The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32

In the days following the Pingcheng County incident, Ling Jun had been restless and troubled. Now that her coming-of-age ceremony was complete, she packed her belongings and set out to find Jian Qigui.

The room was sparsely furnished, and the empty inner chamber clearly indicated that no one was present.

A painting lay on the wooden table. Ling Jun glanced back guiltily before approaching to examine it closely.

To understand Jian Qigui’s inner world, one had to start with her surroundings and observe the details of her life. A person’s daily habits reveal much about their character, which might shed light on why Jian Qigui sought to destroy the Cuiyue Sect.

The painting depicted a vast expanse of crimson, filling the entire canvas. This sea of red resembled a hellscape overgrown with mandalas. At the very center, a token was enveloped in the crimson tide. It resembled the one Jian Qigui had recently obtained, yet it wasn’t quite the same. Hmm… it wasn’t Jian Qiongjun’s either.

It looked more like… the tokens of the two Rudder Envoys…

Ling Jun wondered why Jian Qigui had painted this. Her thoughts drifted far away for a moment.

“What are you looking at?”

Suddenly, a voice devoid of emotion rang out.

Ling Jun instinctively hid the painting behind her back and glanced toward the doorway. Seeing the figure there, she cleared her throat. “I… was just looking around. I wanted to discuss something with you…”

Her gaze swept across the empty table. Noticing Ling Jun’s nervous posture with her hands behind her back, Jian Qigui immediately understood and found it amusing. “Just a quick sketch. What did you want to discuss?”

Hearing Jian Qigui’s tone, which didn’t sound angry, Ling Jun finally relaxed and returned to the main topic. “Do you remember Pingcheng County, where we stopped on our way back from White Plum Mountain last month?” The mention of this suddenly reminded Ling Jun of that night—the warm, soft, and invasive lips and tongue. Her cheeks flushed crimson like winter plum blossoms blooming wildly. Avoiding Jian Qigui’s probing gaze, she lowered her head and stared at her toes.

How could she forget that night of unforgettable passion, rejection, and torment? Now, the very person responsible stood before her in such a vulnerable state. Jian Qigui couldn’t help but wonder if Ling Jun had finally come to a realization…

“Of course I remember,” Jian Qigui replied with a calm nod, suppressing the restless stirrings within her. Her gaze burned like starlight, her expression fervent with anticipation for what Ling Jun would say next.

Ling Jun looked up and paused, startled by Jian Qigui’s expression. She pursed her lips and averted her gaze, finally saying, “When we stayed at Shunshun Inn the other day, the innkeeper mentioned that Pingcheng County was unstable, with frequent disappearances of children. I don’t believe it’s the work of malevolent spirits; it must be human intervention. I want to investigate. Will you come with me?”

So that’s what this is about, Jian Qigui thought, inwardly scoffing at herself. Look at you, getting ahead of yourself! We’re just childhood friends, nothing more. Don’t make her disgusted with you! She took a deep breath to calm the bitterness in her heart and nodded slightly. “Of course I’ll go with you. I wouldn’t feel safe letting you go alone.” Ling Jun had no martial arts skills; though her Lightness Skill allowed her to escape, she’d be in trouble if she encountered a skilled opponent.

Both were action-oriented. As soon as they decided, they packed their belongings and set off for Pingcheng County.

Outside Pingcheng County, withered yellow grass swayed in the gentle breeze, swirling fallen leaves into a desolate dance. Fortunately, scattered tall trees pierced the sky, casting layers of shadows that softened the harshness of the landscape, preventing it from appearing completely barren.

Inside the town, the streets buzzed with activity, filled with the clamor of hawkers and the lively shouts of vendors. Two children squabbled over a grasshopper, their faces flushed with anger—a stark contrast to the desolate scene outside the town walls.

Ling Jun and Jian Qigui settled into a storyteller’s teahouse.

A waiter greeted them with a smile. “What can I get for you, ladies?”

“Just a pot of Biluochun tea will do,” Jian Qigui replied with a wave of her hand.

“Right away!”

The teahouse was small but elegantly decorated. Calligraphy scrolls adorned the walls, and the storyteller stood behind a low table, a striking block of wood resting beside her hand.

Their timing was perfect. Just as they sat down, the storyteller struck the striking block.

“On a dark and windy night, the old woman’s dog barked incessantly. She woke and went to investigate. A towering shadow emerged from the darkness—nine feet tall, clad in crimson robes, with a green face and fangs like a demon from the underworld, moving with terrifying speed. Then came two swift whoosh sounds!”

Ling Jun scoffed. Storytellers always exaggerated. Nine feet tall, green-faced with fangs, and moving with terrifying speed? Even with perfect vision, it would be impossible to discern such details in the dark, especially in a moment of high tension. Let alone ordinary people, even seasoned martial artists might miss such details. Her account could only be taken as a rough guide.

The storyteller paused, her melodious voice abruptly shifting. With a sharp snap, she closed her folding fan and continued in a hushed, breathy tone: “The old woman heard a child’s wailing—a loud, insistent cry. She had a five-year-old in the house, and she went to investigate. Creak, the door opened. Guess what she found.”

The storyteller paused again, picking up her teacup and draining it in one gulp. The surrounding crowd grew restless, sleeves flicking impatiently. “What was it?” they demanded.

The storyteller continued: “The room was empty. The child had vanished into thin air! Ah! The old woman was bewildered. How could her child disappear like that? She searched the house frantically, when suddenly, a dark shadow flickered past! The child’s wailing echoed in her ears—a voice without a body!” She struck the table with her clapper.

Clang!

“After the first child vanished, children across Pingcheng County began disappearing one after another. As everyone knows, three children have already been lost in our county, and panic grips the hearts of all. Families guard their children closely, fearing the demons will snatch them away. Yet just two days ago, the full-term daughter of Madam Wang, wife of Manager Wang from West Street, was also taken by these demons. A baby barely half a month old… how tragic!”

Another child had gone missing. Ling Jun seized on a crucial detail, exchanging a knowing smile with Jian Qigui. “Let’s go check out West Street,” she said.

Across from the teahouse stood a steamed bun shop, its storefront deserted. A few customers sat under the awning beside the shop. Ling Jun approached and called out, “Shopkeeper, what fillings do you have?”

Hearing a customer, the shopkeeper rose from his stool, his eyes crinkling into a smile. “Meat buns, vegetable buns, preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly, chive and egg buns, and sweet red bean paste buns. Two for a wen. Which ones would you like?”

Ling Jun tossed two wen onto the table. “One red bean paste bun, a vegetable bun, and two preserved mustard greens with braised pork belly.”

“Coming right up!” The shopkeeper, eager to please, swiftly retrieved the buns from the steamer.

Sensing the shopkeeper’s talkative nature, Jian Qigui asked, “By the way, do you know where Manager Wang’s residence is on West Street? We’re traveling merchants looking to discuss a partnership with him.”

She could make even dry grass sound eloquent, Ling Jun thought, shooting her a teasing glance.

The shopkeeper, a straightforward man, pointed toward West Street. “Manager Wang’s residence? Head two li down West Street—it’s the largest mansion there. Just a word of caution… the neighbors say he’s been in a foul mood lately.”

“Bad temper?” Ling Jun raised an eyebrow. Logically, the reaction to losing a child less than a month old should be profound grief, sorrow, and endless worry. Why was Manager Wang instead seething with anger?

This information was crucial. Ling Jun nodded, tossed down three copper coins, and said, “Thank you, sir.”

With that, the pair headed toward West Street. The shopkeeper’s earnest voice called after them, “Hey! Guests, no need for payment…”

The two-mile journey was neither long nor short. They activated their Ice Lotus technique, channeling their energy to sprint toward West Street. As the steamed bun shopkeeper had said, Manager Wang’s mansion on West Street was opulent and easy to find. After circling a few nearby residences, they located the grandest mansion and stealthily infiltrated its upper quarters.

Clear pond water rippled gently, a few fish darting through its depths, their movements creating soft ripples.

Two lazy maids stood by the pond’s edge. Ling Jun and Jian Qigui concealed themselves in the treetops, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Master refused to let the young lady have dinner again tonight,” one of them said, her voice tinged with indignation.

Young lady? Ling Jun frowned and exchanged a glance with Jian Qigui, then focused intently on the conversation.

The other maid broke off a piece of her steamed bun and tossed it into the pond. The fish swarmed forward, desperate to snatch the morsel before it disappeared.

“It’s such a tragedy! The young lady is so small, yet the old master is so heartless!”

“Shh! Don’t let anyone hear you. If word gets back to the old master, we’ll both be in trouble!”

“I just feel so sorry for the young lady…”

Seeing the two women had stopped talking, Ling Jun beckoned Jian Qigui over and led her to a more private spot to discuss their next move.

Ling Jun turned to Jian Qigui and whispered, “How many daughters do you think Manager Wang has?”

“In a proper, well-mannered household, the whole family would dine together. If there are daughters, they’d likely be at the table too. I think we should start by observing Madam Wang’s movements and then make our plans,” Jian Qigui said thoughtfully.

Ling Jun nodded in agreement. “Good idea.”

The mansion had only four rooms decorated with any extravagance, but only two contained dressing tables, and both were occupied by women.

This complicated matters. Which of these women was Madam Wang?

The woman in the first room was dressed in lavish robes, gazing at her reflection in the mirror with a sigh.

She looks somewhat like her…

The woman in the second room was similarly dressed in opulent attire. Seated before her dressing table, she wore no makeup and clutched a pair of palm-sized embroidered rabbit slippers, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at them with profound sorrow.

They had expected to spend considerable time searching for Madam Wang’s chambers, but it seemed their task might be easier than anticipated.

“This must be Madam Wang,” Jian Qigui whispered.

Ling Jun nodded in agreement. “There are so many children’s items here. It has to be this room.”

What about the young mistress the maids had mentioned?

After searching the entire residence, they found that Manager Wang’s household had few female members. Besides the two they had just seen, there was only an elderly woman, likely Manager Wang’s mother.

Perched on the roof, they lifted a small, curved tile, peering through a half-inch gap the size of a ruler to observe the room below.

Madam Wang’s life was utterly monotonous. She spent her days brooding before the mirror or gazing at her child’s toys.

Ling Jun’s eyelids grew heavy. Seated on the roof, she glanced sideways to see Jian Qigui beside her, watching with unwavering focus. She yawned, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

She tried to stay alert, but her eyelids refused to obey, drooping lower and lower.

The breathing beside her deepened. Ling Jun felt a weight settle on her shoulder. Turning her head, her lips brushed against Jian Qigui’s moist lower lip. Her breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat.

Now, she had no interest in watching Madam Wang’s melancholy below. Jian Qigui’s throat bobbed, the softness of Ling Jun’s lips making it impossible to pull away. She greedily thought, Just a little longer before I leave…

Her gaze darkened as she looked down. The delicate skin of Ling Jun’s neck resembled the tender shoots of early spring bamboo. Her clearly visible collarbones made Jian Qigui want to bite them. The rumpled collar of her robe revealed the curve of her rounded shoulder…

Knock, knock, knock…

A series of knocks echoed from outside the door.