After Transmigrating, the Female Lead Went Dark (GL) - Chapter 17

When Zhou Zhuying heard Xiao Xinyue’s words, she couldn’t help but nod internally—How could someone as honest and obedient as me be uncontrollable? I’m the easiest to handle and the most compliant, alright!

The conversation inside the room wasn’t over.

Ling Guqing said, “If that’s all you have to say, I absolutely cannot agree to your proposal.”

Xiao Xinyue was silent for a moment, then said, “The Demon Sect’s Right Protector said that the reason the Demon Venerable has kept the Sect Leader’s whereabouts so hidden all these years is because he knew a battle between good and evil was inevitable.

“To protect his adopted daughter, Zhou Zhuying, he arranged a body double for her. When the conflict occurred, he intended to execute a ‘cicada shedding its shell’—transferring the real Sect Leader and allowing the fake one to be captured. He plans to wait until the righteous path is complacent, then strike back in one fell swoop.

“However, the Demon Sect members are unaware of the truth about the real and fake Sect Leader. So, we can seize this opportunity to pass off the fake as the real. Holding the fake Sect Leader by our side can, firstly, deter the Demon Sect remnants. Secondly, it can confuse their sight, aiding our next deployment. Thirdly…”

As Zhou Zhuying listened to Xiao Xinyue’s analysis, she was deeply moved. I only offered a tiny suggestion, and the female lead was able to construct such a detailed and meticulous plan. Perhaps the female lead had already thought of this layer, and I just happened to think of what she was thinking.

She took a deep breath and rubbed her chest, complaining about the weather. “This winter air really makes you feel short of breath and tight-chested…”

Ling Guqing’s emotions finally shifted slightly. “Even so, there’s no need to marry her.”

Zhou Zhuying: “?!”

Nani?! Marry who? Who is marrying who?

Based on their dialogue, the “she” most likely refers to Zhou Zhuying. But the word “marry” was used. Does that mean someone is going to marry her?

Who on earth is going to marry her?

Did the female lead propose this idea? What kind of terrifying, ‘underworld’ idea is this?

Zhou Zhuying was completely bewildered, her mind and heart in chaos.

Xiao Xinyue explained, “Marrying her is a case of greater benefit than harm. It ties the Demon Sect Leader to the Moshan Sect’s ship. After all, if the Demon Sect Leader belongs to the righteous path, the Demon Sect remnants have no reason to oppose the righteous path. Then, we can gradually infiltrate the Demon Sect’s power and dismantle it piece by piece. We can strip the Demon Sect of its leverage against the righteous path without a single drop of blood being shed.”

Ling Guqing rebuked her coldly. “Nonsense! What will you do if the Demon Venerable and the real Sect Leader appear?”

“If they don’t appear, all the better. If they dare to appear, we can explain that it was a plan by the righteous path to draw them out. Not only will it not tarnish the Moshan Sect’s reputation, but we can capture the Demon Venerable and them all at once. There will be no loss for us.”

Zhou Zhuying suddenly remembered what Xiao Xinyue had told her earlier and mumbled, “So, that’s what the female lead meant by asking me to cooperate!”

She finally understood the female lead’s calculation.

But the problem was, this was a blind marriage, an arranged marriage, a feudal social custom.

She would never compromise with the dregs of old society’s customs!

Refusal of marriage, she must refuse the marriage!

Just then, the female disciple beside her spoke. “Sect Leader, the Demon Sect Leader has arrived.”

The conversation inside the room stopped abruptly.

The tightly closed carved wooden door opened. Xiao Xinyue stood behind it, a hint of surprise on her face, her eyes brightening momentarily before the light gradually dimmed until it was extinguished.

Zhou Zhuying: Female lead, your acting is terrible. It’s a bit contrived! Watch me!

Xiao Xinyue stammered for a moment, then asked, “Master, why did you suddenly have Senior Sister Hongxue bring the Sect Leader?”

A Taoist priest wearing a robe and a white cloth blindfold slowly walked to the doorway and smiled faintly. “Since you say she is fake, naturally I should have a look at her.”

Zhou Zhuying felt that “have a look” really meant “authenticate” in her mouth.

Here it comes! The authentication of my identity! It’s time for me to pull out my stellar acting skills!

Her expression was solemn, and her posture was perfectly serious, but her voice was tinged with an uncertain guilt and timidity. “Hmph, nonsense! I am Zhou Zhuying! My name and surname remain unchanged! I am the Sect Leader of the Qianji Sect, Zhou Zhuying!”

The blindfolded Taoist, Ling Guqing,’s smile didn’t fade. She merely turned her face slightly, seemingly speaking to Xiao Xinyue. “She admits she’s the real one.”

Xiao Xinyue heard this and said unhurriedly, “Then let’s just assume she is the real one.”

Ling Guqing smiled and reached out a hand, beckoning. “Come here.”

Zhou Zhuying followed the direction of her beckoning hand but saw no one. When she turned her head back, she saw Xiao Xinyue and the female disciple, Mo Hongxue, both looking at her.

She pointed to herself. “Me?”

Ling Guqing changed the direction of her hand, pointing it directly at her this time. “Yes, you.”

Zhou Zhuying walked over to Ling Guqing and then waved her hand in front of her eyes. Meng Xiaoxiao didn’t mention the Martial Arts Supreme had an eye condition, did she? And if she has an eye condition but can still be the Martial Arts Supreme, how incredible must her martial arts be?

Seeing Zhou Zhuying’s little gesture, Mo Hongxue glared at her in dissatisfaction, thinking she was discriminating against their Sect Leader.

Zhou Zhuying gave an innocent look. You’re all too sensitive!

Just as she finished her internal complaint, a shadow flashed past the corner of her eye. Immediately afterward, a strong gust of wind hit her face. She subconsciously closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she saw a palm stopped just one or two centimeters from her face. If it moved forward even slightly, it would definitely slap her.

What just happened?

Zhou Zhuying felt like she had amnesia, having lost the memory of that one second.

Ling Guqing retracted her hand. Zhou Zhuying finally managed to focus her vision. As she looked at Xiao Xinyue, whose face was filled with astonishment, the world suddenly spun.

She rolled her eyes and fainted completely.

Before her body went completely limp and fell to the ground, Xiao Xinyue rushed forward and caught her.

“Master?” Xiao Xinyue looked up at Ling Guqing, confused as to why she would do this.

The smile on Ling Guqing’s lips disappeared. She said, “A person’s mouth can lie, but the body will not. She indeed has no martial arts, is timid, cowardly, and easily startled. How could such a person be the Demon Sect Leader who, at a young age, possessed decades of internal power and acted so wildly and ostentatiously?”

Xiao Xinyue pursed her lips.

Ling Guqing continued, “Never mind. The position of Moshan Sect Leader will eventually be passed to you anyway. Where the Moshan Sect goes is your choice. You’ve always had a strong will; I won’t interfere with your affairs anymore.”

Xiao Xinyue looked ashamed when she said this. “Master…”

Ling Guqing turned and walked back into the room. Xiao Xinyue glanced at Mo Hongxue, who hadn’t left, respectfully bid her master farewell, and then carried the unconscious Zhou Zhuying away.

Instead of returning directly to their living courtyard, Xiao Xinyue chose a quiet and elegant pavilion to lay Zhou Zhuying down and quietly waited for her to wake up.

Zhou Zhuying wasn’t unconscious for long. As her consciousness returned, the image of the palm strike flashed in her mind. She immediately woke up with a start. “Help!”

Opening her eyes and seeing Xiao Xinyue, she instinctively lunged at her, wanting to cling to her, and cried out in lingering fear, “Saintess sister, help!”

Xiao Xinyue looked at her, her eyes seemingly saying: You have no spine.

Yet, her hand stroked Zhou Zhuying’s head. “Relax. Master won’t hurt you. I’ve checked you, and you’re fine; you weren’t injured.”

Only then did Zhou Zhuying calm down. She said fearfully, “Then why did she scare me?”

“To determine whether you are the real Sect Leader.”

Hearing this, Zhou Zhuying remembered Xiao Xinyue’s conversation with Ling Guqing and immediately became sullen. “How can you casually marry me off to someone else without my permission? That is going too far!”

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and her eyes welled up.

This was the first time the Sect Leader had gotten teary-eyed since being captured. Xiao Xinyue was slightly stunned. She quickly knelt down to look the Sect Leader in the eye and said gently, “You said you would offer yourself to me, so I assumed you were willing.”

The tears that were about to fall from Zhou Zhuying’s eyes were held back. She stared at Xiao Xinyue, blinking. “Gah?”

When did I say I’d offer myself to anyone, and to whom?

Seeing that she had indeed forgotten, Xiao Xinyue, with a look of both helplessness and defiance, asked, “Then, marrying me, are you still unwilling?”