After the Villainess Awakens

The fluffy seeds of the Twilight Grass shimmered like scattered spirit threads. They absorbed sunlight during the day and emitted a faint glow at night. They were as light and delicate as hair, floating freely in the wind.

This was their way of attracting light-seeking insects and animals to spread their seeds far and wide.

However, they only glowed when carried by the wind, and even then, the light was short-lived. After all, the tiny, fluff-like seeds could only store a limited amount of light.

Therefore, when Xiao Mian was inspecting the backyard and discovered the clusters of Twilight Grass under the eaves, he began to plan a time to bring Leng Mu Shi over to see them.

"What is this?" Leng Mu Shi reached out to catch the seeds, but they were so light that they always drifted away from her palm.

"It's Twilight Grass, isn't it beautiful?" Xiao Mian said. "The last time I went down the mountain to exorcise evil, the mountains in that area were covered with this kind of grass. As soon as the sun set and the mountain wind blew through the forest, the entire forest would glow faintly."

Leng Mu Shi imagined the scene and felt a sense of warmth in her heart, as if she had inhaled the soft seeds of the Twilight Grass, a ticklish and lazy feeling.

"You called me out in the middle of the night just to see this?" Leng Mu Shi asked after watching for a while. The glow of the Twilight Grass began to weaken, and she withdrew her hand. "Xiao Mian, are you still a child?"

Although her words were teasing, her tone was lighthearted and filled with amusement.

Xiao Mian laughed when he heard this. "There really is a persimmon tree in this courtyard. Come on, I'll take you to pick some!"

Xiao Mian pulled Leng Mu Shi towards the courtyard, and soon they arrived under a persimmon tree that wasn't too tall.

"Can you see them? The persimmons at the top of the tree are very big," Xiao Mian said. He half-bowed, kneeling on one knee, and crossed his hands to form a foothold like a horse's stirrup. He gestured to Leng Mu Shi. "Step on my hands, and I'll hold you up to pick them."

Leng Mu Shi's current cultivation level was at the middle stage of Star Accumulation. Although she hadn't learned sword-riding or wind-riding techniques, she excelled at agile jumps and twists, which she used for escaping. This was a skill she had honed in the Cang Sheng Courtyard.

There was no need for Xiao Mian to act as her stepping stool. Under the darkening night sky, Leng Mu Shi met Xiao Mian's doting gaze and hesitated for a moment. "What are you doing? It's not like I can't reach it."

As she spoke, Leng Mu Shi tapped her toes lightly and leaped onto the top of the tree with agility. She accurately plucked two of the largest persimmons and landed in front of the half-kneeling Xiao Mian. She raised her eyebrows and chin at him, her expression a mixture of pride and amusement, as if to say, "See, I'm amazing."

Xiao Mian remained half-kneeling, looking up at Leng Mu Shi's proud smile, which resembled that of a little fox. His heart felt like it was stuffed with Twilight Grass, filled with words he wanted to say but couldn't quite express.

Over the past year, he had successfully gained Leng Mu Shi's complete acceptance. He had made her realize that he wouldn't hinder her path of cultivation but would instead help and benefit her.

He would take care of her and enjoyed doing so. As long as she agreed to let him stay by her side as her companion, he would do anything and everything she wanted him to do.

Xiao Mian believed that he had proven himself enough. He had even tested the waters countless times and knew that Leng Mu Shi wasn't completely indifferent to him. Many of her unconscious gestures of intimacy had already gone beyond the boundaries of friendship.

Xiao Mian carefully examined the two large persimmons and handed the bigger one to Leng Mu Shi. He felt that tonight was the perfect opportunity to confess his feelings.

She couldn't avoid him on this trip, and they were outside the mountain. He had more experience in exorcising evil and could protect her.

"Aren't you going to get up? Addicted to kneeling?" Leng Mu Shi lightly knocked Xiao Mian's forehead with the large persimmon. "It's dark now. The waiter said it's not advisable to wander around after dark."

Leng Mu Shi turned her wrist and handed the large persimmon to Xiao Mian. "Let's go. Let's go back to the room and eat."

However, Xiao Mian didn't get up, nor did he take the persimmon. Instead, he grabbed Leng Mu Shi's hand that was holding the fruit. "Nian Ci, there are some things I want to say…"

"Waaah… Waaah… Mother, Mother, where are you…?"

"Waaah… Waaah… Mother, don't leave me in peace…"

The heartfelt words that Xiao Mian had carefully crafted were interrupted by the sound of a young boy crying.

Leng Mu Shi was startled when she heard it because the voice was undeniably eerie and sharp.

The waiter had told them not to open the windows at night to avoid being entangled by the Night Crying Child. Xiao Mian had always thought that evil spirits only appeared in the dead of night, as it had always been the case.

The Yin energy was heavier in the middle of the night, which benefited evil spirits. It was also the time when people were most tired and their minds were most relaxed, making it the perfect time for evil spirits to wreak havoc.

However, Xiao Mian didn't expect that the Night Crying Child would be active just as the sky was getting dark and the Yang energy was still strong!

Seeing Leng Mu Shi's shoulders tremble violently, Xiao Mian quickly got up from the ground, took the persimmon, and naturally grabbed Leng Mu Shi's hand.

He pulled Leng Mu Shi towards the brightly lit main hall while comforting her, "Nian Ci, don't be afraid. I'm here."

Leng Mu Shi was only startled by the sharp and piercing voice at first; she wasn't truly afraid.

In the past, as a mortal, she had feared all demons and ghosts. Now that she was a cultivator and had been raising demonic beasts for so long, all the demons and ghosts in the world had become nothing more than ingredients for her alchemy in her eyes.

Leng Mu Shi wasn't scared at all. When Xiao Mian pulled her, she even couldn't help but take a bite of the persimmon.

Wow.

It was indeed big and sweet!

The Night Crying Child's voice continued to ring in their ears. Sensing that the two were running towards the brightly lit house, its voice became even more urgent and shrill.

"Waaah! Mother, Mother, don't you want me anymore?!"

Leng Mu Shi turned her head slightly, trying to see behind her, but Xiao Mian covered her eyes in time, almost carrying her into the bright main hall.

Then, Xiao Mian's voice came from above her head. "Don't look. Its appearance is a bit scary."

Leng Mu Shi, with her eyes covered, thought to herself, "Could it be scarier than Fen Lian, that shapeshifting demon who always paints her face in a bizarre manner?"

However, she didn't say anything and instead brought the persimmon to her mouth for another bite.

It was still very sweet, but this time she detected a hint of astringency.

She had become accustomed to Xiao Mian shielding her from all unnecessary things, accustomed to seeing the scenery he had carefully prepared for her, and accustomed to his care.

This habit made Leng Mu Shi not even bother to remove Xiao Mian's hand from her eyes after entering the main hall.

She didn't know why, but having her eyes covered like this should have been uncomfortable for anyone.

However, ever since that time in the Heart-Asking Formation at the Tai Chu Sect, when Xiao Mian had used his hand to shield Leng Mu Shi from the nightmares she had never dared to face, she had unconsciously allowed him to block certain things for her.

She was aware of her dependence on Xiao Mian, a dependence that stemmed from his tolerance and kindness. Therefore, even though she realized it, she didn't stubbornly refuse as she had in the past.

Even the strongest of hearts needed to surrender occasionally.

Whether it was themselves or certain emotions.

However, Leng Mu Shi was very clear that this was just handing over, not entrusting.

She could withdraw at any time, just as she had always known that the path of cultivation was a solitary one.

It wasn't until Xiao Mian felt that she had been in the main hall long enough and had adjusted to the bright light that he removed his hands from her eyes and loosened his arms around her, taking a small step back.

The people who had been eating in the main hall earlier were still there. Seeing Leng Mu Shi and Xiao Mian rush in with such panic, Xing Zhou, who was sitting closest to them, turned around and asked, "What's wrong, Junior Brother? What did you see in the backyard that made you come back in such a hurry?"

"The Night Crying Child," Xiao Mian replied. He rarely beat around the bush with anyone except Leng Mu Shi.

He continued, "We encountered the Night Crying Child. It seems it can come out as soon as it gets dark."

As Xiao Mian led Leng Mu Shi further into the main hall, he said, "It seems to be afraid of light. It didn't follow us inside. Everyone, it's best not to extinguish the lights tonight."

Upon hearing this, the disciples all tensed up, their thoughts varied. Some of the lower-level disciples immediately lost their appetite.

They all gathered around Xiao Mian, listening to him speak, as he was the only one who had seen the Night Crying Child.

Xiao Mian said, "As Senior Brother said, it's formed from resentment. I tried to attack it and could easily disperse it with spiritual energy, but it quickly re-formed."

"It didn't attack, so I don't know how dangerous it is. It's best if everyone refrains from acting rashly tonight."

After speaking, Xiao Mian prepared to take Leng Mu Shi upstairs.

Some of the newly initiated disciples, arrogant and believing themselves invincible after entering the immortal sect, were eager to prove themselves and bring honor to their masters. Hearing Xiao Mian's words, they couldn't help but feel restless.

After all, the waiter had said that the Night Crying Child wouldn't harm anyone. Xiao Mian had encountered it and hadn't been injured. He even said that he could easily disperse it. They exchanged glances, each seeing the eagerness in the other's eyes.

After Xiao Mian left, Xing Zhou, being one of the higher-level disciples present, said, "Everyone, go back to your rooms and rest early. Remember not to open the windows or extinguish the lights tonight."

The new disciples all responded vaguely, but only they themselves knew if they were being sincere.

Xing Zhou wasn't a talkative person either and soon went upstairs.

Of course, only a few of the new disciples were disobedient. Most of them returned to their rooms, planning to gather the information they had gathered and decide how to deal with the Night Crying Child the next day.

However, there were a few new disciples who didn't go back to rest. Eager to prove themselves, they gathered together and whispered among themselves, not going upstairs for a long time.

As night fell, the waiter and the innkeeper disappeared. There was some prepared food in the main hall for the guests, and each room had been provided with buckets of bathwater, which could retain their warmth for half the night if covered.

The doors were locked, and it was supposed to be a time for everyone to rest in peace and quiet. However, a few newcomers secretly unlocked the back door and slipped into the night, armed with the swords of Tai Chu Sect disciples.

You Zi Shu, their leader, was not at the inn. He had gone ahead to investigate the source of the resentment and the Night Crying Child.

Although he was taciturn and rigid, he was very concerned about the safety of his disciples. Before reaching the Demon Race ruins for their training, he had to ensure that his disciples could both experience real evil spirits and arrive safely.

However, he didn't expect that this year's new disciples wouldn't be as obedient as those in previous years. A few had secretly snuck out and were clumsily using their poorly learned runes to trace the source of the resentment, hoping to slay the Night Crying Child with just the few of them.

Meanwhile, Leng Mu Shi had already washed up and lay down.

She lay facing the wall, her back to Xiao Mian, who was meditating at a table not far behind her.

The candlelight in the room flickered, and although the windows of the inn were closed, there was a draft, causing a faint creaking sound.

After lying down for a while, Leng Mu Shi said, "Xiao Mian, I'm really not afraid. Go back to sleep."

Xiao Mian opened his eyes and glanced at the bed curtains in Leng Mu Shi's direction. "I'm fine. You go to sleep. I'll cultivate."

Leng Mu Shi couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she let him be.

She closed her eyes, silently reciting some ancient alchemy formulas while gradually drifting off to sleep.

Leng Mu Shi didn't know if she was asleep or not, but in a daze, she felt someone watching her. When she opened her eyes, she found a small, withered face resting on her pillow, its skin stretched tautly over its skull.

Its hair was sparse and patchy, its lips couldn't cover its protruding teeth, and its skin, more wrinkled than the bark of an ancient tree, covered its crooked nose and mouth. This sight would have made anyone scream in terror.

However, Leng Mu Shi only opened her mouth slightly but didn't make a sound.

When Fen Lian was by her side, she would often appear without any regard for her appearance, believing herself to be the most beautiful in the world. She often took pleasure in scaring Leng Mu Shi with her bizarre makeup, to the point that this level of ugliness was considered elegant and refined among evil spirits in Leng Mu Shi's eyes.

After all, although this little creature was incredibly ugly, it had large, black grape-like eyes that were as clear as Xiao Mian's and as innocent as her own feigned purity.

The eyes of this ugly little creature were the only part of it that retained the purity of a child.

Leng Mu Shi and the creature stared at each other. Xiao Mian, meditating outside, was unaware of what was happening inside.

Resentment was different from other energies. It was neither ghost energy nor demonic energy, making it difficult to capture. This little creature probably didn't expect Leng Mu Shi to be unafraid and not scream. For a moment, it forgot to speak and just stared at Leng Mu Shi with its mouth slightly agape.

However, its expression quickly changed, its features contorting into an image of utter grief as it prepared to wail. Just then, Leng Mu Shi suddenly reached out and gently pressed her hand against its lips.

She shook her head at it.

Something wasn't right about this little creature. Not only did it lack the ghostly aura of an evil spirit, but Leng Mu Shi could even sense a faint flicker of life force within it.

As an alchemist, even someone like Leng Mu Shi, who was just a beginner, was extremely sensitive to life force. Shocked, she stopped the Night Crying Child from wailing.

The little creature's mouth had been wide open, but when Leng Mu Shi covered it, its already large eyes widened even further.

Black energy rapidly gathered and swirled within its eyes, resembling tears welling up.

"Mother…" it whispered, its voice barely audible, right next to Leng Mu Shi's ear.

"I found you." It reached out with its ethereal hand to hug Leng Mu Shi.

Leng Mu Shi was taken aback by the word "Mother." It wasn't that her maternal instincts had suddenly awakened, but because, for her, the word "Mother" evoked a mix of tenderness and a bittersweet ache.

Hearing the tiny voice whisper the word so close to her ear, Leng Mu Shi felt a lump form in her throat. She almost burst into tears along with the Night Crying Child.

As a being formed from resentment, the little creature couldn't physically interact with living beings. It tried repeatedly to hug Leng Mu Shi, but its attempts were futile. In the end, it could only mimic Leng Mu Shi's gesture of covering its mouth and hug her loosely, murmuring, "Mother… Mother…"

Leng Mu Shi lay still, her fingers rummaging through her storage bag. She had prepared various bags for storing demonic beasts, and she found a small bag specifically designed for gathering souls. She pulled it out of her storage bag with two fingers.

It was originally intended for gathering souls, and Leng Mu Shi wasn't sure if it could contain this resentment.

The Night Crying Child continued to rub against her, calling out for its mother. It was then that Leng Mu Shi noticed a thin line of blood red in each of the creature's eyes. Although its gaze was clear, it seemed to be looking through her, unfocused. It was evident that it couldn't see.

Leng Mu Shi slowly enlarged the soul-gathering bag in her hand. Just as she was about to throw it over the Night Crying Child's head, the bed curtains were suddenly pulled open. Xiao Mian's Water Cloud Sword shot out of its sheath, pointing directly at the Night Crying Child clinging to her.

"Don't!" Leng Mu Shi shouted.

Hearing her voice, Xiao Mian stopped his attack just in time. Leng Mu Shi simultaneously threw the bag, but the Night Crying Child still managed to escape.

"Waaah… Waaah… Mother, where are you…?"

The Night Crying Child's shrill voice rang out again, colliding head-on with Xiao Mian's sword. The Water Cloud Sword hummed, and the small figure formed from resentment instantly dissipated.

In the next instant, it reappeared at the window, its form slightly fainter than before, with less of the dark energy swirling around it.

"Catch it, don't let it escape, Xiao Mian! It has life force in it!"

Leng Mu Shi jumped out of bed, clutching the soul-gathering bag and pouncing towards the Night Crying Child with incredible agility.

Xiao Mian had been with Leng Mu Shi for so long that not only did they have a deep understanding of each other, but he had also learned to follow her commands without question.

Therefore, the moment Leng Mu Shi spoke and lunged forward, Xiao Mian had already swiftly drawn a confining rune in the air with his Water Cloud Sword. "Go!" he shouted, imprinting the rune onto the window.

The Night Crying Child, about to crash through the window to escape, was repelled by Xiao Mian's rune and bounced back.

It quickly darted towards the door.

"It can't see, it can only hear. Don't hurt it, seal the door!" Leng Mu Shi shouted again.

Xiao Mian instantly changed the trajectory of his sword, which had been about to strike the Night Crying Child, and quickly drew another rune, sealing the door shut.

The little creature, unable to see and relying solely on sound, lost its sense of direction when the exits with wind sounds, the window and the door, were sealed.

Leng Mu Shi, holding the soul-gathering bag, leaped and bounded around the room, agilely pursuing the Night Crying Child. Xiao Mian acted as if he could read her mind, his sword tip always positioned to lend her support. No matter which direction she twisted or leaped towards, his sword tip was there for her to use as a springboard.

With the doors and windows sealed, it didn't take long for them to trap the Night Crying Child inside the soul-gathering bag.

"Waaah—Waaah—Mother, Mother—"

Leng Mu Shi landed on the ground, holding the bag that was being constantly distorted by the creature's struggles. In the next moment, she hugged the soul-gathering bag tightly to her chest.

The Night Crying Child, formed from resentment, couldn't see and couldn't truly touch anyone. It could only cry and chase after people, trying to identify its mother by touch.

However, even through the soul-gathering bag, as a trapped entity, it could feel the warmth of a human embrace.

Its shrill cries abruptly ceased, replaced by soft, pitiful whimpers. "Mother, is that you? Mother, is that you? Is it really you? Really, really, really?"

Leng Mu Shi let out a soft sigh, holding the Night Crying Child and turning to look at Xiao Mian. "I'm not your mother."

"Waaah—Waaah—"

The Night Crying Child began to struggle and scream again. Leng Mu Shi quickly tightened her grip on the bag and said, "But I can help you find your mother!"

"As long as you tell me your name, where you live, and whether…" Leng Mu Shi swallowed hard and asked, "Are you still alive?"

It was too absurd. How could it still be alive?

There was only one way a living person could become an evil spirit: by succumbing to demonic energy.

However, this Night Crying Child was clearly not possessed by demonic energy. It was formed from resentment, and within that resentment, there was a faint flicker of life force that only Leng Mu Shi could sense, a life force that even Xiao Mian couldn't detect.

If it had been caught by anyone else, a single fire rune from a high-level disciple would have been enough to incinerate its resentment, erasing the Night Crying Child from existence.

However, Leng Mu Shi shook her head at Xiao Mian, who was still holding his sword. Xiao Mian lowered his weapon.

"Tell me everything," Leng Mu Shi said gently, holding the Night Crying Child through the bag. "Tell me what happened…"

The Night Crying Child quietened down. After a long pause, it asked, "Can you really help me find my mother? Will you really help me find her? Really? Really? Really?"

Its voice was filled with both anguish and helplessness, the last few words reaching a pitch that almost pierced their eardrums. If Xiao Mian hadn't placed soundproof runes on the doors and windows, the commotion would have surely attracted the other disciples.

Leng Mu Shi waited patiently for the creature to finish its cries before resisting the urge to cover her ears. In a soothing voice, she said, "I promise I'll help you find her. You'll definitely find your mother. But now, you need to tell me everything. Will you do that for me?"

Leng Mu Shi summoned all the patience she possessed outside of alchemy. "First, tell me, what's your name?"

"My name is… Ping An," the Night Crying Child whispered.

Leng Mu Shi sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the Night Crying Child, and patted the bag gently as encouragement.

"Ping An… That's a lovely name. Your mother must have given it to you…"

As dawn approached, Leng Mu Shi patiently coaxed the Night Crying Child into revealing more about itself. However, its consciousness was muddled, and its knowledge was limited.

Nevertheless, based on its description and the presence of life force within it, Leng Mu Shi's suspicions were confirmed. The child wasn't dead but was trapped somewhere dark and sunless.

He didn't know where he was. Leng Mu Shi needed to find the others and tell them, along with Xiao Mian, what she had learned.

Their mission was to eliminate the Night Crying Child and restore peace to the town. They had accomplished that. Now they just needed to retrieve the mission token from the person who had requested their help and, upon returning to the Tai Chu Sect, hand it over to the mission hall to receive their reward.

However, now they knew that the Night Crying Child wasn't a malevolent being. It might even be the victim in all of this. They had to find out where the real Ping An was being held and rescue him.

And they had to find his mother.

Furthermore, there was something strange about the innkeeper and the waiter. The Night Crying Child's behavior didn't align with their warnings. It wasn't simply a matter of keeping the windows closed. Whether they were open or not, the Night Crying Child would find them.

Just as Leng Mu Shi put away the soul-gathering bag and she and Xiao Mian were about to remove the runes from the door to inform the others, they found Leng Tian Yin standing outside.

Upon seeing them, she exclaimed urgently, "Hurry! Something happened to some of the new disciples! They sent a distress signal from the barren mountains outside the city! Senior Brother Xing Zhou has already taken some people there. You two need to go as well!"

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