Volume 1, Chapter 79 – So This Is What My Doppelgänger Is Like

“Really? What kind of plant is it?”

Qi Huang was overjoyed.

“According to an immortal, it’s called a ‘Ghost Tomato’… Never mind, just read the description in this book. It’s on page twenty-three.”

As Jiang Linian spoke, she turned and picked up a book, handing it to her youngest daughter.

Qi Huang eagerly took it and saw the cover, which read “Encyclopedia of Bizarre Flora and Fauna in the Cultivation World.” Without bothering to ask where it came from, she hastily flipped to page twenty-three and was immediately captivated by the illustration.

It depicted a herbaceous plant that resembled a tomato, but its skin was purple, covered in eerie, twisting patterns. Upon closer inspection, the patterns seemed to follow a mysterious, almost runic, regularity.

‘That’s definitely the strange fruit!’

Qi Huang trembled with excitement—she remembered the fruit’s peculiar skin all too vividly.

Having confirmed her target, she quickly read the detailed description below.

“Ghost Tomato: An annual herbaceous plant, upright and branching, reaching up to one meter in height. Its fruit carries yin properties and is highly toxic. Direct contact may cause severe skin allergies, and ingestion can be life-threatening…”

Qi Huang read carefully, but when she saw the word “toxic”, her entire body jolted.

‘Toxic? That can’t be right! If it’s poisonous, why wasn’t I affected?’

She fell into deep thought, ultimately attributing her survival to the miraculous effects of the Tongming Comb. She wasn’t arrogant enough to believe she was immune to all poisons.

“Ghost Tomatoes only grow in extreme yin lands and are exceedingly rare. To cultivate them in ordinary soil, one must sow their seeds and irrigate them with diluted fruit juice…”

Qi Huang continued reading, but when she reached the part about “diluted fruit juice irrigation,” her vision darkened, and she nearly fainted from sheer frustration.

‘If only I had saved some juice! I used it all up at once—how am I supposed to grow anything now?!’

She was filled with regret.

‘It seems I’ll have to find another Ghost Tomato to start cultivation.’

That was her plan, but according to the book, these plants only grew in extreme yin lands. Right now, she was under house arrest—she couldn’t even step outside the front gate, let alone search for some rare yin terrain.

“What are you reading?”

Cheng Hongling peeked over curiously.

Startled, Qi Huang snapped the book shut. Given how easily her identity could be exposed, it was best to keep her trump cards hidden.

“Sneaking around—did you do something shady?”

Cheng Hongling’s expression darkened, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

Qi Huang flinched and immediately hid behind her mother.

“Your little sister got her hands on some seeds and wanted to plant them. I asked around, and it seems to be some kind of eggplant.”

Jiang Linian, fearing her youngest would be bullied again, quickly stepped in to mediate.

Reαd οո KаtReаԁіոɡСafе

“Eggplant?”

Cheng Hongling’s delicate face turned even colder. “I told you to cultivate, and instead, you want to farm? Do you aspire to be a housewife?”

‘Farming?!’

Qi Huang hadn’t expected this “demoness” to interpret it that way. She felt insulted but couldn’t explain herself, so she resigned herself to the misunderstanding. Fine, let her think I’m farming. When harvest time comes, she’ll realize she’s not even fit to be a housewife compared to me.

“Oh, come now! There’s nothing wrong with being a housewife—wasn’t I one myself?”

Jiang Linian, caught in the crossfire, defended her daughter.

Only then did Cheng Hongling realize her blunder, and she awkwardly shut her mouth.

That very same day, news of the Honghua Sect producing a once-in-a-generation genius spread like a tidal wave across the Western Radiance Dynasty. However, most people remained skeptical.

What kind of strength was the Incarnation Realm? Even the leaders and elders of major sects like the Huxiao Sect barely reached the peak of the Incarnation Realm. How could a fifteen-year-old girl achieve such a feat? Especially one from the backwater Huangtian Prefecture, a place often mocked as a “rat’s nest”.

As a result, many sects began stirring, eager to investigate the Honghua Sect—though their motives varied. Some sought alliances, while others wanted to eliminate a potential threat in its cradle.

Qi Huang remained oblivious to the brewing storm outside. With the Ghost Tomato temporarily out of reach, she spent her nights cultivating, slowly increasing the water-based spiritual energy in her dantian. It wouldn’t be long before she reached the third layer of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

The next day, the senior sisters who had gone to investigate Huadian Village returned and reported to Xu Mei exactly as Qi Huang had instructed—the Huang family had never seen her face.

“In that case, I’ll let this slide. But from now on, you are to have no further contact with the Huang family. If I find out otherwise, you know the consequences.”

Cheng Hongling cornered Qi Huang with this warning.

“Understood.”

Qi Huang nodded repeatedly, though inwardly, she dismissed the threat. ‘That’s my family—how could I abandon them? Just wait until harvest time. Then we’ll see who’s calling the shots.’

That night, as Qi Huang cultivated as usual, a faint rustling came from outside her window. She glanced over and nearly screamed—a slender figure dangled outside, swaying like a hanged ghost.

“Little Junior Sister, open the window! I can’t hold on much longer!”

The trembling voice belonged to Ruan Lingyu.

Relieved, Qi Huang hurried over. “Eldest Senior Sister, perfect timing! I wanted to ask—how is Elder Huang doing?”

“Let me in first!”

Ruan Lingyu pleaded. She clung to a rope, struggling to balance on the windowsill, her exaggerated curves pressing against the window to force a tiny gap open. A faint, alluring fragrance drifted into the room.

Rеαⅾ oո КаtRеаԁіոɡCаfе

“You tell me first.”

Qi Huang bargained.

“Fine! The old man’s doing much better. When we arrived, he was still sweeping the courtyard.”

Ruan Lingyu had no choice but to relent.

“Good! That’s a relief!”

The weight in Qi Huang’s heart finally lifted.

“Now let me in! I really can’t hold on!”

Ruan Lingyu begged again.

“I can’t! She forbade me from getting too close to you all.”

Qi Huang hesitated. Though she knew the other girl was here to “reward” her, survival instincts won out—she had to play the stoic.

“You just agreed! How can you go back on your word?”

Ruan Lingyu was stunned.

“I only asked you to answer—I never promised to let you in.”

Qi Huang shamelessly twisted her words.

“You—! You little schemer! Just you wait—if you ever fall into my hands, I’ll make sure you can’t walk straight!”

Ruan Lingyu fumed, her threat dripping with frustration.

“Senior Sister, will you climb down yourself, or shall I help you?”

A cold voice suddenly cut in—Cheng Hongling’s.

“I-I’ll climb down myself!”

Ruan Lingyu’s body stiffened, her voice stammering.

“No, no, let me help.”

Cheng Hongling was “helpful”—her tone sweet, but the moment she finished speaking, an icy blade flashed.

“Wah—!”

Ruan Lingyu’s hands went slack as the rope was severed, sending her tumbling down unceremoniously.

Qi Huang stifled a laugh, thinking, ‘Good thing I’m not a lustful idiot—otherwise, I’d be the one suffering.’

Reαԁ оո KαtRеаⅾіոɡCаfе

The next morning, Qi Huang came downstairs to find her mother missing. A bad feeling crept up on her, and just as she tried to flee, the demoness caught her, dragging her into a room and pinning her onto a table.

‘Is she going to “reward” me again?’

Though she struggled outwardly, a tiny part of her felt a flicker of anticipation. Her resistance weakened ever so slightly.

‘No! I can’t lose control—if she senses my secrets, I’m finished!’

Qi Huang suddenly snapped back to reality and squeezed her eyes shut. Last time, it was seeing her main body’s jade-like feet that triggered the soul resonance.

As she braced for the “reward”, a pungent, fishy stench assaulted her nostrils, nearly making her vomit on the spot.

‘What’s this smell? How many days has she gone without washing her feet?!’

Confused, she opened her eyes—only to find a box shoved under her nose, filled with rotting fish and wriggling maggots.

“MOM! LET ME GO!”

The visual and olfactory assault sent her stomach churning, and she thrashed wildly.

“Strange… Why isn’t there any reaction?”

Cheng Hongling pressed down on her doppelgänger, her face puzzled. After a moment, she muttered in disbelief, “Could my feet… smell worse than dead fish?”

“Let me go! I’m gonna puke!”

Qi Huang was at her limit but decided to try politeness first—after all, this was Fairy Hongling’s private quarters.

Deeply wounded, Cheng Hongling released her.

Qi Huang bolted out the door and dry-heaved in a corner, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Tell me the truth—are my feet worse than those dead fish?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice slithered from behind, laced with such resentment it sounded like a vengeful ghost clawing its way out of hell.

“N-No! I mean, yes! Yes!”

Qi Huang almost blurted the truth but, fearing another round of fish torture, forced herself to lie.

“How is that possible? I’ve reached the Unity Realm—this shouldn’t be happening!”

Cheng Hongling muttered to herself before sighing. “Fetch me hot water. I need a bath.”

Qi Huang, as if granted amnesty, rushed to the kitchen to heat water.

Soon, she filled the bathtub in Cheng Hongling’s room and politely turned to leave.

“Stay. Scrub my back.”

Reаԁ on KatRеaԁіոɡСаfe

Cheng Hongling commanded imperiously.

“T-That’s not appropriate…”

Qi Huang’s voice shook—only she knew the sheer willpower it took to refuse.

“Oh? Are you embarrassed by your own former body?”

Cheng Hongling teased.

“N-No, of course not!”

Qi Huang lied through her teeth.

“Then shut up and close the door.”

Qi Huang had no choice but to “reluctantly” obey. When she turned back, her main body had already shed her long dress, revealing smooth, fair shoulders.

“Pfft—!”

Qi Huang nearly spat blood, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

“Hm? Why is there suddenly a soul resonance?”

Cheng Hongling’s suspicious voice rang out. Then, as if testing, she tugged at the ribbon of her embroidered chest wrap, pretending to loosen it.

Qi Huang’s mind went blank, her eyes glazing over as she forgot who she even was.

“Heh. I think I understand now.”

Cheng Hongling’s lips curled into a smirk.

“W-What? What do you understand?”

A chill ran down Qi Huang’s spine, snapping her back to reality. She feigned ignorance.

“Hmph! What do I understand? I understand that you’re a timid, perverted doppelgänger.”

With that, Cheng Hongling yanked the ribbon down.

BOOM!

Qi Huang’s mind exploded. When her vision cleared, she found herself in a magnificent palace, the sound of waves crashing outside.

“Where is this?”

She looked around—then froze in terror.

Several identical Cheng Honglings stood throughout the hall, all staring at her.