Volume 3, Chapter 211 – I’ll Feed You to the Cats

“Yes, yes, it’s me acting. I’m a master of deception, happy now?”

Qi Huang shook her head helplessly, thinking, ‘Why are you so stubborn? Isn’t a free gift from the heavens a good thing?’

“Did you all hear that? She admitted it!”

Cheng Hongling exclaimed excitedly. But when she looked around, none of the higher-ups reacted. All they cared about were the cat’s tears—who was acting didn’t matter to them in the slightest.

Though Cheng Hongling’s heart burned with indignation, the matter ended in absurdity just like that. She returned empty-handed, expecting to face scorn and ridicule. Instead, she was inexplicably welcomed with open arms and even had her position as the sect’s successor firmly cemented.

After the initial confusion, Cheng Hongling gradually calmed down. She felt this was nothing but an insult to her. So, she immediately confronted her doppelgänger for answers.

“Speak. Where did you get those cat’s tears?”

The moment they stepped out of the main hall, Cheng Hongling lashed out at Qi Huang through telepathic communication.

“Bought them, obviously. What else?”

Qi Huang answered without hesitation. One of her few virtues was that she always prepared an escape route before stirring trouble.

“From whom?”

Cheng Hongling pressed on with her “interrogation”.

“I was buying goods, not conducting a census. How would I know who they were? When you buy something on the street, do you interrogate the shopkeeper about their identity?”

Qi Huang countered with flawless logic.

“You—!”

Cheng Hongling immediately wanted to retort, but after a long pause, she couldn’t find a single flaw in that reasoning. Gnashing her teeth in frustration, she spat out, “Your reasoning is just impeccable, isn’t it?”

“No need to worry. He’s already promised me—dozens of vials of cat’s tears every month. If anyone in the sect wants to buy some from you, just send them to me.”

Qi Huang reassured her.

“Dozens of vials every month? Then doesn’t that mean the Honghua Sect’s crisis is completely resolved?”

Cheng Hongling asked in disbelief.

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“Exactly. So, you’re now the Honghua Sect’s true savior.”

Qi Huang flattered her.

“Don’t you dare put me on a pedestal! I, Cheng Hongling, refuse to accept unearned rewards. To gain without labor is an insult to me!”

Cheng Hongling declared resolutely.

“What ‘unearned rewards’? Does it matter whether I got them or you did? Or… have you never truly considered me your doppelgänger?”

Qi Huang delivered a soul-crushing question.

Cheng Hongling froze. Then, a shock ran through her. “That’s right… Why was I so furious? She IS my doppelgänger! Does it matter who found them?”

“Have I really never treated her as my doppelgänger from the start? But… why?”

For the first time, Cheng Hongling realized something was off about herself, and she began seriously pondering this grave question.

After dealing with her main self, Qi Huang returned and immediately set her plans into motion. But first, she needed personnel.

“Sister Yuan Jie, do you have any friends looking for work?”

Qi Huang asked Yuan Jie.

“I do! What kind of work does the Fairy need? And what kind of people?”

Yuan Jie replied eagerly. Finding employment within the Honghua Sect was no easy feat.

“I want to open a sundry shop. Someone with experience running a store would be best.”

Qi Huang explained.

“I do know someone like that!”

Yuan Jie thought for a moment before slapping her forehead in realization.

Thus, the very next day, Yuan Jie brought her friend over.

The girl’s name was Tang Ping, around the same age as Yuan Jie. With average looks, her circumstances were similarly bleak—unmarried even now.

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“Birds of a feather really do flock together.”

Qi Huang was quite satisfied. Who knew? Maybe she could even play matchmaker for two happy couples.

With personnel secured, Qi Huang rented a small storefront within the Honghua Sect, naming it the “Ghost Tomato Collection Point”. She then posted a bounty notice at the entrance—100 taels of silver per ghost tomato, unlimited purchases.

Once everything was arranged, Qi Huang had Tang Ping oversee operations, instructing her to contact her immediately if anyone came to sell.

Though Qi Huang had opened the shop discreetly, she wasn’t worried. Word would spread quickly.

Sure enough, while everyone knew ghost tomatoes were hard to find, the exorbitant purchase price caused a stir. Many began itching to try their luck.

Qi Huang was thrilled. Given time, not just Yongning Province but the entire Western Radiance Dynasty would hear of this. All she had to do was wait patiently. No matter how rare ghost tomatoes were, people would eventually bring them to her doorstep.

However, two days later, instead of ghost tomatoes, her main self came knocking first.

“Are you bored out of your mind? Have you developed an addiction to farming? Ghost tomatoes are poisonous—people avoid them like the plague! Yet here you are, offering 100 taels each, buying as many as you can get. If you’ve got money to burn, why not give it to beggars on the street?”

Cheng Hongling berated her without mercy.

“I AM saving people. Can’t you see that?”

Qi Huang feigned confusion.

“What do you mean? Remember those dozen or so seedlings in your greenhouse that I called my hostages? If you can’t give me a good reason, I’ll execute them on the spot!”

Cheng Hongling threatened.

“Hostages again? Can’t you come up with something new?”

Qi Huang nearly wept. Thankfully, she had already prepared an excuse. With tears in her eyes, she said mournfully, “Do you remember what happened at Bajiao Village? The villagers there were ruined by ghost tomatoes—families torn apart. That scene still haunts me. I have nightmares about it! So I swore to myself—if I ever had the means, I would rid the world of these cursed fruits! That’s why I’m offering such a high price—not out of boredom, but to gather every last ghost tomato and spare innocent people from suffering!”

By the end of her speech, Qi Huang was so moved by her own words that tears welled up. She couldn’t help but marvel at her own genius—turning a personal agenda into a noble cause for humanity. In fact, this was the exact story she had given Tang Ping: “If anyone asks, say our shop owner is saving the world.” This not only concealed her true motives but also polished her image. A win-win!

Cheng Hongling was dumbstruck. After a long silence, she muttered with mixed emotions, “I think Mu Ruoyi should step aside. The title of Holy Maiden belongs to you!”

And just like that, Qi Huang successfully brushed off her main self. From then on, whenever someone asked about her ghost tomato venture, she would solemnly declare it was “for the sake of saving humanity.” Naturally, this earned her even more praise.

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“Before you go saving the world, think about how to save yourself!”

That night, Yaoyao suddenly spoke up with a threat.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Qi Huang blinked stupidly.

“What’s wrong? Have you forgotten your promise to me? My sisters have been starving under your care. Seems like you’re really planning to feed them with your own soul.”

Yaoyao’s tone was icy.

“Ah! No, no, that was never the plan! I’ll find food for them right away!”

Qi Huang broke out in a cold sweat.

“No need. Aren’t you busy saving the world? What better way than to sacrifice yourself for the greater good?”

Yaoyao’s voice dripped with malice.

“Don’t be hasty! If I die, where will you find such a good poop-scooper?”

Qi Huang pleaded in panic.

“No worries. Good poop-scoopers are rare, but not impossible to find. Unlike your dignity!”

Yaoyao continued her intimidation.

“No, no, no! I’ll figure something out, okay?!”

Terrified out of her wits, Qi Huang begged for mercy.

Meanwhile, the outside world was in an uproar.

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The reason? Cheng Hongling’s legendary performance at the Yuxiao Sect had made it impossible for the Huxiao Sect to keep things under wraps. Every major immortal sect in the Western Radiance Dynasty with any influence was now eyeing this peerless genius, eager to poach her.

Guo Chao, leader of the Huxiao Sect, knew that delays bred trouble. So, he decided to take a gamble.

That morning, he summoned over a dozen high-ranking sect members to the council hall to formulate a plan.

“As you all know, the Honghua Sect in Yongning Province has produced a genius—a young girl who reached the Incarnation Realm at just fifteen or sixteen years old. Such talent is unprecedented in the Western Radiance Dynasty. Whoever obtains her will elevate their entire sect to new heights.”

Guo Chao began with an overview.

“A fifteen-year-old Incarnation Realm expert? What kind of monster is she? Our Huxiao Sect’s so-called ‘immortal seedlings’ pale in comparison—like fireflies before the sun!”

“I know of this girl. Her growth is terrifying. Four years ago, at just twelve, she ranked in the top sixty of the Western Radiance Dynasty’s Immortal Seedling Rankings. Though she failed last year, it was only because the Immortal Alliance changed the rules. She single-handedly took down Yongning’s second-largest sect, the Haizhi Sect. She fell standing!”

“Such a talent must be recruited by any means necessary!”

The elders buzzed with discussion.

“Indeed. That’s why I previously sent Elder Zhou to recruit her. Unfortunately, the girl is stubbornly loyal to the Honghua Sect. To prevent competition, he had no choice but to suppress the news. But after the Yuxiao Sect battle, the secret is out.”

Guo Chao laid out the current situation.

“So what if it’s out? In Yongning Province, who dares compete with us?”

“Not just Yongning! With our connections to Immortal Alliance Executor Cai, who in the entire Western Radiance Dynasty would dare challenge us? Even the Donglai Sect would think twice!”

Several elders spoke arrogantly.

“The Western Radiance Dynasty might not interfere, but other nations will. A sixteen-year-old Incarnation Realm expert is enough to attract the attention of super sects from the Central Continent!”

Guo Chao warned.

The elders’ expressions darkened. They knew some of those super sects from the Central Continent didn’t even respect the Immortal Alliance—they were terrifying entities.

“To avoid complications, I’ve decided to take a risk. Since she was born in Yongning Province, as long as she lives, she will belong to the Huxiao Sect.”

Guo Chao’s face hardened with resolve.