Transmigrated as the Villain’s Sword - Chapter 48

The smile on Hua Niang’s face slowly froze.

She stared at the giant sword floating before her, a flash of bewilderment crossing her eyes before it turned into realization.

A light flickered in Hua Niang’s gaze. “Lady, you are a sword spirit.”

Ling Chenyan nodded with a touch of pride. “I am a sword spirit, but I am not your ‘Lady’.”

Hua Niang paused, then resumed her smile. “You must be joking. We are already married; how could you not be my Lady?”

Ling Chenyan began to circle Hua Niang, saying as she moved, “Marriage requires the command of parents and the words of a matchmaker, plus the Three Letters and Six Rites, betrothal gifts, and bowing to the high hall. Look at us—which of those do we have?”

Hua Niang’s eyes shifted. “My parents have already passed away. If you care for such things, I can invite the Monster King to sit in the high hall. I will prepare the Three Letters and Six Rites for you another day. To be honest—and don’t laugh—I thought you were unwilling to marry me, which is why I skipped the formal bowing ceremony. If you are angry because of that, I shall prepare it all again soon, alright?”

Ling Chenyan stopped in her tracks. “Fine. But I also have a ‘high hall’ elder. You must invite her here as well, otherwise, this marriage won’t happen.”

Before Hua Niang entered, Ling Chenyan had already worked out a plan. Guan Luowei was currently far away; even if she went to look for her on her own, it would take a long time. Furthermore, Hua Niang was determined to marry her and was keeping a very close watch; escaping might not even be possible. It was better to pacify Hua Niang first and use her influence to find Guan Luowei.

Once Guan Luowei was found, the wedding would naturally be impossible to complete.

If Hua Niang agreed, everyone would be happy. If she didn’t, Ling Chenyan would just have to cause some trouble.

Hearing her words, Hua Niang took on a playful expression. She sat on the bright red bridal bed. Her naturally fair and alluring appearance looked even more seductive against the red; her crimson lips hooked into a tempting arc.

“Lady.” Hua Niang’s gaze was shimmering, her eyes full of tenderness. Her voice grew even softer: “I will naturally grant any request you have. However, in the eyes of outsiders, our wedding is already complete. Why don’t we go to sleep first? Tomorrow, I will make arrangements to help you find her, how about that?”

The voice seemed to carry a magical power, making Ling Chenyan’s mind feel foggy. She instinctively wanted to move toward her until the System roared in her head: [Host!! Wake up!!]

Ling Chenyan snapped back to her senses, her gaze suddenly becoming wary. This Hua Niang actually used a charm spell on me.

Ling Chenyan paused, then lied without blinking: “Hua Niang, that trick won’t work on me. I don’t like women, and I certainly won’t be charmed by one.”

Hua Niang froze, then suddenly burst into giggles. She laughed until Ling Chenyan got goosebumps. Finally, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, Hua Niang looked at the sword with great interest. “Is that so?”

Ling Chenyan remained silent.

Hua Niang leaned lazily against the bed, her expression no longer feigning tenderness but carrying a hint of nonchalance. “That ‘high hall’ elder you’re looking for… is probably your master, isn’t it?”

Ling Chenyan’s heart skipped a beat. She said impassively, “It is my Highness.”

Hua Niang gave her a deep look. “No need to lie to me. I’ve seen your master.” Her gaze turned playful. “With a woman like that around, it’s no wonder you look down on me.”

Ling Chenyan: “…”

She spoke to the System in her head: [Sys, I feel like Hua Niang knows something.]

[Guan Luowei was present at the bonfire festival, after all.]

Reminded by the System, she recalled that her last memory of that night was reaching out to take the communicator from Hua Niang. What happened after that?

She asked the System. The System coughed. [Didn’t you ever wonder how Hua Niang knew she was your master?]

Ling Chenyan’s eyes widened: [No way. Did I shout it out in public?]

[Not you. Guan Luowei.]

While Ling Chenyan was still processing this, the System projected the recorded scene to her. When Ling Chenyan heard Guan Luowei’s cold “I am her master,” she felt like she’d been struck by lightning, unable to utter a single word.

She could hardly believe Guan Luowei would say something so suggestive in front of so many people. After a long while, Ling Chenyan finally reacted, her face burning with embarrassment as she looked at the woman opposite her.

Seeing her silence, Hua Niang sat up slowly. “I can help you find her, but you must promise me one thing in return.”

“What thing?” Ling Chenyan thought for a moment. “If it’s about the marriage… ahem, I won’t agree.”

“Not marriage.” A trace of playfulness appeared in Hua Niang’s eyes. “Just perform dual cultivation with me.”

Ling Chenyan: “…?” So after all that, you just want my body. “No.” She refused without a second thought.

Hua Niang looked disappointed and let out a sigh. “Sigh, since my Lady is unwilling, then forget it. I can only keep you by my side and let you slowly forget your master, until I am the only one in your heart.”

With that, she looked at her tenderly. “It’s alright, Lady. I will wait forever for your heart to belong to me.”

Ling Chenyan: “…”

Although Hua Niang was saying this to her, she felt there was an unshakeable strangeness in her words. The gaze fixed on her didn’t seem to be seeing her, but rather someone else through her.

Ling Chenyan spun around twice and guessed, “You want to marry me, or dual cultivate with me… it’s not because you actually like me, is it?”

Hua Niang’s eyes flickered, and tenderness flooded them again. “How could that be? I naturally like you, Lady.”

“But I feel like your eyes are looking through me at someone else.” Ling Chenyan paused. “Is that person your true love?”

Watching the smile on Hua Niang’s face slowly fade, Ling Chenyan grew more certain of her guess. Hua Niang has someone she truly loves. But if so, why marry someone else? And why dual cultivate?

While Ling Chenyan looked confused, Hua Niang pulled back her smile. Her gaze was half-mocking as her crimson lips flattened. “My true love is you, Lady. Who else could there be?”

Before Ling Chenyan could speak, Hua Niang stood up. “It is late. Since my Lady is unwilling to share a bed, I won’t force it. Rest early.”

She walked out without looking back, completely devoid of the tender-hearted persona of the last two days.

Ling Chenyan said to the System: [Sys, Hua Niang definitely has a secret.]

[I agree.]

[So how do we escape?]

Ling Chenyan felt like crying. Negotiation was impossible now that they’d hit a wall. She couldn’t get out, and even if she did, she’d be caught. Guan Luowei had no idea where she was. The situation seemed unsolvable. She could stay in sword form to stall, but she was terrified of what Guan Luowei might do if she couldn’t find her.

I hope Guan Luowei stays calm. This is monster territory, and we still need their mirror. If she goes too far, we might get kicked out.

Inside the Monster Forest

A sentient Gryphon and a Black Bear were trembling inside a cave. Outside, the earth shook, and the screams of monster beasts echoed periodically.

The Black Bear spoke in a muffled voice: “Boss, when is that god of slaughter outside going to leave? She’s caught almost every sentient youngster in our forest.”

The Gryphon was silent for a moment. “She seems to be looking for someone. Since she hasn’t found them, she’s interrogating every sentient beast she can catch.”

Another tremor shook the earth, followed by the tragic roar of a Monster Lion.

The Black Bear shuddered. “That kid Shi Aotian… we told him to be polite when facing her. Instead, he bragged that he’d eaten the person she was looking for. Who else is she going to hit if not him? Now the rest of us are too scared to go home.”

The Gryphon looked at his half-shorn wing and said, “Let’s have everyone help search today. If we don’t find that woman, she’s going to flip this whole forest upside down.”

The beasts of the Monster Forest weren’t like the high-ranking clans; they were mostly low-level or outcasts. They were either pitiably stupid or vicious criminals. The Gryphon King had spent over a decade unifying the forest. If this woman kept going, they wouldn’t survive the fallout, and the Monster King certainly wouldn’t take their side.

The Black Bear sighed. “What if the woman isn’t even in our forest? We’ll never find her.”

The Gryphon sighed inwardly too. True. But he could only say, “Just look. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

On the other side, after Shi Aotian was sent flying and embedded into a tree for the umpteenth time, he broke down. Before Guan Luowei could strike again, he knelt and wailed, “Great Grandma, please stop hitting me! I didn’t eat her! I was in my cave cultivating those two days, I didn’t even go out! Tell me what she looks like, I’ll help you find her, just don’t hit me anymore!”

Shi Aotian had no idea where this woman came from. He’d made one arrogant comment and was beaten half to death. Her cultivation was terrifying, but she didn’t seem to want to kill him—she just used brute force to pummel him. As the saying goes: low lethality, high humiliation.

Guan Luowei stopped. “Call your leader here.”

Shi Aotian scrambled to find the boss. A raspy voice accompanied by heavy footsteps rang out. “No need. I’m here.”

Guan Luowei looked up to see the Gryphon, now in human form with wings on his back, accompanied by a four-meter-tall giant. Shi Aotian ran to the Gryphon and sobbed, “Boss, you’re finally here! Waaaaah!”

Gryphon: “…Go cry somewhere else. You’re an embarrassment.”

The Gryphon stood before the cold woman. “If you are looking for someone, we will help. There is no need for such unpleasantness.”

Guan Luowei’s gaze was calm. “Half a day. If she isn’t in the forest, you’ll have to help me search outside.”

The Gryphon’s face twitched. The forest was massive; how could he search it in half a day? Before he could speak, Guan Luowei added, “I have already searched most of the forest. You only need to search the west.”

The Gryphon was relieved, but also annoyed. He realized now that her goal from the start was to force them to help. She knew that if she asked politely, they wouldn’t care or might demand an exorbitant price. But after beating every sentient beast in the east and the King himself, helping her became much simpler.

She’s a total old fox, the Gryphon cursed inwardly. But he said, “Fine.”

Guan Luowei didn’t respond. She tore through space and left.

The Monster Domain was huge; she couldn’t find the girl alone, so she had to resort to this. She floated above the forest, watching the beasts search, and let out a long breath.

She had placed several life-saving arrays on the silver sword, plus a hidden tracking array. If anyone tried to hurt her, the protection would activate and the tracking would lead Guan Luowei to her. But so far, nothing had been triggered. This meant she wasn’t in danger, but Guan Luowei’s repeated attempts to contact her through the communicator had gone unanswered.

The situation was unclear. Best case: she lost her communicator. Worst case: someone found her and took away her means of contact. Guan Luowei’s brow furrowed. I hope it’s not the second one.

The Heist

Night fell. With the System’s help, Ling Chenyan finally discovered her room was surrounded. There was only one potential exit: the roof.

A while later, while Hua Niang was drinking tea in the garden, a small monster ran up in a panic. “Great Priestess! It’s bad! The girl—the girl is gone!”

Hua Niang paused, a smile curling on her lips. “No matter. She won’t get far.”

The next day, as Hua Niang predicted, the sword came back on its own. She smiled and went to the room. The girl was back in human form, sitting on a chair and muttering angrily.

“Where did you go to play last night?” Hua Niang sat beside her.

Ling Chenyan ground her teeth. “Just went for a stroll.”

“Mm.” Hua Niang looked amused, returning to her tender persona. “If you want to go for a stroll, just tell me. I’ll allow it. No need to sneak out at night; people will think I’m mistreating my Lady.”

Ling Chenyan: “…” Heh.

She hadn’t expected the Fox Clan territory to be protected by a barrier. Last night, she had crashed right into it while trying to escape. Her head still ached.

Seeing her anger, Hua Niang was slightly amused. “If you want to go out alone, I won’t follow you.”

This was a blatant mockery—taunting her that even with the chance, she couldn’t escape. Ling Chenyan stood up immediately. “I will go out alone!” She didn’t believe there wasn’t a single crack in this Fox territory she could squeeze through.

Hua Niang picked up her tea. “Be my guest.”

Ling Chenyan strode out. This time, truly no one stopped her. She looked for a gap openly, but there were none to be found. Frustrated, she transformed into a sword to attack the barrier. The result: the sword was dizzy, her body was numb, and she hadn’t made the slightest scratch.

She plopped onto the ground. [Sys, there’s only one way left. I didn’t want to do this because she saved me, but I have no choice.]

[What are you going to do?]

Ling Chenyan turned back into a sword and said sinisterly, “Guyue, time to work.”

In the afternoon, Hua Niang was woken from a nap. She narrowed her eyes. “What’s the noise for in the middle of the day?”

A maid stood outside. “Great Priestess! It’s bad! Your treasury has been robbed!!”

Hua Niang snapped awake, dressed quickly, and shoved the door open in a rage. “What did you say?”

“Your treasury is gone!” The maid paused. “Not a single item is left.”

Author’s Note:

Hua Niang: Damn it, who is this thief?!

Ling Chenyan: Exactly! This is outrageous!