Volume 2, Chapter 118 – “No Need for Nonsense—Just Kill Him”

“I… I don’t look like a g-girl?”

Qi Huang stammered in defense, feeling like an onion being peeled layer by layer—her sense of security crumbling away.

“Not at all. From your mannerisms to your habits, I’ve never seen a girl as careless and unkempt as you.”

A trace of disdain flickered in Cheng Hongling’s beautiful eyes.

Qi Huang exhaled slightly in relief. It seemed the main body only thought she was sloppy, not that she actually suspected anything.

“Of course, those are just surface-level issues. The most important thing is—I’ve noticed you seem interested in women. At times, you act like a complete creep.”

Cheng Hongling struck straight at her soul.

Qi Huang’s entire body turned ice-cold. “Nonsense! W-Who’s interested in girls?” she reflexively retorted.

“Still lying? Forget the ‘lecherous’ looks you keep giving my senior sisters—who was it that formed a Soul Tether with me after seeing my body?”

Cheng Hongling arched a brow, her lips curling slightly.

“Uh…”

Qi Huang was instantly speechless, her guilt overwhelming.

“If I couldn’t see your soul for myself, I’d almost suspect my doppelgänger had been possessed by some unwashed brute.”

Cheng Hongling added coldly.

“U-Unwashed brute?!”

The words hit Qi Huang like a thunderbolt. Her mind blanked from the surge of blood pressure. She had thought she’d hidden her true nature well enough—yet the main body had seen right through her all along.

“In short, the differences between us are too glaring. I don’t expect you to become my exact copy, but for the sake of Huangtian County’s people, you’ll need to mimic me closely enough that outsiders can’t tell us apart. Not a perfect ten, but at least a seven or eight.”

Cheng Hongling concluded, then laid down her terms:

“As the saying goes, ‘learn to walk before you run’. First, you must learn how to be a woman. If you can’t even act like one, how can you pretend to be me? So I’ll have to take time to teach you.”

“Huh? That’s… really not necessary!”

Qi Huang’s face twisted into a bitter scowl. Becoming a woman had been forced upon her—she had no desire to actually live as one.

“What do you mean ‘not necessary’? This is for the people!”

Cheng Hongling reminded her sharply.

“…Fine.”

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Qi Huang reluctantly agreed. For the people, she told herself. What else could she say?

“Enough of that. Let’s discuss serious matters.”

Cheng Hongling’s expression turned solemn.

“The reason we’re searching for Ghost Tomatoes is to obtain Blue Scale Stones. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“Mhm!”

Qi Huang nodded repeatedly. She might be “amnesiac”, but she wasn’t that forgetful.

“Not long ago, Sect Leader Qin sent that Elder Wu to investigate Panshan Village. Only half the team returned—because the Heyi Sect had already seized the area. They’ve barred us from approaching, killing anyone who gets close.”

“Isn’t Panshan Village part of the Honghua Sect’s territory?”

Qi Huang asked, shocked.

“It is. But the world is full of scum, and the cultivation world is no exception. Some shameless bandit dens pretend to be righteous sects, but the moment their interests are threatened, they tear off their masks and speak with their fists. The Heyi Sect is exactly that kind of trash.”

Disgust flashed across Cheng Hongling’s delicate features.

“How strong is the Heyi Sect?”

Qi Huang pressed curiously.

“Their sect leader, Lin Feng, has reached the eighth layer of the Unity Realm. Besides him, they have five elders and protectors who’ve also reached Unity Realm.”

“Wha—that strong?!”

Qi Huang was stunned. How could a county-level sect be so much more powerful than the Honghua Sect?

“Strong? That’s only mid-tier among Yongning Province’s county-level sects.”

Cheng Hongling smirked dismissively.

“But we’re even weaker! Have you thought about how to deal with them? Our sect originally had three Unity Realm experts, but now that idiot Wu is out of the picture, only you and the sect leader remain.”

“What about you? You’re a mighty Incarnation Realm expert—are you scared of a few Unity Realm cultivators?”

Cheng Hongling teased.

“You know full well I just got lucky with my talents!”

Qi Huang scratched her head sheepishly.

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“Don’t sell yourself short. With your support, I’m confident I can crush any cultivator in my realm. The Heyi Sect is nothing special. I’ll make them pay tenfold.”

Stars flickered in Cheng Hongling’s pupils, coalescing into flames.

“Am I really that useful?”

Qi Huang was flattered.

“Of course. Remember how Elder Wu was defeated last time? Others might not have noticed, but I saw it clearly—you suddenly unleashed your divine sense pressure, slowing him down by more than half. That’s why I could defeat him in one strike.”

“So you’re saying… I should use my divine sense to support you in battle?”

Qi Huang was starting to understand.

“Exactly. My Dancing Butterfly Movement Technique is already among the fastest in the cultivation world. Combined with your debuffs, no one in the same realm can keep up. Unless the Heyi Sect sends all their experts to swarm us at once, we can kill them one by one—or two by two.”

Cheng Hongling’s confidence was absolute.

“That sounds perfect! When do we start killing?”

Qi Huang’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“It won’t be long. With the Ghost Tomatoes now impossible to find, we’ll head to Panshan Village as soon as we deal with Elder Wu. That’s when the Heyi Sect will pay.”

Qi Huang’s blood burned at the thought. The deaths of her two distant relatives had weighed on her—now, she’d finally have her revenge.

Deep in the Honghua Sect’s back mountains lay a series of caves—some for secluded cultivation, others for imprisoning offenders.

Elder Wu was currently locked inside one such cave. Outside, apart from a few ordinary disciples standing guard, Sect Leader Qin Quan himself oversaw the confinement.

“Sect Leader Qin, release me. You know as well as I do that infighting will only weaken the Honghua Sect further.”

Wu He’s voice was calm through the stone door. His tone lacked any pleading—as if he were utterly confident in his safety.

“Until the investigation is concluded, you’ll stay where you are.”

Qin Quan replied indifferently.

“After decades of risking my life for the Honghua Sect, am I really less trustworthy in your eyes than some little girl?”

Wu He played the loyalty card.

“Not at all! I, too, believe you’re innocent. You’ll be out in a couple of days—this is just procedure. Don’t make things difficult for me as sect leader.”

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Qin Quan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Why not release me now? Does the outcome even matter?”

Wu He’s voice grew agitated.

“Of course it does. This concerns your reputation, Elder Wu. Surely you don’t want to walk free only to be scorned behind your back?”

Qin Quan feigned concern.

“You—!”

Wu He was left speechless by the sect leader’s obstinance.

A few days later, Steward Hu was brought back to the sect, and the investigators returned with their findings—just as Qi Huang had said, Elder Wu was guilty.

Qin Quan didn’t announce the verdict immediately. Instead, he summoned the sect’s higher-ups to the main hall for discussion. Elder Wu, of course, was brought forth in chains.

“Sect Leader Qin, I admit it—I did it. So what?”

Seeing no way to deny it, Wu He simply confessed.

“Oh? Elder Wu, you’re in your seventies or eighties—I’d have thought you’d hold out longer before cracking!”

Qin Quan feigned surprise.

“Because I want to speak frankly with you.”

Wu He remained unshaken.

“Oh? I’m all ears.”

Qin Quan tilted his head mockingly.

“If I were you, I’d let this matter fade away. A Unity Realm cultivator is indispensable to the Honghua Sect’s growth—you’re not foolish enough to sever your own arm for the sake of so-called ‘justice,’ are you? Punishing me changes nothing. What’s done is done.”

Wu He’s argument was shameless.

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”*

Steward Hu exploded. “Without rules, there’s no order. If someone like you gets away with this, the Honghua Sect will descend into chaos. What disciple would dare join us then?”

“Steward Hu, with all due respect, how many of the countless disciples we’ve recruited over the years have actually broken through to the Unity Realm? One in ten thousand, if that. Take your own disciple—even if he became a full member, their ceiling is pitifully low. So why pin your hopes on such trash? I saw the truth, which is why I acted as I did.”

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Wu He’s sophistry knew no bounds.

Qi Huang trembled with rage. “You shameless old bastard! You’re in your seventies, one foot in the grave, and you only reached Unity Realm three years ago—by embezzling funds to buy resources! And you dare call others trash?”

“So what? I still reached Unity Realm. Punishing me won’t change anything—it’ll only cost the Honghua Sect a Unity Realm expert. Need I remind you? We’re currently at odds with the Heyi Sect. Without me, how will you deal with them?”

Wu He’s words struck like a hammer.

The surrounding disciples clenched their teeth, but none could refute him. Even Qin Quan fell into thought, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

A smug smile crept onto Wu He’s face. Just as he’d predicted—this sect couldn’t afford to lose him.

Qi Huang grew anxious—until Cheng Hongling’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind:

“Use your divine sense to restrain him!”

“Why?”

“Just do it. No nonsense!”

Gritting her teeth, Qi Huang unleashed her divine sense without warning, crashing down on Elder Wu.

At the same moment, she realized the main body had vanished from beside her.

Wu He, still basking in his triumph, suddenly felt an immense pressure slam into him. Unprepared, he collapsed face-first.

Then—a flash of cold light.

A chill at his throat.

Warm blood trickled down his skin, itching faintly.

“Y-You…”

Clutching his neck, Wu He stared at the slender, sword-wielding figure standing nearby—her Blue Scale Sword gleaming.

Then, with a look of utter disbelief, he toppled over.

“No need for nonsense—just kill him.”

Cheng Hongling sheathed her sword and strode gracefully out of the hall.

The onlookers stood frozen, but not a single voice rose in protest.