“…”
Feng Jin was silent.
After a few breaths, her hand gripping the bow relaxed slightly. Her shoulders dropped, and she let out a sigh.
“Yes.”
Yan Zhao’s expression didn’t change, but her dark eyes began to sparkle.
Feng Jin added, “Let’s head back to the stronghold first.”
As she finished speaking, she stole a glance at the little fox in Yan Zhao’s arms.
Yan Zhao held it in both hands, stroking the fur on its back absentmindedly.
Having just experienced such a perilous situation, the little fox’s fur had also been stained with blood. However, it seemed none of the blood on it was its own.
But it clearly hadn’t recovered from the shock, lying listlessly in the crook of Yan Zhao’s arm, silent and still.
“Oh,” Yan Zhao responded, looking left and right.
She didn’t recognize the path and had no idea how long it would take to walk back to the bandit stronghold from here.
As she hesitated, a hand reached out from beside her, extending an invitation. “Junior Sister Yan, let me take you.”
It was Bi Lan.
This time, Yan Zhao finally didn’t immediately turn her face away.
Expressionless, she looked at Bi Lan for a moment, then her brow furrowed slightly.
Bi Lan felt a surge of unease.
Yan Zhao’s temper was incredibly strange, completely unpredictable by normal logic. So Bi Lan couldn’t guess Yan Zhao’s thoughts, unsure if this move might further annoy her.
But she thought, she and Yan Zhao were from the same sect, after all. Yan Zhao’s dislike for her stemmed from her own prior mistakes. If her attitude in making amends was sincere enough, was there a chance she could get forgiveness?
In the end, Yan Zhao didn’t say a word. Silently, she climbed onto Bi Lan’s flying sword.
A nameless joy bubbled up in Bi Lan’s heart.
“Junior Sister Yan, hold on tight.”
Feng Jin voiced no objection. Taking Ah Ling with her, she mounted her sword and flew ahead, leading the way.
On the journey to the stronghold, as Yan Zhao stood on the flying sword, she had a vague feeling she’d forgotten something.
But, since she couldn’t remember, it must not have been important.
Bi Lan suddenly felt a weight on her back.
Yan Zhao’s head drooped forward, gently bumping against her shoulder. She had actually fallen asleep standing up like that.
Bi Lan turned to look. The night wind blew the hair away from Yan Zhao’s face, revealing the clean and handsome features beneath.
With her eyes closed in rest, Yan Zhao’s expression was soft and relaxed. Her long, dense eyelashes curled upwards like little brushes. The alienation and hostility that kept others at arm’s length were gone, making her look exceptionally gentle and harmless.
The complete opposite of the person in that small courtyard moments ago.
Bi Lan secretly slowed the speed of her flying sword. She formed a hand seal, and her dharma power slowly flowed into the compass, activating a shield.
The oncoming astral wind brushed past the shield and diverted to the sides. The cold wind blowing against their faces naturally lessened.
Unknowingly, the night had passed. The eastern sky was starting to brighten. Where heaven and earth met, the pale light of dawn appeared, tinged with a faint wisp of purple qi. All things began to awaken.
Inside the abandoned courtyard at the edge of Zhuangan Village, Luo Qi was the first to open his eyes.
Luo Qi’s cheek was pressed against the ground. He’d slept like that all night, and his neck was stiff when he woke.
Bracing his arms, he tried to get up. But the slightest movement made him feel as if all the bones in his body had come apart, causing him to grimace in pain.
The beatings these past few days had been relentless.
Recalling what happened before he passed out, Luo Qi gnashed his teeth. Yan Zhao!
If he hadn’t lost all his dharma power after being wounded by Feng Jin, how could he have suffered such a huge humiliation?!
He’d remember this debt. He’d settle scores with Yan Zhao another day!
Lifting his eyes to scout the surroundings, it wasn’t fully light yet, and the room was dim. Luo Qi wondered to himself, “Where is this?”
Turning his head, Lin Chao was lying right beside him, his face swollen like a pig’s head.
“Hey!” Luo Qi kicked him. “Wake up!”
Disturbed awake, Lin Chao opened his eyes with a scowl, immediately sucking in a sharp breath. “Hiss… Pain, pain, pain!”
That bastard Yan Zhao was like a dog that didn’t bark, striking ruthlessly. He’d beaten them black and blue, bruises all over. It would probably take at least ten days to half a month to recover.
At least he’d kept his life. Lin Chao caught his breath, looked around, and asked Luo Qi, “What is this place?”
“How the hell should I know?” Luo Qi felt the room was sinister and eerie, extremely strange, which made his skin crawl. He quickly suggested, “Let’s get out of here, fast!”
They helped each other stumble to the door. The rundown house looked about to collapse. Two battered wooden doors were jammed tightly in the doorframe. They tugged once but couldn’t open them.
Together, they combined their strength and pulled the wooden door open.
The entire door panel fell off, showering Luo Qi’s head with dust.
He was forced to inhale a huge mouthful of dust, unable to even open his eyes.
“Luo Qi!” Lin Chao suddenly gripped Luo Qi’s arm, fiercely twisting a chunk of flesh.
Luo Qi howled in pain. Waving his sleeve to disperse the dust in front of him, he glared angrily at Lin Chao. “What are you doing?!”
Lin Chao’s voice trembled. “L-Look…”
Luo Qi turned his head to follow Lin Chao’s gaze, and suddenly froze.
The next moment, his face turned deathly pale.
A strange, abandoned courtyard entered their vision. The ground looked like it had been washed with a flood of blood, its original color unrecognizable. Everywhere lay the severed bodies of venomous snakes, cut into pieces.
At the base of the courtyard wall was a pile of red and black sludge, vaguely resembling a person, but no longer human in form.
On the other side, there was another corpse. Its body was relatively intact, but its stomach had been ripped open by a sharp weapon, entrails all spilling out.
What exactly had happened in this courtyard last night?
Luo Qi didn’t dare to think. He was so terrified his soul nearly fled his body.
Opening his mouth, his teeth nearly bit his tongue. His voice was even shakier than Lin Chao’s. “Go! Let’s go!”
Dragging Lin Chao, Luo Qi scrambled and crawled out of the small courtyard.
At that moment, he cursed himself for not having grown two more legs, terrified that if he ran too slowly, something might catch up to him.
Feng Jin’s group arrived at the stronghold. The bandits on guard duty saw Bi Lan flying back on her sword alongside Feng Jin, and behind her, Yan Zhao riding the same sword. Though curious, they dared not make a fuss, their attitudes respectful. “Boss!”
Bi Lan steadied Yan Zhao and landed lightly.
Woken abruptly, Yan Zhao looked left, then right, groggily. “We’re here?”
Bi Lan nodded to her reply. “Mm.”
Feng Jin instructed Ah Ling. “Go to the kitchen and get something for Miss Yan to eat.”
Ah Ling looked down, her expression dim.
She had worried about Feng Jin, been uneasy the whole day, and rushed over to save her regardless of her own safety. Yet Feng Jin had not a single extra word of concern. As soon as they returned, she immediately busied herself with Yan Zhao’s request, making sure Yan Zhao didn’t go hungry.
In the Boss’s eyes, who was more important was clear at a glance.
She didn’t meekly respond as usual. Without a word, she turned and left.
Once Ah Ling’s figure had gone far, Feng Jin turned to face Bi Lan. “Many thanks for Miss Bi’s rescue today. If you have no urgent matters, why not stay at the stronghold and rest for a few days?”
As she spoke, Feng Jin was calculating other things in her mind.
Yan Zhao’s temperament was strange and unpredictable. Who knew when her madness might flare up again? With Bi Lan here, she could keep an eye on her.
After today’s events, Feng Jin only felt lucky. It was fortunate that she hadn’t gone for the kill against Yan Zhao a few days prior, and later heeded her Senior Sister’s advice to treat her with courtesy. Otherwise, the entire stronghold might have been flattened by Yan Zhao.
Invited, Bi Lan’s brows and eyes curved in a smile. She gladly accepted.
Feng Jin led Bi Lan into the stronghold. Several men on night watch duty saw this and exchanged glances.
In just one night, the Head Chief hadn’t just brought back Miss Yan, but also brought another one up the mountain?
This one looked much more normal than Yan Zhao.
Bi Lan wore the white robe of a Fuyun Sect inner disciple, the robe washed impeccably clean. In her hand she held a compass. The cuffs were adorned with gray-blue cloud patterns, and her hair was combed meticulously under her crown.
Though not a peerless beauty, she was pleasant-looking with an outstanding bearing. She clearly looked like a dragon among men.
As the three passed before them, the men winked and nudged each other, sharing a knowing look.
“We originally thought our Head Chief was devoid of desire, not interested in romance, but it turns out the girls in the stronghold are just too plain-looking to catch the Boss’s eye. It still takes an immortal from Fuyun Sect to match the Boss’s taste!”
Feng Jin led Bi Lan to the rear courtyard, arranging a guest room for her to rest.
One of the rooms in the east wing had its door ajar. Following Bi Lan’s gaze, Feng Jin explained, “That’s the room where Miss Yan is staying.”
Bi Lan nodded, then pointed to the room next to it. “Then I’ll stay next door to Junior Sister Yan.”
“Fine.” This arrangement suited Feng Jin’s intentions perfectly. She nodded. “The guest rooms are cleaned regularly. If Miss Bi is tired, please go in and rest.”
After settling Bi Lan, Feng Jin turned to Yan Zhao. “Miss Yan, I’ve already told the kitchen to prepare a meal. Someone will bring it to your room shortly.”
Yan Zhao didn’t care where Bi Lan stayed. Since Feng Jin said food would be delivered, she would just wait.
Seeing Yan Zhao about to return to her room, Feng Jin hesitated a moment, then called out, “Miss Yan.”
Yan Zhao halted her steps.
Feng Jin took an item from her sleeve. “Returning this to its owner.”
Yan Zhao’s face showed surprise. She looked down and felt her own pockets. Her universe pouch was indeed gone.
Taking the universe pouch Feng Jin handed over, she tucked it back into her clothes. Then she heard Feng Jin say hesitantly, “Your spirit fox may have been frightened. Its fur is also dirty. Do you need… me to help you clean it?”
Yan Zhao was very satisfied with Feng Jin’s use of “your spirit fox” to address the little fox. This annoying woman still had a bit of self-awareness.
Seeing that Feng Jin’s subordinate bandits cooked well and had also returned her lost property, Yan Zhao reluctantly reconciled with Feng Jin. She replied, “No need.”
With that, she returned to her own room.
Feng Jin sighed helplessly, then turned to ask Bi Lan, “Will Miss Bi have something to eat later as well?”
“No need.” Bi Lan shook her head. “I’ve already reached Fasting.”
With those words, she thanked Feng Jin and headed toward the guest room.
Passing by Yan Zhao’s door, she saw it wasn’t shut tightly.
Through the crack, one could glimpse a corner of the room.
Yan Zhao was sitting on the floor with the fox, inventorying the items in her universe pouch.
A moment later, she pulled a large iron pot, half the height of a person, from the universe pouch.
Bi Lan: “?”
What was she going to do?
In the guest room, Yan Zhao casually placed the large iron pot on the floor, then pulled out firewood and a charcoal brazier to start a fire.
With the pot set on the brazier, she very clumsily formed a hand seal for the Clear Water Art, filling the pot halfway with clear water.
Ren Qingyue had indeed been frightened.
Yan Zhao’s appearance last night shocked her, and also forced her to confront a fact: Yan Zhao wasn’t just Shizun’s child, but also a little devil.
Usually she didn’t show it, but she never expected her to be so ruthless when she acted, killing without blinking.
If Yan Zhao continued like this, how was she different from a devil cultivator?
Furthermore, the drain from that wisp of Origin Ice Soul was too great. Her spirit was listless.
After resting for several hours, she had barely recovered when she saw Yan Zhao pick her up and toss her into the pot.
Instantly, the half pot of lukewarm water soaked her through. Her fur became matted, turning her into a drowned fox.
Little Fox: “?!”
Dammit! Little devil!
Was she going to braise a fox in a big pot?!
![Cultivation Aftereffects [Transmigrated into a Book]](https://i0.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/rev.jpg?resize=151,215 "Cultivation Aftereffects [Transmigrated into a Book]")