The Villainess Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 39

Yun Chuanzhi had indeed heard what she said, but it seemed so unlike something Bai Fenghuo would say that she dismissed it as a mishearing.

To her surprise, the chicken soup she had painstakingly prepared turned out to perfectly suit Bai Fenghuo’s tastes. Yun Chuanzhi felt a surge of pride, imagining that if she ever left Mount Everlasting, she might open a small restaurant in Youji City.

Far from the turmoil of the world, she would spend her days tending to pots and pans, opening her doors to customers when she pleased and closing them to nap when she didn’t. With no worries about food or drink, it would be an even more idyllic existence than life on Mount Everlasting—a truly immortal’s life.

Her thoughts drifted far away, her eyes filled with longing for the days to come. Bai Fenghuo, observing her expression, seemed to sense Yun Chuanzhi’s thoughts. Her eyelashes lowered imperceptibly, a hint of displeasure flickering in her heart.

With the truth of the massacre finally revealed, the dark clouds that had shrouded Youji City for days dissipated completely. The crowds on Hidden Sword Street swelled, and many of the street performers and monkey shows that had temporarily fled the city returned, their drums and gongs creating a lively din.

Bai Fenghuo didn’t bother with disguises this time. Many citizens who had seen her the previous day recognized her instantly, bowing respectfully as she passed. Some even plucked roadside wildflowers and offered them to her with reverence.

Bai Fenghuo quickly cast aside her earlier displeasure, straightening her slender waist and standing tall and elegant as she nodded to the crowd. The mere four or five li stretch of Hidden Sword Street took a full half-hour to traverse, and it wasn’t until mid-morning that she finally left the city.

Yun Chuanzhi, clinging to the hem of Bai Fenghuo’s robes, returned to Mount Everlasting, finally escaping her fate of vomiting during every journey. She had to admit that Bai Fenghuo’s Wind Manipulation Technique was truly exceptional—far smoother than that of Bai Xiaochen and Cheng Jinshu combined.

So smooth, in fact, that as Yun Chuanzhi clung to the hem of Bai Fenghuo’s robes and soared through the clouds, she even had the presence of mind to reach out and touch one of the wild geese flying alongside them.

News of Bai Fenghuo’s exoneration naturally reached Mount Everlasting. The Immortal Cultivators who had previously condemned her as the murderer fell silent, daring not to utter another word.

Overnight, Bai Fenghuo’s reputation seemed to have undergone a dramatic shift. Though people still feared him, she was no longer seen as a man-eating demon.

Yun Chuanzhi’s days settled into a routine. The conditions on Mount Everlasting were far superior to those of the Ling Shui Family below, even the beds were much softer. Not to mention the “treasures” she had crafted for laziness and shade. After finishing her daily chores, she would recline on her bed, leisurely savoring snacks pilfered from Bai Fenghuo, feeling like an empress on her throne.

Living like a fish in water, she found time slipping by like an arrow. Before she knew it, the sweltering summer had passed, and the parched earth had been washed into vibrant autumn hues by several rains.

One day, gazing out the window, she noticed that the lush green maple tree outside had turned a deep crimson, as if scorched by fire.

It was the day of White Dew. The lingering dampness from the previous night’s autumn rain still clung to the treetops. Yun Chuanzhi skillfully attended to Bai Fenghuo’s morning ablutions and meal, then brewed her a pot of newly arrived Muli Spring Tea.

Only after Bai Fenghuo departed for her morning cultivation session atop Wuwu Cliff did she finally leave Spring Encounter Pavilion, a fresh apple in hand, munching as she strolled.

Other Immortal Servants passed by on the path, most carrying blooming chrysanthemums of various colors to replace the withered potted plants. They nodded in greeting to Yun Chuanzhi, and she returned their smiles.

When she first arrived, the other Immortal Servants in the sect saw her as merely Bai Fenghuo’s new plaything, assuming she would tire of her after a few days and either send her away or kill her. Consequently, they treated her with disdain and neglect.

But now, not only had she remained by Bai Fenghuo’s side for months, but she had also received a personal name from the Sect Leader herself, making her a rising star. The previous neglect vanished without a trace, and now people even bowed to her as she walked through the sect.

Yun Chuanzhi understood human nature well and wasn’t surprised by this shift. She accepted the bows with grace, strutting through the sect with her head held high, basking in the attention.

“Sister Yun, which of these two potted flowers would look best in the pavilion at the center of the lake?” A Little Immortal Servant with rosy cheeks and almond-shaped eyes knelt before her, her face flushed as she asked.

Yun Chuanzhi paused to consider the options, then pointed to the yellow-flowered pot. “This one. It’s more eye-catching.”

“Yes,” the Little Immortal Servant replied with a radiant smile, quickly carrying the pot away.

“Yun~ Sister~” Cheng Jinshu’s voice suddenly rang out from behind her. Yun Chuanzhi had already heard her approaching footsteps. She turned around, still munching on an apple.

“What brings you here again?” she asked with a smile.

“Boredom. I’m probably the most idle person on Mount Everlasting these days,” Cheng Jinshu said, propping herself up on the railing of the wooden bridge and hopping onto it. Beneath them, a vast lake shimmered, teeming with schools of Brocaded Carp.

“I thought you were free and came to kill time with you, but I turned the corner and found you busy chatting with someone,” Cheng Jinshu teased. “What’s this? Now that you’ve changed your name, you’ve become popular too?”

Yun Chuanzhi tossed the apple core into the lake, watching the Brocaded Carp swarm forward, only to retreat in disappointment. She smiled warmly. “It’s certainly improved.”

“Where’s Aunt?”

“She’s meditating, as usual. Since returning from Youji City, she seems to have become much more diligent. She never used to cultivate this frequently.” Yun Chuanzhi found a bench and sat down. “Perhaps she suffered a setback fighting those people from Celestial Emperor City in Youji City and is now reflecting on her mistakes.”

Cheng Jinshu pursed her lips. “Aunt’s Spirit Root has always been renowned for its exceptional clarity and brilliance. That’s why Grandmaster treasured her so dearly. She reached Qi Refining in just three days after her Spirit Root Awakening and Foundation Establishment in a single month. Even my Master couldn’t compare.”

“If not for that incident years ago, which caused her immense suffering, damaged her foundation, and left her with lingering ailments, she would have long since reached the Great Ascension realm,” Cheng Jinshu said with genuine regret.

Yun Chuanzhi could sense Cheng Jinshu’s mix of affection and fear toward Bai Fenghuo.

She smiled. “And what about you? Even with half your cultivation gone, you’re still at the Golden Core Stage. Your Spirit Root must have been quite remarkable before.”

“I’m nowhere near that good,” Cheng Jinshu said, dangling her hand over the railing as if trying to touch the unreachable fish.

Cheng Jinshu always avoided discussing her past. Though Yun Chuanzhi was curious, she refrained from pressing the matter and instead asked, “Are you still cultivating?”

“I practice my techniques occasionally and recite the Heart Incantation,” Cheng Jinshu replied, her mood darkening momentarily before she perked up with a cheerful grin. “As an Independent Cultivator without a Sect, cultivation doesn’t really serve much purpose for me.”

She quickly countered, “What about you, Yun Chuanzhi? Have you never considered joining a Sect and becoming a true Immortal Cultivator?”

“Never,” Yun Chuanzhi answered firmly. She leaned against the railing, her lips curving into a smile as the lake’s reflection shimmered in her eyes. “I have no attachments. I live only to enjoy a few more meals. I have no desire to compete with others, nor do I aspire to become an Immortal.”

“Still, I meditate occasionally to replenish my spiritual energy. It might come in handy someday.”

“You’re remarkably carefree,” Cheng Jinshu said, tilting her head to study her. “How can such a young girl live with such an old soul?”

Yun Chuanzhi smiled silently. She retrieved a ball of cotton thread from a wooden box and picked it up with two chopstick-like wooden sticks. The sticks spun rapidly in her hands, and the thread quickly coalesced into a smooth, flat piece of fabric.

Cheng Jinshu’s attention was quickly drawn to Yun Chuanzhi’s movements. She hopped off the railing and leaned closer, asking, “What is this?”

“A wind collar,” Yun Chuanzhi replied, her fingers flying with nimble dexterity, leaving only blurred afterimages. “I’m weaving it to pass the time. Winter is approaching, and the Immortal Servants’ robes probably aren’t very warm. This will come in handy.”

“I’ve never seen hand-weaving before,” Cheng Jinshu marveled, her eyes wide with wonder. She reached out to touch Yun Chuanzhi’s fingers, sighing, “I don’t know how your hands are so skilled. You can make anything!”

Flattered by the praise, Yun Chuanzhi smiled. “I’ve already finished one. I’ll give you this wind collar when it’s done.”

While high-level Immortal Cultivators could conjure clothing with Immortal Art, such garments differed greatly from ordinary woven clothes. They were purely for modesty, flimsy, cold, and barely better than wearing nothing at all.

This meant adding a separate warming spell, which was quite troublesome. Most Immortal Cultivators preferred wearing ordinary clothing for comfort.

Cheng Jinshu readily agreed. She squatted beside Yun Chuanzhi, watching her weave the wind collar until she grew sleepy. After bidding farewell, she returned to her room for an afternoon nap.

And so, Yun Chuanzhi was left alone in the vast heart of the lake, her head bent in focused concentration as she wove. She continued until her eyes began to ache, when she suddenly heard the soft, rhythmic footsteps of a woman approaching.

Looking up, she saw the same apricot-faced, peach-cheeked Little Immortal Servant from earlier. The girl stood before her, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, her rosy lips pressed so tightly they had turned pale. Two round, glossy buns adorned her head, each adorned with a string of tinkling bells that chimed with every movement, adding to her lively charm.

Yun Chuanzhi’s starry eyes curved into a smile as she gazed at the bells. “Have you arranged the flowers?”

“Thank you, Sister Yun, I’ve finished,” the Little Immortal Servant replied with a dimpled smile, settling down beside her. “Sister Yun, what is this you’re making?” she asked curiously.

“It’s a Wind Collar,” Yun Chuanzhi replied, eager to share her invention. “Do you like it?”

The Little Immortal Servant nodded enthusiastically, her bells chiming merrily. “Yes, it’s beautiful!”

“Then once I finish this one, I’ll weave another for you,” Yun Chuanzhi declared with a cheerful wave of her hand.

“Really? Thank you, Sister Yun!” The Little Immortal Servant smiled sweetly, scooting closer to her. “My name is Xia Qiuqiu. I used to be a cook at the West Sloping Pavilion. My cooking isn’t great, but I make excellent pastries.”

“I’ll bake some for you tomorrow as a thank you.”

“That would be wonderful,” Yun Chuanzhi nodded.

Meanwhile, Bai Fenghuo, having just finished her morning cultivation, descended Wuwu Cliff. As she passed Emerald Lake, halfway across the bridge, she noticed a familiar figure in the center.

“Look, that girl’s slacking off again,” Bai Fenghuo remarked, though her tone wasn’t angry. “Have I been too lenient with her lately?”

Whitey, perched on her shoulder, grumbled, “You’ve been far too lenient. I’ve never seen anyone dare to be so brazen in front of the Sect Leader. We should tie her up one day and give her a good whipping to teach her a lesson.”

Bai Fenghuo frowned.

“Never mind,” she said. “She doesn’t have any ulterior motives anyway. A little laziness might even be beneficial to us.”

Whitey stuck its tongue out behind Bai Fenghuo’s back, mocking her.

“Bai Fenghuo, there’s someone else with her, sitting quite close,” Whitey peeked over. “Oh, it’s another young girl.”

Yun Chuanzhi had grown noticeably taller these past few days. Her body was at the age when she should have had a growth spurt, but she had remained short and thin due to chronic malnutrition. Now, with regular meals and the nourishment of spiritual energy, she was shooting up like a spring bamboo shoot, growing taller inch by inch.

From a distance, her dark hair was tied up, her laughter rang like silver bells, and she resembled a lotus bud about to bloom—clear, bright, and full of youthful vigor.

The girl beside her was also in her prime, chatting animatedly with Yun Chuanzhi, their smiles as radiant as the morning sun. The pair made a striking sight.

For some reason, Bai Fenghuo felt a pang of displeasure. She clasped her fingers together, pressed her lips into a thin line, and her voice turned cold as she asked in a low voice, “Who is that girl chatting so happily with Yun Chuanzhi?”