Chapter 71: Work Hard for Me

Ye Wenxin also noticed that Xiao Zhang did not actually believe what she was saying, but the secret of the Soul Suppressing Eighteen Needles was too confidential. Without much explanation, Ye Wenxin just went along with Xiao Zhang’s joke.

“That sounds good. When you’re reborn, then you can work for me.”

Xiao Zhang did not take it seriously and agreed to Ye Wenxin’s request with a smile. The two conversed amiably, seeming very happy.

The little brothers looked on with envy, but also bafflement.

This beautiful big sister in front of them was very familiar with each of them, perceptive and empathetic. In just a short while, these several little brothers were captivated by Xiao Zhang.

If they had not remembered whose little brothers they were, they might have defected long ago.

“Xiao Zhang, what do you do under Senior Sister Long?” Ye Wenxin was more curious about Xiao Zhang. She knew that Xiao Zhang was exceptionally skilled in disguise, but she knew nothing about the woman aside from the code name ‘Xiao Zhang’.

“Why, do I intrigue you?” Xiao Zhang smiled slightly and casually flipped her hair, her every move enticing. Ye Wenxin, however, was starting to get used to Xiao Zhang’s character, “Yes, increasingly so.”

Originally, Ye Wenxin had only planned to use Xiao Zhang as a stand-in, but she did not expect Xiao Zhang would be so versatile.

“I’m the Deputy Commander of the Secret Guard, so to speak.” Xiao Zhang explained her identity in Ye Wenxin’s ear. Even though Ye Wenxin had mentally prepared herself, this title still startled her.

The Secret Guard was among the Golden Age Dynasty’s elite forces. She was aware of Xiao Zhang’s prowess but did not expect her position to be so special. However, it also indirectly indicated the great importance the Golden Age Dynasty placed on Long Qing’er, to casually dispatch a deputy commander like this.

“You know of the Secret Guard?” Seeing Ye Wenxin’s surprise, Xiao Zhang’s mood improved even more.

It was also her first time openly discussing her identity with someone else, and Ye Wenxin’s reaction satisfied her very much.

“Of course. I didn’t expect you to be so capable, Xiao Zhang.” Ye Wenxin praised sincerely, but in her mind, memories of the raid she had encountered with her best friend years ago came flooding back.

At the time, she was not yet Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng and had a close relationship with her best friend due to them both being transmigrators, then by chance, they encountered a raid on the road.

The enemy had been too powerful and would stop at nothing to kill her best friend. The squad captain of the Secret Guard who was protecting her best friend blew himself up to finally give them time to escape.

She even remembered the conversation between her best friend and the other Secret Guard members.

“This captain sacrificed his life for me, This Palace wishes he could be buried honorably.”

“But Her Highness the Eldest Princess, this is against the rules.”

“Why is it against the rules?”

“Because us Secret Guards have no name. I only know he was surnamed Zhang. By principle, we can’t hold a funeral, but providing his family some financial assistance should suffice.” The Secret Guard’s voice was full of helplessness. As a member of the Golden Age Dynasty’s Secret Guard, he had lost his name and his identity upon joining. All that remained was absolute loyalty to his master. No matter how heroic or tragic the death of a Secret Guard, they would forever have no personal name.

“What’s with the odd face, Wenxin?” Xiao Zhang knew how to read people’s emotions and noticed something strange about Ye Wenxin, but did not understand why she showed such a painful expression, as if she was recalling some unknown past.

“Just suddenly remembered something from the past, by the way, is your father a Secret Guard too?” She recalled the Secret Guard captain was surnamed Zhang, and Xiao Zhang was also named Zhang.

“Yes, he was. He’s a hero in my eyes. However, he passed away when I was very young. Because of this, the Eldest Princess personally visited my family,” Xiao Zhang revealed with a hint of a smile, not hiding her past. It was precisely because she was facing death that she had learned to let go of everything.

Upon closer comparison, there seemed to be some resemblance between the two, which made Ye Wenxin feel that the current Xiao Zhang might have some connection to the former Secret Guard captain she had encountered before.

Ye Wenxin also recalled the incident’s aftermath. She had accompanied the Eldest Princess to Captain Zhang’s residence and had seen his family.

In fact, Ye Wenxin even remembered seeing a super adorable five or six-year-old girl. Hearing Xiao Zhang’s account, Ye Wenxin became even more certain that this was not her first encounter with Xiao Zhang.

“You mean you’ve met Her Highness the Eldest Princess?”

Xiao Zhang nodded with a hint of involuntary pride on her face, “Yes, I think the most joyous thing in my life is meeting Her Highness the Eldest Princess. She’s so beautiful and gentle.”

Xiao Zhang’s voice was very soft, as if afraid of shattering her childhood’s most treasured dream.

That incident probably happened more than twenty years ago, but it was deeply ingrained in Xiao Zhang’s heart. Perhaps she cherished the past so much because her life was coming to an end. However, she could not understand why Ye Wenxin’s expression was not of sympathy, but gratification.

Looking at those eyes again, Xiao Zhang seemed to recall those indistinct details once more.

“Wenxin, are there other people in your family?”

“Why’re you suddenly asking me this?” Ye Wenxin’s heart jumped in her throat and she did her best to calm herself back down.

“No, the first time I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if we’d met before,” Xiao Zhang continued to press, observing Ye Wenxin’s reaction. She recalled a veiled woman who had been beside the Eldest Princess at that time.

Although she could not recall many details, she remembered crying in that woman’s arms. And that person seemed to have eyes similar to Ye Wenxin’s.

Whenever she looked into those eyes, she could not help but trust and rely on her.

“Xiao Zhang, you’re thirty years old now, why are you talking nonsense?” Ye Wenxin responded calmly, meeting Xiao Zhang’s gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through everything.

After a moment, Xiao Zhang averted her gaze and said softly, “Perhaps it’s common to have hallucinations before death.” She leaned gently against Ye Wenxin’s back. It was obviously such a thin back figure, yet it evoked an impulse to depend on her.

There was no apparent reason let alone any familiarity to speak of. They only happened to meet in the last three months she had left to live, and Xiao Zhang just happened to be bored and wanted to experience the most simple pleasures in life.

She had been acting as Ye Wenxin, yet she was constantly learning about Ye Wenxin as well, and the more she learned, the more suprises this thirteen-year-old child brought her.

Ye Wenxin appeared accustomed to the intimacy between women, showing no resistance to Xiao Zhang’s behavior. Xiao Zhang closed her eyes slightly, no longer needing to impersonate anyone, but simply enjoying the warmth of another.

“Hey, do you have any plans after this exam?” Feeling overwhelmed by this wonderful feeling, Xiao Zhang feared getting too caught up in it and opted to change the subject.

“Plans? Besides alchemy, I’ll study medicine. Should there be anything else?” Ye Wenxin replied, puzzled, before grabbing some snacks from the nearby Fatty and popping them into her mouth.

“If you need it, I can make you a true Big Sister of the outer sect,” Xiao Zhang recalled her expertise. She could help Ye Wenxin consolidate her influence in the outer sect before she passed away, ensuring that Ye Wenxin would not be bullied by anyone for at least several decades.

“No, thanks. I’m doing fine as it is,” Ye Wenxin immediately declined.

“But you know how the rumors are spreading in the outer sect now. Even your roommate looks down on you,” Xiao Zhang thought of the incidents involving Ye Wenxin. She was too socially inept.

“They don’t understand me, which is normal. I don’t care if those people see through me,” Ye Wenxin replied quietly. Having lived two lives, she had seen too much. Besides, her goal was Fairy Fengya.

If it were not for the promise she made with Ling Jue, to help her cure her illness, Ye Wenxin would not have been so eager to learn medicine now.

“You… never mind, do as you wish. But let me tell you, I can only help you for these few months,” Xiao Zhang saw Ye Wenxin’s stubbornness and stopped insisting, reminding her that she had limited time.

“It’s alright, I can handle it. You just need to enjoy your ordinary life.” Ye Wenxin did not pay much attention to the reminder. Xiao Zhang remained silent, quietly accompanying Ye Wenxin…

A gentle breeze blew, and in some distant place, Long Qing’er watched the scene from above with a peculiar expression on her face.

“Did Xiao Zhang really say that?” Long Qing’er’s face showed a strange expression, and it was uncertain whether it was due to Xiao Zhang’s sudden change or Ye Wenxin’s sudden improvement in her relationship with Xiao Zhang.

“Your Highness, it’s true. At that time, the Deputy Commander was already in a very poor state, but she still said so,” the shadow knelt and recounted the scene he witnessed with Xiao Zhang to Long Qing’er.

“Then, where has Xiao Zhang been this one week?” Long Qing’er asked another question.

“This subordinate is incompetent, I was unable to determine Deputy Commander’s whereabouts for this past week,” the shadow bowed even lower, fearing Long Qing’er’s blame.

“It’s not your fault. Xiao Zhang’s disguise skills are too powerful, sometimes even I can’t tell. Let’s forget about Xiao Zhang’s matters. Let her truly be free in these last few months,” Long Qing’er pondered for a moment before making the final decision.

The shadow, witnessing Long Qing’er’s rare kindness, showed a surprised expression, then nodded in agreement before quickly disappearing.

Long Qing’er did not leave immediately. She watched the interaction between Ye Wenxin and Xiao Zhang, a hint of envy appearing in her eyes. After observing for about a quarter of an hour, the tenderness in Long Qing’er’s eyes vanished, replaced by a determined gaze.

She needed to grow strong and become the world’s first empress. Only through strength could she pursue everything she desired.

“Little Sister Wenxin, I hope that one day I can openly call you like this,” Long Qing’er deeply looked at Ye Wenxin again, then without hesitation, walked toward a room.

“Spread the word, I will enter closed door training for six months,” that was Long Qing’er’s final statement. After saying this, the door closed. The shadow kneeling outside immediately turned and left, disseminating the message of Long Qing’er’s closed door training to the relevant individuals.