The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 25

“Mother, I can’t hold on any longer!”

The child’s soft, pleading voice cut through the sweltering heat like a cool breeze. Tiny beads of sweat dotted the baby’s forehead, glistening like raindrops on a windowpane. His delicate, jade-like legs were locked in an awkward squatting stance, his tiny fists clenched in effort as his body wobbled precariously.

“Oof!”

The baby finally collapsed onto the ground like a deflated ball, sprawling out in a starfish pose with his arms and legs splayed wide.

Beside him stood a woman dressed in a soft, jade-green brocade robe embroidered with feather-like patterns. Her long, raven-black hair was coiled into an elaborate updo, secured with a vermilion bamboo hairpin. Her arched eyebrows framed sharp, piercing eyes as her crimson lips parted to issue a stern command.

“Get up! You’ve barely held that stance for half a quarter of an hour!”

The sun beat down mercilessly. The baby’s rosy lips puckered, and tears welled in the corners of his eyes as he struggled to his feet and resumed the squatting stance.

The woman nodded in approval. With a graceful gesture, she pointed to a tree. “Count the cicada’s calls. You may stop when you reach one thousand.”

The baby, his hair styled in twin coiled buns with strands clinging tightly to his cheeks, licked his dry lips and remained silent.

Seeing her remain silent, the woman took a deep breath. “If you don’t finish counting, you’ll have no dinner tonight!”

Hearing this, the baby sighed in resignation. Amidst the incessant buzzing of cicadas, she began counting rapidly: “One, two, three…”

The faster she counted, the more she accelerated, as if pursued by galloping horses, racing against the wind.

The woman didn’t press her further, sighing and turning a blind eye.

“Five hundred twenty-eight, five hundred twenty-nine…”

The halo around the sun blazed like molten gold, blindingly bright. The baby’s upper body swayed like a rocking chair, her blinks growing more frequent as her counting gradually slowed.

“Five hundred thirty… five… hundred thirty-one… five hundred…” Her voice faded to a whisper, until it was no longer audible.

“Ling Jun!” The woman darted to her side the moment Ling Jun collapsed, pressing a hand to her forehead. So hot… Frowning, she quickly carried the child back to her room, placed ice packs around her, and applied a cold, damp cloth to her forehead.

Gazing at the eight-year-old lying on the bed, the woman sighed again. “It’s my overprotectiveness that’s made you so frail.”

The icy mist spread through the room, dispelling the summer heat.

When Ling Jun awoke, it was evening.

She opened her eyes, gently touched her empty stomach, and quietly got out of bed. She tiptoed to the door, cautiously cracked it open a sliver, and glanced around outside. Seeing no one, she opened the door wider and tiptoed toward the small kitchen.

“It’s so wonderful to be able to see clearly again!” Ling Jun couldn’t help but sigh in contentment.

The world appeared vividly clear before her, every detail sharp and distinct—even the grain patterns on the table were crisp and defined. She skillfully closed the door behind her and placed a few pieces of firewood into the stove.

Whether it was a reward from her previous world or not, Ling Jun’s eyesight had fully recovered. If she were to test her vision now, it would likely be between 5.1 and 5.2.

“What should I make for dinner tonight…”

As she spoke, Ling Jun opened the various baskets to check the ingredients.

Potatoes, potatoes, and more potatoes.

After rummaging through the Cuiyue Sect’s small kitchen, she found only potatoes and seasonings!

Speechless for a moment, she resignedly pulled out a palm-sized potato from the basket.

She hefted it in her hand. “This should be enough for me.”

With practiced ease, she lit the stove, peeled the potato, and shredded it into thin strips. Remembering the difficult day ahead, Ling Jun added a splash of vinegar to the dish.

“Vinegar-glazed potato shreds over rice. Let me have a taste, my little darling…”

Ling Jun blew on the steaming potato shreds before bringing them to her mouth. A tangy, refreshing flavor burst across her palate, and she quickly scooped up a mouthful of white rice.

One word: “Perfect!”

Bang!

The kitchen door swung open. Seeing the jade-green and crimson hem of a robe, Ling Jun instinctively ducked behind the stove.

Jian Qiongjun snorted coldly. “What are you hiding for? Stealing food again! Don’t think hiding will fool me. Jian Lingjun, the sour smell of your vinegar-glazed potatoes reached the doorway!”

No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Ling Jun resigned herself to her fate, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and emerged from behind the stove with her head bowed, her cheeks and mouth stuffed full. Only when she reached Jian Qiongjun did she look up and notice a grimy, disheveled child standing beside her, his clothes stained with dark bl00d…

Ling Jun hurriedly swallowed her mouthful. The child stared back at her, seemingly fixated on… her glistening, oily lips?

“Ang Qi…”

Jian Qiongjun frowned and interrupted, “Drink some water before you speak.”

Still catching her breath, Ling Jun drank some water and looked at the grimy child again. “Mother, who is this?”

Jian Qiongjun didn’t even glance at the child beside her. “I picked her up by the roadside to spar with you,” she said casually.

“Spar?” Ling Jun’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I don’t need a sparring partner, Mother. I’m perfectly happy with you.” Her movements flowed like water, without the slightest hesitation—any hesitation would be a sign of disrespect toward martial arts. That was right.

Jian Qiongjun scoffed coldly, choosing not to expose her. She lowered her head and asked, “Little girl, what’s your name?”

The dirt-streaked girl stared at Ling Jun and replied, “Qi Gui.”

At the name, Ling Jun’s breath caught in her throat. Her hands went limp, and the bowl of vinegar-braised potatoes slipped from her grasp, the dish now mixed with dust and dirt. Though she had mentally prepared herself for this encounter, the shock of actually meeting her was unavoidable. Even though they weren’t the same person…

The timing of Ling Jun’s arrival in this world was both fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunate because she had transmigrated into a body that hadn’t even been born yet. Unfortunate because she had always imagined transmigrating into an ordinary person. Instead, she found herself in the body of Jian Lingjun, who asked her, “Why? Why would Qi Gui do this to me?” Her wish was to understand why Qi Gui had destroyed the Cuiyue Sect, to uncover the truth behind her actions. The child was still kind, never once suggesting they should prevent the sect’s destruction.

The Cuiyue Sect wasn’t some righteous sect; it was a Demonic Sect feared throughout the martial world.

Jian Qiongjun frowned, took Ling Jun’s wrist to check her pulse, and only spoke again after confirming there were no issues. “Why aren’t you more careful? Did you overexert yourself?”

Ling Jun, abandoning her earlier stubbornness, nodded and replied softly.

Jian Qiongjun continued, “You don’t even have a personal guard. If word gets out, the Cuiyue Sect will lose face. I think this girl is quite good—strong build, solid foundation, and capable of both training with you and protecting you. What do you think? Do you like her?”

Like her? Ling Jun studied Qi Gui carefully. Her eyes were clear and bright, dark as night.

“Don’t you like her?” Jian Qiongjun raised an eyebrow and flicked her finger.

Qi Gui instantly collapsed, lifeless.

“Mother!” Ling Jun cried out in alarm.

“But you said you didn’t like her,” Jian Qiongjun said with a pout.

“I never said that! Mother, what are you doing?!” Ling Jun knelt beside Qi Gui and reached out to check her breathing. Thank goodness, she’s still alive…

“If you don’t like her, throw her away. If you do, keep her. Your guard will take your surname.” With that, Jian Qiongjun turned and left.

Ling Jun stared at the scene before her, then helped Qi Gui to her feet. Biting her lip, she called out, “Is anyone there?!”

Yunyin, who was on night patrol, hurried over. “Junior Sister, what’s wrong?”

“Senior Sister Yunyin, could you please prepare a bath and have it brought to my room?” Ling Jun asked, clasping her hands together and flashing Yunyin a charming look with her bright, almond-shaped eyes.

Within the Cuiyue Sect, Ling Jun had always been adored by her senior brothers. Yunyin naturally agreed to help with this small request.

“Of course, I’ll help with such a simple matter. But who is this Junior Sister is supporting?” Yunyin frowned, glancing at the person Ling Jun was nearly carrying in her arms.

“A guard my mother forced on me—Jian Qigui. Senior Sister Yunyin, please hurry. I’ll take her back to my room right away,” Ling Jun said, struggling to carry Qi Gui toward her room.

Noticing Ling Jun’s labored steps, Yunyin called out, “Do you need help?”

“N-no… I’m fine!” Ling Jun replied through gritted teeth.

“Honestly…” Yunyin chuckled indulgently.

In truth, Jian Qigui wasn’t particularly heavy. However, Ling Jun’s martial arts progress had been slow, leaving her internal energy insufficient and making her little more than a weakling.

Now came an even more daunting problem.

Facing the unconscious Qi Gui and the bath, Ling Jun rubbed her cheeks and rolled up her sleeves.

“This is insane! I’m absolutely amazing! You’re a little angel on earth, a living goddess! Master and mommy all in one! Bathing a child is such a blissful task! Just look at this…”

Muttering encouragement to herself, Ling Jun repeatedly brainwashed herself, as if this would make her feel less tired from what she was doing.

After washing Qi Gui clean, Ling Jun checked behind Jian Qigui’s ear, but there was no cinnabar birthmark…

She’s not her…

Even though Ling Jun knew this world’s Qi Gui couldn’t possibly be Guan Qigui, she still felt an involuntary pang of disappointment.

A flash of crimson caught her eye. Ling Jun noticed a gash on Qi Gui’s left leg. Frowning, she recalled Jian Qiongjun’s behavior earlier that day. Biting her lip, she bandaged Qi Gui’s wound and changed her into clean clothes.

Exhausted from her efforts, Ling Jun lay down beside Qi Gui, panting heavily. She longed to be a lazy bum, but as she gazed at the clean girl beside her, their strikingly similar features reminded her of their tranquil life in the mountain forests, surrounded by grazing cattle and sheep. With a sigh, she drifted off to sleep.

Ice blocks in the room cooled the summer heat. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing Ling Jun’s face in a persistent, slightly blinding glow.

Ling Jun slowly opened her eyes and found Jian Qigui’s dark, unwavering gaze fixed on her. They stared at each other in silence until Ling Jun, unable to bear it any longer, sat up and spoke. “I washed you last night. Your… mother said you’ll take my surname from now on. My name is Jian Lingjun. You can call me Ling Jun.”

As Ling Jun stood up, Jian Qigui rose as well, tugging at Ling Jun’s sleeve. Ling Jun turned to her and asked, “What is it?”

“Ling Jun… can I have a hug?”

For the first time, a different expression appeared on Jian Qigui’s face—a stifling sense of oppression, like being shrouded by dark clouds or crushed beneath a mountain. Her eyes reddened, and she bit her lower lip with almost all her strength.

Ling Jun froze for a moment before giving her a warm embrace, stroking Jian Qigui’s back and asking softly, “Do you feel better now?” If she had transmigrated with a favorability system, she would have surely seen a “+1” notification. Though she didn’t know what Jian Qigui had been through, given the villains’ tendencies, she likely wouldn’t share much. Since Jian Qigui wasn’t offering, it was best not to pry.

Jian Qigui rubbed the corners of her eyes, released the hug, and nodded. “Much better. Thank you, Ling Jun.”

Ever since their experience in the previous world, Ling Jun had found Jian Qigui to be exceptionally well-behaved. She couldn’t imagine how such a docile Qi Gui could have single-handedly destroyed the Cuiyue Sect.

By the time the two had finished washing up, eaten breakfast, and arrived at the training grounds, it was already late morning. Jian Qiongjun greeted them with a hint of displeasure.

“Jian Qigui, from tomorrow onward, I expect you and the Young Master to be here practicing martial arts at the chen hour. Do you understand?”

Jian Qigui nodded in acknowledgment.

“Begin. Start with a half-hour horse stance.”

Without complaint, Jian Qigui immediately assumed the horse stance.

Remembering the injury on Jian Qigui’s leg, Ling Jun mustered her courage and asked, “Mother, could we postpone today’s martial arts practice?”

“Another word, and it’ll be a full hour of horse stance,” Jian Qiongjun warned, glancing sideways at Ling Jun before assuming the stance herself, aligning her posture with Ling Jun’s.

Seeing there was no room for negotiation, Ling Jun sighed and reluctantly adopted the horse stance.

They barely endured the morning session, only to face further torment in the afternoon. This world truly showed no mercy, forcing them into daily horse stances.

The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly, soaking the children’s clothes through with sweat. Jian Qiongjun, seated comfortably in her rocking chair, closed her eyes at the sight.

Just then, clouds obscured the sun, and the children didn’t notice the change. A wave of coolness spread outward from Jian Qiongjun.

They simply assumed the scorching sun had faded and a gentle breeze had risen.

As expected, Jian Qigui’s wound reopened. Bl00d seeped through the gauze, staining her trousers. How she endured the horse stance for so long remained a mystery.

To spare Jian Qigui from further torture, Ling Jun turned to Jian Qiongjun and cried out, “Mother, Jian Qigui is bleeding!”