The Villainess Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 17

“Really?” Yun Chuanzhi’s eyes widened slightly, then she squeezed out the remaining tears, bringing Bai Fenghuo’s face—with its bright eyes and vibrant lips—into sharp focus.

Bai Fenghuo’s anger churned in her chest, but she couldn’t be bothered to argue further. She rose, her wet palm still raised, and returned to the bed. “Now, will you fetch water for this venerable one?”

“As you command, Xiao Nu,” Yun Chuanzhi replied. Her tears stopped as abruptly as they had started, vanishing after a quick wipe. She turned and scurried away.

She had never imagined that a few tears could make Bai Fenghuo yield. Those who adapt to circumstances are the true heroes. After all, her desire for Divine Power stemmed solely from her need for a Spirit Root. Continuing to sulk would only be counterproductive.

Her spirits lifted instantly, Yun Chuanzhi moved with uncommon efficiency. In less than fifteen minutes, she had prepared a cup of clear spring water infused with steamed Ice Lotus petals, a basket of freshly steamed Poria and Osmanthus Cake from the kitchen, and Rootless Water for washing hands and face.

She presented the full tray to Bai Fenghuo, kneeling obsequiously to serve her like a loyal servant.

Bai Fenghuo’s hand remained suspended in mid-air, as if Yun Chuanzhi’s tears were some kind of muddy sludge. When she reached out to wipe her hand, she dodged her touch, dipping her hand into the water to wash it herself.

Afterward, Bai Fenghuo picked up a silk handkerchief to dab away the water droplets, her moon-white palm seeming to glow in the early morning sun.

With the elaborate morning grooming finally complete, Bai Fenghuo gracefully settled by the window, beckoning Yun Chuanzhi over with a wave.

“Have you ever had your spiritual roots examined before?” she asked, cradling a cup of cool tea.

“No, never,” Yun Chuanzhi replied, shaking her head.

Hearing this, Bai Fenghuo set down her teacup and crooked a finger, urging Yun Chuanzhi closer. She spread her fingers, hovering them over her head, and wisps of spiritual energy as fine as silk threads emanated from her palm, sinking into her hair.

The warm spiritual energy rapidly spread like roots, invading Yun Chuanzhi’s skin and bl00d vessels, circulating through her body before converging on her Spirit Platform.

Bai Fenghuo showed no mercy. Yun Chuanzhi could almost feel the spiritual energy forcing open her meridians, as if thousands of worms were gnawing at her internal organs. She clenched her teeth against the pain, sweat beading on her forehead.

Color flooded the girl’s face, her once pale lips now crimson, as if about to drip bl00d. Watching her shoulders tremble uncontrollably, Bai Fenghuo felt a wicked impulse rise within him. She intensified the spiritual energy’s invasion until Yun Chuanzhi curled up at her feet in agony, leaving a damp patch on the stone floor.

She always acts so afraid of pain, hardship, and fatigue, she thought. Yet she endures this without a sound?

Bai Fenghuo wanted to try again, but Yun Chuanzhi, in her dazed state, reached out and gripped Bai Fenghuo’s bare ankle like a drowning person clinging to driftwood. The girl’s hand was as cold as ice. Bai Fenghuo suddenly held her breath, twisting away from her touch while simultaneously withdrawing her spiritual energy.

Though Bai Fenghuo had seen countless beauties and often had drunkards throwing themselves at him, her legs and feet remained forbidden territory, never touched by anyone.

Now, having her ankle touched by a mere Immortal Servant, the lingering sensation of her cold, smooth fingertips still lingered on her skin. Bai Fenghuo wanted to rage, but since she herself had driven her to this state, she knew she was in the wrong.

“Her innate talent is passable,” Bai Fenghuo said, rising gracefully. “Not exceptional, but adequate enough.” She formed a lotus mudra with her hands as faint purple light began to glow. Her fingers parted and closed, executing an intricate hand gesture.

“Eternal daylight for all spirits, blessed by the heavens,” she murmured, then touched the purple light to Yun Chuanzhi’s forehead.

Yun Chuanzhi heard a rush of wind in her mind, followed by a warm, soothing sensation in her Spirit Platform. Her entire body felt as if she had plunged into spring sunlight. The pain vanished, replaced by a familiar lightness.

Having a Spirit Root truly made a difference. Yun Chuanzhi sprang to her feet, and when she looked around, everything seemed brighter and more vibrant.

“Satisfied now? Then get back to work,” Bai Fenghuo said, glancing at her with a furrowed brow before kneeling down. “Whitey, grind ink for me.”

The Iron Puppet emerged from behind a screen, clambered onto the table with all fours, and hoisted the massive inkstone. It grumbled incessantly, “Your personal Immortal Servant is standing right there! Why make me, with my old bones, do this?”

So the Iron Puppet was called Whitey. Despite being a pitch-black lump of metal, it had been given such an incongruous name.

Now that Yun Chuanzhi had finally obtained a Spirit Root, her rebellious streak had vanished. If told to go east, she wouldn’t dare go west. She squatted down and cheerfully began scrubbing the floor.

Whitey turned out to be quite the chatterbox. When Bai Fenghuo ignored him, it continued, “You actually helped her awaken her Spirit Root? A personal Immortal Servant? Aren’t you afraid she might harbor ill intentions and cause trouble?”

The puppet’s words carried a deeper meaning, which Bai Fenghuo couldn’t possibly miss. She smiled faintly, “Do you think I haven’t considered that? But her innate talent is mediocre. Even if she were to become a disciple of Mount Everlasting’s most powerful cultivator, she wouldn’t achieve much. There’s no need to worry.”

Yun Chuanzhi, who was scrubbing the floor on her hands and knees, rolled her eyes. Could you at least insult people behind their backs? Show some respect!

Fortunately, she didn’t need the Spirit Root for Immortal cultivation. She only wanted to make her daily chores easier, so she didn’t dwell on it.

Regaining her strength, Yun Chuanzhi cleaned the entire bedroom until it gleamed. After receiving Bai Fenghuo’s permission, she returned to her room, eager to test her newfound spiritual energy.

It was just past noon, and the sweltering heat seeped through the window cracks, making her sweat profusely. Yun Chuanzhi went outside to find an Outer Sect Immortal Servant repairing a roof beam and, after much persuasion, borrowed a set of carpentry tools. Locking her door, she began tinkering.

Her goal was to create a Seven Wheels Fan that wouldn’t require manual pulling. But finding suitable wood proved impossible, so she dismantled the only table in her room into thin planks.

Using a small knife and chisel, she carved holes and slots, then pieced the components together. This simple task would normally have been effortless with a wave of her hand, but with her depleted spiritual energy and physical stamina, it took considerable effort.

By the time the Seven Wheels Fan was complete, dusk had fallen. The setting sun hung like a fiery cap on the distant mountain peaks, its orange-red glow painting the horizon.

Yun Chuanzhi wiped the sweat from her cheeks, then channeled her spiritual energy and silently recited the incantation. The lengthy mantra flowed smoothly from her memory. As the incantation concluded, a faint spiritual energy emanated from her Spirit Platform, coursing through her limbs and bones.

During her time in Avici City, Yun Chuanzhi had cultivated the Artifact Refinement Technique, which focused on leveraging external objects to achieve maximum effect with minimal spiritual energy. She channeled the translucent, diluted spiritual energy into the Seven Wheels Fan, causing its wooden blades to begin spinning.

Cool breezes swept away the sweat on her face as Yun Chuanzhi sat comfortably on the ground, enjoying the refreshing air. She suddenly felt that her current life was truly fulfilling.

Restless, Yun Chuanzhi’s hands began to itch. Having not practiced the Artifact Refinement Technique in some time, she felt an urge to create something. After a moment’s thought, she retrieved the stone puppet that had aided her several times from her sleeve.

Now that I have spiritual energy, how could I have forgotten about it?

The Puppet Technique was far more complex than the spell she had cast earlier. Yun Chuanzhi dipped a fingertip into the teacup, then leaned over the stone figure and began drawing an intricate array around it, filled with countless runes.

He murmured incantations under her breath. As she reached the third layer of the mantra, the center of the array lit up with starlight. The starlight seeped into the puppet’s body, transforming its original purple glow into a transparent radiance.

At the same moment, the stone puppet’s body began to tremble, as if something inside it was struggling to break free. Yun Chuanzhi paused, then remembered something. She hurriedly picked up her carving knife, grabbed the puppet, and began to carve.

I completely forgot to carve eyes and a mouth for the puppet! she thought, shaking her head. It’s been so long since I’ve used these techniques; I’ve grown quite rusty.

Her hands moved with practiced ease. In no time, she had carved a delicate little mouth and large, round eyes. After tapping the puppet’s head three times, the eyes began to swivel.

“Master! Master!”

The stone puppet’s voice was surprisingly sweet. Perhaps she had accidentally made the eyes too large, Yun Chuanzhi thought guiltily, touching her face. But she decided against correcting it.

As a new puppet with its own thoughts, it needed a name. Yun Chuanzhi sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the puppet’s wide eyes, stumped.

A common name wouldn’t suit it, while an elegant one would be too grand. Since Bai Fenghuo’s puppet was called Whitey, why not…

“You shall be called Blackie,” Yun Chuanzhi said with a grin. “How does that sound?”