Volume 8, Chapter 469 – What to Do When You’re Gradually Losing Interest in Women

Though Qi Huang found the situation highly suspicious, her priority was finding Yaoyao, and she had no interest in dwelling on the matter. Still, she had to continue her surveillance. After all, Ye Donglai was a core figure of the Donglai Sect.

Qi Huang had no idea how long it would take to get results, so she brought Mimi to a nearby town and settled in. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she wore a veil and a forehead ornament in advance.

Upon entering the guest room, she quickly noticed that diagonally across from her was a brothel, which made the area quite noisy.

Qi Huang pushed open the window and looked out, seeing the brothel’s windows filled with scantily clad courtesans, each coquettishly calling out to the men on the street.

“Hey, little sister, what are you looking at? Curious? If you’re curious, come on over! We’re always short on girls here.”

Just then, one of the courtesans noticed Qi Huang and teased her.

“Haha, that girl’s definitely a virgin. If she joins your brothel, I’ll be her first customer!”

“Are you blind? Can’t you see she’s wearing a veil? She’s probably hideous!”

“Exactly! She must be so desperate for a man that she’s obsessed with watching others.”

“With a figure like that, I wouldn’t care if she’s ugly. Once the lights are out, it’s all the same anyway.”

The men loitering at the brothel’s entrance continued their crude banter.

A trace of disgust flashed across Qi Huang’s face before she shut the window.

“Sister Qi Huang, what kind of place is that?” Mimi asked timidly beside her.

“Don’t ask, and don’t look!”

Qi Huang admonished her before crushing a Sound-Blocking Talisman, finally bringing silence to the room.

She sat at the table, her expression dark and unreadable.

“Sister, don’t be angry, okay? Should Mimi go teach them a lesson?” Mimi asked with concern.

“No need. I’m… not angry at them. I’m angry at myself.”

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Qi Huang bit her lip lightly.

“Why would you be angry at yourself?”

Mimi was puzzled.

“I… It’s nothing!”

Qi Huang hesitated, swallowing her words. The truth was, she was furious with herself because when she saw those gaudily dressed courtesans earlier, her first reaction had been disgust, not the slightest flicker of desire. That was completely inconsistent with a man’s instincts.

Qi Huang wasn’t stupid. She knew this was the result of her masculine essence being continuously eroded by feminization. If left unchecked, her sexual orientation would eventually shift entirely.

‘If I lose all interest in women… will I still be me?’

The question gnawed at her, sending a sharp pain through her skull.

She forcibly pushed the thought away, but an overwhelming dread rose from the depths of her heart. She desperately wanted to take a sedative and sleep for ages, hoping to find a way to halt the feminization. But with Yaoyao in danger, she couldn’t afford to be selfish. This matter would have to wait.

“I just hope I still have some interest in women by the time I find Yaoyao.”

She silently prayed, only for Cheng Hongling’s delicate face to inexplicably surface in her mind.

Time flew by, yet Qi Huang found no leads. Ye Donglai spent most of his days meditating, only occasionally pausing to enjoy tea or flowers. He rarely even left his room.

Qi Huang grew increasingly anxious. If not for Mimi’s assurance that Yaoyao was still alive, she would have stormed in already.

On the fourth day, the Donglai Sect’s delegation to the Evergreen Conference in Yongning Province finally returned.

Using her Shadow-Retaining Mirror, Qi Huang observed that the Ye Donglai who had attended the conference was among them, except now, he had removed the forehead guard, revealing a Doppelgänger Mark.

“So that’s it!”

Everything clicked into place. The one who had attended the Evergreen Conference was merely a doppelgänger.

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‘But if that’s the case, why did he spread the word that he was personally leading the delegation? And why did the doppelgänger deliberately cover the mark on its forehead?’

These two questions surfaced in her mind.

‘Did he know Yaoyao would come? Was this all a trap?’

A moment later, a chill ran down her spine, though she wasn’t entirely sure. If this really was a setup, then Ye Donglai was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Not long after, Ye Donglai recalled his doppelgänger and immediately summoned his personal disciple, Cheng Kang.

“How are your injuries? Have they improved?”

Ye Donglai inquired with concern.

“Much better. Thank you for your concern, Master. But I failed to maintain my position as the Western Radiance Dynasty’s top Immortal Seed. I’ve disappointed you.”

Cheng Kang answered respectfully. The recent setback had clearly humbled him.

“It’s fine. With those monstrous disciples from the Immortal Families participating, I never expected you to hold onto that title. In fact, suffering a defeat at the Evergreen Conference is a good thing. Recognizing your weaknesses now allows you to address them, far better than discovering them in a life-or-death battle.”

Ye Donglai spoke magnanimously, a faint smile of approval appearing as he observed his disciple’s respectful demeanor.

“I understand the reasoning. Losing to that freak from the Lü Family was fair. But what I can’t wrap my head around is, how the hell was Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger so strong? Didn’t you always say the path of cultivation is long and arduous? And that bloodline is paramount in the immortal world? So how did a low-tier bloodline’s doppelgänger become so powerful?”

Cheng Kang frowned in frustration.

“Even I can’t say for sure. My guess is she possesses a treasure that enhances divine sense… or perhaps she’s mastered a specialized divine sense cultivation technique?”

Ye Donglai speculated.

“But if such a treasure or technique existed, wouldn’t the major sects have seized it long ago? How could it end up in the hands of a minor sect like the Honghua Sect?”

Cheng Kang voiced his skepticism.

“Some things defy explanation. After all, nothing like this has ever happened before.”

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Ye Donglai shook his head.

“Master, have you considered this, if such a treasure or technique can elevate a low-tier bloodline to such heights in just two or three years, then what’s the point of cultivation? If we obtained it, couldn’t the Donglai Sect dominate the entire cultivation world?”

Cheng Kang pointed out.

“Exactly my thoughts. That’s why I’ll soon dispatch people to investigate the Honghua Sect.”

Ye Donglai nodded in agreement.

“Good. After this Evergreen Conference, many will be eyeing that treasure or technique. We must act fast, we can’t let anyone else get there first!”

Cheng Kang urged.

Qi Huang’s expression turned pensive upon hearing this. Their conversation had inadvertently reminded her, she would need to be extra vigilant from now on.

“Master, didn’t you say you caught the cat thief?”

Cheng Kang suddenly changed the subject.

The moment those words left his mouth, Qi Huang straightened up, her face lighting up with hope. Beside her, Mimi also leaned in eagerly.

“Yes.”

Ye Donglai answered casually.

“As expected of you, Master. Feigning departure and using the ‘Empty Fort Strategy’ actually lured that thief in.”

Cheng Kang flattered.

‘So it really was a trap.’

Qi Huang’s heart sank.

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“Where is the thief now?”

“I have her locked up.”

“A petty thief like that, just kill her. Why bother keeping her?”

“Have you considered this? Where did she hide all the Nine Nether Demon Cats she stole from various sects? If we can obtain them, the Donglai Sect will never lack cat tears again!”

A faint smirk curled Ye Donglai’s lips.

“Ah! Master, you’re truly wise!”

Cheng Kang’s eyes widened in realization before he pressed further: “Has she talked yet?”

“Not yet. That little thief has an iron will. I’ve tried every torture method, and she hasn’t uttered a single word.”

Ye Donglai sighed helplessly.

“Is the thief male or female? If it’s a woman, making her talk shouldn’t be hard. Leave it to me.”

A lecherous glint flashed in Cheng Kang’s eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking. Unfortunately, the thief is just a female Nine Nether Demon Cat wraith. Her body is entirely composed of yin energy. Your usual methods for breaking women won’t work on her.”

Ye Donglai chuckled mockingly.

“A cat spirit? No wonder she was stealing Nine Nether Demon Cats everywhere, she was trying to save her kin.”

Cheng Kang’s face fell in disappointment, but he quickly added: “Where are you keeping her? I’d like to see her.”

“Right here.”

Ye Donglai raised his left hand, pointing at the spatial ring on his middle finger.