After Transmigrating, the Female Lead Went Dark (GL) - Chapter 7

Zhou Zhuying was not only shameless but also incredibly bold. Taking advantage of Xiao Xinyue’s good temper, she brazenly reached out and tugged on the female lead’s sleeve. When Xiao Xinyue looked at her, she just widened her clear, innocent eyes, feigning an air of pure naivety.

Xiao Xinyue recalled how recently, Zhou Zhuying had sat on the high platform, eyes lowered, with a detached look that dismissed everyone. At that time, her wolf-like nature was still evident, but in the blink of an eye, she had truly become a lamb.

Xiao Xinyue clenched her fist and commanded, “Let go.”

Zhou Zhuying pouted, thinking: The female lead is truly heartless and dismissive when I’m no longer needed. If she hadn’t given me the bridal carry, creating the false impression that I could trust her, why would I be so instinctively close to her now?

Just as she released Xiao Xinyue’s sleeve, a few disciples rounded the corner. Seeing Xiao Xinyue, they all bowed and greeted her, “Saintess!”

“There’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Senior Sister,” Xiao Xinyue said gently.

Zhou Zhuying’s eyes widened. So the female lead is a two-faced person? She’s so gentle and generous in front of others, but she’s constantly moody when she’s with me.

She didn’t entirely blame the female lead. It must be difficult enough to restrain the urge to kill when facing the enemy who annihilated your entire family.

She thought that sometimes, being a member of a righteous sect was terrible, as they were bound by all sorts of moral constraints. Especially in the position of Saintess, she probably had to be a moral paragon to be considered perfect.

The Moshan Sect must be using the standard of a saint to demand things from the Saintess, right?

The disciples quickly replied, “How could we? The Saintess is destined to take over the Sect Leader position. We cannot be so disrespectful.”

Then, they curiously glanced at the demon beside the Saintess and realized this demon wasn’t as terrifying as the rumors claimed.

Everyone said the Demon Sect Leader was vicious and murderous, so they expected a sharp-featured, malicious-eyed woman.

They couldn’t reconcile the woman before them—with her innocent, round eyes, lovely features, and quiet demeanor that made her look like a gentle lamb—with the dreaded demon.

Zhou Zhuying flashed them a brilliant smile. One of the less self-controlled disciples, whose skin was also thin, was flustered by her smile, and his face flushed red.

Xiao Xinyue smiled warmly. “I won’t force you. If you have business, please go take care of it first!”

The disciples snapped back to reality, feeling a shy discomfort, as if their true thoughts had been exposed. They nervously replied, “Yes!” and hurried away.

Watching their hasty retreat, Zhou Zhuying sighed with emotion: The female lead truly deserves to be a charmer—look how her smile drives the disciples below into a frenzy.

That’s the female lead’s charisma!

She commented out loud, “Saintess sister, your aura is truly strong. A word of encouragement is enough to scare them away.”

Xiao Xinyue had already walked two steps. Hearing this, she turned back, grabbed Zhou Zhuying’s hand, and pulled her along. “Shut up and walk.”

Zhou Zhuying felt the warmth passing from Xiao Xinyue’s palm. She wondered: Was the female lead a CEO-type in the original book? She’s allowed to hold others’ hands, but others aren’t allowed to tug her sleeve?

But since she was the female lead, Zhou Zhuying decided to let it go!

She followed with light steps, merrily swinging their joined hands back and forth.

Xiao Xinyue glanced at her, then at her own hand being forced to swing, and remained silent for a long time.

After leaving the dungeon and walking along a quiet path for a while, the sky darkened, and Zhou Zhuying finally saw a brightly lit valley.

The Moshan Sect was built in a vast valley amidst the Moshan peaks. Besides the sect’s disciples, many common people who relied on the sect for their livelihood lived on the outskirts. Therefore, the area was bustling during the day and brightly lit at night, like daylight.

Zhou Zhuying took a deep breath.

In this environment, how am I supposed to escape? I’ll probably be caught before I even find the exit!

Unaware of her thoughts, Xiao Xinyue led her past a waterfall, up a set of stairs, and into a courtyard built into the mountain.

The environment here was secluded and quiet. Plum trees were planted in the front. Walking through the sea of plum blossoms led to the front hall.

The front hall was spacious. There was a corridor on each side. To the left was a cliff face and a water pavilion with a view of the waterfall. To the right was a garden and several large rooms.

Behind the house, there was a winding path leading up the mountain, but she didn’t know what was up there.

However, no matter how secluded and ancient the place was, it couldn’t hide the fact that it was built using large amounts of huanghuali and mahogany for the doors, windows, and furniture. A strong aura of wealth assaulted her senses.

Zhou Zhuying asked, “Saintess sister, how does the Moshan Sect support so many people?”

She had always wondered when watching martial arts dramas: Aren’t these sects just like ancient triads? They spend all their time fighting, not doing any legitimate business, so how do they support such a huge group of people?

Xiao Xinyue countered, “How did the Qianji Sect support so many followers?”

Zhou Zhuying answered without thinking, “Robbery and plunder?”

Xiao Xinyue choked, feeling she shouldn’t have asked. She said, “Why are you worrying about all this? In any case, it’s not money from questionable sources or ill-gotten gains.”

“Oh.”

Zhou Zhuying thought: That’s true. Modern triads open companies to legitimize themselves. These sects must also have businesses, right?

“Then what is this place?”

“My residence.”

Zhou Zhuying: “Didn’t you live next to the dungeon? How many properties do you have?”

“I told you, that was a temporary residence built to watch over you.”

Zhou Zhuying felt something wasn’t quite right, but she was too overwhelmed by the rich Saintess’s villa to think much further.

The Moshan Sect is actually this wealthy? Maybe I shouldn’t escape. I’ll just stay in the Moshan Sect. Even as a prisoner, I won’t have to worry about food or clothes!

She wavered for a moment, then quickly came to her senses: No! I’m an ambitious, proactive young person! How can I succumb to pleasure and let sugar-coated bullets dull my fighting spirit?!

Xiao Xinyue opened the door to a room and said, “You will stay in this room.”

Zhou Zhuying pushed aside her distracting thoughts and scurried into the room. She saw a large mahogany bed with exquisite carving, soft pillows, and brocade quilts. She desperately wanted to jump into bed right now.

Opposite the large bed was a writing desk and a bookshelf, which held only a few small items and no writing tools. Exiting this sleeping area, directly opposite was a small suite with a bathroom. Between the two areas was a small hall for dining and tea.

She slowly realized, “Saintess sister, you’re saying I’m staying here?”

“Mhm.”

Zhou Zhuying was both surprised and delighted. “You’re not locking me back up in the dungeon?!”

I’ve been released?!

Happiness came so suddenly! It feels unreal!

“Do you want to go back to the dungeon?”

Zhou Zhuying quickly waved her hands. “No, no, no! I’m just thinking, if I stay here, where will Saintess sister stay?”

“My room is next door.” Xiao Xinyue looked at her with a knowing smile. “Did you really think I gave you my residence?”

Zhou Zhuying finally realized what was wrong. Since Xiao Xinyue had built a temporary residence to watch her, moving her here was also just to make it easier for Xiao Xinyue to monitor her!

Why didn’t I figure out such a simple thing earlier?

She suddenly understood. “I get it! This is called transferring a prisoner to prevent rescue personnel from learning the environment of the dungeon and attempting a prison break! So you’re moving me to the most heavily guarded place. Even if an immortal came, I wouldn’t be able to escape!”

The female lead is far-sighted and insightful. She truly deserves to be the popular character in the original book!

Although she was a prisoner, and the female lead’s foresight was used against her, why did she feel more and more that she was falling for the female lead’s charm?

Could I be a masochist, or do I have Stockholm Syndrome?

Xiao Xinyue’s expression was complex. Finally, she muttered, “Overly clever,” and turned to leave.

Zhou Zhuying didn’t sense any anger, but rather a hint of helplessness in her tone.

She leaned against the doorframe, watched Xiao Xinyue enter the room next door, and asked, “Saintess sister, is it just the two of us staying here? Don’t you have any maids?”

The answer was the decisive sound of Xiao Xinyue closing her door.

Zhou Zhuying rubbed her nose.

Am I really that annoying?