When Que Tang woke, her neck and shoulders were so stiff she couldn't help but whimper. However, the sudden sensation of cold steel against her throat made her fall silent instantly.
"Who are you?" Shuo Yue’s voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.
"I... I was washing clothes by the river when I saw you drifting in the water, so I saved you..." Que Tang was so nervous she didn't dare move a muscle. She could truly feel that this woman intended to kill her; it was no joke.
"Who. Are. You." Shuo Yue paused, repeating the question with heavy emphasis.
"This humble one is surnamed Que, given name Tang," Que Tang said, nearly on the verge of tears.
Shuo Yue silently withdrew her hand. As she moved, she let out a soft grunt of pain when her wounds were disturbed. Que Tang, who had been trembling in fear just a moment ago, immediately frowned and stood up to leave the inner room.
Shuo Yue stared at her retreating back, lowering her eyes to hide her shifting thoughts.
When Que Tang returned with her hands full of supplies, she met Shuo Yue’s searching, scrutinizing gaze. She feigned ignorance and walked straight to Shuo Yue’s side, kneeling by the bed. "Your wounds are bleeding again. Let me change the poultice for you first. The decoction for the cold and your breakfast are simmering on the stove; they should be ready by the time we’re done."
She gently and meticulously unwound the blood-stained bandages, applied the medicine, and wrapped the wounds with fresh cloth. "There, all done." She looked up with a satisfied smile, accidentally catching Shuo Yue’s gaze. After a brief blink, she turned away to tidy up and hurried out of the inner chamber. It was only when she reached the kitchen that the tears she had been holding back finally fell.
Just now, the look Shuo Yue had given her was filled with a hatred so intense it felt as if she wanted to tear her to pieces. Though she didn't understand why, the thought that this woman was Mu Yao—and that Mu Yao was looking at her with such an expression...
"Meow! Host, I just realized I grabbed the wrong script again!" Little Mushroom’s voice chirped happily.
"What...?" Que Tang’s tears were halfway down her face when she heard that familiar, exasperating tone. She instantly sucked her tears back in.
"Meow! It turns out this is a 'Rebirth' story! She’s come back for revenge!"
Que Tang stood before the stove, staring at the medicine pot and the stone pot of rice porridge in silence for a long time. Finally, she spoke in a deep, slow voice: "Little Mushroom... when we get back, I’m going to have Mu Yao put you through a strict regimen of physical training and dieting. Especially the dried fish—we’ll be controlling your weight very strictly."
"Meow! No! Host, forgive me! I didn't do it on purpose!"
Que Tang ignored the cat’s wails.
Knowing the dire situation she now faced, Que Tang truly wanted to toss Little Mushroom into their 360-degree drum washing machine back home. Unfortunately, this was an ancient world without electricity... so she planned to one day seal Little Mushroom in a wooden barrel and let her drift on the river for three days and nights.
But that was a matter for the future. The most important thing now was to make Shuo Yue believe that the Que Tang of this lifetime would not harm her. Otherwise, if that high-level demonic enchantress decided to slaughter a weakling like her, she could make her death very ugly in a matter of seconds.
Que Tang continued cooking, ignoring the cat. Halfway through, she remembered the plot progression and asked Little Mushroom, "By the way, can I still exchange my previous points for items?"
Little Mushroom, who had been wallowing in regret, immediately perked up and said obsequiously, "Meow~ Yes! What does the Host need?"
"Things like pills that make one immune to all poisons, or a Great Vitality Pill that grants fifty years of internal power—that sort of thing."
"Host, do you really think I’m a cheat code... meow?"
"No, you’re a liability."
"Meow! I am clearly a cheat code! Pills for poison immunity and Great Vitality Pills, right? I have as many as you want. Giving them to you right now!" To redeem itself, Little Mushroom dropped two bottles onto the table.
Que Tang picked up the first bottle and read the label:
*Immunity to All Poisons Pill. Usage: One pill a day. After ten days, you will be immune to all poisons for life.*
*Fifty-Year Great Vitality Pill. Usage: One pill morning and night. After finishing this bottle, you will gain fifty years of internal power.*
"Though it feels unreliable... I’ll trust you this once. Perform well, and you might earn your dried fish back when we return." She patted Little Mushroom’s head, then crushed the pills and mixed them into the food.
"Meow!" Little Mushroom nodded.
She served a bowl of white porridge and the medicinal soup, adding a few vegetable dishes onto a homemade tray. Wearing a mask of ignorance, she braved Shuo Yue’s undisguised murderous gaze and entered the room.
"Miss Shuo Yue, please drink the medicinal soup first to ward off the cold." Given Shuo Yue’s injuries, Que Tang had previously prepared an ancient version of a "lazy person's table" that could be used in bed. She placed the items on the table and slid it in front of Shuo Yue.
When Shuo Yue saw the table, her pupils contracted, and her willow-leaf brows twitched imperceptibly. She said nonchalantly, "Miss Que is quite well-prepared."
"When I was sick with a cold before and couldn't get out of bed, I had to trouble an auntie from the village to look after me. Realizing how inconvenient it was, I asked a carpenter to make this," Que Tang replied with a gentle smile.
Shuo Yue glanced at her casually, picked up the medicine, and downed it in one go. "Tell me, what are you after?"
"What am I after?" Que Tang frowned at her. "You and I are strangers, and I don't even know where you come from. What could I possibly want from you?"
"That... is something I should be asking you." Shuo Yue’s pale complexion did nothing to hide her peerless beauty. The way the corners of her mouth curled up with a hint of mockery made Que Tang’s heart skip two beats. While Que Tang was busy being a fangirl, Shuo Yue suddenly grabbed her wrist. "We are strangers. Why did you save me?"
"Because you’re beautiful, and I liked the look of you." Que Tang blinked at her face and slowly gave her answer.
Shuo Yue, who had been about to lash out, froze. She stared at her with a deep frown. "What did you just say?"
"You’re beautiful, and I liked the look of you," Que Tang repeated frankly.
Shuo Yue paused, then suddenly burst into laughter, casting a flirtatious glance at her. "I didn't expect this face of mine could save my life." This laugh finally carried the seductive charm rumored of the demonic enchantress. However, her inner thoughts were at odds with her expression.
She clearly remembered that in her past life, Que Tang had said that saving someone was just saving someone—did it need a reason? It was because of that sincerity that she had believed in the other woman’s kindness and opened her heart. But why was everything different now?
Not only her responses, but even her care was much more meticulous and considerate than the last time. The Que Tang of the past was kind, but she wouldn't wrong herself; she would always share the bed with her. In the beginning, she hadn't been particularly close, maintaining a sense of wariness and distance.
But this time... Que Tang was not only caring for her with extreme tenderness, but her attention to detail was evident everywhere. She had even... slept defenselessly by her side while she was heavily injured.
Could the past life have been just a dream?
"I am but a humble village woman. If Miss Shuo Yue has doubts, I will taste any food or medicine I bring you first," Que Tang said. Having heard the story from Little Mushroom, she understood the other woman’s wariness and considerately made the offer.
"No need. If not for your grace, it’s a question whether I would even be able to open my eyes. Though I am no saint, I am not one to return kindness with enmity. I was overthinking; please forgive me, Miss Que." She apologized flatly. Although Shuo Yue remained suspicious, she truly needed Que Tang’s help for now, and keeping Que Tang under her nose allowed her to monitor her every move. If Que Tang truly intended to help her in this life, she would let the matter of revenge go. But if not, she shouldn't blame her for being heartless.
"From your appearance, you seem to be someone from the martial world. I’ve heard Er Yangzi, who travels around, say that you martial artists spend your time fighting and killing, and everyone has a few enemies. However..." Que Tang paused. "Though I don't know if I’ll bring trouble upon myself, since fate allowed me to save you today, you should rest here and recover in peace. My place is remote; even if they search, they won't find you quickly. I don't want anything from you. If you leave one day, just don't return my kindness with enmity." Que Tang picked up the steaming white porridge. "Please eat, Miss Shuo Yue. After eating, rest for a while. I need to go up the mountain to gather firewood. The sky has been gloomy these past few days; perhaps a cold snap is coming."
Holding the bowl of porridge, Shuo Yue felt momentarily at a loss.
Que Tang rose and lifted the curtain to step out, but turned back. Seeing Shuo Yue’s momentary expression, she felt it was a bit funny and said seriously, "When you’re finished, just move the table to the foot of the bed. I’ll clear it when I return."
Only after Shuo Yue nodded did she feel at ease to go about her farming routine.
The days passed in a cycle of caring for Shuo Yue and daily chores. Just as she had predicted, it wasn't long before a heavy snow sealed the village.
"I don't know how many days this snow will last... Luckily, I traded my dried goods for grain earlier, otherwise we’d be sitting here with nothing to eat." Que Tang stood by the window, wrapped in thick cloth clothes.
"Snow sealing the village..." Shuo Yue sat on the bed, looking at the firewood in the corner of the room. A few days ago, as the weather turned cold, Que Tang had brought in several braziers, fearing that her old injuries would worsen if she caught a chill. Only then did Shuo Yue realize who the extra firewood Que Tang had gathered was for. She looked down at the brand-new cotton-padded jacket she was wearing; although the material wasn't high-quality, it felt warmer than anything she had ever worn.
In her previous life, Que Tang had saved her as well, but she had merely treated her with polite hospitality—nothing like the level of self-sacrifice she showed in this life. Fearing she would press against Shuo Yue’s wounds, Que Tang always slept on a simple layer of straw on the floor. There wasn't much food in the house, yet she did her best to brew nourishing soups for her.
Consequently, her wounds were healing twice as fast as in her previous life. Most peculiar of all was that her internal power was actually significantly higher than it had been before her injury.
"Meow! The female lead’s favorability toward the Host is now ten. Congratulations, Host, you’ve finally gained some favor!"
"I’m so moved..." Que Tang stood by the window, nearly in tears. These past few days of working like a beast of burden felt like she was paying back a debt for the times she had teased Mu Yao. If she couldn't even raise the favorability a little bit, she might as well give up on the mission.
That night, after they had both washed up, Que Tang prepared to lie down on the floor.
"A-Tang, my injuries are mostly healed. Come share the bed with me. It’s been cold lately; you’ll freeze easily." Shuo Yue’s features looked enchanting in the dim candlelight. Her voice was soft and low, like a lover’s whisper.
It was just like Mu Yao... who always loved to whisper breathlessly in her ear. This made Que Tang’s face flush. To avoid any stray thoughts, she quickly refused: "No, no need."
However, the enchantress produced a silk cloth from somewhere. With a flick and a pull, she reeled Que Tang onto the bed, holding her in her arms and looking at her teasingly. "Is A-Tang thinking about something naughty? Why is your face so red?"
"Miss Shuo Yue... stop playing around, let me go." Que Tang wanted to struggle but feared hurting Shuo Yue’s wounds, leaving her in a dilemma.
Shuo Yue chuckled softly. She gently stroked Que Tang’s cheek. "Won't it be warmer if the two of us share one quilt? So, let’s leave it at that." Having made the decision firmly, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction welling up as she held Que Tang. Perhaps this was what having a sister was like. She closed her eyes and, for the first time, fell asleep without any defenses.
Que Tang lay stiffly in her arms, thinking to herself how the plot had taken another strange turn. Even though this was Mu Yao, she still felt quite embarrassed.
***
