After Transmigrating Into a Pirated Novel to Teach Them a Lesson - Chapter 36

Fu Chenxue froze for a moment before realizing what Liu Changning was talking about.

Sneaking food? Just now, Xue Linglong and the civet-cat spirit had clearly been…

A rare blush rose on Fu Chenxue’s face. She did not know how to answer, but Liu Changning tugged her hand again and asked, “Master, was Elder Xue licking candy?”

Fu Chenxue said vaguely, “…Probably.”

Liu Changning gave an “oh,” then said softly, “I’m so envious. I’ve never eaten candy before.”

The peach blossom candy Fu Chenxue had bought for Liu Changning was hidden in her sleeve. She felt a little nervous.

The two chose a quiet place to sit. The Bodhi River flowed slowly by their feet, its surface glowing deep and dark beneath the moonlight.

Liu Changning played with the flower lantern in her hands for a while, then casually asked, “Master, do you like eating candy?”

Fu Chenxue looked at the river and felt the timing was just right. A little embarrassed, she took out the bag of sweet pulled sugar from her sleeve, her cheeks looking as though they had been brushed with peach blossoms. “Master… actually bought you candy on the way.”

Fu Chenxue handed it to Liu Changning and explained very seriously, “Master heard people say that tonight is Ancient Demon City’s Thousand Lantern Festival. Masters all buy candy for their disciples. If others have it, you should have it too.”

Liu Changning froze. “Master… bought candy for me?”

Fu Chenxue nodded heavily, thinking that Liu Changning would definitely be happy now.

Sure enough, Liu Changning smiled. Her smile seemed to stir the night breeze. She reached out to touch the hair by Fu Chenxue’s cheek and gently tucked it behind her ear. “Does Master know what this custom is about?”

“What?” Fu Chenxue blinked in confusion.

“I heard the inn waiter say that on the Thousand Lantern Festival, masters only buy candy for disciples under ten years old.” Liu Changning pinched her fingers and laughed softly. “I’m already eighteen. Is Master still treating me like a child?”

Fu Chenxue stammered, “What? There’s… there’s an age limit?”

How could this be? Xue Linglong had not told her!

Liu Changning propped up her cheek. “Mm, there is indeed… But I’m very happy that Master bought candy for me. Thank you, Master.”

Fu Chenxue grew even more embarrassed. Even her earlobes turned red. Xue Linglong had probably heard only half of it before running off to tell her, and in the end, it had backfired.

Liu Changning opened the candy bag and picked out one candy. Fu Chenxue watched her put it into her mouth and heard her say softly, “So sweet. Is it peach blossom candy?”

Seeing that she had guessed it, Fu Chenxue also said happily, “That’s right. Master remembered that you like desserts flavored with peach blossom, osmanthus, and plum blossom, so I thought you would probably like peach blossom candy too… But Master originally wanted to buy one of each flavor. The owner told Master they only had peach blossom flavor. No one in Ancient Demon City makes osmanthus candy or plum blossom candy.”

After saying that, Fu Chenxue even felt a little regretful.

Liu Changning felt that Master was becoming more and more adorable. She hugged Fu Chenxue and gently rubbed her cheek against Fu Chenxue’s shoulder. “It’s fine. I like whatever Master gives me. Really.”

Fu Chenxue gently patted Liu Changning’s back. “In a few days, Sect Master said we will go to the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm. It is a secret realm in Ancient Demon City. You can find all kinds of magical artifacts inside. Master only hopes you’ll be safe.”

“Can Master go in with me?” Liu Changning asked.

“This… it seems only disciples can enter. Master can wait for you outside.” Fu Chenxue was somewhat conflicted.

“Everyone doesn’t need to move together anyway. Everyone searches on their own. Can’t Master accompany me?” Liu Changning said sadly. “If Master isn’t beside me, I’ll feel very insecure.”

That was true.

Fu Chenxue was still hesitating when Liu Changning said softly again, “I heard anyone can enter the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm. What if there are demonic cultivators inside? I really won’t know what to do…”

“What? Demonic cultivators?” This time, Fu Chenxue immediately became highly sensitive. She knew the words “demonic cultivator” were a serious psychological trauma for Liu Changning. She had once been deceived by demonic cultivators into going to the Demon Realm, and afterward, those people had ruined her legs and eyes. During that time, she had truly suffered terribly.

Fu Chenxue felt responsible for protecting her disciple’s sensitive heart. She said, “Then Master will ask Sect Master tomorrow.”

Liu Changning immediately said happily, “All right.”

The two stayed by the Bodhi River for half an hour and released the flower lantern.

The pure-white flower lantern flew into the dark night sky. Among thousands upon thousands of flower lanterns, it was the simplest, yet also the most special one.

Liu Changning liked this sort of peaceful, steady night. On the way back, she continued eating candy. But this time, she raised a question. “Master, why is there no sound?”

Fu Chenxue was confused. “What sound?”

Liu Changning said, “Wasn’t Elder Xue secretly eating candy just now? It sounded different from the way I eat candy.”

Fu Chenxue: “…”

Fu Chenxue felt that if this continued, her disciple would be led astray. She explained, “They were doing something strange. It’s better if you don’t ask.”

After saying that, she changed the topic and brushed it over.

Xue Linglong only snuck back into the inn in the early hours before dawn. She had talked with that damned civet-cat spirit for a long time before Qingying finally let her go. Otherwise, she still would not have been able to return even now.

Xue Linglong thought bitterly, how had she failed to remember the exact time the Hollow Cicada Snow Ganoderma matured? She had gone to Dingbai Mountain, encountered that civet-cat spirit, and ended up being tangled with her. She had even been captured back to the cave residence and played with for several days.

Whenever she thought of how that civet-cat spirit had coaxed and deceived her into the cave residence, anger rose inside her.

She must have been bewitched by beauty.

That civet-cat spirit had a pair of peach-blossom eyes, cute and beautiful, charming her until her soul had been turned upside down. But by the time she had been pinned down on the straw pile, it was too late to struggle…

She had thought that by coming to Ancient Demon City, she would definitely be able to escape this sinful fate. Who knew that civet-cat spirit had actually chased her from Dingbai Mountain all the way to Ancient Demon City? She had even said she was originally part of the demon race, and Ancient Demon City was her home.

Xue Linglong rubbed her neck. Sure enough, not a single civet cat was anything good. They specifically liked biting people’s necks. Did Qingying not know that Xue Linglong had lost her cultivation now, so her wounds healed very slowly?

“Why are you only coming back now?” A familiar voice sounded. Xue Linglong was startled. Looking up, she actually saw Fu Chenxue standing at the door.

Seeing Xue Linglong looking dispirited, Fu Chenxue knew she must have done something “good” before returning. She could not help frowning. “The disciples are training these next few days. If you want to dual cultivate with the civet-cat spirit, choose another time…”

Xue Linglong cried, “I was forcibly taken away…”

Fu Chenxue found it funny. “Who told you that you can’t even beat a civet-cat spirit? If you want to protect yourself, start cultivating again. Your Golden Core is shattered. Only by forming a core again can you do it.”

Xue Linglong refused. “No. I hate fasting. I just want to be a salted fish.” Then she asked, “What did you come to find me for?”

Fu Chenxue pushed open the door and walked in. Xue Linglong followed and sprawled across the bed, rubbing her waist while saying, “Let me say this first. I’m not familiar with the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm either. If you want me to reveal heavenly secrets for your disciple, no way.”

“I know. I wanted to ask whether anyone can enter the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm during this trial.”

Xue Linglong said, “Of course. Ancient Demon City is a place anyone can come to, and the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm wasn’t opened by the Yubing Sect. If other people want to enter, they can enter.”

“Then that means I can enter too?” Fu Chenxue said. “And you too?”

Xue Linglong gave an “uh.” “Theoretically, yes.”

Fu Chenxue smiled. “Then this is easy.”

Xue Linglong felt a chill run down her back. “You can’t be planning to make me go in with you, right? I don’t want to! It’s terrifying inside! There are many strange cultivators there—demonic cultivators, ghost cultivators, sword cultivators, music cultivators… I can’t beat any of them. If I go in and compete with them for magical artifacts, wouldn’t I just be walking to my death?”

Fu Chenxue walked to the bedside. “What are you afraid of? I’ll protect you.”

Xue Linglong refused to yield even unto death. “I don’t believe you. You’re just a lousy Golden Core cultivator. If there are Nascent Soul bigshots inside, you’ll definitely be suppressed by them.”

Fu Chenxue: “…”

“Nascent Soul cultivators already have countless magical artifacts and treasures. Would they still enter the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm to fight with us over the leftovers?” Fu Chenxue tried to persuade her kindly. “Besides, aren’t you supposed to help me complete my tasks? If I can’t finish them, you won’t be able to go back either. We have to act together.”

Xue Linglong struggled. “Even if we’re doing tasks together, no one said I have to enter the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm! Did the system say that?”

Fu Chenxue said seriously, “I thought about it carefully. Last time, you told me Changning was only at Foundation Establishment, so logically, it’s impossible for her to kill me. That means I need to think of a way to make her stronger. Only after she becomes strong enough can we follow the plot.”

Xue Linglong frowned.

Fu Chenxue continued, “A life-bound magical artifact is the most important thing for a cultivator. Changning still doesn’t have one right now. I want her to find one in the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm and break straight through to Golden Core.”

Xue Linglong almost dropped her jaw in shock. “What… You, you want her to form her Golden Core?”

“Yes.” Fu Chenxue nodded.

Seeing that Fu Chenxue did not seem to be joking, Xue Linglong sat there struggling with her thoughts for a while before finally collapsing onto the bed, looking as if life held no meaning. “Fine. I’ll tell you the truth. There is actually one opportunity in the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm. This opportunity is not something just anyone can obtain. It depends entirely on luck.”

“If Liu Changning can successfully pass the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm’s trial, then that opportunity will be hers.” After saying this, Xue Linglong lifted her head and looked worriedly at the sky. “If I keep talking, that’ll count as revealing heavenly secrets. Will I get struck to death by the Heavenly Dao?”

Fu Chenxue said, “You won’t. You’ve already said it, and you haven’t been struck dead yet.”

Xue Linglong: “…”

By the time the two finished talking, dawn had broken. Fu Chenxue stood and left Xue Linglong’s room.

On the day they went to the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm, they indeed saw many cultivators of all kinds. Hua Fengming arranged for the Yubing Sect disciples to enter last. Liu Changning stood to the side, holding Fu Chenxue’s hand, and asked nervously, “Master, will you go in with me?”

Fu Chenxue smiled faintly. “I will. Don’t worry.”

Liu Changning had just been about to breathe a sigh of relief when Fu Chenxue added, “Elder Xue will also accompany us.”

After she said this, Xue Linglong was pushed out of the crowd by an invisible force. She awkwardly rubbed the back of her head. “Yes…”

Liu Changning hummed, seeming not to care too much.

The Flower Butterfly Dream Realm was beneath the Bodhi River. Cultivators needed to jump into the water. However, some cultivators were pushed out by the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm’s power as soon as they jumped in. This meant the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm judged them not yet qualified to enter, and they would have to come again when Ancient Demon City opened next time.

Xue Linglong looked very anxious, because she discovered that most of the people jumping in were cultivators above Foundation Establishment. All cultivators below Foundation Establishment were being pushed out by the Flower Butterfly Dream Realm.

Fu Chenxue and Liu Changning jumped in and were not pushed out.

Xue Linglong gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and jumped in after them.

Author’s Note:

Fu Chenxue: I’ve arranged my own fate very clearly.