The Villainess Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 44

Yun Chuanzhi’s body suddenly stiffened, as if she had been struck by a paralysis spell. She couldn’t move even a fingertip, her left side numb while the sensation on her right shoulder intensified, making her acutely aware of every movement the woman made.

This strange sensation left Yun Chuanzhi speechless. She could only exhale silently, circulating her breath internally three times like practicing internal cultivation, before the stiffness finally dissipated.

“Is Sect Leader worried about the conflict with the Sect Leader?” Yun Chuanzhi asked softly, swallowing the inexplicable surge in her throat.

“Yes, and no,” Bai Fenghuo replied. “It’s not really worry. I’m just tired. Let me lean on you for a while.”

Bai Fenghuo no longer seemed to disdain her. She used to avoid even touching her, yet now she was leaning on her unprompted. Yun Chuanzhi murmured inwardly, unaccustomed to such silence. She continued, “It’s already night. Has Sect Leader had dinner yet?”

When Bai Fenghuo didn’t answer, Yun Chuanzhi continued, “Cheng Jinshu caught some wild chickens in the mountains today and sent me the fattest one just now.”

“I was planning to cook it tonight for a late-night snack, but since the Sect Leader enjoys chicken soup, I’ll prepare it for your dinner instead. How does that sound?”

“This Seat isn’t hungry,” Bai Fenghuo finally spoke, straightening her posture. The room’s lamps reignited, filling the space with a brilliant glow. Yun Chuanzhi blinked, her vision gradually clearing.

Bai Fenghuo had already leaned back against the couch, much of the weariness in her eyes replaced by a faint flush at the corners.

Yun Chuanzhi, never one for comforting others, hesitated, the words tumbling around in her mouth before she managed to squeeze out, “Actually, I don’t think the Sect Leader is indifferent to you.”

“Why would I want her to care?” Bai Fenghuo scoffed, rising to approach the couch, her hair ornaments jingling as she stretched languidly. “This Seat is going to rest now.”

Yun Chuanzhi had no choice but to abandon her attempt at comfort. She rose and walked ahead of Bai Fenghuo to the couch, expertly arranging the bedding and extinguishing the lamps.

As she watched the woman shed her outer robes and slowly lie down, Bai Fenghuo murmured, “Yun Chuanzhi, could you tell This Seat a story?”

Her words were framed as a question rather than a command, carrying a hint of pleading. Yun Chuanzhi was surprised by her tone, but after a brief pause, she quickly agreed.

Yun Chuanzhi had enjoyed reading storybooks to pass the time during her days in Avici City. Now, recalling a few tales, she chose the one she remembered most vividly and began to narrate it.

The story was quite ordinary—a typical romance tale filled with tangled love and hatred. Yun Chuanzhi, never a skilled storyteller, delivered the narrative in a flat, unengaging manner.

Yet Bai Fenghuo listened intently until the moon climbed high in the sky, and Yun Chuanzhi’s throat grew parched from speaking. Only then did Bai Fenghuo finally drift off to sleep.

Hearing the steady breathing of the sleeping figure before her, Yun Chuanzhi tiptoed away.

Mountain monks count not the years; a single falling leaf heralds autumn’s arrival.

Autumn’s embrace descended silently upon Mount Everlasting. Just days ago, a refreshing autumn breeze had swept through the mountains. Now, opening the window revealed a landscape ablaze with vibrant hues.

The once lush, verdant forest was now draped in crimson and gold, resembling an embroidered tapestry from afar. Even the sun seemed washed in autumnal colors, its glare softened to a rich, crimson glow.

Ever since Bai Fenghuo had pointed out the dilemma of mortal lifespans, Yun Chuanzhi had tempered her hedonistic tendencies. While pleasure remained her primary pursuit, she now dedicated her spare time to drawing formations and cultivating for several hours each day.

This body made Immortal Cultivation difficult, but fortunately, being on a spiritual energy-rich Immortal Mountain, Yun Chuanzhi quickly broke through the Qi Refining stage, barely qualifying as a true Immortal Cultivator.

With the arrival of autumn, Mount Everlasting’s Autumn Conferral proceeded as scheduled. Bai Fenghuo became significantly busier, traveling to the Main Peak every other day to give lectures, and Yun Chuanzhi accompanied him.

At first, she would enter the lecture hall to listen, but after growing bored, she began sneaking away to secluded spots in the mountains during the Immortal Conferrals, sometimes cultivating, sometimes napping.

On this particular day, Yun Chuanzhi followed Bai Fenghuo to the Main Peak. Higher than Fifth Peak, the autumn colors were even more intense here. Half the mountain’s leaves had fallen, forming a thick, rustling carpet underfoot.

A gust of wind sent crimson leaves swirling through the air, creating a scene both desolate and vibrant. Yun Chuanzhi sat comfortably in a Cloud Pavilion floating mid-air, gazing at the distant mountains, sipping tea, and enjoying the autumn scenery.

A woman in a light blue short robe approached from behind, clicking her tongue. “Yun Chuanzhi, you truly know how to enjoy life. Where did you find such a tranquil spot?”

“I’ve been cultivating in these mountains for over a century, yet this is the first time I’ve ever set foot in this Cloud Pavilion,” Cheng Jinshu said, her voice tinged with envy.

“I just stumbled upon it while wandering around,” Yun Chuanzhi said with a smile, stretching her legs and rocking in her chair. “The Cloud Pavilion is usually hidden among the clouds, appearing and disappearing. It’s no wonder no one knows about it.”

“Muli Spring Tea?” Cheng Jinshu exclaimed, sighing as she poured herself a cup. “This tea is only harvested once every three years from the Muli Divine Peak. Where did you steal it from this time?” She took a sip, her eyes closing in contentment.

“How could you call it stealing?” Yun Chuanzhi retorted. “The Sect Leader found this batch too bland and gave it all to me.”

Cheng Jinshu found a circular chair and sat down. The two women enjoyed the breeze, which carried a hint of autumn chill.

“Another year wasted in mediocrity,” Cheng Jinshu sighed, catching a falling leaf and tossing it back into the wind. “Winter’s almost here, and Mount Everlasting remains unchanged.”

“Cultivation, cultivation,” Yun Chuanzhi replied, gesturing to the vibrant, layered forests below. “This mountain is meant for Immortal Cultivation. Of course it remains unchanged. Besides, isn’t the scenery magnificent?”

Cheng Jinshu smiled and fell silent. Footsteps approached from behind, steady and light—Ling Shui’s unmistakable gait.

As expected, the wind whipped at the hem of Ling Shui’s white robes, causing them to flutter wildly. Her melancholic gaze fixed on the horizon, she didn’t take a chair but instead sat directly on the edge of the platform extending from Cloud Pavilion.

Cheng Jinshu handed her a cup of tea, then teased, “It’s the Autumn Conferral today. Why aren’t you in the Cultivation Hall listening to the Heart Sutra of Daoist Methods?”

Since the Autumn Conferral began, Ling Shui had followed Bai Fenghuo everywhere, sometimes eavesdropping outside the hall and other times listening inside under the guise of serving him. Though Bai Fenghuo was aware of her intentions, she never called her out, tacitly allowing her presence.

“Sect Leader Liao Zongfang of Cloud Peace Gate is lecturing today, not our own Sect Leader,” Ling Shui replied softly, accepting the tea. “Sect Leader Liao is meticulous about hierarchical order. Immortal Servants are forbidden from entering cultivation grounds.”

“Why hasn’t my aunt taken you as her disciple yet?” Cheng Jinshu protested. “Your talent surpasses even mine.”

Yun Chuanzhi, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected, “In my opinion, Sect Leader Bi isn’t unwilling to accept Ling Shui as her disciple. Rather, she’s burdened by too much slander. Taking her now would only transfer that slander onto Ling Shui.”

“That makes sense,” Cheng Jinshu said, suddenly remembering something and giggling. “Yesterday, I overheard the Immortal Cultivators saying that among all the Sect Leaders and Elders who give lectures, they’re most attentive and quiet when my aunt enters the hall. They wouldn’t dare doze off, let alone let their minds wander.”

Ling Shui smiled. “The day before yesterday, I personally saw Sect Leader Liao hang a disobedient Immortal Cultivator from the roof of Bright Existence Hall. She left her there to be buffeted by the cold wind for half a day before her master finally rescued him.”

As Yun Chuanzhi listened, she couldn’t help but laugh along with them. With Bai Fenghuo’s temperament, he’d be capable of murder and robbery. Dealing with a few young girls and boys would be child’s play for him.

The three chatted idly until a tiger’s roar echoed from the horizon. Yun Chuanzhi raised her eyebrows and looked up, spotting a string of black dots faintly visible through the clouds. The dots rapidly grew closer, revealing themselves to be a glaring white tiger.

A blue-robed Immortal Cultivator stood atop the tiger. The woman had broad shoulders and muscular arms, her hair tied in a Daoist-style topknot. Her features mirrored those of her glaring white tiger: deep-set eyes and jet-black eyebrows, giving her a fierce and menacing appearance.

Trailing behind her were four or five Immortal Cultivators, all cultivators from Mount Everlasting.

The group moved with solemn expressions, riding the wind, and swiftly passed over the Cloud Pavilion where the three were gathered, leaving a gust of wind in their wake.

“Who are they?” Yun Chuanzhi asked, dumping out the tea that had been dirtied by the wind and turning to watch the figures recede.

“The leader is Luo Yin’an, Sect Leader Bi’s eldest disciple from Fourth Peak,” Cheng Jinshu replied. “By seniority, he’s my Junior Brother. A few days ago, she led some newly advanced Golden Core Stage Immortal Cultivators down the mountain for training.”

As she spoke, Cheng Jinshu frowned. “Wait, I remember they left with over ten people. How come only a few stragglers are returning?”

“Could they have encountered danger down below and been injured?” Ling Shui rose to her feet and peered into the distance. “They’re heading straight for Bright Existence Hall. It looks like an urgent matter—they’re kneeling right at the hall’s entrance.”

“Let me take a look.” Cheng Jinshu, always eager for gossip, circled around to the other end of the Cloud Pavilion and squinted.

Curiosity piqued, and knowing Bai Fenghuo wouldn’t emerge anytime soon, the three women leaped down from the Cloud Pavilion and hurried toward Bright Existence Hall.

By the time they arrived, Luo Yin’an and her group had already entered the hall. Cheng Jinshu approached the gate guard, slipped her two spirit stones, and asked a few questions.

When she returned to Yun Chuanzhi and Ling Shui, her expression was grim, the smile gone from her face. “They said they encountered a Tenth-Tier Great Demon down the mountain,” she reported. “Apart from the survivors who barely escaped with their lives, the rest of the disciples are missing.”

“A Tenth-Tier Great Demon?” Even Yun Chuanzhi was shocked. She turned to Ling Shui. “Are there really so many Great Demons in the Qianyuan Realm?”

“Though demonic creatures are numerous, most are only at the seventh or eighth tier. Ninth-tier demons are exceedingly rare, seldom seen even by ordinary Immortal Cultivators. As for tenth-tier Great Demons, only one has appeared in the past twenty years.”

Ling Shui’s voice trailed off as she spoke, her almond-shaped eyes turning with concern to Cheng Jinshu, who had suddenly fallen silent. She didn’t continue.

Yun Chuanzhi suddenly remembered the story Cheng Jinshu had shared a few days prior and also fell silent.

Yun Chuanzhi had later investigated that Great Demon from the past. It was said that not only the three major sects but also other Immortal Sects and Independent Cultivators had converged on the demon’s location, hoping to eliminate it while seizing some benefits.

Though tenth-tier Great Demons were terrifying, their bodies were treasure troves. Beyond the spiritual elixirs within them, even a vial of their bl00d was a valuable cultivation resource.

However, the Great Demon proved overwhelmingly powerful. In the end, Bai Xiaochen and Floating Radiance Monarch, the divine maiden of Muli Divine Peak, had to join forces to severely wound it. Yet, due to unforeseen circumstances, the demon ultimately escaped, vanishing without a trace.

Now that another tenth-tier Great Demon had emerged, could it be…?

Yun Chuanzhi and Ling Shui exchanged a glance, neither daring to voice their fears. Finally, Ling Shui broke the silence. “The sun is setting. The Autumn Conferral is almost over. Let’s go find Sect Leader Liao.”

Cheng Jinshu’s face was pale, a stark contrast to her earlier composure. She forced a smile. “You go ahead. I have some matters to attend to. Farewell.”

With that, she turned and left, her fluttering braids quickly disappearing among the falling red leaves. Yun Chuanzhi and Ling Shui exchanged uncertain glances before silently heading toward the Cultivation Hall, where they stood at the entrance to await Bai Fenghuo.

The final notes of the string music faded, and the doors creaked open, yet no one emerged for a long moment. Finally, the hem of Bai Fenghuo’s robe appeared in the setting sun, and the Immortal Cultivators inside seemed to have received a pardon, swarming out the doors as if fleeing for their lives.

Some rode clouds, others sprinted away, as if Bai Fenghuo were a man-eating demon they couldn’t wait to vanish from her sight.

Before long, only Bai Fenghuo remained beneath the eaves of the Cultivation Hall. Her alluring eyes swept over the retreating figures with contempt, as if regarding ants. With a flick of her long sleeves, she extended her jade hand toward Yun Chuanzhi, her crimson nails gleaming brightly.

“This Seat feels dizzy. Help This Seat back. The story you told last night was quite good. This Seat wishes to hear more.”

Yun Chuanzhi had grown accustomed to Bai Fenghuo’s increasingly unreasonable demands in recent days. However, with Ling Shui present, she still blushed slightly, cleared her throat, and gently took the woman’s palm.

As they descended the steps, Ling Shui also cleared her throat, turned her back, and clasped her hands behind her, concealing the maple-leaf-red flush on her face.