Volume 8, Chapter 467 – Is the Feminization Starting Again? (Part 2)

Since her true identity had been exposed, Qi Huang’s main body, Cheng Hongling, had claimed she didn’t mind, but her behavior had subconsciously become more restrained. While it couldn’t be called distant, it was certainly not as intimate as before.

Qi Huang didn’t take it to heart. After all, there were boundaries between men and women. She couldn’t expect a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl to let her guard down completely around her. So, she had assumed this kind of relationship would last forever. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that Cheng Hongling would suddenly show up at her tent, asking to share a bed.

“What’s wrong? Is it not okay?”

Cheng Hongling asked awkwardly, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected her “forwardness” to be met with such a lack of reaction from her doppelgänger.

“No, no, it’s fine! Of course, it’s okay. As long as you don’t mind.”

Qi Huang hurriedly reassured her. In truth, she was more than happy with this arrangement. After all, what man wouldn’t want to snuggle up to a peerless fairy like Cheng Hongling? Besides, this could also help deepen the bond between the main body and the doppelgänger.

Cheng Hongling’s expression softened slightly before she bent down and slipped into the tent. A few of her fellow female disciples watched from a distance, their eyes filled with envy. They had wanted to make the first move themselves but lacked the courage.

Once inside, Cheng Hongling casually slipped off her embroidered shoes and lay down beside Qi Huang without bothering to pull the blanket over herself.

Qi Huang stared at that delicate face so close to hers, breathing in the intoxicating fragrance that surrounded Cheng Hongling. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. This was the moment she was most acutely aware that she was still a man at her core.

Feeling guilty, Qi Huang quickly scooted further inside to make space.

“What’s wrong? Is it too cramped? Should I leave?”

Cheng Hongling shifted awkwardly toward the tent’s entrance.

“N-No! Not at all! How could someone as slender as you make it feel crowded?”

Qi Huang hastily explained, pulling the blanket over Cheng Hongling. However, the way the blanket draped over Cheng Hongling’s ample chest, forming an exaggerated curve, made Qi Huang’s face burn even hotter.

“You know I don’t need a blanket with my cultivation level.”

Cheng Hongling reminded her.

“Still, it’s better to conserve your qi in case of emergencies. We are in the middle of a deep forest, after all. If you’re really uncomfortable, you could always summon me into your Sea of Consciousness, then the tent would be all yours.”

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Qi Huang quickly changed the subject, lying stiffly as if afraid to move.

“You should know by now that I’ve never treated you as just a mere doppelgänger. As for how unpleasant the Sea of Consciousness can be… well, just look at Cheng Ling’s state.”

Cheng Hongling turned her head slightly, her breath carrying a faint floral scent as she spoke.

“…Thank you.”

Qi Huang lowered her head, feeling flustered.

“You’re a strange one. You used to be a man, and you’ve never been afraid of anything in public. So why do you get so shy around girls?”

Cheng Hongling couldn’t help but tease her through mental transmission, her lips curling in amusement.

“You know my background. Facing a lofty fairy like you… the pressure is just too much. To put it bluntly, I feel inferior.”

Qi Huang explained awkwardly.

“You’re now the top-ranked Immortal Seed of Yongning Prefecture, stronger than even me. What’s there to feel inferior about?”

Cheng Hongling shook her head in exasperation.

“Old habits die hard.”

Qi Huang smiled sheepishly.

“I think you need to change that mindset. Didn’t you always insist on being a ‘man’? Then act like one, be bolder, more proactive. Blushing at the slightest thing only suits a girl.”

Cheng Hongling’s tone turned serious, her words carrying an underlying meaning.

“I’ll… try my best.”

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Qi Huang could only force herself to agree, though whether she could actually follow through was another matter.

“Alright, let’s talk business. Don’t you think the attack on the Sixth Princess was too convenient?”

Cheng Hongling smoothly shifted the topic.

“Yeah. Of all times, she just happened to get ambushed on her way to the competition, and in broad daylight, no less. It conveniently resolved her awkward predicament.”

Qi Huang wasn’t stupid. She had noticed the oddities but hadn’t brought them up since the Sixth Princess had always been decent.

“Not just that. If the attacker was truly a supreme expert, why didn’t they kill her? The Longchang Sect disciples wouldn’t have been able to stop them.”

Cheng Hongling added.

“Right. So, are you suggesting she staged it?”

Qi Huang ventured cautiously.

“The Sixth Princess would never stoop to such tricks, but others might. After all, if she lost, it wouldn’t just be her reputation at stake.”

Cheng Hongling’s words carried a pointed implication.

“If she lost, the imperial family and Poyun Peak would both lose face. Poyun Peak would never resort to such methods, so that leaves the imperial family. Meaning the damn emperor is the prime suspect. But what I don’t get is… why not just attack me instead? The effect would’ve been the same.”

Qi Huang frowned in confusion.

“You’re overthinking it. Your performance at the Evergreen Conference was nothing short of unfathomable. That lecherous old emperor has no idea what your limits are. How could he dare send assassins after you recklessly? Besides, you’re a personally appointed Imperial Consort. In his lust-addled mind, it’s debatable whether you or his own daughter matter more.”

Cheng Hongling analyzed coolly.

“…Good point.”

Qi Huang had an epiphany, but then relaxed. “Well, no use dwelling on it. The Evergreen Conference ended smoothly enough.”

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“For us, maybe. But for the Sixth Princess? Not so much. If we can see through this, others definitely can. Mark my words, there’ll be rumors spreading through the cultivation world soon.”

Cheng Hongling sighed.

“Sigh. Nothing we can do about that. The Sixth Princess didn’t listen when I warned her to withdraw early. At this point, she was never going to escape unscathed. Honestly, this is the best possible outcome. Given how she stood up for all the Western Radiance Dynasty’s cultivators before, any gossip probably won’t hurt her too much.”

Qi Huang took a deep breath.

“True. And that’s probably why the emperor dared to have his own daughter attacked. He’s calculated every angle.”

A trace of killing intent flashed in Cheng Hongling’s eyes.

“Let’s not talk about him, it’s ruining the mood.”

Qi Huang’s face twisted in disgust before she changed the subject. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you. Earlier, I checked my Sea of Consciousness and realized… my Essence Soul’s feminization hasn’t stopped. I don’t know why.”

“What?! So your increasingly feminine behavior lately wasn’t just habit?”

Cheng Hongling bit her lip.

“Exactly. What I don’t understand is, Cheng Ling has already left my Sea of Consciousness, so why is the feminization still progressing? It’s slower than before, but it is continuing. If this goes on… whether I remain a man won’t even be up to me anymore.”

Qi Huang’s pupils trembled slightly, she was genuinely afraid.

“Then we need to hurry and find answers through your dreams.”

Cheng Hongling urged.

“I want to, but you know how it is. You can force yourself to sleep, but you can’t control what you dream about, let alone dream of Cheng Ling specifically.”

Qi Huang sighed helplessly.

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“Fine. Let’s enter the Sea of Consciousness and see if we can pry some answers out of Cheng Ling.”

After a moment’s thought, Cheng Hongling made her decision and pulled Qi Huang into her own Sea of Consciousness.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Qi Huang! My, my, you’ve gotten even more girly since I last saw you. Starting to think being a woman isn’t so bad? Ready for me to continue assimilating you?”

Even bound, Cheng Ling couldn’t resist taunting.

“Enough nonsense. Tell me, why is her Essence Soul still feminizing even after you left her Sea of Consciousness?”

Cheng Hongling demanded coldly.

“What’s the problem? Once all her souls turn female, we won’t have to worry about anything anymore. Even if someone with Yin-Yang Eyes sees her, it won’t matter. The cultivation world is vast, we could go anywhere.”

Cheng Ling deflected.

“Cut the crap. Answer properly, and I might consider freeing you earlier.”

Cheng Hongling’s patience was wearing thin.

“I just don’t get it. Why are you so against me turning her into a woman? By all logic, whether emotional or rational, you should be on my side.”

Cheng Ling dropped her manic grin and stared seriously at Cheng Hongling.

“Because she’s not my doppelgänger. Who gave you the right to decide her gender?”

Cheng Hongling replied firmly, though her gaze flickered slightly.

“Oh? Is that really all there is to it?”

Cheng Ling smirked knowingly.