Chapter 346-347 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 346-347 |
Ten Thousand Mountains. Wu Xuan Cave.
The Wu Xuan Cave was even quieter now than when Chen Yin had last visited. An unsettling silence hung over the village, shrouded in poisonous miasma, the usual sounds of nature eerily absent.
Lian’er stood outside the main hall, her ear pressed against the door, listening nervously.
From within came chilling screams and muffled groans, the sounds of someone struggling to suppress their cries of pain.
Lian’er’s face was creased with worry, but she didn’t dare enter.
After a while, the sounds subsided, and just as she was about to knock, the door opened.
She stumbled forward, caught by a pair of strong arms.
She looked up and saw the Grand Witch, Bi Luo, her face pale and drawn, her eyes filled with exhaustion.
“G-Grand Witch…” Lian’er whispered, shrinking back slightly.
“I… I was worried about you…” Lian’er fidgeted with her fingers, her gaze lowered.
Bi Luo looked at her for a moment, then turned and walked back into the hall, Lian’er trailing behind her. She watched as the Grand Witch sat down heavily on her throne, her body slumped with exhaustion.
“Grand Witch, your illness is getting worse,” Lian’er said softly. “We should go see Sister Xiaoxiang. She might be able to help.”
“What for?” Bi Luo scoffed. “Even I, the Grand Witch of the Wu Xuan Cave, can’t cure myself. What makes you think a mere mortal physician can?”
“But… we have to try! We can’t just let you—”
“I’m fine,” Bi Luo interrupted her coldly.
Lian’er flinched, then Bi Luo sighed and looked away, her voice softening slightly. “Is there… anyone else left in the village?”
“No,” Lian’er’s eyes filled with tears. “Everyone’s gone. You told them to leave, to find sanctuary elsewhere, with the help of the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion. Now… it’s just you and me.”
Bi Luo nodded, her gaze sweeping across the dusty hall, then she closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. “Then why are you still here?”
Lian’er looked at her, her eyes filled with a silent plea.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“What’s the point of staying? Everyone else is gone.”
“Just go. I’m tired of dealing with you,” Bi Luo chuckled dryly.
Lian’er didn’t reply, just stood there silently, her head lowered.
“Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Don’t you want me anymore?”
“What use are you to me? You should go find someone who appreciates you… like your Sister Xiaoxiang and your Brother Chen Yin.”
“But… I don’t want to leave you,” Lian’er mumbled, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
“Why? You’re just here to be my punching bag.”
“That’s not true! You’ve been kind to me, and I remember it all!”
Bi Luo looked at her, her lips parting slightly, then she pressed them together tightly.
“…Stubborn girl,” she muttered, then sighed. “Get me some water.”
Lian’er nodded and hurried out of the hall.
Bi Luo sat there alone, her gaze sweeping across the empty hall, the silence amplifying her loneliness.
“…I’m so tired,” she murmured, “I should have stayed in Yu Ling’s bath a little longer. It was so relaxing… I’d even endure that pervert Chen Yin’s stares just to soak in it again.”
She didn’t know why she had suddenly thought of Nan Xiaoxiang and Chen Yin. The memory of bathing with Nan Xiaoxiang still felt surreal. Why did I even agree to that?
“…It doesn’t matter now. I probably won’t have another chance.” She closed her eyes, her exhaustion overwhelming her.
The backlash from her flawed cultivation technique was becoming more frequent, more intense, each episode a torturous ordeal.
She lay back in her chair, her body weak and drained, and before Lian’er could return with the water, she drifted off to sleep.
“You’re saying… the Grand Witch is suffering from the backlash of her cultivation technique?” Chen Yin asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
“Yes,” Nan Xiaoxiang said softly, “that Wu Xuan Ancestor was a cruel man. The techniques he left behind were flawed, designed to backfire and weaken his successors, to make them easier to control. And she still fought in the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation, despite knowing the risks…” Chen Yin rubbed his temples. “They’re all so stubborn. Why didn’t she tell us?”
“She grew up in isolation. She’s not used to asking for help,” Nan Xiaoxiang said, her eyes dimming slightly. “She trusted us enough to fight alongside us. She probably intended to endure it alone, until she couldn’t anymore.”
“Is this poison technique… really that incurable? Even you can’t do anything about it?”
“…I’m just a mortal,” she said quietly. “I can’t save her alone. But if you help me, Young Master Chen—” she paused, then looked at him, her gaze steady and pleading, “this is my last request. I’ve healed countless people in my life, but the one I want to save the most… is her. She spared my life after the Sacred Child trials, only crippling my cultivation. I want to repay her. Will you… help me?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer. He reached out and gently pinched her nose.
“Ow!” she exclaimed, her voice a soft, surprised squeak.
Before she could protest, he gently squeezed her cheeks. “We’re practically family now, Miss Nan. There’s no need for such formalities. Are you… having second thoughts? It’s too late. You’re mine now.”
Nan Xiaoxiang rubbed her nose, a playful glare in her eyes. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
“You will,” Chen Yin said, his gaze intense, “you already have.”
Nan Xiaoxiang blushed and looked away, her breath hitching in her throat. “Not… not yet… I’m not ready…”
“There’s no need to be ready. Just… let it happen.”
He gently took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring.
She shivered slightly, then took a deep breath. “At least wait until… this is over… okay?” she whispered, her eyes peeking up at him shyly.
Chen Yin chuckled and pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and comforting.
“I was just kidding. You actually believed me?”
His touch was so natural, so familiar, as if they had been together for years.
Nan Xiaoxiang’s cheeks flushed.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For… indulging my whims.”
He kissed her forehead gently. “You’ll understand someday. These are the perks of having a partner.”
Bi Luo opened her eyes to the familiar ceiling of the main hall. Her body ached from sitting in the same position for too long, her muscles weak and stiff.
“Grand Witch… you’re finally awake,” Lian’er’s soft voice echoed through the hall.
“…Did I faint again?” Bi Luo asked, rubbing her temples wearily. “How long was I asleep?”
“A whole day and night,” Lian’er said, her eyes red and swollen. “I couldn’t wake you, and I didn’t want to leave you alone…”
Bi Luo didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on the empty hall, the silence amplifying their solitude.
“Grand Witch, let’s leave this place,” Lian’er pleaded, her voice choked with tears. “Let’s go find Sister Xiaoxiang and Big Brother. You’ll die if we stay here.”
Bi Luo’s expression remained unchanged. She just snorted and turned away.
“Enough. If you want to leave, then go. I’m not stopping you.”
“I’m not leaving!” Lian’er clung to her robe, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want to leave you!”
“I said, go away! Leave me alone!” Bi Luo waved her sleeve dismissively, and Lian’er stumbled backward, almost falling.
But a pair of strong arms caught her.
“Hey, don’t take your anger out on Lian’er,” a familiar voice said.
Lian’er looked up, her eyes widening with surprise and relief. “Big Brother!”
She threw herself into Chen Yin’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He gently stroked her hair. “There, there, Lian’er, don’t cry.”
He turned to Bi Luo. “Look what you’ve done. You scared her.”
Bi Luo glanced at him, then looked away, her voice cold. “What are you doing here?”
“Just checking if you’re still alive.”
“Does it matter to you whether I live or die?”
Chen Yin was speechless. “You could at least say thank you. Why are you so hostile?”
Bi Luo narrowed her eyes. “…Did Nan Xiaoxiang send you?”
“Yes,” Chen Yin admitted.
“That woman… still meddling in other people’s business, even when she’s so busy,” Bi Luo chuckled dryly. “Tell her I said thank you. But she shouldn’t bother. I can handle my own problems.”
“If you don’t care about yourself, what about Lian’er?” Chen Yin said, ignoring her words. He gently lifted Lian’er into his arms, stroking her hair. “Don’t worry, Lian’er, I’m just here to help. Even if she doesn’t want my help, I can still take care of you, right?”
“You—!” Bi Luo glared at him, but Chen Yin just grinned, holding Lian’er close. “How’s Lian’er been eating? It’s important to eat well during puberty. Let me see if you’ve grown taller.”
Lian’er, her tears subsiding, looked at him shyly. “Where do you want to see, Big Brother?”
“Put her down, you pervert!” Bi Luo yelled.
“Why should I? You said you didn’t want her anymore. She’s free to go wherever she wants, with whomever she wants. And I’m taking her back to Mount Yu to be my… personal servant girl. She’s so cute and cuddly, perfect for… bedtime cuddles…” He grinned mischievously.
Lian’er giggled, but Bi Luo’s face turned crimson.
“Chen Yin! What are you trying to do?!”
“Nothing,” Chen Yin’s expression turned serious as he bowed slightly, “I’m here to invite you to Mount Yu, Grand Witch, as a token of gratitude for your help during the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation. Miss Nan is waiting for you.”
Bi Luo glared at him, her anger still simmering. “What good will that do? You think her medical skills are superior to mine? She’s just a mortal. What can she possibly do?”
“There’s always a chance,” Chen Yin said with a smile. “What if she can cure you?”
To his surprise, Bi Luo’s expression turned even colder. “Does she know how?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”
“I’m not going,” Bi Luo said firmly.
Chen Yin didn’t understand her sudden change in attitude. “You’re not coming? Even if I take Lian’er away? You won’t even be angry?”
Bi Luo’s eye twitched, but she turned away stubbornly. “I don’t care what you do with her. She’s not my servant anymore.”
Lian’er’s body trembled, and her eyes filled with tears.
Even Chen Yin felt a pang of sympathy. “Don’t be so cruel.”
“She’ll be happy to be rid of me,” Bi Luo scoffed. “And so will I. I’m tired of dealing with such a clumsy servant.”
Lian’er lowered her head, her lips trembling.
Chen Yin sighed. …She’s just as stubborn as Nan Xiaoxiang.
Fortunately, Nan Xiaoxiang had anticipated this.
She had left him a note, instructing him to open it only if Bi Luo refused.
He pulled out the note and read it, his lips twitching slightly.
Bi Luo, sensing something was amiss, looked at him, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you planning?”
“Miss Nan asked me to tell you something,” Chen Yin said awkwardly, “if you refuse to come with me…”
Bi Luo listened intently,
Unaware of the figure approaching her from behind.
She turned around, but it was too late.
A finger pressed against the back of her neck, and her body went limp.
Chen Yin caught her as she fell.
“Sorry about this,” he chuckled, holding her unconscious form, “Miss Nan said that if you refused to come willingly… then we should use force.”
Bi Luo: “?”
She looked up and saw a young woman in white, her long black hair cascading down her back, her eyes clear and bright.
She didn’t even know when the woman had appeared.
“…Chen Yin,” she said, her voice strained with anger, “I’ll remember this.”
“I’m honored,” he said, tossing a sword to Sword Maiden, who happily started eating it. “Sorry, Grand Witch, no hard feelings.”
He then lifted Bi Luo into his arms, ignoring her indignant protests. “What are you doing?! Put me down!”
Her meridians were sealed, and she could only flail her arms weakly, her punches landing harmlessly on his back.
Lian’er, relieved, giggled. “Just listen to Big Brother, Grand Witch! I need you to get better, so we can go on adventures together!”
“Behave yourself,” Chen Yin said to Bi Luo, “can’t you be a little more grateful? Lian’er is worried about you.”
“Mind your own business!”
He spanked her playfully, and a scream echoed through the Ten Thousand Mountains.
“CHEN YIN!”
“I’LL KILL YOU!”