I Snatched the Male Lead’s "Cool Novel" Script - Chapter 16

“I know there are some past grievances between you two that others don’t know about, but at least…”

“At least what?” Yin Beiqing flipped her palm, admiring her newly replaced silver-thread armor guards. She looked at Yan Yu sideways; her gaze seemed casual, yet it carried a sharp, inexplicable edge.

Yan Yu swallowed instinctively but forced out the rest of her sentence. “Conflict can be resolved in ways that don’t involve drawing blood.”

“Oh?” Yin Beiqing arched an eyebrow. Just as Yan Yu thought she was about to snap, she saw her give a slight nod. “Understood.”

Understood?

Yan Yu was stunned by how quickly she had conceded.

Suddenly, Yin Beiqing retracted all the ice spikes piercing Ji Wu. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled a dark brown leather whip from behind her back. With a sweep of her long arm, the whip struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of choking dust.

Crack—!

She turned back to ask Yan Yu, “Is this acceptable?”

“…”

There is absolutely no communicating with this person!

While the two were discussing the “correct” way to educate a beast soul, the three other “children” in the back were already chatting around a flower.

“You guys have this fruit here too?” Guipan nudged the Lotus Bead plant with its paw.

“Master ordered people to plant it here specifically.”

Calling it “planting” was a bit of an exaggeration. They had simply turned over some soil in the front yard, uprooted the Lotus Beads and Soul-Gathering Grass from the banks of the Cobalt Rhodium Spring, and stuck them in.

However, likely because the maids used the spring water to irrigate them daily, they were growing quite well.

Lu Jia, being much smaller than the others, squeezed into the gap next to Panpan. “Is this tasty?”

“It’s delicious!” Guipan promised, patting its chest. “I’ve grown them before.”

“Is it poisonous?” Before being tamed as a beast pet, Lu Jia had lived in the deep wild mountains for years. It knew that the more vibrant and beautiful a plant looked, the more toxic it usually was.

“Of course not! I’ll show you.” Guipan plucked one and stuffed it into its mouth. “Mmm! So sweet!”

Lu Jia gave an honest “oh” and tried one. “Let me try… It’s so sweet!”

It felt as though a whole jar of sugar had been poured into its mouth—sticky, cloying, and throat-coating.

“It’s only good because it’s sweet.” Guipan picked up the half-eaten fruit Lu Jia had dropped, looking confused. “You can’t waste food. Besides, eating this is good for your health. You’re in your growing phase; you need to eat more.”

Lu Jia wasn’t young, but it was indeed small for its kind. It thought for a moment and then picked up another to eat.

Beside them, the previously indifferent Guilian suddenly opened her massive snake mouth wide. With a whoosh, she swept away a small patch of Lotus Beads, swallowing stems, leaves, and all. Her ferocity left the other two stunned.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to grow taller.”

Guilian had reached the Special Grade decades later than Ji Wu, which was why her physical form was that of a child. Because of this, Ji Wu mocked her daily for being a “runt.” If this fruit could make her grow taller, she’d eat a bucket of them a day!

Over on the other side, Yan Yu had finally persuaded Yin Beiqing to put away the whip. Her expression had barely softened when she turned and saw the ruined herb garden; her face immediately darkened.

“Who did this?” As soon as that familiar questioning tone came out, Guilian reflexively lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

Guipan, whose white fur around its mouth was stained with a large smear of red fruit juice, was the first to raise its front paws. “It wasn’t Panpan! It wasn’t Panpan!”

Yin Beiqing’s gaze swept over its face. She closed her eyes with forced patience. After taking a deep breath, she looked at Yan Yu. “Go ahead. You educate one for me and let’s see if your method really works better than mine.”

Yan Yu walked over to the mess and looked at Guipan, whose face practically screamed “I’m lying.” She felt like steam was about to come out of her ears.

Beast souls are harder to raise than my three-year-old niece.

“I’ll clean it up,” Yan Yu said, taking the initiative to handle the disaster.

“Suit yourself.” In a rare move, Yin Beiqing didn’t press further. She glared at the cowering panda, flicked her sleeves, and walked away.

The garden wasn’t the only mess; the rockery Ji Wu had smashed earlier was what truly made her heart ache for the cost.

“Master, I’ll help you.” Guipan wiped its mouth and shuffled over. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, but lying is a more serious offense than making a mistake.”

Yan Yu took a shovel from the side, tucked her skirt, and rolled up her sleeves. Once she was ready, she squatted down and began to work.

“Master, I’ll dig for you,” Lu Jia said, extending its claws. “I’m good at this.”

“Thank you, Lu Jia.”

“Pan…” Guipan’s shoulders slumped, and it began to sob.

It put on a show of being pitiful for a long time, but Yan Yu didn’t even give it a glance. It started to panic.

“I know I was wrong.” Guipan tugged at Yan Yu’s skirt, its round head popping up. “Please don’t be mad? I promise there won’t be a next time.”

“And?”

“And… and what?”

“You have to apologize to the owner of this herb garden.” Yan Yu tapped its head.

“Oh.” Guipan patted its paws on the ground, saying reluctantly, “I’ll admit my mistake to the Mean Sister when she comes back.”

“Good. Good girl.”

“So, do you forgive me now?”

“Come here and help out.”

“Yes, yes, yes! I’m very strong!” Guipan had never been so happy to be called to work.

Watching the three of them work, Guilian felt a sense of isolated loneliness. Her tail swayed against the ground, her mood a bit downcast.

“Um…”

“Yes?” Yan Yu had thought Guilian left with Yin Beiqing. “What’s wrong?”

“Actually… I’m the one who made that patch a mess. I’m sorry.” Everyone else had admitted their mistakes; if she didn’t say something, she felt an uncomfortable lump in her chest.

Such a large python, yet her voice was so gentle and soft. Yan Yu momentarily wondered if this was the same beast soul that had nearly scared her to death before.

“It’s okay. Just be careful next time.” Yan Yu squatted to pat the soil down.

Seeing the large empty space left in the garden, Guilian said perceptively, “I know where to find more of these herbs! I’ll go to the back mountain to get them!”

“Okay, thank you for the trouble.” Yan Yu smiled at her.

“Master, why are you so gentle to her but so cold to me?” Guipan pouted indignantly after Guilian left.

“Did she lie?”

“No.”

“Now you know why.”

By evening, Yin Beiqing sauntered back. Guipan scurried over to her side and poked her with a paw.

“Are you still mad?”

The little thing tilted its head, looking up expectantly. The sight was quite endearing. Yin Beiqing stopped and kneaded its ear in her palm.

Furry things really do feel the best. Guilian and Ji Wu are both impossible to pet.

“What do you think?”

“Master made me apologize to you.” Although it hated having its ears rubbed, the panda under someone else’s roof had to bow. Guipan held Yin Beiqing’s hand with both paws and shook it. “Please don’t be mad. I promise not to lie next time, and we’ve already fixed your herb garden.”

Is this thing… acting cute?

Yin Beiqing frowned, casting a questioning glance at Yan Yu, who was sitting under a large tree by the garden.

Yan Yu had somehow found a woven rattan lounge chair. She was lying there, engrossed in a dictionary with yellowed pages, not even caring that Yin Beiqing had returned.

“Sickly girl, take your fat tubby back.”

Yan Yu slowly turned a page. “It made a mistake; you may dispose of it as you wish.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll skin it alive?”

“No!” Guipan’s ears stood straight up in terror. “Help! Help! Killing a beast soul is against the law!”

The noise made Yin Beiqing’s brow furrow. She kicked Guipan’s backside. “Get lost, fat tubby.”

The little panda rolled back to Yan Yu’s side without stopping, wiping away non-existent tears with its paws. “Master, waaaah.”

Yan Yu reached out to pat its head, her eyes still fixed on the book. Her comfort was half-hearted at best.

“It’s okay. She’s just teasing you.”

As she spoke, the sunlight above was suddenly blocked. Yan Yu looked up and met someone’s lips pressed into a straight line. Even with the mask, it was clear she was in a very bad mood.

“What’s so interesting that you’re so absorbed?”

Yan Yu flipped the cover for her to see. “Just something I found.”

It was the pharmacopeia from the Soul Domain. She hadn’t finished it the other day, so she took it out now while she had time. The cover was tattered and the corners were curled, but one could still faintly make out the title.

“Alchemy of the Consonant Spirit?” Yin Beiqing grabbed her wrist. “Where did you get this book?”

Such a strong reaction?

Yan Yu felt a bit uneasy. The original book never mentioned this Alchemy of the Consonant Spirit; the protagonist’s pill formulas were all exchanged from the system. Seeing Yin Beiqing’s reaction, she clearly knew something. If Yan Yu lied, she would likely be exposed immediately.

“The original version of this pharmacopeia was lost long ago. Only two handwritten copies remain in the world—one is with Lin Hegui, and the other is lost among the common folk. Where did the one in your hand come from?”

Yan Yu heard this and thought: Well, isn’t that a perfect excuse handed to me on a silver platter?

“Right. Mine is that other copy.”

Yin Beiqing’s look was strange, but she only stared at Yan Yu’s face for a moment longer without pressing further. She pointed behind her. “Since you are proficient in alchemy, then you shall take care of this herb garden for me.”

“I take care of it for you?” Yan Yu pointed at herself.

Yin Beiqing shot her a cold sidelong glance. “Consider it making up for your beast soul’s blunder. Why? Unwilling?”

“Willing, willing.” Before the “Living Yama,” she wouldn’t dare say no.

“Then take this.” Yin Beiqing tossed a bundle to her.

Yan Yu opened it to find many small paper packets, each containing tiny seeds.

Alchemy of the Consonant Spirit didn’t just have formulas; it also had illustrations of the herbs needed, covering every stage of growth—including the seeds. Yan Yu pinched a few and quickly identified them. These were rare species that were either worth a fortune or simply couldn’t be bought on the market. A single seed would make any knowledgeable alchemist willing to go bankrupt just to own it.

She didn’t know how this “ancestor” had managed to bring back such a large bag, as if she’d been haggling for wholesale cabbage.

“Is there a specific pill you need me to refine?” Yan Yu felt a bit nervous.

Alchemy seemed simple but was actually a deep science. She had only read the books; her “practical experience” was limited to boiling traditional medicine for her family. If Yin Beiqing really had high expectations, she worried she wouldn’t be able to deliver and would be fed to the wolves as a “fake goddess” within minutes.

“Refine whatever you see fit,” Yin Beiqing said, casually acting as the hands-off boss. “Do I have to guide you through such trivial matters personally?”

Holding that bag of seeds worth hundreds of millions, Yan Yu felt a bit dizzy, as if she’d been hit by a lucky break from the heavens.

A garden with excellent soil, a bag of priceless seeds, no restrictions on what to plant, and no KPIs for alchemy…

Remembering the bundle of Soul-Gathering Grass the woman had handed her in the back mountains, Yan Yu suddenly understood. She put down her book and ran after Yin Beiqing.

Yin Beiqing had just entered her room to change out of her blood-stained clothes. Hearing the footsteps, she turned around. “Is there something else?”

Yan Yu gripped the doorframe with both hands, her eyes curving slightly into a smile. “Thank you, Yin Beiqing.”

The woman paused while undoing her waistband and turned her back. “Who gave you permission to be so brazen as to call me by my name and joke with me?”

Her tone was cold, a clear hint for Yan Yu to leave.

But Yan Yu wasn’t so afraid of her now. “Also, thank you for the other night. The Soul-Gathering Grass was very useful.”

“I keep you alive because you are useful to me.” Yin Beiqing frowned, tossed her outer coat aside, and walked over to pinch Yan Yu’s chin. Without the smell of blood, the cold fragrance on her was even more intoxicating. “Don’t misunderstand, and certainly don’t let any slip-ups show, or else…”

“Or else you’ll drag me to feed the wolves, right?” Yan Yu finished her sentence, her smile unfading. “I know. But what did you think I would misunderstand? Misunderstand that you feel—”

“Get out!”