The Villain is Soft and Clingy [Transmigration] - Chapter 8
After leaving the teahouse, Xia Zhitiao saw that it was still early, so she postponed buying supplies and continued to leisurely stroll down the street.
She now understood why martial arts heroes would always walk away uncredited after doing good deeds—
This feeling was absolutely exhilarating!
Although she would probably never meet the real Zhang Kuang in this lifetime, and Zhang Kuang would never know what happened today, Xia Zhitiao felt an inexplicable thrill.
While listening to the storyteller, she had been annoyed by his words and given a headache by the uninformed crowd. Now, having finally vented her frustration, she was in an excellent mood, her steps quickening.
The market was bustling, with dense rows of shops. As Xia Zhitiao walked past, the variety of goods dazzled her eyes. She wanted to touch everything, try everything.
She happened to pass a small stall and unconsciously stopped, curiously examining the goods in a basket.
The vendor, seeing a delicately refined woman bend down, eagerly began to introduce his wares: “Madam, take a look! All my little trinkets are transported from Song Kingdom, you won’t believe how novel they are!”
Since entering Yashan Immortal Sect, Xia Zhitiao had rarely heard news about the mortal world.
Throne successions, shifts in power—these matters, though seemingly close at hand, felt very, very far away from her.
She distractedly hummed in acknowledgment, her attention drawn to a small figurine on the stall.
It was an exquisite little white rabbit, with a white porcelain body and eyes made of red beads. It was remarkably lifelike, seemingly tilting its head, observing Xia Zhitiao.
Xia Zhitiao couldn’t help but reach out, taking the small porcelain rabbit into her palm and touching its perked-up little ears with her fingertips.
The touch was smooth and delicate, slightly cool.
The little porcelain rabbit was white and small, lying in her palm. It was as docile as could be, reminding Xia Zhitiao of a certain pitiful little face.
—*It looks just like the junior sister.*
Xia Zhitiao couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, gently covering the corner of her lips, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
The junior sister’s soft, white, bun-like cheeks, her watery eyes, and her timid little habit of tugging at her sleeve—wasn’t she just a cute little rabbit?
The vendor, seeing the woman smiling, quickly seized the opportunity: “Madam, isn’t this porcelain rabbit lovely? Seeing how much you like it, I’ll grit my teeth and sell it to you at a loss for ten copper coins, how about that?”
Before entering the Dao, Xia Zhitiao had amassed a considerable amount of savings using her modern intellect. Now, with the wealthy Yashan backing her, ten copper coins were nothing.
Although she knew the vendor had deliberately inflated the price, Xia Zhitiao wasn’t annoyed. She paid ten copper coins and politely said, “I’ll take it.”
The vendor was delighted, hastily pulled out an exquisite small box and a soft cloth, carefully packed the porcelain rabbit, and handed it to Xia Zhitiao: “Thank you, Madam!”
Xia Zhitiao thanked him, carefully put away the small box, and ran her fingertips over its edges, a smile spreading across her face.
When she saw her junior sister, she would give her this little white rabbit.
—
Having enjoyed her shopping too much, it was already dusk, nearly evening, when Xia Zhitiao returned to Yashan.
She handed over the purchased goods to the senior sister in charge of supplies. With nothing else to do, she planned to secretly visit the classroom where new disciples were taught.
Perhaps she might coincidentally run into her junior sister coming out, and she could then give her the little porcelain rabbit.
That was Xia Zhitiao’s thought, and she followed through with it. However, as she was halfway through her sword flight, she suddenly saw a small cluster of flares.
The flares rose from the direction of the main hall, striking the clouds and bursting into a magnificent display of fireworks.
Those were Yashan’s warning flares. Different colors and shapes each had their own meaning, and every disciple had to meticulously memorize them before entering the mountain.
When Xia Zhitiao saw the color of the flare, she lost her balance and almost fell from her flying sword—
Red, signifying Yashan’s highest alert!!
In other words, something incredibly serious had happened, and all disciples had to rush to Yashan’s main hall immediately, with no room for discussion.
Xia Zhitiao had been on Yashan for so long, yet this was her first time seeing a red flare. Her heart pounded, and she quickly changed direction, rushing towards Yashan’s main hall on Yubai Peak.
The main hall, usually sparsely populated, was now brightly lit and bustling with people. All of Yashan’s disciples were gathered on the White Jade Altar, and ten out of the thirteen peak masters were present, discussing something in front of the grand hall.
Xia Zhitiao leaped off her sword, sheathed her Jiyan Sword, and found the location of the Shuijing Peak disciples.
Everyone looked terrified, as if something terrible had happened, which made Xia Zhitiao even more uneasy.
She moved through the crowd, spotted a familiar person, and quickly pulled her over: “Senior Sister Lu Guo!”
“Zhitiao, where have you been? Why are you just getting here now!” Lu Guo held her shoulders, checked her up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief, “Good, you’re fine.”
“What happened?” Xia Zhitiao looked around, puzzled. “This is my first time seeing a red flare.”
Lu Guo’s expression was grim. She leaned close to Xia Zhitiao’s ear and whispered, “Grand-master said someone reported that the Demon Sect Leader suddenly appeared near our market down the mountain and beat a big man half to death.”
“That beast Zhang Kuang hasn’t made a move in months, and now she suddenly appeared near Yashan,” Lu Guo’s expression was agitated, her fists tightly clenched. “She must have malicious intentions and wants to disrupt Yashan’s peace!”
—Zhang Kuang again?
Coincidentally, Xia Zhitiao had just heard her “deeds” in the teahouse not long ago. Now, this incident had created such panic on Yashan, even triggering the red flare.
She pondered Lu Guo’s words and picked a point of confusion to ask: “What about the person Zhang Kuang injured?”
“Although that big man saved his life, he was utterly terrified and is now wailing in the main hall,” Lu Guo replied honestly, pointing her in the direction.
Xia Zhitiao looked from afar and indeed saw a burly figure beside the ten light and ethereal peak masters. He was slumped on the ground like a child, howling about something.
…It seems he was truly terrified.
Xia Zhitiao thanked Lu Guo, then sat down with the other disciples. As she thought it over carefully, she suddenly felt something was amiss.
Although she didn’t know why that big man had brought trouble upon himself, causing the Demon Sect Leader to strike openly, one thing was strangely peculiar.
Why didn’t Zhang Kuang just kill him directly?
—
It wasn’t that Xia Zhitiao was cold-blooded, but due to Yashan’s intense hatred for Zhang Kuang, Zhang Kuang’s image in the hearts of the disciples was truly terrible. There were not only rumors of her erratic temperament but also tales of her “eating human flesh, drinking human bl00d, and devouring human bones.”
So, what reason would the notoriously bloodthirsty and brutal Demon Sect Leader have to spare that man’s life, beat him up, and then leave?
Xia Zhitiao pondered for a long time but couldn’t reach a conclusion. She sighed, looking up at the pitch-black sky.
A bright moon hung high in the sky, curved like a hook. Silver light poured down from the clouds like a waterfall, spreading layers of cool serenity.
Xia Zhitiao gazed, a little lost in thought. She couldn’t help but reach out, wanting to touch the pure moonlight.
Just then, the corner of her clothes behind her moved, someone tugged at it.
Xia Zhitiao turned around in surprise, looking at the familiar face, and blurted out: “…Little rabbit?”
Zhang Lan was startled, tilting her head in confusion: “What?”
*Oh, oops. As soon as I saw Junior Sister’s soft little face, I unconsciously thought of the small porcelain rabbit I bought, and I even said it out loud in front of her.*
Xia Zhitiao’s face flushed. She quickly feigned several coughs, trying to clumsily cover up what she had just said: “Zhang Lan, why are you here? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Zhang Lan patted the ground and sat down next to Xia Zhitiao. “We were in class when the flares went off, and then Master Qin Zhi brought us over in a daze.”
Xia Zhitiao breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good.”
Zhang Lan blinked, her small face suddenly becoming serious, and her voice sounded earnest: “Senior Sister! Did you hear what Master said? That bastard Zhang Kuang suddenly appeared near Yashan!”
*How much hatred does Yashan have for Zhang Kuang, calling her a beast and a bastard?* Xia Zhitiao helplessly rubbed her forehead and said, “What about her?”
“That person commits countless evils and is extremely wicked. Senior Sister must be extra careful.”
Zhang Lan leaned closer, clenching her fists and making a vague striking motion in the air, confidently declaring, “I will protect you.”
Xia Zhitiao chuckled, raising her hand to ruffle the junior sister’s hair: “You should take care of yourself first; you don’t need to worry about me.”
Her intention was good, but when the junior sister heard her words, her eyebrows immediately drooped, and her voice drew out: “Senior Sister, you don’t believe me? I’m very strong—”
“Sit up straight. Always leaning on me, what kind of behavior is that?” Xia Zhitiao scolded, reaching out to tap Zhang Lan’s nose.
At her words, Zhang Lan’s entire body, which had been leaning on Xia Zhitiao, instantly straightened up, her back ramrod straight, a perfect example of a model student.
“Listen well. Since Grand-master entrusted you to me, I will always be your senior sister. I will do my best to take care of you and protect you.”
Xia Zhitiao spoke each word seriously: “No matter what happens, no matter what grievances you suffer, come to me first, understand?”
Zhang Lan listened obediently, her small head swaying slightly as she nodded.
Moonlight fell on her eyebrows and between strands of her hair, like clusters of pear blossoms rustling loudly. When the wind blew, it left behind a profound coolness.
“Senior Sister,” Zhang Lan whispered, her straightened posture once again slumping, secretly snuggling closer to Xia Zhitiao.
This time, Xia Zhitiao didn’t push her away. Instead, she smiled gently and said, “No posture, unseemly.”
Zhang Lan gazed at her unblinkingly, her eyes like gems washed clean by water, clear and cool, reflecting only one figure.
Author’s Note:
Small Theater:
Zhang Kuang: When I get fierce, I even scold myself.