Volume 2, Chapter 101 – Switching Identities with the Main Body

“Hah! ‘Some’? You call this ‘some’? They completely believe they’re women now—attracted to men! Is that just ‘some’?”

The Essence Soul of Qi Huang laughed in furious disbelief.

“What’s the problem? They are women now—it’s perfectly normal for them to be attracted to the opposite sex! Once you’re assimilated by me, you won’t find men so repulsive anymore. I guarantee it!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul raised an eyebrow, her voice soft and dripping with an inexplicable allure.

“No, thank you.”

The Essence Soul turned her face away in disgust.

“Seems like there’s no room for negotiation, then! Fine, we’ll just keep waiting it out!”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul gave up for now. She stood up and said coldly, “I refuse to believe the Life Soul of this body won’t fall into slumber again. The moment I slip past this Heart’s Door, every day I spend outside will erode your resistance. Once you’re all assimilated, without any allies left, escaping will be impossible.”

“If we’re all assimilated… what happens to the Life Soul of this body?”

The Human Soul couldn’t help but ask.

“A body can only sustain one Life Soul. What do you think will happen?”

The Spiritual Wisdom Soul answered with a mocking question of her own.

Qi Huang followed her main body back home and was immediately dragged into a room.

“Are you bullying your sister again? Your father will be here soon—watch out or he’ll discipline you.”

Jiang Linian followed them inside, threatening her daughter.

“Who said I’m bullying her?”

Cheng Hongling retorted irritably, though inwardly, she felt a pang of frustration. It was as if her mother’s affection had been inexplicably stolen from her.

Jiang Linian wasn’t convinced and remained standing guard at the door.

With a helpless sigh, Cheng Hongling turned to her doppelgänger. “You heard what Master said earlier. From now on, for both of us to move freely, I’ll play the role of the doppelgänger, and you’ll act as the main body.”

“Sounds perfect! But what about this Doppelgänger Mark on my forehead?”

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Qi Huang was more than willing. Even if it was just pretend, at least superficially, she’d finally be the one in charge.

“Once a Doppelgänger Mark is imprinted, it can’t be removed. The only option is to conceal it.”

Cheng Hongling glanced around before her eyes lit up. She pulled out an exquisite forehead ornament from a drawer.

Qi Huang examined it closely—a delicate silver chain with a fixed, dazzling ruby pendant.

“Let me put it on you.”

Cheng Hongling stepped forward and gently fastened the ornament onto her doppelgänger’s forehead.

Qi Huang caught the faint fragrance emanating from her main body, along with the occasional brush of soft curves against her arm. Her heart began pounding uncontrollably.

Though Cheng Hongling usually carried an icy demeanor, she handled the ornament with a delicate, feminine grace Qi Huang had never seen before.

Mesmerized, Qi Huang couldn’t tear her gaze away.

Jiang Linian watched the two “sisters” getting along harmoniously, her face softening with relief.

Once the ornament was secured, Qi Huang checked herself in the bronze mirror—the ruby perfectly covered the Doppelgänger Mark.

“It looks beautiful! But don’t forget to maintain your Divine Sense defense. This only blocks the naked eye.”

Cheng Hongling reminded her with satisfaction.

Qi Huang nodded absently, still dazed by her own reflection.

Ignoring her doppelgänger, Cheng Hongling turned away and retrieved a cosmetics box. Using an eyebrow pencil, she carefully drew a pink Doppelgänger Mark on her own forehead. Though she loathed the idea of “lowering” herself, freedom was worth the sacrifice.

After what felt like forever, Cheng Hongling finally set down the pencil, now sporting a convincing fake mark.

“Alright. From now on, in public, I’m the doppelgänger, and you’re the main body. Don’t mix it up.”

Qi Huang grinned. “Got it, got it!”

“Don’t celebrate too soon. This is only superficial. In reality, every word and action of yours must first be reported to me via thought. No more acting on your own like you did in the main hall earlier.”

Cheng Hongling’s warning was sharp.

Qi Huang nodded dismissively. ‘What’s she gonna do if I don’t obey? Fight me? Good luck catching me when I can fly!’

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Soon after, their “father”, Cheng Yuan, arrived, bringing medicinal herbs he’d procured for his daughter’s cultivation.

Though he’d been forewarned in his wife’s letters about one daughter becoming two, seeing it in person still left him stunned. Then, he burst into laughter.

“Hah! One daughter was already enough to give Elder Wu a headache. Now with two, that old man probably can’t even eat in peace!”

Cheng Hongling hesitated but ultimately chose not to mention Elder Wu’s trap. If her father could laugh, why ruin his joy?

Qi Huang understood and stayed silent as well.

“Since she’s your doppelgänger, she’s practically our second daughter. But why ‘Qi Huang’?”

Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but ask.

“I chose it myself. I’d lost most of my memories at the time, and by the time they returned, I was already used to the name.”

Qi Huang lied smoothly.

“You lost your memories?”

Cheng Hongling caught onto that immediately.

“Yes. They came back gradually, but even now, they’re not fully restored.”

Qi Huang saw no harm in admitting this much.

“That’s probably because you weren’t a complete doppelgänger to begin with.”

Cheng Hongling theorized.

Sympathy flashed in Cheng Yuan’s eyes, and he dropped the subject.

Later, as the family gathered for lunch, the atmosphere was warm—but Qi Huang’s mind wandered.

“Father, Mother, I need to go out for a bit.”

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After the meal, Qi Huang announced her departure.

Doting as they were, Cheng Yuan and Jiang Linian agreed without question.

“Can I really go?”

Qi Huang then cautiously sought her main body’s permission.

“What for?”

Cheng Hongling’s tone was neutral.

“I… have some personal matters to attend to.”

Qi Huang kept it vague.

“You are me. Your matters are mine. What ‘personal matters’ could there be?”

Cheng Hongling’s displeasure was palpable.

“It’s just… private. I’d rather not say.”

Qi Huang fidgeted.

“Oh, Hongling! She’s her own person too—she needs freedom! You can’t keep her tied down forever. Who could stand that?”

Jiang Linian stepped in to mediate.

Reluctantly, Cheng Hongling conceded. “Fine. But you cannot leave the Honghua Sect’s territory, and you must not reveal your true identity.”

“Deal!”

Qi Huang beamed and dashed out in high spirits.

Once outside Orchid Courtyard, Qi Huang adopted Cheng Hongling’s aloof, untouchable demeanor as she navigated through the disciples.

None dared question which “Hongling” she was—they simply bowed respectfully.

Soon, she reached the male disciples’ quarters, Yangchun Courtyard, and loitered outside, scanning for a suitable target.

“Is that Hongling? Or her doppelgänger?”

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“Who cares? Either way, she’s out of our league!”

“Wonder who she’s here for? Did one of us catch her eye?”

“If anyone did, it’d have to be Wang Zong.”

“Wang Zong? As if he’s worthy!”

“Then who else? He’s the best among us. You expect Hongling to stay single forever?”

Qi Huang’s cheeks burned at the whispers. She retreated momentarily.

Before long, Wang Zong himself returned. Steeling herself, she approached.

“Senior Brother Wang… I need your help with something.”

“Huh?!”

Wang Zong was floored. The genius junior sister he idolized was speaking to him?

Flustered, he stammered, “A-Anything for you, Junior Sister Hongling! I’d go through fire and water!”

“It’s nothing that extreme. I just… need some information.”

Qi Huang cringed internally. Why does this sound like a love confession?

“Ask away! I’ll tell you everything I know!”

Wang Zong’s brain was still overheating, oblivious to how intimate his tone sounded.

Qi Huang leaned in slightly, her voice a whisper.

“I’m looking for something called… ‘Qi-Draining Powder’.”

This was her real purpose for coming here.

Three years had passed since she was poisoned and dragged her master into the mess.

Now, while the Honghua Sect was preoccupied with the Ghost Tomatoes and the Blue-Scaled King Snake, she had the strength and time to settle the score.

The mastermind behind her poisoning would pay.