Volume 1, Chapter 34 – Please Don’t Turn Into a Girl

“What thing?”

The people in the great hall asked in unison.

“Pink Bamboo Water!”

Sect Leader Qin revealed the answer and began explaining: “Deep in the western mountains of the dynasty, there grows an extremely rare type of bamboo—completely pink in color. If you cut its branches, a fragrant, sweet liquid flows out. Not only does it refresh the mind, but it also provides immense benefits to water-attributed cultivators who drink it.”

“But what does that have to do with the Golden Fate Blossoms seed?”

Elder Wu pressed impatiently.

“Originally, Pink Bamboo Water was just an auxiliary cultivation resource. But later, people discovered that if a woman first consumes the Golden Fate Blossom Flower and then drinks this water, the flower’s fragrance within her body multiplies, becoming a permanent natural scent strong enough for others to detect. Fortunately, the faction behind the man who gave me the seed cares more about this fragrance than the seed itself.”

Sect Leader Qin unveiled the hidden truth.

“Sect Leader, are you saying you want my daughter to participate in the Evergreen Assembly, obtain Pink Bamboo Water, drink it, and amplify the Golden Fate Blossom’s fragrance—using that as a substitute for the seed?”

Cheng Yuan asked, still somewhat confused.

“Yes. If successful, we might just satisfy them.”

Sect Leader Qin confirmed.

“But why would they want the Golden Fate Blossom’s scent?”

Cheng Yuan pressed further, uneasy.

“The reason is simple. That faction isn’t content with just one seed—they want to use it as bait to obtain more Golden Fate Blossoms.”

Sect Leader Qin explained.

“Bait?”

Rеаԁ оn КаtRеаdіոɡCαfe

Everyone wore expressions of bewilderment.

“Indeed. The Golden Fate Blossom seed emits a unique fragrance that attracts Lightning Eagles—birds that feed exclusively on these seeds. By following them, one can locate more Golden Fate Blossoms.”

Sect Leader Qin elaborated.

“That makes even less sense. Why don’t they just plant the seed and cultivate more?”

Cheng Yuan grew more puzzled, and the others frowned in frustration.

“You underestimate the Immortal Alliance. The Golden Fate Blossom is exclusively controlled by them. To maximize profits, they ensure no loopholes exist—so the seeds given as rewards are pre-boiled and sterile.”

Sect Leader Qin smiled wryly before adding, “Luckily, even boiled seeds retain their fragrance, which is enough to lure Lightning Eagles.”

“Then why didn’t they act immediately? Why entrust the seed to you for safekeeping?”

Cheng Yuan dug deeper, unwilling to overlook any detail concerning his daughter.

“As I mentioned earlier, Golden Fate Blossoms only grow in the far southern Cottonwood Valley—a territory tightly controlled by the Immortal Alliance. That faction must first negotiate entry rights with the Alliance, hence the delay and the need for temporary storage.”

Sect Leader Qin concluded.

“Because I possess a magical artifact capable of preserving plant seeds long-term, the Sect Leader entrusted the Golden Fate Blossom seed to me. Who would’ve thought my reckless granddaughter would steal it?”

Elder Ruan glared at Ruan Lingyu in frustration.

The elders finally understood—the situation was far more complicated than they had imagined.

“Sect Leader Qin, so your plan is to have my daughter drink Pink Bamboo Water, amplify the Golden Fate Blossom’s scent within her, and serve as living bait to help that faction lure Lightning Eagles?”

Cheng Yuan’s voice darkened.

“Yes. This is the only way to save everyone—though there’s no guarantee they’ll accept the substitution.”

Reаd οո KаtRеadіոɡСаfе

Sect Leader Qin didn’t deny it.

“Is it dangerous?”

Jiang Linian asked timidly. A heavy silence fell over the hall—the answer was obvious.

“No. I refuse.”

Cheng Yuan immediately objected.

“You refuse?”

Sect Leader Qin sneered. “Fine. Go home and prepare coffins for yourself, your wife, and your daughter. The rest of us will handle our own arrangements.”

“Cheng Yuan, you ungrateful wretch! Your daughter caused this disaster—why should we all suffer for it?”

Elder Wu raged.

The others, equally furious, began pressuring Cheng Yuan’s family.

“Junior Brother, think carefully. If Hongling tries, there’s at least a sliver of hope. If you refuse, not just her—all of us will perish alongside her.”

Xu Mei pleaded earnestly.

Cheng Yuan stared at his daughter, his expression shifting rapidly as he wrestled with the decision.

“Father… I don’t want everyone to die. I want to try.”

Huang Qi’s body spoke softly but resolutely.

“Sigh. It’s my fault for failing to protect you.”

Cheng Yuan deflated, his face twisted in anguish, before finally looking up at Sect Leader Qin.

Rеαԁ оn KаtReаԁіոgCαfe

“Very well, Sect Leader. We’ll proceed as you suggest.”

“Good! Then it’s settled.”

Sect Leader Qin waved his hand decisively, and the tension in the room eased slightly.

With the matter resolved, the crowd gradually dispersed.

“Junior Sister Xu, you’re familiar with the Evergreen Assembly. Ranking within the top hundred may sound simple, but the competition is fierce—every participant is an elite from their respective sects. For this child to break through won’t be easy. You must rigorously train her from now on.”

Sect Leader Qin approached Xu Mei with grave emphasis.

“Understood, Sect Leader.”

Xu Mei bowed respectfully.

“As for you two—though this situation is harsh on the child, it was her carelessness that caused it. Blame lies with no one else. Her only path to survival now is to grow stronger. I trust you, as parents, will ensure she dedicates herself fully.”

Sect Leader Qin turned to Cheng Yuan and his wife with a milder tone.

‘Carelessness?’

Even as an observer, Huang Qi felt this was unfair—those senior sisters had egged her on! Still, his current body was loyal enough not to betray them.

“Sect Leader Qin, may I ask—can the Golden Fate Blossom seed be purchased with money?”

Cheng Yuan suddenly inquired.

“No.”

Sect Leader Qin answered without hesitation. “The Immortal Alliance monopolizes the Golden Fate Blossom. Acquiring one requires not just wealth, but connections. Even if you had the money, there’s nowhere to buy it.”

Cheng Yuan sighed deeply and gently patted his daughter’s head.

Rеaԁ οո ΚαtRеаԁіngCafе

“Brother Cheng, don’t lose hope. If your daughter becomes strong enough, I believe she’ll overcome this. If you truly wish to help, focus on procuring rare resources to aid her cultivation. You know our Honghua Sect’s limitations—we can’t provide everything she needs.”

Sect Leader Qin suggested.

Cheng Yuan’s expression improved slightly before he hurried off, clearly planning something.

“Sigh. Your father must be heading to the prefecture to stock up again.”

Jiang Linian’s face clouded with worry.

“Mother… Can’t Father stay?”

Huang Qi’s body asked pitifully. Under the influence of the Tongming Comb, the young girl was becoming more perceptive.

“Sigh. For you, he’d do anything. I can’t stop him.”

Jiang Linian sighed helplessly.

Huang Qi, too, felt uneasy. For some reason, he’d begun developing a genuine bond with these dream-world parents—whether from prolonged possession of this body or something else, he couldn’t tell.

Huang Qi opened his eyes again. The inn room came into view, and for a moment, he couldn’t distinguish dream from reality, his mind foggy.

After a long while, clarity returned. Immediately, his hand shot downward—after so many dreams, he couldn’t be sure how much his body had feminized.

“Please don’t let me turn into a girl! What would I even do?”

Huang Qi prayed desperately. As a mentally sound man, he was wholly unprepared for womanhood. If he suddenly transformed, adapting to life as the opposite sex seemed impossible.