I transmigrated into a story and became Ngân Linh, a celestial maiden with a forgettable name, hardly worthy of being called the villainess.
She was the only child of the former sect leader of Phi Tinh Tông, who had fallen in battle during the war to exterminate demons years ago. Ever since she was little, she had been treasured like a precious jewel, sheltered in the sect’s protective embrace.
Her master, who was also the current sect leader, gave her every good thing in the world. Splendid clothes, rare treasures—everything belonged to her. Even when she made mistakes, he only indulged her, never once reprimanding her.
Excessively pampered, Ngân Linh gradually grew arrogant and conceited. As time passed, she became the most hated female cultivator on the continent of Linh Xuyên. She was cruel, haughty, and unreasonable, with countless people to whom she had given offense. If her master hadn’t had her back, someone would surely have taken her life long ago.
At Trích Nguyệt Các, she came across a pair of fox-spirit siblings being auctioned off. A mischievous idea flashed through her mind. Fox spirits were naturally beautiful and well-proportioned, and cultivators often bought them to use as cauldrons.
This pair of siblings was even more unusual: they were rare snow foxes. The fox-spirit young man before her had a brooding gaze and bloodied claws. She heard he had killed his previous master.
He’d had a chance to escape, but because he was carrying his younger sister, he was delayed just long enough to be caught again.
Ngân Linh enjoyed a challenge. At that moment, nothing could please her more than taming a proud fox, forcing him to kneel at her feet and wag his tail as he begged for mercy. She bought the pair of siblings.
The fox girl’s previous master had inflicted the Phệ Tâm Chú on her. Others might find this curse difficult to deal with, but for her it was a simple matter. Still, saving someone—no, saving a fox—had to come at a price. That was how the scene just now had come about.
In the story, after she’d had her fun, Ngân Linh lifted her skirt, dusted off her hands, and felt not the slightest remorse. Giang Úc knelt and kowtowed until blood poured from his forehead, only to get a mocking smile from Ngân Linh in return. “I did this for your sister’s own good. Better for her to die now than to be captured and made someone’s cauldron later. That’s what you call… worse than death.”
The Phệ Tâm Chú took effect, and Giang Miên died in Giang Úc’s arms, writhing in agony. After watching the tragedy unfold, Ngân Linh used Giang Úc’s stubbornness as an excuse to return him to Trích Nguyệt Các.
Giang Úc had already lost his primal yang, so he was no longer a rare commodity. Endless torment awaited him. As for Ngân Linh, the villain who had sown the wind would reap the storm twenty years later.
Breaking the Phệ Tâm Chú on Giang Miên was as easy as lifting a finger. In less than two breaths, the curse had been dispelled. I rummaged through my storage pouch, took out two pills, and handed them to Giang Úc.
“Take these with warm water, then circulate your energy for half an hour. Your injuries will heal.”
The little fox’s skin was as white as jade, like moonlight, and dazzlingly beautiful. But to my discerning eye, that appearance concealed layers of internal injuries. Trích Nguyệt Các was notorious for its brutal methods of taming demon beasts: they kept their hides flawless while torturing them until they were worse than dead. These two siblings must have suffered more than their share.
“Thank you, Master.” Giang Úc raised the pills, looking at me with gratitude while skillfully concealing the suspicion buried deep in his eyes.
Foxes were cunning and clever by nature. Even though I had just saved his sister, he still didn’t completely trust me. But that was all right. I didn’t care what Giang Úc thought of me. I only wanted to plant a little good karma and avoid trouble down the road, lest he come looking for me later to rip out my heart and crush it before my eyes.