Chapter 59: The Genesis of Malice

Yunhua left quietly, clutching the fox, her eyes red with unshed tears. The two parentless creatures sought comfort in one another; the fox, however, remained characteristically indifferent. As they journeyed north, Yunhua spent the days muttering to herself. Several days later, with the capital within reach, she finally calmed her nerves and decided to rest in a county town before completing the final leg of her journey.

She found a quiet inn and settled in. Idle time was spent teasing her adorable junior brother, the fox, meditating, and reciting scriptures—a peaceful existence. That was until she stood by the window one day and two unwelcome figures drifted into her line of sight, instantly souring her mood.

Yunhua’s serene days were over. A persistent, buzzing fly had appeared, impossible to swat away. She wanted to crush it with a single blow, but she held back repeatedly, suppressing her frustration until it nearly caused her internal injury.

"Sister Yun, Sister Yun, wait for me!"

Unable to endure the harassment any longer, Yunhua set off before dawn, avoiding the main roads to shake off the persistent pest. Yet, less than ten miles later, the two figures caught up again. The mountain paths were deserted, meaning they must have been using some tracking art. Yunhua turned her gaze toward Yuanningzi, who followed behind his disciple. It had to be him. But to track someone without cause—was he not afraid of offending others? When Yuanningzi met Yunhua’s murderous glare, he simply pretended not to see it, his skin thick enough to rival a city wall. Yunhua began to contemplate finding a secluded spot to simply slaughter them both. She knew exactly what they were after.

"Who is your 'Sister Yun'? Stop calling me that! We are merely passing acquaintances, nothing more. Do not presume to claim a connection," she snapped. Yunhua was not gifted with a sharp tongue; she was the type of girl who suffered for her lack of eloquence. Yet, the profound disgust in her expression and eyes was impossible to mask. Qingchenzi, however, had spent his life accustomed to his noble status, getting whatever he desired. He ignored her attempts to draw a line as he always did. Seeing no one around, he tried to edge closer, reaching for her hand.

"How insolent!" Yunhua shouted, darting away. She was cursed with a harmless, doll-like face; even now, with her cheeks flushed and eyes spitting fire, she looked no more threatening than a startled fawn. It was easy for people to forget she was no ordinary girl, especially for the lust-blinded Qingchenzi.

A white light flashed with a *clink*. Yunhua’s coin sword flew from her sleeve, its tip vibrating with a lethal glow, leveled directly at Qingchenzi’s throat. It was clear: if he dared take another step, she would not hesitate to kill.

Pinned by the sword’s pressure, Qingchenzi stopped in his tracks. He stared at her in disbelief and bellowed, "Why? I am a noble heir to the Marquis’s estate! What part of me is not good enough for you? There is endless wealth and glory to be had. Does none of it move you?"

"We walk different paths and cannot travel together. Do not follow me again, or I will not hesitate to take your lives. With my master as my backing, who can touch me?" Yunhua was incensed. How could this man be so dense after repeated, stern rejections?

Exasperated by the coddled, brainless heir, Yunhua realized communication was futile. She cast a chilling look at Yuanningzi, the threat clear: without his Maoshan arts, how could Qingchenzi possibly keep up? Yuanningzi’s face paled as he grasped her meaning. Previously, he had banked on the fact that Yunhua was a young girl without elders present, too kind-hearted to strike a heavy blow. Now, it was clear she had reached her limit. Even if she didn't act, simply reporting them to her master would be a fate they couldn't endure. He hurriedly stepped forward to restrain his disciple. Yunhua breathed a sigh of relief, gathered the fox, and took flight, vanishing into the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

Watching her retreat, Qingchenzi gritted his teeth, his pride wounded. Never having suffered such a setback, he could not let it go. "She only has a decent master," he spat bitterly. "A peasant girl from the village, daring to refuse my kindness. Truly ungrateful!"

Seeing his disciple’s state, Yuanningzi felt a flicker of regret. He knew his disciple’s nature—lawless and arrogant, which was exactly why his parents had sent him to cultivate in the first place, hoping to temper his character. But a leopard cannot change its spots, especially when paired with a sycophantic master only interested in personal gain.

"Forget it," Yuanningzi advised. "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Let it go."

"Forget it? I am the Heir to the Marquis of Yongcheng; I have never been treated with such contempt by a woman. I thought her looks were passable, and her master powerful, so I considered making her my secondary wife. But since this wench is so defiant, don't blame me for what comes next!" Qingchenzi fantasized about forcing himself upon her so she would have no choice but to enter his estate as a concubine, and even force her master to beg for the arrangement. He had no idea his words terrified his master. Yunhua was no commoner; she was a princess conferred by the Emperor with an immortal for a master. Should they provoke the throne or bring her master to their doorstep, there would be no salvation.

"Disciple, do not be reckless! You will bring disaster upon us," Yuanningzi urged, though he was now silently plotting how to escape this madman.

"Master, rest easy. Women are all the same. Before the clothes come off, they are pillars of virtue; once they are off, they are clay to be molded as I please. I won't be reckless," Qingchenzi replied, staring in the direction Yunhua had vanished.

Yuanningzi felt a chill run down his spine and began looking for an escape. Wealth was good, but not at the cost of his life. He finally understood why no one else had been willing to take on this noble ward—the boy was a lunatic.

Meanwhile, Yunhua continued to travel by wind, though the effort strained her cultivation. After ten miles, she could no longer sustain it and landed on a deserted hilltop. She set the fox to keep watch as she meditated to replenish her inner energy, completely unaware that the depraved heir ten miles away was plotting a malicious scheme against her.