reason enough?”

Shangguan Ziyuan’s heart was warmed, yet also felt a pang of… something.

—Just sisterly affection?

However, she didn’t express these emotions, simply smiling and nodding at Gong Yiling.

Then, she placed her hands behind her back, slightly bowing, a fluffy something peeking out from under her hat.

Her voice was soft and sweet.

“Thank you, Big Sister.”

————

————