Chapter 81: Xia Baiqian’s Punishment

Chu Huaizhou looked at Cheng Qingning’s demeanor, feeling a strange disconnect.
Was this the valiant, resilient Cheng Qingning from Black Abyss, the game he knew so well?
Why did she now seem so delicate and shy?

Her earlier vulnerability could be explained by her sealed cultivation and the Youming Sect’s sinister aura, but now?
Yes, he’d sensed that Xu Liangcai’s crazed actions had jolted her, cracking the seal on her cultivation.
Once the crack appeared, a sliver of spiritual energy surged like water breaching a dam, flooding out within seconds.
Her strength was fully restored!
So why was she acting as if she were still powerless?

Perhaps the demonic aura was too potent for a Golden Core cultivator to fully resist.

Thump, thump!
Cheng Qingning caught a faint whiff of Ye Feng’s scent, her heartbeat deafening—not from Xu Liangcai’s madness, but from Chu’s towering figure.
Why was she reacting this way?

Her thoughts mirrored Chu’s.
Though she suppressed her emotions, her body felt fragile, easily swayed.
Even with her cultivation restored and her heart technique countering the demonic aura, why did Ye Feng’s concerned gaze still make her blush?

A thought crept in: pretend her cultivation was still sealed, letting Ye Feng continue to protect her…
And she acted on it.

Realizing her mindset was off, she spoke, then hurriedly lowered her head, fearing her odd behavior was noticed.
She wasn’t clueless. Though no one had praised her for it, she recognized the emotion stirring within—likely the prelude to becoming a Dao companion.
Clutching her chest, she attributed these heart-fluttering feelings to the eerie environment’s influence.
Her master had warned that love was a cultivator’s obstacle, to be cast aside.
Yet, despite regaining her strength, she feigned weakness, acting shy and in need of protection.

Chu, observing this, formed a bold hypothesis.
Wait, wait, this isn’t right.
Was she about to pull a classic hero-saves-damsel trope, saying something like, “I have no way to repay your great kindness, so I’ll offer myself…”?

He thought of his two disciples and his fox, all harboring inappropriate feelings for him.
What’s going on? Is my charm really that overwhelming?
He’d only wanted to teach the Youming Sect a lesson, grab some pills, and find a cure for his memory loss.
How did he end up with a fangirl?

No, I have to refuse. I’m the Tianyuan Sword Sect’s leader. Getting too close to a true disciple like this… it’s not right!
Besides, her behavior was likely due to the demonic aura clouding her emotions, not genuine.
As one of Black Abyss’s heroines, any unexpected entanglement with her could have massive repercussions.

But… it’s not a big deal, right? My butterfly effect has already reshaped the cultivation world.
If he hadn’t come to the Youming Sect at this moment, she, a future sect leader, might’ve died here.
No, no, I can’t think like that. That’s too sleazy!

Chu nodded to himself, resolving to reject whatever she said next.

Cheng Qingning shook her head, took a deep breath to clear her thoughts, and lifted her face, expression solemn.
Seeing this, Chu’s suspicions grew, and he swallowed, preparing to refuse.

“Brother Ye, you’ve helped me so much. If we escape, when we meet in the Shenghua Secret Realm, I’ll team up with you.”
“With all my strength, I’ll help you without hesitation.”

“Huh? Sorry, what…?”
Desire? This wasn’t what he expected. What was she talking about?
The script was wrong! Why wasn’t it a confession?
Wait, why am I disappointed? This is how it should be!

Realizing things weren’t going as she’d planned, Cheng Qingning quickly shifted.
“I can’t possibly accept… you doing this.”

If she recalled correctly, the Shenghua Secret Realm’s treasures far surpassed the outside world’s, a veritable paradise.
Every sect’s cultivators, unless utterly incompetent, gained something there.
She remembered entering with her disciples at late Golden Core, battling prodigies, navigating strange arrays, stealing spirit herbs guarded by Transformation-stage beasts, trading with natives, and amassing treasures.
That’s how she broke through to early Nascent Soul, even without her plot foresight.

She hadn’t expected that, just for helping her a few times, she’d offer him one of the greatest opportunities of her life.
This must be the greatest repayment she can offer. It took immense resolve for her to propose this.

More than anyone, Chu saw her true nature—unchanged from the game, unaffected by his butterfly effect.
What am I even thinking?
Silently apologizing to the earnest Cheng Qingning, he met her gaze firmly.

“The Shenghua Secret Realm opens once every century, and only Nascent Soul and below can enter. You’ll likely only get one chance.”
“Giving up such a rare opportunity for me isn’t worth it.”

Chu reached out, pulling her up and adjusting her robe.

Cheng Qingning: “But… Brother Ye, you’ve helped me so much. If I don’t repay you, I…”

As they spoke, they drew closer. Bai Li, unfazed, saw it as normal social maneuvering, not thinking deeper, continuing to slap Xu Liangcai with spiritual force to normalize his soul.
But our little green tea, Xia Baiqian, wouldn’t see it that way.

Chu: “No worries. We cultivators…”
He began with a smile, but his expression faltered.
A sudden flood filled his mind, still bearable, and he finished his words.
But within two seconds, a strange itch surged, catching him off guard.
He yelped, clutching his stomach, unable to hold back.