Volume 3, Chapter 206 – Have You Eaten the Heart of a Bear and the Gall of a Leopard?

The group had only walked a few miles when Qi Huang’s expression suddenly stiffened, followed by a pained, heart-wrenching look. Her steps gradually slowed to a halt.

“What’s wrong?” Huang Tian asked in confusion.

Qi Huang took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain composed. “It’s nothing. Tell everyone to wait here for a bit. I need to step away for a moment.”

“Alright! Be careful.” Huang Tian instinctively reminded her. For some reason, whenever he saw that stunning face and curvaceous figure of the main body, he found it hard to treat her as himself. So, he often ended up saying polite, distant things without thinking.

“Huang Qi, go with her. A young girl shouldn’t be alone in these wild mountains. It’s not safe.” Elder Huang Xinghu, leaning on his cane, spoke up. Ever since taking that pill, he had grown younger by the day and insisted on walking to the county town himself.

“No need, Grandfather. I’m a cultivator, you know.” Qi Huang forced a smile before quickly leaving, afraid that lingering any longer would make her grandfather notice something amiss.

“Are you really just stepping away?”

Qi Huang had barely taken a few steps when her doppelgänger’s telepathic voice echoed in her mind.

“It’s nothing. Second Uncle’s family is lying dead up ahead. As their nephew, I can’t bring myself to weep for them, but I can at least bury their bodies so Grandfather doesn’t see them later.”

She answered casually, unsure how she truly felt about the matter. Should she gloat? They were still her blood relatives. Should she mourn? Given everything they had done, she couldn’t muster any tears. Her emotions were tangled beyond measure.

“They… they’re dead?” Huang Tian’s voice trembled as he confirmed.

“Yes. Don’t dwell on it. I told you—everyone is responsible for the path they choose. They ended up like this because of their own actions. No one else is to blame.”

After offering those words of comfort, Qi Huang’s body lifted lightly into the air as she flew ahead.

Rеаԁ оո ΚαtReαԁіngСαfe

Soon, she arrived at the scene. Calmly, she buried the bodies of Huang Kaiyou’s family before flying back as if nothing had happened. She had already done more than enough—there was no need for further sentiment.

“You and that Huang Qi aren’t even married yet, are you? Why should you be the one burying his relatives? Can’t that freeloader handle his own family’s affairs?” Yaoyao suddenly chimed in.

Qi Huang didn’t respond. Right now, she didn’t want to speak at all.

Returning to the group, she led them onward until they finally reached the southern gate of the county town.

Qi Huang was relieved—no one mentioned Huang Kaiyou’s family, not even her grandfather. It spared her a lot of unnecessary trouble.

“The county town! For generations, the people of Huatian Village dreamed of coming here, yet none ever managed to settle down. Who would’ve thought we’d finally achieve it today?”

“Exactly! Every time we came before, we’d be on edge the whole time, afraid some official would stop and interrogate us. But from now on, not just us—our sons, grandsons, even great-grandsons can stay as long as they want!”

“While we celebrate, let’s not forget who made this possible. I don’t know about the rest of you, but from today onward, Huang Qi and his wife are like my second parents.”

“You wish! If you want to be their son, get in line.”

“Enough empty talk. Huatian Village never had a proper village chief. I propose that from now on, Huang Qi is our chief!”

The villagers were moved to tears, each voicing their gratitude.

Elder Huang Xinghu and Huang Kairong’s family wore expressions of deep satisfaction. To raise such a descendant, to have such a daughter-in-law—their lives had not been in vain.

“Since you all think so highly of us, let me say a few words.”

Rеαd οո КаtReαԁіոɡСafе

Qi Huang stepped forward, her tone solemn. “Buying houses for everyone and helping you move to the county town is my way of greeting you all as Huatian Village’s new daughter-in-law. There’s no need for repayment.”

“We must! We absolutely must!”

“That’s right! This county town is so safe—do you think we can’t support ourselves? Don’t worry, niece!”

“Repayment is necessary. We know how much a house here costs. We’ll write IOUs and pay back every last coin, even if it takes generations!”

The villagers were even more touched by her words.

“If you insist on repaying me, then do me one favor.”

With a wave of her jade-like hand, Qi Huang summoned a cage of ordinary cats, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd.

“If anyone is willing, please adopt one.”

“That’s it?”

The villagers exchanged glances. The sharper ones immediately rushed forward, eager to take a cat and maintain their connection with her.

“From now on, you’ll need to live stable lives. The county town may be safe, but there’s no farmland here. Everything—food, firewood, salt—costs money. Huang Qi and I can only help so much. Whether you can truly settle here depends on yourselves.”

Qi Huang laid things out plainly. She had done enough and refused to carry any further burden. Otherwise, she’d never be able to move forward freely.

The villagers finally understood—she was drawing a line. Though their expressions dimmed slightly, they were sensible enough to accept it. One by one, they vowed not to become a burden.

Rеαd oո ΚαtRеαⅾіոɡСаfе

Not wanting to delay any longer, Qi Huang led the villagers into the city and began inquiring about houses. She had only left a single “puppet” behind at the Honghua Sect. If her main body returned first, the deception would be exposed. She had to leave soon.

Purchasing over twenty courtyard houses was no small task, especially with the bureaucratic red tape involved. Progress was slow.

Qi Huang couldn’t wait any longer. She handed her doppelgänger ten thousand taels of silver and sent a telepathic message:

“Five or six thousand taels should be enough for the villagers’ houses. Use the rest to start a small business in the county town. It doesn’t need to turn a profit—just establish a foothold. Protecting our family falls to you now, so I’m sorry you’ll have to stay with them. If you run into trouble, let me know anytime.”

“Why apologize? They’re my family too. Staying with them is what I want.”

Huang Tian smiled before replying telepathically: “If anything, you’re the one sacrificing. To give us a better life, you have to keep running around outside, rarely seeing Grandfather or our parents.”

Qi Huang pondered this and smiled wryly. It was true—if she had a choice, she’d prefer a simple life with her family. But from the moment she put on that Feminine Descent Mask, that dream was forever out of reach.

After bidding her family farewell, Qi Huang noticed the parents of He Chao and Liu Keqian watching her hesitantly, as if they wanted to speak but didn’t dare.

She knew what was on their minds and walked over. “Elders, don’t worry. I keep my promises. The next time I return, I’ll bring your sons back with their wives.”

“Really? That’s wonderful! We’ve been so anxious—there are only three or four months left until the end of June. As long as you can find our Liu Keqian a wife—tall or short, pretty or plain, divorced or widowed, even with children—we won’t complain! We’ll repay you for the rest of our lives!”

“He’s our only son! If he goes to war, we’ll have nothing left to live for. Please, you must help us!”

The four parents’ faces lit up with joy.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they marry untouched maidens.”

Rеаd оո KαtRеaԁіոgСafе

After reassuring them, Qi Huang left the county town alone, flying back toward the Honghua Sect. Now that she had sufficient resources, it was time to begin the next phase of her plan. The full moon was approaching—once she collected the tears of the Nine Nether Demon Cats, she could start offering rewards for Ghost Tomatoes. Invincibility was within reach.

“Oh right, Yaoyao, there’s something I need to tell you. My main body is a disciple of the Honghua Sect. I’m returning there now, and given your… sensitive identity, don’t speak a word once we arrive. It could cause trouble.”

“Does your main body know about us?” Yaoyao asked curiously.

“I haven’t told her.”

“Am I hearing this right? A doppelgänger keeping secrets from her main body?”

Yaoyao sounded utterly shocked.

“Not just that. She doesn’t know I plan to marry Huang Qi either. You’ll have to keep all this secret for me.”

Far from ashamed, Qi Huang seemed almost proud.

“Have you eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard ¹ 吃了熊心豹子胆 (chī le xióng xīn bàozi dǎn), being so brave and courageous it can be mistaken as recklessness ?! With her icy personality, there’s no way she’d ever fancy some weak, average-looking man! Aren’t you afraid she’ll devour you alive?!”

Yaoyao’s worldview was in shambles.

“Exactly. So if you don’t want to lose such a dutiful poop-scooper, you’d better keep quiet. You wouldn’t betray me, would you?”

Qi Huang smirked, utterly unafraid.