Volume 4, Chapter 260 – The Crimson Birthmark… It’s Actually Hereditary?

It was unclear how much time had passed when Qi Huang groggily opened her eyes. The sight that greeted her was an unfamiliar room, not hers, not her main body’s, nor any of her fellow sect sisters’.

‘Where am I?’

Uncertain, she tried to get up, only to realize her body refused to obey her. The sensation was eerily similar to sleep paralysis.

‘This feeling… strange yet familiar. It’s been so long since I last experienced it. Have I entered another dream?’

The moment this thought surfaced, memories of what happened before she lost consciousness flooded her mind.

‘It seems I really have entered another dream. To be precise, I’m reliving the memories carried by that feminization mask. I wonder if I’ll wake up this time…’

A pang of melancholy struck her. In the past, she would have been terrified out of her wits, but this time, she remained unexpectedly calm, her capacity for fear had been stripped away by the Spiritual Wisdom Soul.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. At least I saved my father and my main body. Even if my consciousness fades away, it was worth it.’

She comforted herself.

After lying still for a while longer, Qi Huang’s body—or rather, Cheng Hongling’s—finally rose from the bed on its own and began her morning routine.

Like a sleepwalker, Cheng Hongling mechanically went about washing her face. She poured water into a basin, added a pinch of bath bean powder, and began cleansing her delicate features.

Though naturally beautiful, Cheng Hongling, like most girls, still enjoyed wearing light makeup. She cupped a handful of water and gently patted her fair cheeks. Droplets trickled down her smooth, flawless skin, accentuating the feminine charm of her pink-tinted nails.

Qi Huang watched blankly, unable to deny that her main body was the epitome of perfection—her looks, her grace, her every movement exuded elegance. Even the simple act of washing her face was a sight to behold.

But then—

Cheng Hongling suddenly shuddered, her lovely eyes widening as her hands froze mid-motion.

Rеаd οn ΚatRеaⅾіngСαfe

‘What’s wrong?’ Qi Huang wondered.

After a dazed pause, Cheng Hongling lifted a trembling, jade-like finger and touched the spot an inch below her right eye.

Qi Huang’s gaze followed, and what she saw sent a tremor through her very soul.

There, on Cheng Hongling’s face, was a pinkish-red birthmark the size of a broad bean, identical in shape and size to the one her so-called “mother” had.

‘What… What is this? Can that red mark actually be hereditary?!’

Even without fear, Qi Huang felt her breath hitch.

Cheng Hongling, of course, was utterly horrified. She rubbed at the spot frantically, hoping it was just a smudge, but the friction only made the pink mark turn a deeper, more vivid red.

“What is this?”

Staring blankly into the bronze mirror, Cheng Hongling trembled violently. After all, what woman didn’t care about her beauty? And her beauty wasn’t just personal, it was tied to the dignity of the Honghua Sect, even the entire Huangtian County.

Qi Huang understood the gravity of the situation, but soon, a burning question arose:

‘If my main body had this red mark before… how did it disappear? The current Cheng Hongling’s face is flawless, no blemishes at all!’

Knowing the future, Qi Huang gradually calmed down.

“What should I do…?”

Cheng Hongling murmured as if sleepwalking. Her distress was understandable, her mother had spent half her life trying and failing to remove the same mark.

“No… I can’t let anyone find out. Especially not Mother. She’d blame herself.”

Reаd οո КatRеaⅾiոgCаfе

After muttering to herself, she hastily dried her face and rummaged through her bag for foundation, covering the faint pink mark with unsteady hands.

Paranoid about exposure, she suddenly lost confidence in her makeup skills. She adjusted and readjusted, never quite satisfied.

Creak—

The door swung open.

Cheng Hongling flinched violently and turned to see her master, Xu Mei, stepping inside.

“Hongling! You’re awake? You’ve been unconscious for three days. You must be starving—here, have some mung bean porridge.”

Xu Mei smiled warmly and set a bowl of porridge beside her beloved disciple.

Cheng Hongling hesitated, then shook her head, her expression troubled.

“Sigh.”

Xu Mei sighed and placed the porridge on the table before returning with a solemn expression.

“Hongling, I know you’re upset, but you’re still young. There will be other opportunities.”

“Heh. Don’t worry, Master. I’ve already figured it out. My failure wasn’t because of the Immortal Alliance’s rules, it was because I wasn’t strong enough. If I’m powerful enough, no rules can hold me back.”

Cheng Hongling forced a smile.

Hearing this, Qi Huang immediately grasped the timeline, this was right after last year’s Evergreen Conference.

Reαԁ οn KatRеаdiոgCаfе

“Hongling, hearing you say that truly relieves me!”

Xu Mei exhaled in relief.

“That said, we can’t just let this slide. Sect Leader Qin has already gone to the capital to file a complaint with the Immortal Alliance’s Elder Zuo. Don’t worry, if all goes well, justice will be served soon.”

“I hope so.”

Cheng Hongling smiled noncommittally.

The dream faded, and another took its place. This time, Qi Huang found herself in the grand hall of the Honghua Sect.

Qin Quan sat on the sect leader’s throne, his expression grave. After a long silence, he spoke with remorse:

“I’ve let you all down. My trip to the capital was fruitless. Elder Zuo refused to see me. After some digging, I learned… he’s actually the master of that Inspector Cai.”

“Like master, like disciple!” Xu Mei spat angrily.

“Even without that connection, Elder Zuo wouldn’t have intervened. Punishing a capable subordinate for the sake of a minor sect like ours? That’s a losing trade for him and the Immortal Alliance. He’s no fool.”

Elder Wu chimed in, a mocking smile on his face, though whether he was mocking Cheng Hongling’s failure or himself was unclear.

Qi Huang stared at Elder Wu, a man she and her main body had long since killed, and felt an indescribable eeriness. Seeing a dead man so vividly alive in this dream was unsettling.

“Are we just going to let Inspector Cai get away with this? If the rules for selecting immortal seedlings in Yongning Province don’t change, Hongling will never have a chance, and neither will our Honghua Sect!”

Elder Ruan slammed his fist in indignation.

“Sigh. With Hongling’s talent, she doesn’t need the Evergreen Conference right now. That Inspector Cai is old, he’ll step down eventually. That’s when she’ll shine. But we can’t wait… we need to solve the Golden Fate Blossom seed crisis soon.”

Rеαⅾ oո ΚαtRеaԁіոgCαfe

Qin Quan sighed as well.

“Elders, there’s no need to worry. I, Cheng Hongling, may not have many strengths, but my cultivation speed is unmatched. If the Immortal Alliance’s rules remain unchanged in three years, what can five measly opponents do to stop me? I’ll break their rules myself!”

Cheng Hongling’s cold voice cut through the murmurs.

“True! Hongling nearly single-handedly eliminated the Haizhi Sect this year, and they’re the second-largest immortal sect in Yongning! At her rate, who could stop her in three years?”

“Exactly. If three years isn’t enough, then six. She has time.”

“As long as the rules stay the same, with her speed, securing a provincial-level immortal seedling spot should be no issue.”

The elders whispered among themselves before nodding in agreement. No one dared question Cheng Hongling’s talent.

With no better solution, they could only pin their hopes on her.

“Hongling, I believe in your talent. But you must understand, cultivation isn’t just about aptitude. It requires resources, and at your current level, the Honghua Sect can no longer provide meaningful support.”

Back in her quarters, Xu Mei spoke earnestly.

Cheng Hongling opened her mouth but found no rebuttal.

“So my suggestion is… temporarily join another sect. The Changhe Sect would be a good choice.”

“What? Master, did I hear you right?”

Cheng Hongling was stunned.