Volume 1, Chapter 65 – Fairies, Why Are You So Cruel?

Qi Huang nearly sprinted toward the government office. Success was just one step away—she couldn’t afford any more mishaps now.

After explaining her purpose to the guards at the entrance, she was quickly ushered inside. Since she wasn’t there to file a lawsuit, the formalities were minimal.

Soon, she stood before Secretary Yuan. The sight of the old man who had betrayed her made her grind her teeth in silent fury.

‘If you had even an ounce of integrity as an official, I could’ve gone back to the village and laid low!’

She cursed inwardly, though her face remained perfectly composed. After all, she needed his cooperation.

Secretary Yuan eyed her with a knowing look, but he still processed the paperwork—this matter had nothing to do with the government office, after all.

Once her identity plaque was registered, a massive weight lifted from Qi Huang’s shoulders. Her efforts had finally borne fruit.

Next, she sought out the county magistrate to secure her father’s immediate release.

Magistrate Luo was an upright official and didn’t create unnecessary hurdles. He promptly ordered Huang Kairong’s release from prison, though some formalities still needed to be completed.

“Your Honor, I have urgent matters to attend to. Could you please inform my… father-in-law to wait for me at the southern gate later?”

She lied smoothly. She hadn’t forgotten the three fairy maidens lurking outside. If she left with her father now, suspicions would be instantly raised.

Magistrate Luo saw no reason to refuse such a simple request.

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Qi Huang hurriedly exited the government office. If she stayed any longer, she might not be able to leave at all.

At the entrance, she immediately spotted Miao Xiang waiting outside—along with several other fairy maidens. The sight sent a jolt of terror through her.

‘Damn it! This little brat must’ve tipped them off. Do they still suspect me, or are they just here to cling to me?’

She mentally scrambled for an explanation. From the dream, she knew these fairies still harbored guilt over past events and would go to great lengths to act as decoys for Fairy Hongling—which often involved sticking to her like glue.

Before she could react, the five fairies swarmed around her like a flock of chattering birds, their delicate hands reaching out before she could even brace herself.

“Well? What did Secretary Yuan say?”

Ruan Lingyu was the fastest, her question sounding perfectly innocent even as her jade-like fingers wandered where they shouldn’t.

The others followed suit, their fair hands eagerly groping, their pink nails tracing tantalizing paths over her.

‘Fairies! Words are enough—no need for hands!’

Qi Huang instinctively recoiled, her guilty conscience making her skittish. Ironically, her reaction perfectly matched Fairy Hongling’s famously aloof demeanor, so the others didn’t find it strange at all.

Ruan Lingyu wasn’t offended, merely withdrawing her hand with a hint of regret. The other fairies wore similar expressions of disappointment.

‘I was just pretending! Why did you all actually back off? No need to be so reserved!’

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Qi Huang’s heart bled. If only she weren’t an impostor! But now wasn’t the time for distractions—she needed to extricate herself quickly.

“No substantial leads. The impostor hasn’t shown up yet,” she said neutrally.

“Obviously. We already spoke with Secretary Yuan yesterday. The moment that impostor appears, he’ll notify us immediately.”

Ruan Lingyu dropped the bombshell casually.

“W-What?!”

Qi Huang’s blood ran cold. She nearly collapsed on the spot. Now she understood the sly glint in Secretary Yuan’s eyes earlier.

‘Don’t panic. The more you panic, the more mistakes you’ll make.’

Years of close calls had honed her nerves. Forcing herself to stay calm, she frantically racked her brain for a solution.

“That’s strange. Today’s the deadline. Would she really let her fiancé go to war?” Yun Fei mused, tapping her chin.

“If she’s backing out, she’d cut ties with the Huang family completely. Plus, her identity’s fake—once she’s gone, we’ll never find her,” Ruan Lingyu noted grimly.

“With her looks, she could find a good match anywhere—mundane or cultivation world. Breaking off the engagement makes sense,” Miao Xiang reasoned. She’d seen the impostor firsthand.

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“Or maybe she noticed our ambush and got cold feet,” Yun Fei suggested.

“Impossible. We hid too well,” Ruan Lingyu scoffed.

Qi Huang nearly choked, ‘Hidden? Miao Xiang’s been pacing the same spot like a brooding hen! How is that subtle?!’

“Ugh, this woman’s too cunning. When I catch her, I’ll strip her naked and parade her through the streets!”

The hot-tempered Shen Yuan declared.

Qi Huang paled. For a woman, public nudity was a fate worse than death—but for a man trapped in a woman’s body? Unthinkable.

“That’s a terrible idea. Why reward random men for free?”

Miao Xiang objected bizarrely.

“Right! What if she’s an exhibitionist? She might enjoy being seen! You’d be rewarding her and those perverts!”

Yun Fei’s objection was even more absurd.

“Besides, she looks exactly like Junior Sister. People might think it’s her, damaging our sect’s reputation.”

Su Qingying’s argument, at least, was logical.

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Touched, Qi Huang nearly teared up, ‘They’re so kind… true fairies. If this is all they’d do, getting caught might not be so bad.’

For a fleeting moment, she even considered turning herself in. Maybe if she played pitiful enough, they’d let her go?

“This won’t work, that won’t work—what should we do then?” Shen Yuan snapped.

“Peel her skin off along with her clothes. That way, it won’t affect Junior Sister’s reputation.”

Su Qingying’s icy suggestion made Qi Huang’s legs buckle.

‘You’re supposed to be fairies! How can you be so cruel?!’

She wanted to sob. Any thoughts of surrender vanished. Now, she had to escape.

‘Just make up an excuse and run?’

Her first instinct was flight—but she quickly dismissed it. ‘No good. Secretary Yuan will come out soon. Where could I hide in such little time?’

‘But what else can I do? I can’t stop him! Once he appears, these viper beauties will skin me alive!’

Cold sweat drenched her as she glanced at the government office gates—now looking more like the gates of hell.