After the Villainess Awakens

Grand Immortal Quyang dedicated his life to cultivation and never considered such things. Besides, he was already seven hundred and thirty years old. In all those years, despite his handsome features, no one dared to ask him such a bold question.

He was briefly stunned, then his face darkened. The three Immortal Lords following behind him never expected Leng Mushi's sudden question. One of them gaped, his mouth wide enough to stuff a whole bun inside. Wasn't Leng Mushi interested in his junior brother? When did her taste change so drastically?!

Xiao Mian gripped the sword at his waist. He was grateful to Leng Mushi for saving his life. Now, he worried that Grand Immortal Quyang, offended by her words, might lash out at her.

However, Grand Immortal Quyang only maintained his stern expression. After a moment, he said coldly, "There are no shortcuts in cultivation. This Grand Immortal has no need for a Dao companion!"

He was angry.

Anyone would be. He had wanted to accept a bright and virtuous young disciple, but she wanted to take a shortcut and become his Dao companion?

Fortunately, it was Grand Immortal Quyang. He traveled the world year-round, witnessing all aspects of life. As he said, he didn't care much about social hierarchy. If it were someone else, facing such disrespect, Leng Mushi would have surely faced consequences.

Grand Immortal Quyang left in a huff. Leng Mushi knew she was doomed if this continued. However, Pink Lotus in her mind finally quieted down, snorting, "Such a temper, and not even that good-looking. Forget it, it's not like I'm desperate..."

After that, she went silent. The pain in Leng Mushi's face also subsided.

However, she hadn't even joined the sect yet and had already offended an elder of the Tai Chu Sect.

"Sigh." Leng Mushi touched her face sadly and sat back on the bed. After Leng Tianyin closed the door, she hurried over with a wet cloth to wipe Leng Mushi's face.

Leng Mushi found her irritating. "Get out. I don't want to see you."

Leng Tianyin, either used to her behavior or simply ignoring it, didn't budge. Instead, she said, "Sister, you've offended Elder Quyang of the Tai Chu Sect. I heard he's the Sixth Elder and holds a high position within the sect. If someone mentions your offense during the entrance ceremony, you'll be in trouble."

"Stop worrying about useless things. Can you just leave and let me sleep?" Leng Mushi's head was spinning. She needed to think things through, and Leng Tianyin's presence wasn't helping.

Leng Tianyin finally left, muttering as she went, "No, I need to ask Brother Xiao about Elder Quyang's character."

Oh! It was Immortal Lord Xiao before, and now it's Brother Xiao after she woke up from a little fainting spell?

As expected, the male and female leads never missed a chance to flirt.

"Go, go, go," Leng Mushi wasn't following the plot anymore and didn't care about their brother-sister act. She shooed her away, "Go and get cozy with your Brother Xiao!"

With Leng Tianyin gone, Leng Mushi lay back on the bed and started to think about how to manage the two squabbling entities inside her. She needed to have a serious talk with Pink Lotus. "You want me to find you a man, then you better behave. If you cause trouble like today and I get dragged down with you, you won't have it easy either."

"Besides," Leng Mushi continued, "even if you want a new man, Grand Immortal Quyang is at least a few hundred years old, and his looks are just average. Aren't you being too indiscriminate?"

"Then tell me, what kind of man should I find?" Pink Lotus grumbled. "Do you think I ended up like this because I have good taste in men? As if I need your help."

Leng Mushi was just a fledgling herself. What did she know about finding men?

But now, she had to learn, even if she didn't understand. So she said casually, "Then we need to find a young, inexperienced, fresh, and juicy Immortal Lord with long legs and a nice rear. Can you stop eyeing those old geezers?"

Leng Mushi continued, "Besides, those old guys have high cultivation levels. It's not safe. What if one of them turns out to be a scumbag, uses you, and then destroys your soul with a slap? You won't even have the chance to complain to the Ghost King in the underworld."

Leng Mushi used her silver tongue to reason with Pink Lotus. By the time she finished, it was almost nightfall. The usually silent Law suddenly spoke up, "There are three fresh, juicy Immortal Lords with long legs and nice rears at the door."

Leng Mushi choked, and Pink Lotus let out a cackle.

Leng Mushi couldn't help but laugh too. She cleared her throat and sat up just as a knock sounded on the door.

"One moment." Leng Mushi tidied her clothes before opening the door. The three fresh and juicy… no, the three Immortal Lords entered. Leng Mushi closed the door behind them and turned around to see the three Immortal Lords bowing deeply with their swords held respectfully in their hands.

Their posture was solemn, their expressions serious, as if attending a funeral. They nearly scared Leng Mushi out of her wits.

"What... is this?" Leng Mushi leaned back against the door. Xiao Mian was the first to straighten up and sheathe his sword. He looked at Leng Mushi seriously and said, "Thank you, Miss Leng, for your quick wit and bravery in deceiving the demon, which gave us the opportunity to call for help. My senior brothers and I owe our lives to you, so we must express our gratitude."

After Xiao Mian finished, the other two senior brothers also spoke up. "We can never truly repay you for saving our lives. Once you become our junior sister," the baby-faced senior brother said, patting the stern-looking senior brother beside him, "he and I will take good care of you!"

Leng Mushi smiled. The baby-faced senior brother suddenly said, "I've only heard you call Xiao Mian 'Brother Xiao,' but you address me and him as 'Immortal Lord.' Don't tell me you don't even know our names?"

Indeed, Leng Mushi didn't know their names until now. She could have asked Leng Tianyin, but she didn't. She went against the plot and saved these two lives. These two living, breathing people were the first step in her fight against fate. She had to ask personally; it was the only way to show her sincerity and avoid future regrets.

However, she didn't expect the two senior brothers to notice and bring it up, saving her from potential embarrassment.

"Hahaha, what's with that expression? I know he and I aren't as handsome as your Brother Xiao and don't attract you as much. Forget it, forget it. We won't hold it against you. My name is Yi Tu. Not 'intention' but 'easy' as in simple, and 'plan' as in scheme." The baby-faced senior brother, Yi Tu, finished and patted the tall, serious one beside him.

The serious senior brother then spoke, smiling shyly at Leng Mushi. "My name is Xing Zhou. 'Star' as in the sky, and 'continent' as in land."

Leng Mushi nodded and smiled back. She obediently called out, "Senior Brother Yi Tu, Senior Brother Xing Zhou."

Yi Tu laughed. He was naturally lively and liked to joke. He teased, "I thought you'd call me Brother Yi and call Xing Zhou Brother Xing."

Leng Mushi blushed slightly. Despite her recent experiences, she was still a young girl. She bit her lip and smiled sheepishly, introducing herself with some embarrassment, "My name is Leng Mushi, as you all know. But I have a courtesy name, Nianci. Senior brothers can call me Nianci from now on."

Leng Mushi was used to casually sharing her courtesy name back home, so she didn't hesitate to tell them.

Besides, if she were to join the immortal sect, those worldly manners wouldn't matter. Compared to her formal name, Leng Mushi, she preferred the courtesy name her mother gave her. Moreover, she had gone through a life-or-death experience with these three.

After a moment of shyness, she said generously, "Since I'm going to join the Tai Chu Sect, I won't be calling you 'brother' anymore. It'll be 'senior brother' from now on."

"Ah, right! Nianci, ah, Nianci!" Yi Tu suddenly clapped his hands. "Speaking of which, I almost forgot. How could you be so bold! Elder Quyang actually wanted to take you as his disciple directly!"

Xiao Mian couldn't help but add, "But you ruined it. The Elder even asked me about your age before, wanting to come and see you personally. He definitely had the intention of accepting you as his disciple."

Xing Zhou nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's right."

Leng Mushi was dumbfounded. "What do you mean? He didn't say anything."

"What was there to say?" Xiao Mian said. "He greeted you with his spiritual pressure, and you endured it without kneeling. Naturally, he wouldn't directly offer to take you as his disciple after that."

Leng Mushi almost jumped up. "Why? Why? Why?"

"He said that the immortal sects don't adhere to worldly customs, so I didn't kneel! How was I supposed to know he was thinking one thing and doing another?"

Leng Mushi's gut twisted with regret. Realizing she had spoken ill of the Elder, she was about to apologize when she saw that none of the three blamed her. She said with a mournful face, "Then I'm finished. Can I still join the sect smoothly?"

Xiao Mian's expression turned strange. "Elder Quyang is gentle and wouldn't stoop to suppressing juniors. However, you asked... that question. It's impossible for you to become his disciple now."

Yi Tu added, "Yes, although you've entered the path of cultivation early, at this stage, it only means your spiritual roots have manifested. Many mortals who aren't destined for cultivation also experience this unknowingly. Their bodies are just slightly better than ordinary people; it doesn't mean much."

Xing Zhou spoke again, "Moreover, your spiritual roots are too impure. The cultivation techniques practiced by the elders of the Tai Chu Sect are all different, but most require pure spiritual roots. A single element of metal, wood, water, fire, or earth is good. Having two is considered a dual spiritual root, which is passable. But having more makes your aptitude subpar. You possess all five elements, the most impure combination. Although it's considered special, it's unclear which elder or cultivation technique would be suitable."

What else could Leng Mushi say? She had a chance, but it was all ruined because of that damn Pink Lotus and her lust for old men!

Pink Lotus didn't utter a word now, probably feeling guilty.

Perhaps it was Leng Mushi's dejected expression and silence, or the way she touched the healing scar on her face, but Xiao Mian tightened his grip on his sword and said, "Don't worry. When I return to the sect, I'll talk to my master and see if you can become his disciple instead."

Hearing this, Yi Tu and Xing Zhou also nodded. "Yes, yes, we'll all speak on your behalf. Besides, isn't our master your family's living ancestor? This time, he personally ordered us to bring you and your sister to the mountain. He must have a plan."

That was true. There was no need to worry too much. The Fifth Elder of the Tai Chu Sect, her living ancestor, still cared about his family. Since he knew about their clan's destruction and sent disciples to fetch them, he wouldn't just bring them back to sweep floors at the outer gates.

It was a pity, but there was nothing she could do. She had offended Grand Immortal Quyang; it would be shameless to beg to become his disciple now. So Leng Mushi smiled and nodded. "I understand. Thank you, senior brothers."

"My, my, how sweet. Already calling us senior brother." Yi Tu laughed heartily. Leng Mushi wasn't shy anymore and chatted with the three for a while longer. She fabricated some "dangerous" encounters she supposedly faced after they left that day, making them feel even more indebted to her. Finally, she happily sent off her three future senior brothers.

As they were leaving, Yi Tu turned serious and explained to Leng Mushi, "Xing Zhou and I are not in love. We have a pure brotherhood."

Leng Mushi almost retorted, "Brotherhood? And you call it pure?"

She was used to joking with her friends, but thankfully, she stopped herself. She saw them off with a smile and closed the door.

However, from their words, she realized that Pink Lotus wasn't completely stupid. At least she had disguised the scene when she was found, making it look like Leng Mushi had fought hard to survive. Apparently, the scene was quite bloody.

When Elder Quyang and Pink Lotus's puppet were fighting to "rescue" her, she was lying unconscious in a pool of blood, and Leng Tianyin had fainted from fright.

Leng Mushi finally felt a glimmer of hope for Pink Lotus's brain. It seemed that she only lost her mind when men were involved; otherwise, she was relatively normal.

She washed up, ready to talk to Pink Lotus and Law again, asking them not to speak when there were other people around.

Just then, another knock sounded on the door.

This time, it was Law who spoke, "A fresh, juicy, long-legged, nice-reared, and very handsome Brother Xiao is at the door."

Leng Mushi: "..."

"Get lost!"

She cursed under her breath and went to open the door. She had taken off her outer robe, and it hung loosely on her body. Leng Mushi opened the door a crack, tilting her head out while using her body to block the entrance. She blinked at Xiao Mian, who had returned.

This wasn't part of the plot, so her voice was cold. "Immortal Lord Xiao, is there something you need?"

Xiao Mian still couldn't get used to her hot and cold attitude. She was clearly smiling at him and calling him Senior Brother Xiao just now.

But now, she was so cold and even wary of him.

Xiao Mian regretted coming. But when he saw the obvious scar on Leng Mushi's left cheek, his heart softened. He felt a pang of guilt and something else he couldn't quite place.

He pursed his lips. "Your face…" He could have sworn he saw bloodstains earlier, bright red. How come it was already scabbing over? Did he see wrong?

He hid the small bottle of hemostatic medicine behind his back, thinking he must have been mistaken. But the scar on Leng Mushi's face was quite big. He continued, "There's a Fragrance Grass Hall in the Tai Chu Sect. They have Beauty Rejuvenation Pills that can heal your face."

Leng Mushi touched her face in confusion. As long as Pink Lotus didn't act up, the scar wouldn't hurt at all. She scratched the scab with her fingernail and responded indifferently, "Oh."

She still needed to follow the plot and wasn't in a hurry to heal.

The two stood in silence, separated by the crack in the door. Leng Mushi stared at him with her fox-like eyes, round with confusion.

What was the male lead doing?

Was he scheming something?

There shouldn't be any plot developments here. Leng Tianyin was probably asleep… and Law was silently stuck to her inside the storage bag.

Xiao Mian was so flustered by her stare that he forgot what he wanted to say…

In the suffocating silence, Leng Mushi wanted to send him away. Not wanting to be direct, she blurted out, "I'm not wearing any clothes."

Xiao Mian stood rooted to the spot, his expression blank. Did she not care about her appearance? Why wasn't she happy that her face could be healed? Not wearing any clothes… what did that even mean?

Leng Mushi: "..." Not leaving?

"My breasts are quite big, you want to see?" She said, making a move to open the door wider.

Xiao Mian finally understood what she meant. His hair stood on end, and he vanished in a flash of spiritual energy.

Leng Mushi scoffed and closed the door with a mutter.

"Scaring you away? Not a chance..."

Xiao Mian leaned against the wall around the corner, his ears burning. All he could hear was—My breasts are quite big, you want to see?

Want to see?

See?

See…

Author's Note:

Xiao Mian: I personally believe that one should always keep their word (/ω＼)

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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