Volume 1, Chapter 69 – In the End, They Still Caught Me (Part 4)

Qi Huang closed her eyes and waited for death, but the expected pain at her neck never came. Cautiously, she cracked her eyelids open and saw the sharp blade pressed against her skin. Though it hadn’t pierced through, the icy killing intent was so palpable that she instinctively felt the sting anyway.

Shen Yuan hadn’t delivered the fatal strike—not out of mercy, but because a fair, jade-like hand had clamped around her wrist.

Qi Huang’s vision darkened with fear.

‘What an idiot I am, thinking I could take on ten of them!’ she berated herself.

She had completely forgotten that her physical reflexes, still at the Spirit Gathering Realm, couldn’t keep up with her Unity Realm divine sense. That was why she had fumbled so badly.

‘If I had used my hair to defend, I might’ve blocked that strike!’

She quickly assessed, though it wouldn’t have mattered—her true strength would’ve been exposed regardless.

“Were you really going to kill her just like that?”

Ruan Lingyu asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

“What do you mean? Shouldn’t she die? Have you forgotten how she swindled dozens of taels of silver from you, leaving you bankrupt?”

Shen Yuan’s anger still simmered.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I should clarify—I gave her that silver willingly. She didn’t trick me out of it.”

Ruan Lingyu, ever the kind-hearted fairy, made sure to set the record straight.

Hearing this, Qi Huang felt a pang of guilt. She briefly considered returning the money right then but quickly dismissed the thought—doing so would be an outright admission of her deception.

“So what? Just because of that, you’d spare her? Remember Master’s orders? We have to make an example of her!”

Shen Yuan reminded sharply.

“I’m not saying she shouldn’t die. But don’t forget—Master also said we need to find out why she did this before killing her. Slaughtering her without answers would be reckless.”

Ruan Lingyu explained her intervention.

“What’s there to investigate? She impersonated our junior sister just to steal the Tongming Comb, didn’t she?”

Shen Yuan frowned in confusion.

“That much is obvious. But haven’t you wondered why she carries the scent of Golden Fate Flowers?”

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Ruan Lingyu pressed meaningfully.

Shen Yuan froze. That particular detail had slipped her mind.

“She’s right, Shen Yuan. If we’re going to kill her, we should at least question her about the Golden Fate Blossoms. You know how crucial they are to our junior sister—and to the Honghua Sect.”

Yun Fei chimed in.

“Shen Yuan, if she knows where to find even one seed… our junior sister wouldn’t have to act as bait anymore.”

Miao Xiang added timidly.

Finally, Shen Yuan’s resolve wavered. She lowered her sword reluctantly and demanded, “Fine. Explain—why do you smell of Golden Fate Blossoms?”

“Weren’t you the ones who urged me to eat them? Ten years ago, when local girls were mocked for their height by outsiders, you all stole Elder Ruan’s Golden Fate Blossom seeds and fed them to me. Later, I drank Pink Bamboo Water at the Evergreen Conference. The combination gave me this scent.”

Qi Huang, still clinging to her act, continued impersonating Cheng Hongling.

“None of that is a secret in the Honghua Sect.”

Yun Fei shook her head dismissively.

“Everything I said is true. I am Cheng Hongling—not an impostor. Why won’t you believe me?”

Qi Huang doubled down, knowing her survival depended on every possible lie.

“Still lying? If you were really our junior sister, why couldn’t you dodge my sword?”

Shen Yuan scoffed.

“Because I trust our sisterly bond! I knew you wouldn’t hurt me!”

Qi Huang retorted without hesitation.

“What sisterly bond?!”

Shen Yuan snarled, though her grip on the sword loosened slightly, her expression faltering.

“Why are we even wasting words? Her confidence comes from not being exposed yet. If she’s disguised, let’s just remove the disguise. Then we’ll see how bold she is.”

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The aloof Su Qingying cut in impatiently.

“Right! Why didn’t I think of something so simple?”

Shen Yuan smacked her forehead and turned to Miao Xiang. “Miao Xiang, inspect her. Let’s see what kind of disguise she’s using. I want to see her real face.”

“I’m not afraid of that!”

Qi Huang actually relaxed. After all, she hadn’t used any disguises—there was nothing to expose.

“O-Okay…”

Miao Xiang obediently stepped forward, patting Qi Huang down and scrutinizing her closely before pouting in frustration.

“It’s no use, Shen Yuan! It’s too dark—I can’t see anything properly!”

“Useless!”

Shen Yuan grumbled.

“Then let’s take her to the county town. We’ll rent an inn and examine her properly there.”

Ruan Lingyu glanced at the pitch-black sky and made the decision.

“A thorough examination?!”

Qi Huang shuddered violently. As someone who had once been a man, the idea of being stripped and inspected by a group of fairy maidens was beyond humiliating.

“Move. Now.”

Shen Yuan brandished her sword threateningly.

With no choice, Qi Huang followed the group, not even getting a chance to bid farewell to her “family.”

‘Grandfather… please recover soon.’

She prayed silently.

After two hours of nighttime travel, they arrived at an inn in the county town. The moment they entered the room, the fairy maidens locked the door and surrounded Qi Huang, their eyes sharp with scrutiny.

Qi Huang trembled like a frightened bride on her wedding night.

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“Her face is identical to our junior sister’s. It has to be a Human Skin Mask.”

Ruan Lingyu removed Qi Huang’s veil and voiced her suspicion.

‘Oh no… she guessed it.’

Qi Huang’s heart lurched—then she remembered the actual Human Skin Mask she had used before and felt a flicker of relief.

Ruan Lingyu began pinching and prodding Qi Huang’s cheeks, searching for the mask’s edges.

“What? There’s no seam! This is her real face! How is that possible? No two people look this identical!”

After a thorough inspection, Ruan Lingyu stepped back, baffled.

“Even if her face is the same, her body can’t be a perfect match. Especially her feet—how could they change size at will?”

Yun Fei stroked her chin and ordered, “Take off your shoes. I’m checking.”

Without hesitation, Qi Huang kicked off her shoes, revealing delicate, jade-like feet.

The fairy maidens stared, then exchanged bewildered glances.

“Now your outer robe. Off.”

Su Qingying commanded coldly.

“Even among sisters, shouldn’t I have some privacy?”

Qi Huang resisted weakly.

“No privacy here. Unless you prefer eternal privacy?”

Shen Yuan drew her sword again.

“Fine.”

‘It’s not like they’ll find anything.’

With a sigh, Qi Huang stripped down to her undergarments, her fair skin gleaming under the lamplight.

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“Then how do you explain this?”

Yun Fei held up the Tongming Comb that had fallen from Qi Huang’s clothes.

“I found it in the Huang household. What’s the problem?”

Qi Huang recited the lie she had prepared.

Yun Fei had no rebuttal. After another round of inspections, the group was forced to admit that this woman was identical to their junior sister—down to the flawless skin and lack of scars. There was no trace of disguise.

Even the sharp-witted Yun Fei was stumped.

“Let’s just take her back to the sect. If our real junior sister is there, she’ll have nowhere left to hide.”

Yun Fei finally declared.

“Why won’t you believe me?!”

Qi Huang nearly sobbed. After being stripped this much, she still hadn’t cleared her name!

“Because you’re too obedient. That’s what makes me suspicious.”

Yun Fei stated simply.

“True. Our junior sister would never let us manhandle her like this. She’s far too rebellious.”

Ruan Lingyu nodded in realization.

‘Damn it!’

Qi Huang’s stomach dropped. The real Cheng Hongling would have fought back. She had remembered this earlier but, in her desperation to prove herself, had forgotten the most crucial part—mimicking the other girl’s attitude.

Since suspicions remained, the group set out for the Honghua Sect the next day.

After days of travel, they finally arrived at noon.

“It’s over. I’m completely finished.”

Qi Huang despaired. Knowing Cheng Hongling’s temperament, she doubted she’d survive whatever came next.