Ch61 - Substitute

Stunned by the noise, Qiu Chongyun dropped her sleeves to look where Chi Yan was standing. Tantai Meng was closer and wearing lighter colors, so one could see at a glance that half her back had been stained in blood. She couldn’t move but smelled the powerful stench and hastily asked, “What happened?”

Nobody answered as silence stretched on around them.

Qiu Chongyun’s eyes widened as she realized Chi Yan had vanished. No, strictly speaking he was still “here,” but left in bloody pieces all over the ground after blowing himself up. A person stood with his back to her in the center of the blood-soaked aftermath, his spotless brocade robes glowing slightly. Above his head floated Red Lotus, looking as if it had been drenched in early summer rain. Its smoldering petals were slowly closing up.

“No—” Qiu Chongyun lost her voice as she tried to stop him. But it was useless, and she watched as the Red Lotus within reach was picked up by a stranger who came out of nowhere.

Xie Zhiwei gave Chi Yan a moment of silence. The original was still a significant boss in the novel and even invincible until he met the hero. But they’d deviated from the storyline so much even its own father wouldn’t recognize it, so he actually…actually died to a paltry Qiu Chongyun.

And he, Xie Zhiwei, was to blame.

Without the boss, how was the hero supposed to level up? Thank goodness he was quick enough to grab Red Lotus intact…wait, Red Lotus entered my consciousness. Does this mean I can fight evenly with the protagonist now?

From a distance came the faint din of the Buddhist sect members running this way.

“Who are you.” Qiu Chongyun stared at the man with his back to her, suddenly feeling that he looked familiar.

The other sniffed and slowly turned around, revealing a tightly wrapped-up face. She recognized him at once and forced a smile. “So it was you, ah. How powerful for a rogue cultivator, you actually stole Red Lotus from Chi Yan?”

Xie Zhiwei was modest. “How could I? He already exploded, so it was easy to take. If this maiden had reacted faster, you would’ve beaten me to it.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Tantai Meng recognized the voice and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Benefactor? Why are you here?”

Xie Zhiwei said with great (complete) righteousness (shamelessness), “I came to save you.”

“Right ah, Chi Yan exploded…” Qiu Chongyun murmured to herself with brows knitted. “He’ll be furious if he finds out, what should I do?”

Although Red Lotus was important, that person didn’t even recognize his own relatives when he was angry. Chi Yan long deserved to die, but she hadn’t killed him because 1) she feared Red Lotus and 2) he had specific instructions to leave Chi Yan alive so he could take him to the tomb at Summit City.

Now that Chi Yan was reduced to flesh and blood, she didn’t even have an intact body to make up for it. It’d be better if she had Red Lotus, but this masked man had stolen it right before her eyes…

Her gazed turned hot and cold as she stared at Xie Zhiwei enough to give him goosebumps. In the end, Qiu Chongyun raised her eyebrows with a smile, looking rather happy.

Xie Zhiwei asked stiffly, “What is maiden smiling for?”

The noise from the mountain peak grew louder, but Qiu Chongyun leisurely paced back and forth with a lazy drawl. “Am I attractive?”

Xie Zhiwei didn’t understand what she was getting at, but replied honestly. “Attractive.” Sister, if you don’t leave now it’ll be too late…do you care that much about your beauty? You’ve changed! In the original novel you only cared about the hero’s looks, ah pooh.

Qiu Chongyun sighed. “You know I’m attractive too, but you don’t look at me. You only look at that little sister instead. Tsk, indeed little sister’s clothes are soiled, but she’d be a beauty if they were cleaned up.”

Ah pooh, what’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to her, hehehe…

Xie Zhiwei fell a chill at his thoughts, but the next second he understood Qiu Chongyun’s intentions. She had used flirting to distract him while moving to the side. In truth, her real target was—

Before Xie Zhiwei could act on his conclusions, Qiu Chongyun lifted her hand and stabbed a silver needle into Tantai Meng’s neck. She let out a muffled grunt and could move again, instinctively touching the place where she’d been piercing and getting blackened blood on her fingers.

Qiu Chongyun smiled. “Little sister, do you feel itchy and painful? Like you can’t help but scratch?”

Tantai Meng creased her brows. “Mhm. You poisoned me?”

“You…” Xie Zhiwei stepped forward and looked at Qiu Chongyun. “What is maiden playing at?”

“I pity you, ah. How boring it must be to be covered up all day,” Qiu Chongyun crossed her arms and examined him. “Since you’re ashamed and afraid to show your face, why not change to a face mask? It’ll be good-looking and well-ventilated, no?”

“What face mask?” Xie Zhiwei didn’t get her meaning. He was uneasy at being stared at, because this woman’s gaze was too straightforward. All of her hidden joy and cunning was exposed. She looked at Xie Zhiwei like some sort of life-strawing straw after falling into the water, or a starving soul seeing a full-spread Manchu-Han imperial feast, or the butterfly-shaped pads that Gallant Outlaw once mentioned falling from the sky…pah   .

Tantai Meng pointed at Xie Zhiwei’s hand. “She’s probably talking about the item Benefactor’s holding right now.”

Xie Zhiwei looked down and understood before he mentally roared in his heart. Wasn’t I just going to save Red Lotus? What the hell, when did this thing fall into my hands? Why is the quality so good? Chi Yan’s been blown to pieces but his shitty mask’s still intact? The quality doesn’t match the appearance ah pooh!

Speaking of which, Qiu Chongyun had a perfect scheme. Afraid that the hero would blame for her Chi Yan’s death, she could simply use him as cover. Xie Zhiwei said sincerely, “Although this maiden’s plan isn’t bad, it won’t work.”

“What won’t work?”

“Although I don’t know why this maiden wants me to impersonate the Demon Lord, he often wears a long cloak. I don’t know how much his body size differs from mine, so it’ll certainly be disadvantageous for this maiden when I’m exposed.”

“True ah, you said it yourself. He wears a big cloak so no one knows what kind of figure he has. What’s there to fear? Just dress up as him. Otherwise, this little sister…”

Tantai Meng was also frank. “You can’t poison me to death, it’s useless.”

Qiu Chongyun gazed at her with ease. “I’ve seen little sister’s strength with my own eyes. Although I can’t figure out why you won’t die, I didn’t lay my hands on you for that reason.” Seeing the girl’s expression change, she smiled. “Tsk tsk, your face is very itchy, right? You have to resist scratching it, oh. It’ll be ugly if there’s scars.”

What? The heroine’s going to be disfigured?

Enough already, Sister Qiu! Both of you are survivors of my painstaking efforts to straighten out the plot!

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t stand it. “She and you are both women, why do such a thing?” Why should women hurt women? Do you want me to sing it to you ahh!

“Aish, I knew you’d fret,” Qiu Chongyun’s smile turned coquettish. “If that’s the case, put it on. As long as you listen to me in the future, this little sister’s looks can still be saved. Otherwise…”

Xie Zhiwei felt that life was meaningless. “You can find plenty of subordinates willing to listen to you, why insist on me?”

Qiu Chongyun was still grinning, but ice flickered in her eyes like faint stars. “But you’re the only one with Red Lotus on your body. That aura is unmistakable, so even the most obedient subordinate can’t fake it. Something so precious, aye, you naturally can’t bear to give me.”

“Indeed I can’t, but it’s not impossible to hand it over to you,” Xie Zhiwei said. Even if you don’t give it to the hero, he’ll get it eventually. That’s the inevitable end of this novel.

Qiu Chongyun’s eyes narrowed before her smile softened. “Do you think I’m as easy to trick as this little sister? Be good. You’ll definitely feel blissful by the time nujia figures out how to extract Red Lotus from your body.”

Xie Zhiwei felt cold sweat break out at her expression again. I can’t not give it to you, but you won’t believe I can give it to you. Women are the hardest to deal with ah…

Although he had no idea how things had developed between Qiu Chongyun and the protagonist now, he was sure this woman had never been better than her original self in progressing the plot or using her intelligence. So what if he stole Red Lotus? He still couldn’t run. Who told these women to all be the hero’s wives? He couldn’t afford to offend a single one!

Now look, he was stuck playing the part of villain, and it was even one he had to trick with while disguised.

Tantai Meng was decisive. “Benefactor, I’d rather be disfigured than have you endure being the hostage of the Demonic Sect.”

Xie Zhiwei shook his head and swallowed his words. Mengmeng, don’t fuss. I’d rather be the Demonic Sect’s hostage than see your looks ruined, all right?

But this way he could take the chance to find out about the hero and Qiu Chongyun’s relationship. Maybe he’d even get a chance to see two old friends at the Demonic Sect.

By the time the Buddhist sect and its monks reached the snow cedar forest, only Tantai Meng was left standing in the woods, covered in blood and holding a strangely-shaped pill bottle in her hands—a month’s worth of antidote left by Qiu Chongyun.

She looked at the empty sky with tears shining in her eyes and murmured, “I’m too lucky, meeting so many people as good as my master…I have to do something to repay him!”

—

Xie Zhiwei changed from the hero’s master to the supporting female lead’s sidekick. It was quite a demotion. He looked at the mask in his hand, then at Qiu Chongyun standing in the doorway of the dressing room, and reminded helpfully, “Men and women aren’t intimate. Can maiden leave so I can change?”

“So what? I’ve seen plenty of men’s bodies.”

“That…then there’s nothing worth seeing. It’s better to stay away before you get sick of the view.”

“Men’s bodies, ah. Indeed, they’re tiresome…” Qiu Chongyun said thoughtfully.

Xie Zhiwei’s heart lurched before he probed, “This maiden has seen lots of men’s bodies?”

Qiu Chongyun was smug. “Of course. Men ah, which one isn’t in a hurry to undress after seeing me?”

Xie Zhiwei could imagine it and instantly gulped. “Those enamored with the maiden’s bed…cough, I mean beauty, and unable to extricate themselves, does it include one surnamed Nangong?”

“Nangong what?”

Xie Zhiwei held great hopes and threw his voice. “Nangong Mu He.”

He sensed something amiss as soon as he finished. Very quickly, a silver needle flew past his ear and buried itself on the wall, emitting black qi. “Maiden, this…”

Qiu Chongyun blew a puff of air over her fingertips before quirking her lips into a smile full of killing intent. “This lady might be a bit lustful, but I’m also a picky eater ah. Say the wrong thing again and my needles will fly even faster.”

Picky eater? What does that mean? Is the hero not to her taste? Why?!

In other words nothing’s happened between Qiu Chongyun and the protagonist either? Help me up! I have to salvage Yin Wushuang!

Xie Zhiwei was frantic until he heard Qiu Chongyun laugh. “I’ve seen plenty of men’s bodies, but I’ve never seen your face. So, I’m more curious about that.”

—

The author has something to say:

Xie Zhiwei: Do you want me to sing it to you ahh!

Mu He: Shizun, she’s one of ours, please don’t open your mouth.

Translator’s Memes: