Chapter 4: Playing the Pig to Catch a Tiger

The waiter hurried over, his hands offering the silver back to Ye Wenxin. “Miss, the patrons at the table next to yours have already paid for your drinks.”

Taken aback, Ye Wenxin looked in the direction the waiter indicated and saw a couple she did not recognize waving to her.

Examining the couple, dressed plainly and not appearing wealthy, Ye Wenxin confirmed that she did not know them at all. Yet now, a stranger was unexpectedly paying for her, which left her quite surprised.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Ye Wenxin asked with skepticism, bowing to the couple and inquiring their reason.

“We noticed you only ordered a bowl of noodles, so we couldn’t help but intervene.” The couple felt rather awkward. It was already December, and the weather was very cold. Everyone was dressed warmly, but Ye Wenxin was the only one dressed thinly, wearing clothes made of coarse fabric. It was evident that Ye Wenxin was in a difficult situation.

In fact, Ye Wenxin had long reached a stage where she could go without food. She had minimal need for sustenance. She was not particular about clothing either; furthermore, at the Soul Transformation stage, her sensitivity to extreme temperatures was not as intense as that of ordinary people.

Now, upon hearing this reminder from the couple, she realized the biggest issue with her commoner disguise.

However, with the misunderstanding already in place, Ye Wenxin had no choice but to accept their kindness.

“Then, much thanks to you both,” she said.

The elderly couple breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if the ice had been broken and they no longer needed to conceal their true intentions. They then handed several pieces of silver to Ye Wenxin.

“Miss, although this isn’t much, please don’t brush it off. You’re still young, find a good family for yourself. Don’t degrade yourself like this.”

Ye Wenxin was a bit confused, unsure at what point she had acted as such. However, upon careful reflection, she realized the others had not heard her conversation with the storyteller earlier. Instead, they saw a silver piece being left on the table, and mistakenly believed that Ye Wenxin was either being kept or abandoned by someone.

Ye Wenxin planned to resolve this misunderstanding, but then she noticed Huang Hanyan and Long Qing’er looking at her.

Both of them were Fairy Fengya’s inner disciples and would be more informed than the outer disciple storyteller. If she pretended to be pitiful, she could very likely evoke sympathy from these two female disciples.

After thorough consideration, she secretly pinched herself hard. Tears welled up immediately, and she thanked the elderly couple sincerely.

“I’m truly grateful to you both. I had intended to seek a master on the mountain, but unexpectedly arrived half a year early. Now, with no more funds left, I have no choice but to agree to that gentleman’s proposal…” Ye Wenxin’s voice trembled as she spoke, drawing everyone’s attention to her. Seeing her young age and the hardships she was facing, they felt even more sympathetic towards her.

“Miss, there’s no more need for you to suffer. Come home with me.” A man bedecked in gold and silver appeared. His chubby fingers, tightly adorned with gold rings, kept wiggling, and his face, squeezed by layers of fat, bore a malicious grin.

Ye Wenxin felt even more speechless yet had no choice but to keep acting scared, constantly backing away, while also casting pleading looks at the crowd for help.

However, no one dared to step forward, seemingly afraid of the man.

Ye Wenxin looked on with a cold sneer in her heart. She had always felt that these immortal sect people liked to preach justice, but in reality, they never do anything. When Ye Wenxin was persecuted by the righteous sect in the past, no one had extended a helping hand to her. Now, witnessing the same scene unfolding once again, Ye Wenxin felt a chill in her heart.

Just as Ye Wenxin was contemplating how to tear apart this fat pig who dared to grab her wrist, Huang Hanyan moved, followed by Long Qing’er. One sent the fat pig flying with a single palm strike, while the other shielded Ye Wenxin.

The one shielding Ye Wenxin was Huang Hanyan, who thought Ye Wenxin was too frightened to speak so she quickly pulled her into her arms. “Miss, everything’s alright.” In her slightly tight embrace, Ye Wenxin could pick up a faint sandalwood scent, as well as the warmth and softness radiating from Huang Hanyan’s body.

Ye Wenxin promptly reacted and hugged Huang Hanyan even tighter. Huang Hanyan’s face instantly flushed red, not from Ye Wenxin’s touch but from her almost suffocating bear hug.

“Miss, you’re really strong.” Fortunately, Huang Hanyan did not mind it too much, assuming Ye Wenxin had exerted too much force due to excessive fear, and continued to reassure her.

As for the fat pig trying to take Ye Wenxin home just now, he was lying on the ground foaming at the mouth, temporarily down for the count.

Huang Hanyan led Ye Wenxin towards Long Qing’er. She looked disappointed upon seeing the fat pig still breathing.

“Sister, this man will definitely cause trouble for the little miss once he wakes up. Shouldn’t we take decisive action?”

“Have you no shame!” Long Qing’er immediately scolded, frightening Huang Hanyan. She shrunk behind Ye Wenxin, as if terrified by Long Qing’er’s anger. The pair seemed to have very different personalities, incompatible at first glance.

Startled by this voice, the people around them all turned their gazes towards Long Qing’er, not understanding why she was so incensed.

“This is the act of those despicable demonic cultivators. We of the immortal sect must absolutely not kill indiscriminately.” Long Qing’er set an example as the senior sister. However, Ye Wenxin had already noticed the small vial she was holding in her hand.

If she guessed right, this might be the medicine used in the imperial palace to emasculate eunuchs, commonly known as the ‘Lineage Ender Drug’, which was also one of the favorites of Ye Wenxin’s best friend, Eldest Princess Long Qingyue.

Looking again at this Princess Long Qing’er, she seemed to have fully inherited Eldest Princess Long Qingyue’s ruthlessness, and Ye Wenxin felt the need to keep her distance from Long Qing’er to avoid being murdered with poison one day.

“But if we don’t kill him, he will definitely bully this miss again.” Compared to Long Qing’er, Huang Hanyan, who only wanted to kill the fat pig, appeared much kinder. Her every smile and gesture exuded the vigor of a demonic cultivator.

Ye Wenxin thought that this type of people should be wreaking havoc as demonesses in the demonic sect, rather than advocating for justice within the righteous sect.

Even as she made this contemplation, Ye Wenxin continued shiver in fear while casually feeling around Huang Hanyan’s body to see if there was anything valuable.

The pair kept on with their conversation. Long Qing’er administered the Lineage Ender Drug, and Huang Hanyan did not forget to kick the fat pig a few times. Feeling as if she had overdone it, she smiled awkwardly at everyone, then grabbed the fat pig’s collar and effortlessly lifted him up with just one hand.

The onlookers were flabbergasted as they watched Huang Hanyan, this seemingly delicate woman, effortlessly toss the fat pig who weighed a hefty two hundred catties out into the pigpen, where he would truly become one of the pigs.

“This one is an inner disciple of the Azure Wings Sect, called Long Qing’er. If that man outside bothers you again, simply mention my name.” The veiled Long Qing’er spontaneously revealed her own name. The innkeeper breathed a sigh in relief and expressed his gratitude to her.

One mention of the name Azure Wings Sect and that fat pig would never dare to trouble the innkeeper; however, the same could not be said for Ye Wenxin.

“This guest, as you’ve seen, the situation has escalated to this. Our establishment won’t charge you anymore. Hurry and escape for your life. Lord Zhu isn’t someone you can afford to provoke.” The innkeeper forced some silver onto Ye Wenxin, far more than her lodging fee, clearly feeling pity for her.

Ye Wenxin was taken aback once again. She truly had not expected to encounter such kind-hearted souls in the towns at the foot of the Azure Wings Sect’s mountain. Holding the silver, she pondered how to politely refuse.

Although the silver meant nothing to Ye Wenxin, it represented the hard-earned income that these ordinary people had earned through blood, sweat and tears.

Seeing the innkeeper’s actions, others discreetly signaled to the waiter, hoping to gather some silver to give to Ye Wenxin. She had arrived at the Azure Wings Sect half a year early, with no one to rely on, and now was even targeted by Lord Zhu. If Ye Wenxin still remained in town in the near future, she might not survive for long.

“Senior Sister Long, this girl is truly miserable. She might become our junior sister in the future. Can’t we bring her back sooner? Half a year is too long!” Huang Hanyan was moved by everyone’s kindness, and she had heard Ye Wenxin questioning the storyteller previously. Recalling the girl shivering in her arms, as well as that strong embrace, she could not help but plead with Senior Sister Long Qing’er.

Long Qing’er hesitated for a few seconds, then looked at Ye Wenxin and lifted her chin with one hand, staring as if she was admiring something.

Ye Wenxin felt like a courtesan being appraised, but she did not understand why Long Qing’er was scrutinizing her so carefully.

“She’s a potential beauty. I’ll see if I can request to keep her as my servant,” Long Qing’er stated after a moment. However, Ye Wenxin did not understand why becoming a servant was associated with being a potential beauty. She became even more concerned for her own safety.

This time, she was concerned for her own innocence.

But now, this was indeed a chance to immediately enter the Azure Wings Sect through the back door. If she waited another six months, Ye Wenxin felt she might lose control and rush into the Azure Wings Sect, kill everyone, and then challenge Fairy Fengya to a duel.

However, Ye Wenxin had no assurance she could kill Fairy Fengya. She feared death. She needed to understand Fairy Fengya to know how much of a chance she really had against this beloved daughter of heaven.

After much contemplation, Ye Wenxin decided to submit. She dropped to the ground on her knees before Long Qing’er, “Thank you miss, for your grace in giving me a second chance.”

Although there was a saying, “Gold lay under a man’s knees,” Yen Wenxin was a woman and naturally did not care of such things. However, the moment she got on her knees, she felt like she had lost something crucial. But for the sake of killing Fairy Fengya, Ye Wenxin figured it was worthwhile.

With a gentle smile, Long Qing’er helped Ye Wenxin up from the ground and asked her to put down the silver pieces, replacing them with a gold ingot.

“Innkeeper, I’ll cover the expenses for today. Consider it an early celebration for me gaining a little junior sister.” The people cheered at those words. Long Qing’er left in large strides with Ye Wenxin and Huang Hanyan, her silhouette elegant.

When Long Qing’er would recall this scene years later, she could only feel herself as too foolish and naïve, nurturing a potential threat that ultimately led to her own downfall.

Of course, these were stories for another time and had no relevance to the present, and saying this was only meant to reserve a spot for all the little angels out there, hoping to write the exciting yuri harem life as soon as possible.

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TL fun note: The title for this chapter, “Playing the pig to catch a tiger”, is a chinese idiom meaning “Pretending to be weak to defeat a powerful opponent”. And, our small time villain Lord Zhu’s name is a pun of the word “猪” (zhū), meaning ‘pig’, and he’s also called a fat pig by the girls.