The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 40

Tears soaked the hem of Ling Jun’s padded silk skirt. After a long while, she finally calmed down, huddled in Jian Qigui’s arms. She straightened up, her gaze sweeping over Jian Qigui’s damp lapels, and looked at her with a hint of apology.

It seems I always end up showing her my vulnerable side…

Gradually regaining her composure, Ling Jun refocused on the purpose of her visit.

“What do you make of the Demon Suppression Sect’s actions?”

Jian Qigui showed no concern about her soaked lapels. She let out a soft scoff, her tone dripping with disdain for the sect.

“They’re nothing but clowns, but since they destroyed our hidden assets and burned our granaries, how can we let them continue their arrogance?”

“You mean an eye for an eye?” Ling Jun said, as if she could see right through her.

Jian Qigui nodded, a trace of tenderness softening her voice. “I was indeed planning to retaliate by burning their granaries.”

The thought that Ling Jun understood her so well made Jian Qigui unconsciously soften her tone, her voice brimming with tenderness. “No one in the sect can match our Lightness Skill. We risk exposure at any moment, and the slightest misstep could cost us our lives. That’s why… I want you to come with me. You may not have practiced martial arts, but we’ve both mastered the Ice Lotus Art, which grants us speed like the winter wind. Infiltrating enemy camps will be effortless.”

Once Jian Qigui made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to change her mind. Ling Jun rubbed her tear-reddened eyes and nodded silently, her entire being radiating dejection.

Seeing her friend’s despondent mood, Jian Qigui, well aware of the recent overwhelming events, didn’t suspect Ling Jun. She gently lifted her voice, tucking stray strands of hair behind Ling Jun’s ear.

“It’s getting late. We should make our move soon.”

At these words, Ling Jun’s gaze shifted, looking past Jian Qigui through the window at the sky.

The warm, amber sun blazed like molten orange, as if determined to burn away the twilight. The fiery hues, tinged with crimson, roared across the sky, stirring restless energies.

“In that case, let’s strike now,” Ling Jun said calmly, her voice flat. “Under the cover of darkness, we’ll catch them completely off guard.”

Seeing her calm expression, Jian Qigui nodded. “I’ve already sent someone to investigate. The Demon Suppression Sect’s gathering place is in Linchuan.”

“We shouldn’t delay. Let’s set out for Linchuan immediately,” Ling Jun said, gazing at the blazing sun on the horizon, her heart stirring with faint ripples.

Ice Lotus Manual: A single Ice Lotus seals a thousand miles, snow blankets the mountains across the Nine Provinces.

The two pushed the Lightness Skill of the Ice Lotus Manual to its limits, their figures transforming into piercing ice cones that sliced through the twilight, leaving trails of frost and snow in their wake.

Linchuan lay near Cuiyue Mountain. After crossing the summit of Ten Thousand Cliffs Mountain, the town was less than ten miles away.

By the time they reached Linchuan, it was late at night. The sun had long burned away the twilight, leaving only the pale moonlight hanging high above.

Linchuan slept soundly under the night sky, its streets dotted with the faint glow of lanterns hanging outside homes. Ling Jun frowned slightly, her voice tinged with doubt. “This Linchuan is so vast. Where exactly is the Demon Suppression Sect’s territory?”

Jian Qigui pulled a sheepskin map from her robes, unfurling it to point at a marked location. “The Demon Suppression Sect is here.” Her finger slid downward. “We’re currently here, only three streets away.”

The moonlight was faint, too dim for Ling Jun’s eyes. She pursed her crimson lips and blinked rapidly, unable to clearly see the map Jian Qigui was pointing to.

Sensing something amiss, Jian Qigui paused, her movements halting. “What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling a tinderbox from her robes and offering it to Ling Jun.

Ling Jun shook her head, feigning to rub her eyes. “Nothing, just got some sand in my eyes.”

Jian Qigui didn’t believe this blatant lie. In the still night, where was the wind, and where was the sand? She stared into Ling Jun’s eyes, those clear, transparent orbs that revealed every thought yet remained dim and lifeless.

With urgent matters at hand, Jian Qigui suppressed her doubts. She leaned closer to Ling Jun, pointing to the sheepskin map with a serious expression. “You’ll enter from the east side, and I’ll take the north. When you find the granary, use the tinderbox I gave you to set it ablaze. Leave as soon as the fire starts, don’t linger. We’ll meet at West Street, about half a mile away, after the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”

Ling Jun carefully memorized the routes on the sheepskin map, nodding frequently in acknowledgment. The two exchanged a silent glance before brushing past each other, melting into the night.

The Demon Suppression Sect’s layout wasn’t particularly complex, but their buildings were all identical. If Ling Jun hadn’t memorized the route from the sheepskin map beforehand, finding their granary would have been a gamble.

Following the remembered path, Ling Jun evaded patrols and arrived at the granary.

A heavy stone lock hung on the door, its chains clattering faintly.

Ling Jun stood before the door, momentarily hesitant and regretful. Such good grain, what a waste. She gently pushed open a crack in the door, eliciting a long, grating creak.

This is a newly built courtyard with freshly made wooden doors. How could it feel so strangely neglected?

Suppressing her unease, Ling Jun peered through the gap in the door, using the faint moonlight. The interior was pitch-black. She blinked again, lit a tinderbox, and peered inside by the flickering light.

Several scattered boxes lay within, their wooden planks exuding a musty, decaying scent. Worse still, a pile of tattered silk ribbons lay crumpled in a corner.

The strange feeling intensified.

No! I’ve been tricked!

Ling Jun snapped back to her senses, immediately gathering her qi and preparing to escape using the Ice Lotus Art.

A gust of wind tore through the void, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound.

“I hit her!”

Ling Jun groaned, a searing pain shooting through her calf. She gasped, her crimson lips parting as she sucked in a sharp breath.

“Just as the Abbot warned—don’t let that Demoness escape!”

“Quick! After her!”

Urgent voices erupted from the bushes behind her, throwing Ling Jun’s breathing into disarray. She realized she had been trapped like a turtle in a jar, each step leading her deeper into their carefully laid trap.

With no time to react, she gritted her teeth and snapped the arrow shaft, leaving only the arrowhead embedded in her leg. She dared not linger, forcing herself to endure the pain as she channeled her qi and fled.

“The Demoness is escaping! Quick! Stop her!” The leader drew another arrow, pulled back the bowstring taut, and fired toward Ling Jun’s retreating figure.

But Ling Jun had already channeled her qi and covered a li in a single stride, leaving them no chance to hesitate.

“We finally tricked her into falling for our trap, and now she’s escaped! Capturing her again will be as difficult as climbing to heaven…” Li Jinsi clenched his jaw, glaring at the spot where Ling Jun had vanished.

“It’s fine,” Li Jinchun said, sheathing his longbow and smiling with narrowed eyes. “If we can’t capture her, we’ll strike directly. Bl00d debts must be repaid in bl00d. In this battle, we hold the advantage of surprise. There’s no need to rush.” He paused, then added, “Besides… she’s already been poisoned with our Li Family’s unique Soul-Stealing Frost. She must be at her limit, no longer a threat.”

Hearing this, Li Jinsi burst into triumphant laughter. “Exactly! We’re ridding the world of a pest. As long as the Cuiyue Sect exists, there will be no peace. Every day they survive brings another family the pain of losing loved ones!”

To understand this animosity, one must delve into the past. The Li Family had originally been wealthy merchants in Qicheng, specializing in brocade and silk. Their immense wealth and familial ties to the city lord granted them considerable influence.

Led by patriarch Li Sicheng, the family engaged in numerous misdeeds. Li Sicheng was a notorious gambler, often seen being thrown out of gambling dens. When his pride was wounded, he would randomly seize passersby, harassing them and blaming them for his bad luck.

The Li Family’s eldest son, Li Jinkang, delighted in bullying the weak. During his time at the academy, he humiliated both male and female classmates, leading to his expulsion. Enraged, Li Jinkang sent his servants to disrupt the academy, forcing its closure for an extended period.

The second son, Li Jinchun, was the only one with a conscience. He studied diligently at the academy and later managed the family’s business affairs with remarkable efficiency, often going to great lengths to clean up the messes made by his siblings.

Yet his conscience extended only to filial piety, devoid of human compassion. He cared solely for his family’s survival, indifferent to the fate of others. This selfishness made him equally detestable.

The Li Family also had a third son, Li Jinsi, a martial arts fanatic. He cared for nothing but the pursuit of archery and weapon mastery.

Though the city loathed the Li Family, their overwhelming power kept most mouths shut, forcing resentment to simmer beneath the surface.

Their downfall came when they offended none other than the pampered youngest daughter of the city lord. Known for her fiery temper, she refused to tolerate any disrespect. She returned home, retrieved silver, and placed an order at the Cuiyue Sect’s branch office.

The order was handled by Jiang Jinru, the Left Rudder Envoy, who had long harbored resentment toward the Li Family. Seizing this opportunity, she prepared Debauched Bliss Pills, a potent concoction, and secretly mixed them into the father and son’s food.

The Debauched Bliss Pills ravaged their vital energy, leaving them severely depleted and weakened. Within five days, the pair had withered to skin and bones, resembling living corpses. Less than a week later, they died violently.

Those who had once been bullied took up arms and filed a lawsuit in Kyoto. The Imperial Lord dispatched officials to strip the city lord of his position, marking the end of the Li Family’s reign.

Intriguingly, the Li Family’s corpses were found ravaged beyond recognition. Whether rats or wild dogs had been responsible, even the bones were shattered into fragments, leaving no trace of intact remains. Rumors circulated that the victims of their cruelty had taken revenge, but the truth remained shrouded in mystery.

After the incident, the second son spent half a year investigating before uncovering a single clue. Instead of blaming Lincheng, he pinned the blame on Jian Qiongjun and the Cuiyue Sect.

The third son, a skilled archer, had cultivated connections with numerous martial artists over the years. After lamenting his plight to his companions, he rallied a coalition of self-proclaimed righteous wanderers to jointly attack the Cuiyue Sect.

If Ling Jun had heard this, she would have slammed her fist on the table in applause. These bullies who preyed on the weak and abused their power deserved their fate. Who could truly distinguish between right and wrong in this world?

Deep in the alleyway, Ling Jun leaned against the wall, panting heavily. She pulled a pitch-black pill from her robe and swallowed it.

After finally chewing and swallowing the pill, Ling Jun leaned against the alley wall to calm her racing heart. She heard the rustling of leaves in the treetops and the scattered fall of leaves. Steeling her resolve, she swiftly removed the jade-white hairpin from her hair, her fingers gripping the hidden twist mechanism tightly. Her expression was tense as she stared intently at the area within her line of sight.

“It’s me,” a familiar voice called out. Ling Jun relaxed and reinserted the hairpin into her bun.

“I burned down a grain warehouse on my end. How about you? Did you have any trouble along the way?” Jian Qigui landed thirty feet away, her earnest tone brooking no argument. Her gaze settled on the crown of Ling Jun’s head, and a barely perceptible curve tugged at the corner of her lips.

This mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, was the most difficult to decipher. Who would have thought the Demon Suppression Sect actually had grain warehouses?

Ling Jun felt a pang of frustration. She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “There was no grain warehouse on the east side. I only realized it was a trap when I arrived. The map was fake—this whole thing was a setup.”

“Fake?” Jian Qigui frowned and glanced around. “This isn’t a safe place to talk. Let’s find somewhere secure to settle down first.”

Without waiting for Ling Jun’s reply, Jian Qigui gathered her qi and focused her mind. With a sudden whoosh, she vanished before Ling Jun’s eyes.

Ling Jun wanted to follow, but an arrow was still lodged in her calf. She hesitated, torn between ignoring her worsening injury and pressing on. Just then, Jian Qigui returned.

“Why aren’t you keeping up?”

“I have an arrow stuck in my leg,” Ling Jun replied, her expression darkening. If only she had been more vigilant, she wouldn’t have been struck.

Jian Qigui’s brow furrowed at the news. She crouched down, her eyes landing on the crimson stain clinging stickily to Ling Jun’s trouser hem. She reached out to pull up the fabric.

“Don’t touch it!” Ling Jun interrupted urgently. “We don’t know if the arrowhead is poisoned. We shouldn’t risk moving it yet.”

“Poisoned?” Jian Qigui’s face fell instantly. She stood up and glared at Ling Jun, whose face remained unnervingly calm, as if life and death were of no consequence to her. Fury surged through Jian Qigui, her voice hardening. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured sooner?!”

Ling Jun turned her head away, her face cold as she replied flatly, “It’s just a superficial wound. I’ve already taken a Bl00d Coagulation Pill. There’s no immediate danger to my life.”

Just a superficial wound!

Jian Qigui took a deep breath. How could she call such a gaping wound “superficial”? Poison or not, the crimson stain on her skirt was unbearable to look at.

Jian Qigui crouched down with her back to Ling Jun. “Get on. We’ll find an inn to rest.”