Chapter 76: I’m Still a Child 3

Ye Wenxin felt conflicted, she really wanted to help treat Xiao Zhang’s internal injuries immediately, but if she did, Xiao Zhang’s sense of crisis towards death would be removed and she would not be so nice to her.

“Xiao Zhang, don’t be so sad, just give me a little more time, I can definitely treat you.” Ye Wenxin crouched before Xiao Zhang and held her hand. Xiao Zhang did not reject the contact, she seized Ye Wenxin’s hand with force instead.

The sorrow in her eyes gradually turned into a smile, as Xiao Zhang continued to say, “Actually, I’ve already made peace with life and death. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be fooling around with you.”

Even so, Xiao Zhang still felt a bit lost in her heart.

Sometimes, she even hoped that Ye Wenxin could really work miracles so she could survive. But as it turned out, Ye Wenxin’s talent only lay in Alchemy. No matter how incredibly fast she advanced, she could not refine a pill that could cure her internal injuries in such a short time.

She was sad, upset, so she gave her utmost to Ye Wenxin. Thinking this, Xiao Zhang took a deep breath and pointed to the ground in front of her, saying, “Alright, now kneel down.”

Ye Wenxin was confused, wondering what Xiao Zhang was so nervous about.

“Xiao Zhang, are you going to abandon yourself in despair and worship the heavens and earth with me?”

No matter how sad she was, Xiao Zhang almost died from anger after hearing these words, and she lightly knocked on Ye Wenxin’s head.

“What the hell are you thinking, kid? I’m going to teach you our ancestral shape-shifting technique, how am I to do that if you don’t become my disciple?” As she spoke, a violent coughing fit assailed her.

“Forget it, I don’t have any interest in shape-shifting techniques.” Ye Wenxin decisively refused and naturally gave Xiao Zhang’s back a few quick pats.

“That’s not up to you. You’ve taken my ancestral pill, you must become my disciple.” Xiao Zhang, who had stopped coughing, did not thank Ye Wenxin, but instead firmly grasped her hand.

“You’re forcing me to become your disciple.” Ye Wenxin felt even more helpless. Although Xiao Zhang’s shape-shifting was good, it was not perfect enough for her.

Since it was not as perfect as her Bone Shrinking Technique, Ye Wenxin would not waste her feelings to call a woman so much younger than herself and whose cultivation was leagues below her own as her master.

She was even more afraid that one day, her identity would be laid bare and Xiao Zhang would be so furious to the point of vomiting blood.

“It’s not up to you. Once you’ve taken my medicine, you belong to me!” And it seemed that Xiao Zhang also realized that Ye Wenxin would not obediently comply, so she gathered her Qi and intended to directly press Ye Wenxin to the ground to perform the apprenticeship ceremony.

Ye Wenxin remained unmoved, while Xiao Zhang’s face turned crimson with effort. She stood up from her position, attempting to push Ye Wenxin down.

“Xiao Zhang, don’t waste your energy.” Ye Wenxin looked at Xiao Zhang sympathetically, it was hard for her to act thirteen for once, yet this woman insisted on showing off in front of Ye Wenxin.

Setting aside the issue of cultivation, ever since the bone marrow in Ye Wenxin’s entire body was shattered by Fairy Fengya last time, and then repaired with spirit stones, her physique had become ten times stronger than before. Adding to that, Xiao Zhang was currently suffering from internal injuries, with half of her cultivation lost. There was no way Ye Wenxin would kneel down obediently.

Several minutes passed, and Ye Wenxin still stood her ground, while Xiao Zhang was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, her pale face tinged with a blush, appearing even more charming. Yet, her eyes still brimmed with defiance.

“You must be tired. Want some water?” Ye Wenxin thought it was somewhat funny. Catching the look of resentment in Xiao Zhang’s eyes, she turned around of her own accord and poured some water.

Xiao Zhang took the teacup, drank from it, continued, “It’s done, you’re now the disciple of I, Zhang Qianqian.”

Ye Wenxin was slightly baffled, realizing Xiao Zhang was a scoundrel, a scoundrel that was really asking for a beating.

“Xiao Zhang, a melon forced to ripen is not sweet¹, there’s absolutely no benefit in accepting me in this manner.”

“Of course there is, at least my Zhang Clan’s unique manual would not be lost.” Xiao Zhang felt a little better seeing Ye Wenxin’s resignation, she returned to being the mature and steady big sister mid-sentence.

It was just that after forcing Ye Wenxin down to her knees, she was sweating profusely and her hair was disheveled, with beads of sweat rolling down her neck as she was saying this.

Such a beauty was truly a feast for the eyes.

Ye Wenxin could not help but glance a few more times before saying helplessly, “If you don’t want it to be lost, you could easily find a good match and get married within these three months.”

Xiao Zhang listened with some anger, “If finding a good match was that easy, I wouldn’t have resorted to you, a fake!” It was only then that Xiao Zhang realized she had accidentally revealed her true intentions.

Faced with Ye Wenxin’s peculiar expression, Xiao Zhang gritted her teeth, “Yes, I just like that face. I’ll teach you Shape-shifting, and you’ll be my fake partner for three months. Is that too much to ask?”

Upon hearing Xiao Zhang’s candid admission of her true feelings, Ye Wenxin actually felt relieved.

“But no matter how handsome Ye Liangchen is, he’s still fake.”

“I’ll also be fake after three months. Wenxin, can’t you fulfill this old woman’s request?” Xiao Zhang completely threw caution to the wind, as Ye Wenxin was harder to deal with than she thought.

She did not even know how a thirteen-year-old could have such insight. In the past, whether it was a man or a woman, they would have long been subdued under her charm and there was never any need to waste this much time on them.

“I…you won’t go too far with me, right?” Ye Wenxin showed a hesitant expression, but was secretly chuckling to herself.

“You already said you’re a child, how could I…I just wanted to experience courtship like any ordinary person and enjoy womanly pleasures.” Xiao Zhang did not hide her true purpose at all, realizing all her effort before this had no effect on Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin was not a man and would not understand how to cherish fragrance and treasure jade².

But also because she was no man, Ye Wenxin would not be moved by her, and even less likely to have any ideas towards her. Moreover, what she wanted was for one person to be wholeheartedly good to her.

“Fine, I promise you. Teach me Shape-shifting,” Ye Wenxin agreed at last. Xiao Zhang finally sighed with relief, thanking Ye Wenxin gratefully.

But in an instant, Xiao Zhang felt that something was amiss. It was obvious that she had been at a disadvantage all along, yet Ye Wenxin continued to wear the face of a victim. However, it was precisely because Ye Wenxin was so clever that she chose to spend these final months with her…

The Shape-shifting teaching began. After taking the pill, the combination of Bone-shrinking and Shape-shifting made Ye Wenxin’s transformation speed even faster. Not only that, she could now transform into various humanoid forms, and even turning into objects like tables and chairs was completely feasible.

“You’ve mastered it so quickly. I thought it would take you at least a month to shape-shift.” Looking at Ye Wenxin, who could transform in just two hours, Xiao Zhang’s evaluation of the girl went up even higher.

“Is that so? Maybe it’s because of my unique constitution.” Ye Wenxin shifted her gaze nervously. With her previous foundation in Bone-shrinking, coupled with the assistance of the pill and Xiao Zhang’s teaching of Shape-shifting, she could transform at will.

“Our family’s Shape-shifting Technique is quite special. When you fully master it, you can even replicate the abilities of the subject you transformed into.” Xiao Zhang turned into a sparrow to help Ye Wenxin better understand the pros and cons of Shape-shifting.

Then, Xiao Zhang the sparrow flapped her wings and actually flew.

Even Ye Wenxin’s Bone-shrinking could not imitate creature characteristics. Seeing Ye Wenxin dumbstruck, Xiao Zhang transformed into a phoenix.

The phoenix’s flames were so hot, as if it could burn everything within the room.

“I’ve studied this trick for around ten years, with your aptitude, Wenxin, seven or eight years should suffice…” Xiao Zhang reverted to her original form, but her face had become much paler. She took a pill and weakly explained to Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin nodded firmly. She originally wanted to try it out for herself too, but seeing Xiao Zhang’s state worsening, she transformed into ‘Ye Liangcheng’.

Xiao Zhang’s eyes shone with obvious passion. Ye Wenxin smirked slightly, picked up Xiao Zhang into her arms and gently laid her on the bed.

“Qianqian, you’re too tired today. Rest well. I’ll come to find you tomorrow,” Ye Wenxin said with great feeling, the love in those eyes seemed about to overflow. Xiao Zhang’s heart beat wildly as she watched, grabbing Ye Wenxin’s hand and saying bashfully, “Don’t leave. Stay with me.”

Her feminine vulnerability naturally revealed itself. She was a looker to begin with, paired with that tone of voice and this scene, Xiao Zhang appeared even more tempting.

“No can do. If I’m here, you would never rest like a good girl,” Ye Wenxin used that fake voice to keep fooling her. Although reluctant, Xiao Zhang nodded her head endearingly, clutching her quilt as she peeked over it, looking extremely cute.

Ye Wenxin could not help but be amused, feeling that Xiao Zhang was too immersed in the act, but she did not break the moment and tucked Xiao Zhang in properly before leaving as if nothing had happened.

Xiao Zhang had yet to sleep. Her mouth corners rose slightly, fantasizing about the various things that would occur in her final months with ‘Ye Liangcheng’.

However…

The next day, Xiao Zhang assumed there would be a sweet start, but Ye Wenxin did not show up at all.

Xiao Zhang gritted her teeth, having forgotten that Ye Wenxin was not only crafty, but she was also an Alchemy maniac. After learning her own Shape-shifting Technique, she became better at concealing her presence.

Even though her original intention in teaching Ye Wenxin Shape-shifting was to enable Ye Wenxin, who lacked self-defense abilities, to protect herself, she never expected that this girl Ye Wenxin would even deceive her.

“Ye Wenxin, you’re dead once I find you!” Xiao Zhang cursed Ye Wenxin endlessly, scaring away the spirit mouse on the tree, and somewhere out of Xiao Zhang’s sight, that spirit mouse broke into a triumphant smile.

One day, two days, another seven days went by until Xiao Zhang eventually caught the missing Ye Wenxin in some corner.

“Ye Wenxin, you’re really too much!”

“I’m back now, aren’t I?” Ye Wenxin looked much calmer. She had transformed into Hei Tong, ran down the mountain, promoted Hei Tong’s notoriety thoroughly, and hunted all the herbs within a radius of a hundred li (50km/31miles).

“Don’t think I don’t know your aim, you only showed yourself since you’re about to start class at the Alchemy Workshop.” Xiao Zhang felt like she had gone crazy. Which eye of hers had ever thought Ye Wenxin was a kind and adorable girl? She was fundamentally a fiend, the kind that devoured people without leaving a bone.

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1. An idiom in Chinese that means forcing something to happen or trying to achieve something against natural processes often leads to unsatisfactory results. ↩︎
2. 
   A Chinese idiom used to describe someone who respects and values women, treating them with care and consideration, much like how one would handle precious jade and appreciate its beauty and value. It emphasizes the importance of treating women with kindness, dignity, and reverence. ↩︎