Volume 3, Chapter 130 – Cheng Hongling is Poisoned

Cheng Hongling entered the room and gently placed Qi Huang on the chair. She would only show such tenderness to her own doppelgänger—if it were anyone else, even her closest senior sisters, she would never be so gentle or polite.

Qi Huang slumped limply in the chair, her heartbeat so loud she could hear it clearly. The killing intent emanating from the Registry of Slaughter was far too overwhelming for a novice like her to withstand.

Indeed, killing intent had nothing to do with cultivation level or divine sense—only those with an unshakable will could resist it.

“Speak. What exactly do you need those ghost tomatoes for?” Cheng Hongling stood before her doppelgänger, leisurely awaiting an answer.

“…”

Qi Huang fell into deep thought. She relied on the ghost tomatoes to grow stronger, but since they were rare and easily exploited, she had to keep their true purpose a secret from outsiders. But what about her main body?

Qi Huang scrutinized the stunningly beautiful Cheng Hongling before her. If things remained as they were, their fates were undoubtedly bound together—so there was no need to hide anything. But what if her true identity was exposed?

If my real identity is discovered, will she help the Spiritual Wisdom Soul completely assimilate me? Or do something else that harms me?

This was Qi Huang’s greatest fear, leaving her momentarily uncertain whether to speak the truth.

“Not talking? Then you’ll never leave this room.”

Cheng Hongling toyed with the Registry of Slaughter in her hand.

“That damned old man Wu, even in death he won’t let me live in peace!” Qi Huang trembled with anger.

“I actually think he’s quite considerate. Even in death, he gave me such a generous gift. If I couldn’t even control my own doppelgänger, I’d truly become a laughingstock in the cultivation world.”

Cheng Hongling smirked.

Qi Huang had no retort. Instead, she racked her brain for a way to escape the clutches of this “she-devil.”

“Take your time. I’ve got plenty of patience.”

Cheng Hongling teased before turning to the table, leisurely sipping her tea.

Qi Huang was caught in a dilemma, but she quickly realized—she didn’t have to tell the truth.

With that thought, she fabricated a lie:

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“Actually, I discovered that the ghost tomatoes can be used as hair dye. If someone with white hair uses it, their hair instantly turns youthful and never fades. It’s a fantastic business opportunity!”

“What?”

Cheng Hongling was stunned—this answer was completely unexpected.

“You’re saying those things can be used as hair dye?” she asked, recovering from her shock.

“Exactly! See how smooth and jet-black my hair is? That’s the result. Don’t you think middle-aged men and women with graying hair would be envious?”

Qi Huang spoke so convincingly she almost believed it herself.

“Indeed, they’d be dying of envy—just like the villagers of Bajiao Village.”

Cheng Hongling slowly rose to her feet, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

“Not everyone will get poisoned!” Qi Huang retorted, thinking quickly.

“Oh? So you’re saying you won’t be poisoned?”

Cheng Hongling’s lips curled into a half-smile.

“Of course not!”

Qi Huang answered decisively—on this point, she was very confident.

“Fine. Then take some ghost tomatoes and prove it to me.”

Cheng Hongling made the demand mercilessly.

“Right now? No, no—I need to plant the ghost tomato seeds. They require diluted ghost tomato juice to sprout. Using any now would be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!”

Qi Huang hastily explained.

“I just want to verify whether you’re lying. I’m not asking you to waste them.”

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Cheng Hongling rolled her eyes.

Qi Huang wanted to slap herself. After some internal struggle, she forced herself to stand and shuffled toward her room. But after just a few steps, her legs gave out, and she was once again scooped up by her main body.

“One step and you’re shaking three times—are you kidney-deficient?”

Cheng Hongling asked impatiently.

“…”

Qi Huang burned with humiliation, resentment swirling in her heart. ‘You’re the one who drained me! Besides, in my current state, I doubt I even have kidneys left to be deficient!’

‘Still… her embrace is so comfortable. In all the world, I must be the only one blessed enough to experience this, right?’

Her thoughts soon drifted into less innocent territory, and she instinctively snuggled closer.

A short while later, the two arrived in Qi Huang’s room.

Cornered, Qi Huang—hands and legs still trembling—pulled out a ghost tomato and carefully pierced its skin with her sharp pink fingernail.

“Wait, this thing is actually poisonous. Don’t push yourself, or even as a cultivator, you’ll suffer.”

Cheng Hongling quickly warned—since they shared a soul tether, she didn’t want to suffer alongside her.

“No problem. I’m immune to the toxin. Just watch.”

Qi Huang smiled confidently. As the black juice oozed out, she dipped an ordinary comb into it (she wasn’t foolish enough to use the Tongming Comb in front of her main body) and ran it through her hair.

“Wait—you’re seriously putting that directly on your head?”

Cheng Hongling reached out to stop her.

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“I’ve done it this way before. It’s not my first time—relax.”

As she spoke, Qi Huang gathered a lock of hair from behind and combed the ghost tomato juice through it.

“Well?”

After a moment, Cheng Hongling cautiously asked.

“Perfectly fine.”

Qi Huang grinned brightly, showing no signs of poisoning.

“You really don’t get poisoned?”

Cheng Hongling was baffled. She stood up and scrutinized her doppelgänger.

“I told you. Once applied, the color doesn’t fade. If we find others with my constitution, we could sell this ‘hair dye’ and make a fortune!”

Seeing her main body fooled, Qi Huang doubled down on her lie.

“Let me try!”

Skeptical, Cheng Hongling reached out to touch the ghost tomato.

“Wait—are you sure? Do you know the way to the infirmary?”

Qi Huang panicked and tried to stop her.

“Don’t overthink it. As a Unity Realm cultivator, even if this thing is poisonous, its effects on me will be minimal.”

Cheng Hongling brusquely swatted Qi Huang’s hand away and stubbornly touched the ghost tomato juice. However, she soon frowned—her jade-like finger had already swollen, a clear sign of poisoning.

“Are you okay?!”

Qi Huang stared in shock before quickly expressing concern.

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“Are you insane? Who in their right mind would buy this?!”

Flushed with anger, Cheng Hongling stood and stormed downstairs.

“I didn’t make you touch it! Why take it out on me?”

Grumbling unhappily, Qi Huang hurried after her.

Cheng Hongling hadn’t lied—her high cultivation and extraordinary physique allowed her to recover after circulating her energy twice. But having suffered this mishap, she lost all interest in ghost tomatoes.

Relieved to have diverted her main body’s attention, Qi Huang finally relaxed and headed out alone to purchase materials.

When she arrived at the square, she found it unusually lively—though not in a good way. People from Bajiao Village and Panshan Village had gathered, pleading for the Honghua Sect to intervene on their behalf.

“Sect Leader Qin, Bajiao Village is under the Honghua Sect’s protection! After what the Heyi Sect did to us, you must seek justice!”

“That’s right! Our Panshan Village was besieged for over half a year! My father lost an arm saving us—who will avenge him?!”

“If you’re afraid of the Heyi Sect, at least report this to the Immortal Alliance and let them handle it!”

Having endured unbearable suffering, the villagers couldn’t wait any longer and had come to demand action.

“Fellow villagers, we understand your anguish. But the Heyi Sect is determined to deny responsibility. Getting them to admit fault won’t be easy.”

“Please return home for now. Let us discuss this and inform you once we’ve reached a decision.”

Elder Ruan and Xu Mei tried to maintain order. Though sympathetic, they couldn’t make any promises yet.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I will take up your cause. Within half a month, I’ll make sure the Heyi Sect kneels and apologizes!”

A clear, confident voice rang out—none other than Qi Huang herself.