Volume 3, Chapter 131 – My Acting Skills Are Flawless

Though Qi Huang’s voice wasn’t loud, it was as crisp and penetrating as a silver bell.

The square fell into complete silence, every gaze fixed on her.

“Th-that’s Fairy Hongling!”

“It’s her! Fairy Hongling is standing up for us—this is wonderful!”

“Fairy Hongling is powerful, beautiful, and kind. She never breaks her promises!”

The villagers from both villages erupted in excitement the moment they recognized Qi Huang, their gloomy expressions vanishing instantly. Some were even moved to tears.

Elder Ruan and Xu Mei, however, had the opposite reaction—their faces darkened with unease.

Xu Mei approached and whispered into Qi Huang’s ear, “You’re Qi Huang, right? Have you really thought this through?”

“Don’t worry, Master. I’ve considered it carefully. These villagers have suffered too much—they deserve justice.”

Qi Huang wasn’t surprised her master recognized her. After all, those close to her knew she and her main body had swapped identities. Cheng Hongling had painted a fake doppelgänger mark on herself, while Qi Huang wore a forehead ornament to impersonate her.

“We all understand the principle, but you must realize the Heyi Sect is formidable. Even after losing four Unity Realm experts, they’re not an enemy we can easily defeat—especially their sect leader, Lin Feng, who has reached the eighth layer of Unity Realm.”

Xu Mei offered a well-intentioned warning.

“Eighth-layer Unity Realm? I thought you were going to say Incarnation Realm! It’s fine, Master. I keep my word.”

Qi Huang waved it off with a dismissive smirk.

“Did you discuss this decision with your main body?”

Xu Mei pressed after a moment’s hesitation.

“No. I’m me, she’s her. This is my promise—it has nothing to do with her.”

Qi Huang asserted firmly.

“But you’re the same person. Isn’t it problematic to act independently like this?”

Xu Mei’s face creased with worry. She was starting to agree with that damned Elder Wu—her disciple might genuinely have a split personality.

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“It’s fine, Master. I know my limits.”

Qi Huang reassured her.

“Should I report this to Sect Leader Qin?”

Xu Mei sought her opinion.

“Go ahead. No need to hide it. When I make a promise, I deliver.”

Qi Huang replied with unshakable confidence.

With Fairy Hongling’s pledge, the villagers were finally at ease and returned contentedly to the temporary lodgings arranged by the Honghua Sect.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang headed to the general store. After consulting the shopkeeper, she finally figured out what materials she needed.

When the store clerk prepared everything, Qi Huang tried to pay—but the shopkeeper refused. After all, she was now Fairy Hongling, the pillar of the Honghua Sect. Without her, the sect wouldn’t exist.

Qi Huang forced the money into his hands anyway, then had the clerk transport the goods to the gate of Orchid Courtyard—since it was a women-only residence, the delivery couldn’t go further.

Without hesitation, Qi Huang extended her divine sense, shaping it into giant hands that scooped up the materials and flew them into the courtyard, depositing them beside the vegetable patch near her home. After three or four trips, everything was inside.

“Little Huang, what in the world are you doing?”

Jiang Linian was utterly startled by the spectacle.

“Mother! I’m planting ghost tomatoes.”

Qi Huang answered succinctly.

“Ghost tomatoes? Aren’t those poisonous?”

Jiang Linian had read The Complete Guide to Bizarre Flora and Fauna in the Cultivation World and heard enough rumors to know ghost tomatoes were lethally toxic.

“It’s fine as long as no one touches them.”

Qi Huang wiped the sweat from her brow.

“But why do you need to grow them?”

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Jiang Linian pressed, still uneasy.

“She claims she’s going to sell them as hair dye!”

At that moment, Cheng Hongling emerged from her room.

“Hair dye?! But they’re poisonous!”

Jiang Linian repeated, alarmed.

“No problem. I’ll sell them to people who are immune.”

Qi Huang brushed it off.

“I’d love to see how many ‘immune’ people you can find.”

Cheng Hongling’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

‘A few? You overestimate me. Without the Tongming Comb, I wouldn’t find a single one.’

Qi Huang inwardly scoffed, though she’d never say it aloud. Instead, she busied herself with setting up the greenhouse, stubborn as a child.

After hours of struggling, even Qi Huang—a cultivator—couldn’t figure out the materials. The project stalled before it even began.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake—let me help you.”

Jiang Linian couldn’t bear to watch any longer and stepped in. Having grown vegetables in the Honghua Sect for over a decade, she had some experience with such things.

Qi Huang eagerly accepted. With her mother’s assistance, the greenhouse construction finally began—though progress was slow due to the lack of manpower.

That changed when her senior sisters dropped by for a visit.

Seeing Qi Huang struggling with the greenhouse, Ruan Lingyu and the others immediately offered help—though their true motive was obvious. Throughout the process, they seized every chance to get close to Qi Huang. If not for Cheng Hongling’s watchful gaze, they might’ve devoured her on the spot.

Soon after, Xu Mei arrived and informed Cheng Hongling about Qi Huang’s unilateral promise to help the villagers.

Cheng Hongling was so furious she laughed, dragging Qi Huang into a room for some bonding time.

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“Explain. What mental state were you in to make such a promise?”

She gritted her teeth, barely restraining her anger.

“As a disciple of the Honghua Sect, isn’t it our duty to stand up for them?”

Qi Huang countered with flawless logic.

“I’m not questioning whether we should help. I’m questioning the deadline! How dare you guarantee the Heyi Sect will kneel and beg for mercy within half a month? Do you even know how strong they are?”

Cheng Hongling’s jaw clenched, her teeth grinding audibly. She thought she was reckless—but her doppelgänger was either even more arrogant or outright delusional!

“I was being conservative. I originally wanted to say three days.”

Qi Huang delivered the line like it was nothing.

“I’ll kill you!”

Even the aloof Cheng Hongling snapped, lunging at Qi Huang and pinning her to the floor.

“Stop manhandling me! Just listen!”

Qi Huang gasped, struggling beneath her. “Have you forgotten how I dealt with Guardian Guo and the others?”

Cheng Hongling’s movements slowed, her expression shifting to contemplation.

“Finally catching on? I can perfectly impersonate an Incarnation Realm expert. If I show up like that, don’t you think the Heyi Sect will grovel? Why fight when acting can solve everything? We’re civilized people.”

Qi Huang wiggled her eyebrows smugly.

“Don’t make such shameless expressions with my face.”

Cheng Hongling scowled and delivered a sharp slap to Qi Huang’s backside— crack!

Qi Huang yelped in pain and immediately surrendered.

“So you’re suggesting we keep up the act? Pretend to be an Incarnation Realm expert and force them to submit?”

Cheng Hongling finally grasped the plan.

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“Exactly! Why waste such a perfect opportunity?”

Qi Huang shot back.

Cheng Hongling stood slowly, deep in thought, weighing the feasibility.

‘The Heyi Sect is powerful, with their leader at the eighth layer of Unity Realm and many other experts. I’m only at the sixth layer—it’d take me another decade to confidently defeat them. Should we just let them roam free until then?’

The idea gnawed at her.

‘Forget it. Better to try than do nothing.’

She quickly made up her mind. “It’s worth attempting. But are you sure you won’t freeze up?”

“Relax, I’m a seasoned actor. Besides, you can recall me anytime. Even if I’m exposed, it’s no big deal.”

Qi Huang moved to thump her chest confidently—but stopped mid-motion, realizing how unseemly the gesture would look in her current form.

“I almost forgot—you’re a habitual fraudster. You even fooled your parents and master before.”

Cheng Hongling smirked in realization.

“Ah—”

Qi Huang flushed with embarrassment.

“Fine. But for safety, I’m going with you.”

Cheng Hongling finally conceded.

“Great! Once I’ve planted the ghost tomatoes, we’ll head straight to the Heyi Sect. This time, I’ll scare them to death.”

Qi Huang grinned mischievously.

By evening, the greenhouse was finally complete. Qi Huang took the time to plant all sixteen ghost tomato seeds, instructing her mother to guard them closely in her absence.

The next morning, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling set off—their destination, the Heyi Sect, to deliver justice for the villagers.