Volume 1, Chapter 36 – Oh No, She’s Fairy Hongling (Part 1)

Huang Qi had taken the risk of asking about the Tongming Comb for two reasons. First, he couldn’t wait any longer to confirm its existence. Second, it was safer to ask now than to inquire about it later at the Honghua Sect—a place where he absolutely couldn’t afford to linger.

“The Tongming Comb? Wasn’t it always with you?”

Ruan Lingyu tilted her head in confusion.

‘So it really does exist?!’

Huang Qi nearly choked on his own breath, his voice trembling. “I-It’s nothing… I must’ve misplaced it. I didn’t see it when I left this morning.”

“You’d better find it soon, or Master might get angry.”

She teased, but Huang Qi only forced a smile. He didn’t dare stay any longer and quickly hurried away.

As he approached the city gates, he hesitated, then bought two more Monarch-grade Talismans. The journey to the prefecture was over three hundred miles—who knew what demons or ghosts he might encounter along the way? With his current Spirit Gathering Realm, Second Layer cultivation, even the weakest specter could finish him off.

After tucking the talismans close to his body, he set off northward. With no more reason to hold back, he pushed himself to move as fast as possible. Time was running out.

The benefits of cultivation quickly became apparent. In the past, covering such a distance would have taken five or six days of daylight travel. But now, with his enhanced stamina, he could reach the Honghua Sect in just two.

Of course, Huang Qi was well aware that going there was practically suicide. But what choice did he have? If he didn’t, his twenty-plus years as a man would come to an end, and his family would face conscription troubles.

As he walked, his mind wandered to recent events—especially that bizarre dream.

“They say dreams reflect what’s on your mind. I’ve met Fairy Lingyu, Sect Leader Qin, and Elder Xu before, so their appearances weren’t surprising. But Fairy Miao Xiang? The Tongming Comb? I’d never heard of them before, yet they turned out to be real. That means everything in that dream probably happened in reality.”

But one question gnawed at him:

“Why did I dream about Fairy Hongling’s childhood?”

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After much pondering, it hit him.

“The Human Skin Mask!”

Every time he dreamed, he underwent feminization—an effect caused by the mask.

“But how does this mask know about Fairy Hongling’s past? And why is it forcing those memories on me?”

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find an answer.

By nightfall, Huang Qi had already traveled over a hundred miles—an impossible feat in his former life. He stopped at a small county town and, for safety’s sake, decided to stay the night.

The inn was bustling with dinner crowds when he entered. His tall, curvaceous figure immediately drew stares, and the middle-aged manager behind the counter gaped openly.

Not wanting to linger, Huang Qi approached.

“A room, please.”

“R-Right away, miss!”

The goat-bearded manager snapped out of his daze, handing over a key. “Last door on the right, second floor. Will there be anything else, young lady?”

“Young lady?”

The term made Huang Qi cringe inwardly, but he’d grown somewhat accustomed to his female guise. Keeping his expression neutral, he added, “Send up a basin of water and two small dishes.”

“At once!”

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The manager scribbled the order, then hesitated. “Miss… are you traveling alone?”

“Is that a problem?” Huang Qi’s tone cooled slightly.

“I-I just mean to warn you—it’s dangerous at night! The world’s in chaos, especially for young women. Ghosts and demons? A talisman can handle those. But men? They’re harder to guard against.”

Realizing the man meant well, Huang Qi softened. “Thank you.”

Upstairs, Huang Qi settled into his room. With nothing else to do, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating. As he cycled the Guihai Art, water spiritual energy surged into his dantian from both inside and outside his body, rapidly boosting his cultivation.

“At this rate, I’ll reach the Third Layer of the Spirit Gathering Realm in less than two weeks.”

A thrill shot through him.

“This speed is insane—even Fairy Hongling in my dreams couldn’t compare!”

He knew the reason, of course: the Human Skin Mask. Nearly all the water energy he absorbed came from his feminized upper body, with less than ten percent drawn from the environment.

“If this mask holds enough spiritual energy, I could become a peerless genius!”

The thought eased some of his discomfort over his transformation.

“Sure, I’ve got these… things now, but at least I’m not a full woman yet. If this turns me into a powerhouse, it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Soon, a young waiter arrived with his meal. The boy, barely eighteen, lingered awkwardly after setting down the tray.

“Was there something else?” Huang Qi asked.

“M-Miss… the manager said… you shouldn’t go out tonight. I-I’ll guard your door!”

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The boy’s face burned crimson as he stammered.

“That won’t be necessary.” Huang Qi declined politely.

“N-No trouble! Just call if you need me!”

With that, the waiter fled. Huang Qi shook his head wryly. In the mortal world, encounters with young women were rare for ordinary boys.

After eating, Huang Qi washed up and resumed cultivation. True to his word, the waiter took post outside—though his soft snores soon echoed through the hallway.

“If I relied on you for protection, I’d be giving birth before reaching the Honghua Sect.”

Huang Qi sighed. He wouldn’t have stayed here if he were truly defenseless.

“Just because I’m still technically male doesn’t mean I’m safe. If traffickers got hold of me, I’d fully feminize within days—then I’d be as helpless as any woman.”

Still, he didn’t blame the waiter. Not everyone was a cultivator.

Before long, the manager’s scolding voice carried from outside.

“I told you to stand guard, not sleep!”

“S-Sorry, sir! I was just so tired!”

“Then go home and sleep!”

“Y-You’re firing me?!”

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“What choice do I have? If something happens to that girl, who’d dare stay here? Both of us will be out of jobs—understand?!”

“Y-Yes, sir! I’ll stay alert!”

Huang Qi’s sharpened senses caught every word.

“As I thought.”

He smirked. The manager’s concern wasn’t kindness—just business.

Free of guilt, Huang Qi immersed himself in cultivation. Hours later, a commotion shattered the quiet: heavy, chaotic footsteps and the clatter of weapons.

His eyes snapped open. This wasn’t normal inn activity.

Moments later, the noise reached his door.

“W-Who are you?! What do you want?!” The waiter’s voice quavered with false bravado.

“Scram if you wanna live.” A rough voice growled.

“Aaaagh—!”

A scream, then silence.

BANG!

The door to Huang Qi’s room exploded inward.