The Villain Fox's Sickly Beauty Master - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Words Whispered in Her Ear Were Damp and Ambiguous.

She was… kissed?

So, the person she was going to marry in this illusion was also herself?

Jiang Jinheng belatedly realized this problem, and her whole body was as if she had entered a meditative trance.

007 in her mind also remained motionless, looking completely dumbfounded at having witnessed something real.

The atmosphere between the two was intimate. Jiang Jinheng was afraid that Fu Yi would make another move. She clasped her wrist in an effort to pull them apart.

Although she felt some reluctance, she still spoke earnestly to the slightly bewildered Fu Yi in front of her.

“Yi’er, you need to wake up.”

Jiang Jinheng was originally unsure whether Fu Yi, affected by the Manjusaka Flower, would retain her memory when she fell into this third dream, or if she could discern that everything happening was fake. But after noticing the face that gradually turned cold and the “I knew it” expression, she suddenly understood something.

“Master.”

This address was not as affectionate as the previous one. It even carried a hint of caution. Jiang Jinheng’s heart felt dry upon hearing it, but she was also relieved by her intelligence.

Fu Yi was not sure why Jiang Jinheng had entered here. Perhaps it was to rescue her.

If she had come earlier, she might still have had the idea of leaving. But now, everything here was so peaceful and beautiful, and everything was according to her wishes. What reason did she have to return to the reality that might turn into purgatory?

But whether she wanted to or not, Jiang Jinheng had to ask first.

“Yi’er, you should know that all this is fake, right? I can overlook what just happened, as long as you are willing to leave with me…”

When she said this, Jiang Jinheng’s gaze drifted, missing Fu Yi pulling out a subtly mocking smile: “I’m not willing.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinheng looked up in surprise, seeing Fu Yi lean over again.

“However, if Master grants your disciple one request, then leaving may not be impossible.”

As she spoke, Fu Yi rested her chin on Jiang Jinheng’s shoulder, and the words breathed into her ear were damp and ambiguous.

But Jiang Jinheng was distracted at this moment, thinking that Fu Yi had matured quite a bit in this secret realm. Even the press of her chin against her shoulder felt a little painful.

…

Jiang Jinheng ultimately refused. After all, what Fu Yi requested seemed too absurd in her opinion. She merely scolded, “Nonsense,” and hurriedly left again.

“Leaving” only meant returning to the small wooden house where she first arrived. After all, since Fu Yi was the dreamer of this illusion, if she didn’t want the dream to end, others could never escape voluntarily.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinheng couldn’t help but sigh. She sat cross-legged under the snowy eaves, truly unable to understand how her recently accepted disciple had developed such feelings for her.

Even from a distance, Jiang Jinheng could still hear the festive sounds of gongs and drums coming from the direction of Profound Cloud Palace, which made her head ache. She pushed the door open and stayed inside, casting a barrier, finally gaining some peace.

Only upon entering the house did Jiang Jinheng realize that the small wooden house seemed to have changed drastically. She originally built this house only to stay for a short time after the start of autumn each year. The furnishings were not only simple, but there were also few items.

But seeing it today, she felt a sense of unexpected beauty.

The wooden bed was covered with some kind of fleece that looked very warm. In the stove not far away, the crackling sound of burning wood continued from time to time, as if someone had just been there.

Jiang Jinheng looked closely and realized that the wood burning in the stove was Phoenix Spiritual Wood, also known as parasol wood, which wouldn’t burn out even after three years of continuous burning.

Burning parasol wood as firewood was something Jiang Jinheng had never seen before. After guessing whose handiwork it was, she couldn’t help but feel a little amused and exasperated. She turned her head and saw someone already leaning on that bed, lightly tapping the fleece blanket she had just found warm, their gaze fixed on her.

“Yi’er, why did you run out instead of staying properly in the wedding room at this hour?”

“Since the real Master is already here, why should I guard the fake one?”

She spoke coquettishly, but Jiang Jinheng replied helplessly.

“Since you already know it’s fake, why aren’t you willing to leave with me?”

As she spoke, her tone had calmed down, as if she had accepted the situation. She didn’t dwell on the previous topic. Instead, she turned around and sat on a wooden stool, very casually pouring herself a cup of tea.

But Fu Yi did not answer. She merely locked her gaze on the tea cup Jiang Jinheng had just taken a sip from.

“Thirsty.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinheng was slightly stunned, but she did not directly hand over the water. Instead, she poured another cup for her.

However, after the cup of water was handed over, Fu Yi turned her head, refusing to drink it.

Jiang Jinheng sighed softly to herself. She could only hold the cup in her hand, and then heard her ask without any emotion: “When does Master plan to leave?”

This question seemed to stump Jiang Jinheng. For a long time, she could only smile helplessly: “The day you are willing to leave with me.”

“Then Master might not be able to wait for that day. Unless you agree to my condition.”

Jiang Jinheng could not possibly agree to that condition. After thinking for a long time, she asked the doubt in her heart.

“Why did you set such a condition?”

In Jiang Jinheng’s view, she and Fu Yi had only met once in her childhood, and then had some contact in the secret realm. There was nothing else.

And in these brief meetings, which one caused her to develop feelings for herself?

Being asked this, Fu Yi’s thoughts also drifted for a while. If asked for the reason, she couldn’t say. Maybe it was mixed with some obsession, or perhaps she wanted to personally expose the so-called “noble integrity” of Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu in front of everyone through this matter.

However, she answered quickly, her eyes also carrying a hint of coldness.

“There is no why. I want to ask you why you entered here, and why you want to take me out.”

Speaking of this, Fu Yi’s voice paused slightly. Her gaze toward Jiang Jinheng carried a hint of dislike for the first time.

“After all, everything here is very fulfilling for me. I have loving parents, a lover who puts me first in everything, an unobstructed path of cultivation, and harmonious relationships with fellow disciples. Everything is the best.”

“On the other hand, in reality, I am not only bullied by fellow disciples, but I also have parents I’ve never seen. The only Master who has been good to me might even stab me in the future. What is there to miss?”

When she said this, Fu Yi smiled, but Jiang Jinheng always felt that her smile was neither genuine nor normal.

This made her involuntarily think about what the Fu Yi in her memory was like.

The sixteen-year-old Fu Yi was still a slightly heroic youth. Although she held some memories of things that happened in her childhood, she would not lose her spirit because of it, nor would she say anything like “stab me with a sword,” or have such a deep obsession.

The only way she could do all this was if she had experienced more.

But this illusion was a manifestation of her heart’s desires, so it naturally wouldn’t let her experience those things.

Thinking this, a bold idea suddenly surged in Jiang Jinheng’s heart, an idea that also made her face suddenly turn pale.

No wonder… No wonder she developed an inner demon, why she looked at herself like that when she woke up, why she voluntarily requested to live down the mountain, why she let go of her hand before entering the secret realm…

It turned out that everything had a trace to follow.

But when did she recover her memory?

Suddenly, Jiang Jinheng thought of Fu Yi’s unprovoked coma before the disciple selection, and how she also discovered at that time that there were actually two spiritual forces in her body that seemed to come from the same origin.

It seems it was at that time.

It was also 007’s previous mention of her awakening consciousness that gave Jiang Jinheng the opportunity to think this way. No wonder in the previous life, in that situation, even Fentian couldn’t escape, but Fu Yi was unaffected by Mo Tong.

But she was still too weak, and she was too weak herself. Even if she awakened her consciousness, what good was it? She still couldn’t contend with Mo Tong, who possessed the Divine Mark fragment.

If Fu Yi truly returned from that time to her sixteen years of age, the two people she hated the most should be Mo Tong, and the second should be the “herself” played by Fentian.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinheng felt a little bitter in her heart. She couldn’t reveal the existence of the system, so she had no basis to explain anything to Fu Yi.

However, at this moment, the pity and compassion in her heart for her truly reached its peak.

Thus, Jiang Jinheng made a choice she had never considered before.

Fu Yi originally thought that Master would lecture her with grand principles, or, as before, simply leave when she couldn’t win the argument. But she never expected to be enveloped in a fragrant medicinal embrace the next moment.

“If this place can truly bring you happiness, then stay for a while longer.”

…

According to 007’s records, including today, Jiang Jinheng had been in this illusion for three full years. Since she said those words to Fu Yi three years ago, the two had not met again.

Since Azure Vast Immortal Sect already had an Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu, there was no place for Jiang Jinheng to stay. She was also sensible. She went down the mountain from the first day, traveled through the five nations, and when she had nothing to do, she would provide free medical services to the people of various cities, just like today. Her life was leisurely and comfortable.

However, as long as people stay in a place where there are other people, various gossip is unavoidable.

At that time, Jiang Jinheng had only been down the mountain for a short time. The first country she traveled to was the Kingdom of Shu. As soon as she arrived in the territory of Shu, she heard that the two people from Azure Vast Immortal Sect who had announced their marriage a few days ago had canceled their engagement again, for unknown reasons. Those people made fun of this matter, saying that it was something not tolerated by the world in the first place, and they ended up with such a reputation.

When Jiang Jinheng heard this news, she was checking the pulse of an elderly woman. She was stunned for a long time, causing the old woman to believe that she had contracted some incurable disease. Even after that, no matter how she explained it, the old woman didn’t believe her.

She didn’t understand why Fu Yi had canceled the engagement again. Wasn’t this what she wanted?

Despite this, Jiang Jinheng still didn’t plan to go back and check. Before she left alone, she had told Fu Yi that the next time they met would be the time to leave this place.

She just didn’t expect that today, upon returning to the familiar place, she would still hear about the same person.

“Have you heard? That Head Disciple of Water Cloud Peak in Azure Vast Immortal Sect is actually a demon!”

“Such a big matter is naturally known. And it’s said that after she was discovered by those Immortals, she didn’t even run away. She even begged the Immortal Sect to come forward and ask the various Immortal Gates to sign some kind of agreement with the Demon Race, saying they wanted people and demons to coexist.”

“If you ask me, a demon is a demon. After being taught and nurtured by the Immortal Sect for so many years, she still turns her elbow outward. She’s an ungrateful creature that can’t be tamed.”

“People and demons are different after all. A few days ago, I passed by a small village below the Immortal Sect and heard that she has already been bound by the Demon-Binding Chain by a senior from Thousand Blades Sword Sect. She will be taken to the Demon-Slaying Platform soon. It’s a good thing Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu of the Immortal Sect didn’t marry her three years ago. If the matter had truly happened, it would have been difficult to handle.”

When Jiang Jinheng heard this, she was administering acupuncture. She didn’t pay attention and pricked the wrong spot, causing bl00d to flow out. The person originally thought she was an extraordinary person, a disciple who came down from some sect for experience, but was unexpectedly pricked like this. They started cursing at her loudly.

But Jiang Jinheng couldn’t care about that anymore. She didn’t even pack up her medical supplies and disappeared from everyone’s sight in an instant.

She left behind the person who had just scolded her, clutching their hand and trembling in the cold wind, not daring to say another word.

…

“Don’t worry, Host, I haven’t received any abnormal alerts here.”

Jiang Jinheng had been in this illusion for three years, and 007 had accompanied her for three years.

In the beginning, it had advised her a few times, telling her to temporarily agree to Fu Yi’s condition and take her out first. Whether to keep the promise afterward would be another matter.

But Jiang Jinheng was unwilling.

She was a person who valued promises and had never agreed to anything unachievable, especially in such a major matter. Furthermore, Jiang Jinheng always felt that Fu Yi had merely mistaken admiration for love, and those experiences led to her becoming obsessive, exacerbated by the influence of the inner demon.

She, as the Master, was also responsible for this problem.

Seeing Jiang Jinheng’s repeated insistence, 007 stopped mentioning the matter. Firstly, it was because the Bureau’s negligence caused her, Fu Yi, and the rest of the people in this minor world to go through such a painful series of events, and it felt somewhat guilty.

Secondly, its initial urgency to get Jiang Jinheng out of the illusion was partly because she needed to be there to advance a mission. However, the Divine Mark fragment should not be underestimated. Although the rules could not be broken, the Director came up with a compromise plan, projecting a part of her spiritual power onto the clone Jiang Jinheng had left behind, and using this to control the newly deployed system 008, suppressing the Divine Mark fragment’s absorption of the minor world’s luck value.

Now that the situation there was improving, the only thing it had to ensure was that its Host would not perish in this illusion. After all, the 008, which was bound to the unique operating system, was a clone of hers.

Of course, secretly, 007 also hoped that its Host could live comfortably. In this illusion, apart from the subjective knowledge telling her that everything was fake, nothing else could be discerned. Even 007 felt a sense of quiet and natural beauty after staying for a long time. No wonder Fu Yi was unwilling to leave.

It was precisely because of this that it found it strange when listening to the others discuss it just now. This was, after all, Fu Yi’s ideal illusion. And how could such an illusion go against the dreamer’s wishes?

There was only one possibility: as the dreamer, Fu Yi was now wishing for death in this illusion.

007 dared not tell Jiang Jinheng this. It was afraid that if it did, the Host’s emotions would worsen. Although a system that only analyzes data based on a chip does not understand the emotions between living beings, it could sense Fu Yi’s importance to Jiang Jinheng.

It was a pity that everything in the Phantom Dream Pool was outside the scope of the minor world. It could not detect this illusory world, only the location of the real person, which was indeed at the Thousand Blades Sword Sect, as rumored.

If so, 007 could only reassure Jiang Jinheng that as the dreamer, Fu Yi would be fine, while trying to gather more useful information.

Jiang Jinheng arrived at Thousand Blades Sword Sect that afternoon. The entire sect looked solemn and deserted. The mountain gate was heavily guarded, as if something major had happened.

Used to acting freely, Jiang Jinheng originally thought these people wouldn’t stop her, but she didn’t expect to be blocked by two tridents as soon as she took a step. The person leading them unrolled a scroll. Jiang Jinheng moved her divine sense to glance at it, and the portrait on the scroll was clearly her appearance.

The person looked at the person painted on the scroll, then at Jiang Jinheng’s face, but did not order the tridents to be moved aside. Instead, he said:

“Immortal Venerable, please forgive the junior’s offense. Our Master instructed today that no one who is not from our Sword Sect is allowed to pass the mountain gate. If Immortal Venerable has any important matters, you can hand them over to the junior, and the junior will report them to the superiors.”

If Jiang Jinheng hadn’t seen his careful action of checking the scroll, she might have believed him, given his sincere tone. Unfortunately, after his careful comparison, she easily knew that this was an excuse to turn her away.

Could it be that the Sword Sect really intended to do something to Fu Yi today, which is why they were guarding against her?

In any other place, Jiang Jinheng could have just used an illusion or a stealth technique to get past. But this was the main gate of a major sect. At the very least, a sect-protecting formation that made it impossible to hide would be released. It was impossible for her to sneak in.

Helpless, Jiang Jinheng could only leave first and make other plans.

It seems that going up the mountain from the front is not feasible. It was a pity that 007 was ineffective in this illusion.

For a moment, Jiang Jinheng was in a difficult situation. If she forced her way in, she was afraid of causing too much attention. If she didn’t go up, she worried about Fu Yi’s situation.

As she was going down the mountain, worrying, a woman swept past her side. Although her appearance had changed somewhat, and her figure was taller, she quickly recognized the woman’s identity.

“Li Jingzhu?”

Hearing the sound, Li Jingzhu stopped and slowly turned around, her expression still cold.

“And who is this Immortal Friend?”

Jiang Jinheng recalled Li Jingzhu’s change in attitude when she reported her name when they first met outside the illusion. She was originally worried about being recognized in this illusion, but now seeing her ask this way, she breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s good that she doesn’t recognize her.

She had finally found someone who could take her in. She needed to cleverly deceive her.

With this plan, Jiang Jinheng began to speak nonsense, fabricating a story. After thinking for a moment, she could only borrow her Senior Sister’s name.

“It is normal for Junior Niece Jingzhu not to recognize this Venerable. After all, we only met once when you were young. This Venerable is Immortal Venerable Meng Xian of the Azure Vast Immortal Sect. I came to your esteemed sect today to discuss important matters with that old fellow Dao Qing.”

Speaking of this, Jiang Jinheng observed Li Jingzhu’s expression. After sensing no abnormality, she continued: “In the end, I was blocked by those little dolls at your esteemed sect’s mountain gate. They insisted that no one other than those from your Thousand Blades Sword Sect is allowed to enter today.”

Jiang Jinheng spoke with a hint of indignation and a helpless look, but although Li Jingzhu showed no objection when listening, her expression still carried some suspicion. Although she didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of the sect, she indeed hadn’t heard the news of a temporary closure today.

But suspicion was suspicion. The necessary etiquette still needed to be observed.

Li Jingzhu bowed slightly, her tone unchanged.

“Although Master did not inform me of this matter, those fellow disciples who stopped Immortal Venerable must have acted according to the rules. I hope Immortal Venerable will not take offense.”

After speaking, Li Jingzhu paused before continuing: “However, since Immortal Venerable has an appointment with Master, it must be for an important discussion. May I ask, Immortal Venerable, do you need Jingzhu to inform him?”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinheng was stunned. She still smiled and waved her hand. After thinking for a long time, she said.

“If Little Friend is willing, you can just take this Venerable up the mountain directly. There is truly no need for your Master to run up and down.”

Fu Yi’s situation was unclear, and Jiang Jinheng was actually extremely anxious. But she figured Li Jingzhu had no reason to refuse anymore. Yet, she didn’t expect to see a mysterious smile suddenly appear on that cold face.

“Master has been immersed in cultivation lately and often remains secluded. It would be excellent to let him move around the mountain.”

Now, Jiang Jinheng finally understood. This girl clearly didn’t believe her. She originally thought that people who were inexperienced in the ways of the world were the easiest to deceive, but she forgot that this person was at least the Head of a Sword Peak.

It seemed that three years of leisurely experience had indeed dulled her temperament.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinheng could only tell Li Jingzhu the truth, also wanting to see if the Li Jingzhu here was the same as the one in reality, who would be more enthusiastic towards her and help her with this favor.

But Jiang Jinheng didn’t expect that after she revealed her purpose, Li Jingzhu’s expression would change to a strange one, and she asked her suspiciously: “Immortal Venerable, you sent her here, and now you want to take her away. What is the meaning of this?”

…

In the end, Li Jingzhu still took Jiang Jinheng up the mountain. She only asked Jiang Jinheng to change her clothes, and they successfully blended in. At the same time, she laid down three conditions.

“Jingzhu will only take Immortal Venerable up the mountain to see her once, but whether to allow her release is not for Jingzhu to decide. If an agreement cannot be reached in the end, I hope Immortal Venerable will not cause a scene in front of the Demon-Slaying Platform.”

Jiang Jinheng agreed, and even swore a bl00d oath as she requested. After all, everything could be discussed after reaching the mountain.

Approaching the prison where Fu Yi was confined, Jiang Jinheng was constantly thinking about how to take the person away in this heavily guarded Thousand Blades Sword Sect.

Although she didn’t know if everything in the illusion could be reflected in reality, whether to break the bl00d oath was no longer important to her. The consequence of breaking the bl00d oath was, at most, suffering a backlash and being unable to advance her cultivation further, but it was still not as important as her disciple’s life.

Moreover, if Fu Yi, as the dreamer, died in the dream, this illusion might also collapse, and she, the participant, would also be trapped and perish in the falsehood.

It could be said that ensuring Fu Yi’s safety was the necessary course of action right now.

Jiang Jinheng had imagined many scenarios beforehand, some as miserable as the Discipline Prison at the bottom of Water Cloud Peak she had just seen, or simple, dark, and damp jails. But she never expected to be dazzled by the brocade quilts, embroidered bedding, jade liquid, and exotic delicacies in the environment the moment she saw Fu Yi.

This was less like someone brought in for execution and more like someone who had moved to a new place to enjoy a comfortable life.

Seemingly noticing the new gaze, Fu Yi, whose head was resting on her forearm, turned towards Jiang Jinheng. With just one look, she recognized that this was her true Master.

Li Jingzhu had left the area at some point, leaving only Jiang Jinheng and Fu Yi facing each other.

Jiang Jinheng wanted to say something, but her thoughts were disturbed by the illusionary environment. It was Fu Yi who first got up from the thickly padded bed. While using spiritual power to squeeze the colored juice from a flower bud in her hand to stain her fingernails, she asked in a seemingly unintentional manner: “Didn’t Master say that unless I was willing to leave with you, we would never meet again?”

“Are you willing to leave with me now?”

Jiang Jinheng originally intended to ask Fu Yi if the matter of the Sword Sect sending her to the Demon-Slaying Platform soon was true, but hearing her words, she immediately changed her focus.

After all, if Fu Yi agreed to leave with her, she naturally wouldn’t have to worry about what would happen in the illusion.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Jinheng saw Fu Yi stop her hand movements, looking at her with a half-smile.

“Master suddenly asks this, does it mean you have agreed to my condition?”

Hearing her say this, Jiang Jinheng fell silent again. She realized that their conversations always revolved around this one thing. The three years she supposedly gave Fu Yi to calm down and think were merely three years of self-deception. And now, something about being sent to the Demon-Slaying Platform had even come up.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinheng couldn’t help but sigh.

“If you are truly stubborn about this, then I can’t help you. But if you wish to be trapped and perish here, then I will accompany you.”

Even at this stage, Jiang Jinheng still couldn’t agree to something she couldn’t do.

At the same time, a voice suddenly rang out in Fu Yi’s mind.

“I told you so, didn’t I? No matter what, she will never indulge you. So, hurry up and bind with me.”

Not long after this voice sounded, Fu Yi slowly walked towards Jiang Jinheng, caressed her wrist, and then, like a child, tightly grasped her sleeve. There was no abnormality on her face, but a shallow smile was reflected in her eyes.

“I will go with you.”