Chapter 326-327 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 326-327 |
It didn’t take Chen Yin long to deal with the aftermath of Sword Maiden’s… act of righteousness.
The city guards, upon learning that a cultivator was involved, were too intimidated to press charges, instead politely inquiring about the incident.
Chen Yin took full responsibility, then escorted Butcher Zhang and his wife to the Wang family’s residence.
As expected, the Wang family, despite their usual arrogance, were terrified of a cultivator and begged for forgiveness, seemingly unconcerned about the death of their son.
Chen Yin didn’t make things difficult for them, simply ensuring that Butcher Zhang and his wife received proper compensation and a promise of non-interference from the Wang family in the future.
As Butcher Zhang and his wife thanked him profusely, Chen Yin just nodded silently.
He didn’t feel like a hero. It had just been a minor inconvenience. He wasn’t a saint like Nan Xiaoxiang; he couldn’t save everyone. He could only do what he could, when he could.
By the time he returned to Mount Yu, it was already night.
Luo Luo was asleep.
“Still up? Still mad about the sword deduction?” Chen Yin’s voice came from behind her.
Sword Maiden didn’t turn around. “You said you would only deduct my swords if I did something wrong.”
“Right and wrong are subjective,” Chen Yin said, sitting down beside her. “To me, you did nothing wrong. But to those mortals, you did. And doing wrong things… results in a salary deduction.”
Sword Maiden frowned slightly, unsure of how to argue with him, yet knowing he was wrong.
She just snorted and turned away, a childish pout on her lips.
It was the first time Chen Yin had seen such a human expression on her usually emotionless face.
In the moonlight, her delicate features were even more striking, her cheeks flushed with a faint pink hue.
…She’s actually quite cute when she’s angry. Chen Yin chuckled softly.
It was a vast improvement over her usual doll-like blankness.
He had never seen her as a normal human being.
She seemed devoid of emotions, her mind a blank slate, only reacting to things related to swords.
But that little pout, that childish display of anger, reminded him that she was still a young girl, not a machine.
“I don’t know why the Immortal Venerable hid you away in the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain,” he said, gently stroking her hair, his gaze fixed on the moon, “but since you’re with me now, I think I should teach you a few things.”
“Swordsmanship?” Sword Maiden’s eyes lit up.
“No,” Chen Yin said, “something more important than swordsmanship.”
Sword Maiden’s eyes dimmed. “…I’m not interested,” she mumbled.
“Your Sword Dao is different from mine,” Chen Yin continued, ignoring her lack of interest. “Yours is about purity, about emptying your mind of all distractions, focusing only on the sword. Mine is about intent, about following your heart, about righteousness. There are many paths to the Sword Dao, but they all lead to the same destination. But in the end, it’s still a person wielding the sword. Be a person first, then a swordsman. If you want to truly master the Sword Dao, you can’t just focus on the sword. Other things are important too.”
Sword Maiden stared at him, her eyes wide and uncomprehending.
“It’s okay if you don’t understand,” Chen Yin said, stretching lazily and tossing her a sword. “I won’t deduct your salary for today. But don’t do it again. Next time, try not to kill people.”
Sword Maiden’s eyes lit up as she took the sword and started eating it.
Chen Yin sat beside her, watching her with a smile.
After she finished, she looked up at him, her brow furrowed slightly. “That Immortal Venerable… was he the one who brought me to the barrier?”
“According to the black dragon, yes.”
Sword Maiden was silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the moon.
“Do you really not remember anything about him?” Chen Yin asked.
“…I have… vague memories,” she whispered, “but I don’t remember his face. I know I’ve forgotten a lot of things, but I can’t remember them. I didn’t care before. I thought it didn’t matter. But you said… a swordsman is still a person. Be a person first, then a swordsman. If I don’t remember anything… am I even a person?”
“Probably not,” Chen Yin said.
“Why?”
“Humans have emotions. They feel sadness, happiness, anger, fear. To be human is to feel. You only care about swords. You’re not really a person.”
“Then how do I become a person?” she asked, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Can you turn me into one?”
…That sounds… strange.
Chen Yin coughed. “Well… that’s not something others can do for you. You have to figure it out yourself.”
“Where do I look?”
“Start with the butcher and his wife. The ones you helped today.”
Sword Maiden looked down, deep in thought.
Chen Yin didn’t expect her to understand immediately. It would take time for a sword fanatic like her to learn how to be human.
But then she said, “Isn’t that too troublesome? How about… we try a different method?”
“What method?”
“I’ll sleep with you, and you turn me into a person.”
“…Why are you so obsessed with sleeping with me?!”
The next day, Sword Maiden went to Flowing Cloud City and found the butcher and his wife. She didn’t understand why Chen Yin had sent her there, but she trusted his judgment. He was a powerful swordsman; there must be a reason. So she observed them, a family of four, their two young sons waving goodbye to their mother as they left to gather firewood. The butcher, after a quick wash, told his wife he would bring back some extra meat for the winter. She wiped his face and reminded him not to cause any trouble. “Don’t worry,” he said, “we have an immortal protecting us now.”
Sword Maiden decided to observe the woman. She watched as the woman cleaned the house, cooked, and sewed, her movements efficient and practiced. Sword Maiden tried to imitate her, but she couldn’t. …Do humans really do so many complicated things?
As evening approached, the boys and the butcher returned, their faces tired but happy, their bellies full of the woman’s cooking. The woman, however, ate little, just watching them with a gentle smile. Sword Maiden noticed her happiness, but she couldn’t understand it. She only felt happy when she saw swords.
As night fell, Sword Maiden continued her observation. The boys were asleep. In the couple’s room, the woman was embroidering a small pouch. “What are you making?” the butcher asked, hugging her from behind.
“I’m making pouches to trade for some new clothes for Nian’er and Cheng’er. It’s almost New Year’s.”
“Your needlework is amazing. That bird looks so real!” He nuzzled her cheek playfully.
“Stop it,” she giggled, pushing him away gently, “we’re not young anymore.”
“Why can’t old couples be affectionate?” he said proudly. “I’m a lucky man. My wife is still beautiful after all these years.”
“Flatterer. I’m old and faded. You still think I’m a young girl?”
“If you weren’t beautiful, those bastards wouldn’t have bothered us.”
“Don’t talk about that! It’s bad luck!”
“I’m sorry, I’m just a clumsy oaf,” he chuckled, scratching his head. “How about… we give Nian’er and Cheng’er a little brother or sister?”
“You old fool! Ah!”
He carried her to the bed, and Sword Maiden couldn’t see what happened next, only hearing muffled sounds.
She thought for a long moment, then her eyes lit up.
“Oh~”
“So that’s it! That’s why Chen Yin always wants to sleep with me! He’s trying to teach me how to be human! It’s easier than sewing or cooking! If I do this, I’ll become a person!”
Satisfied with her newfound understanding, she smiled and returned to Mount Yu.
Back on Mount Yu, Chen Yin was reading Luo Luo a bedtime story.
“Young Master, Luo Luo is sleepy.”
“Then we’ll stop here for tonight,” he closed the book.
“Luo Luo wants to sleep with Young Master,” she said shyly, her eyes sparkling, her tail swaying gently.
Chen Yin chuckled and ruffled her hair. “As you wish.”
She beamed and took his hand, then snuggled into bed beside him.
As he was about to blow out the candle, the door burst open.
Chen Yin and Luo Luo stared at Sword Maiden, who stood there, her expression calm and serious.
“Chen Yin, I figured it out,” she said.
“Huh?”
Chen Yin stared at her, confused.
Then, as she started to undress, his confusion turned into panic.
“What are you doing?!”
“Didn’t you tell me to learn how to be a person?”
“I did,” she said, her clothes falling to the floor, “can I demonstrate now?”
No! What did you even see?! Chen Yin’s mind raced. Luo Luo, her cheeks crimson, covered her eyes with her hands, but she couldn’t resist peeking.
“That’s… not what I meant…”
“But I can’t do those other things,” Sword Maiden said matter-of-factly. “Cooking and sewing are too difficult. This is easier. I don’t even have to move. I just have to lie here.”
“Hurry up. I want to start learning swordsmanship tomorrow.”
She lay down on the bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, her expression blank.
Chen Yin wanted to scream.
He hadn’t expected this.
Luo Luo looked at him, her eyes questioning, and he sighed, defeated. “I shouldn’t have sent you there. If you really want to… cuddle… at least put some clothes on!”
Sword Maiden blinked and looked at Luo Luo. “Do you need clothes to cuddle? Luo Luo isn’t wearing any.”
Luo Luo blushed and pulled the blankets over herself, her ears drooping.
Chen Yin didn’t know how to explain.
He sighed and waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it. I’m tired. Just… lie there and don’t move.”
He got into bed and lay there stiffly, staring at the ceiling, his mind a blank canvas.
The candle flickered and died.
The room was silent.
Sword Maiden, as promised, didn’t move. She didn’t even seem to be breathing.
Chen Yin’s mind was filled with a mixture of frustration and amusement. It was like being on the verge of paradise, a night of passion with Luo Luo, only to be dragged down to hell.
Luo Luo, slightly disappointed, pouted. …I finally had a chance to be alone with Young Master… what a waste…
But… Sword Maiden is so naive… maybe a little… fun… won’t hurt?
She cautiously brushed her tail against his hand.
Chen Yin turned his head and met her gaze, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
He slipped his arm around her, letting her snuggle closer, their movements silent and secretive, a thrill of forbidden pleasure coursing through them.
…Maybe this isn’t so bad after all?
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a voice from the other side of the bed shattered his hopes.
“Do you need to hold hands to cuddle?”
Sword Maiden looked at them, then, after a moment of thoughtful consideration, she wrapped her arms around Chen Yin’s other arm.
“I don’t understand these things. Just tell me what to do next time,” she said, then closed her eyes and fell silent.
Luo Luo pouted and sighed.
“You’ve taught her well, Young Master.”
She snuggled closer, her fluffy tail wrapping around his hand, and closed her eyes.
Chen Yin, one arm held by a soft, warm body, the other by a cool, smooth one, felt no pleasure, no excitement.
Only despair.
…Oh, heavens! What have I done?! My alone time is ruined!