Since returning from town that day, Quetang had become busier than ever, often disappearing for the entire day. As her injuries gradually healed, Shuoyue did not dare to venture out recklessly, so she took it upon herself to manage the household chores.
Quetang would usually rush back before nightfall. As soon as she stepped through the door, she would see a table set with hot food and a person sitting there waiting for her.
"I’ve really put you to a lot of trouble," Quetang said, devouring her food with little regard for her manners as she thanked her.
"I have stayed here for so long, and I have yet to repay you for saving my life. This is but a trifle; it is no trouble at all." The wariness and ruthlessness Shuoyue had shown during their first meeting had long since vanished. Now, everything about Quetang seemed pleasing to her eyes.
She had never imagined a life could be this peaceful and harmonious. If it were possible, she truly wanted to stay like this until they were old—save for the unspoken, socially forbidden love she harbored for Quetang. But Quetang had said she would never marry; perhaps Shuoyue could simply accompany her until the end of their days?
"Here, you should eat more meat so you’ll heal faster. Anyway, these are just wild game I picked up for free in the mountains." Quetang placed a piece of rabbit meat into Shuoyue’s bowl, ignoring Little Mushroom, who was meowing at her feet for dried fish.
Speaking of which, ever since she had transmigrated into this farming novel, Quetang had initially struggled because she didn't know how to farm, cook, chop wood, or start a fire. She had lived meal-to-meal, but unexpectedly, this had cured her of her picky eating habits. When there was nothing to eat, one simply couldn't afford to be picky!
"Thank you." Shuoyue looked at the meat in her bowl with a slight blush, then elegantly placed it in her mouth, looking every bit like a young lady from a prestigious family.
"By the way, A-Yuan, how are your internal injuries?" Quetang asked casually.
"They are... about sixty or seventy percent healed." Shuoyue paused, instinctively hiding the fact that she was nearly fully recovered.
"If... you were to face those experts from the 'righteous' sects who ambushed you before, what would your chances be?"
While the previous question had been out of concern, this one was somewhat sensitive. Shuoyue looked at her sharply. "Quetang, what is it?"
Quetang thought for a moment and brought out the excuse she had rehearsed countless times. "I saw that Mo Wufei earlier. Although I haven't run into him again these past few days, I’m just afraid of any accidents."
At the mention of that name, and remembering Quetang’s relationship with him in her previous life, Shuoyue’s warm expression turned cold in an instant. "Do not worry. If it is him, even if I only had half my internal strength left, he would be no match for me."
"I see. Then I can rest easy." Quetang let out a sigh of relief.
"Quetang, what have you been so busy with lately?" Shuoyue hesitated for a long time before finally asking. "Is there anywhere I can help?"
Quetang burst into laughter. "Seeing a table of hot food every time I come home makes me happier than anything. That is the best way you can treat me, A-Yuan. I often think... it would be so wonderful if you could stay."
"Quetang... do you truly wish for me to stay?" Shuoyue’s face flushed.
"Of course. With a good sister like you for company, why wouldn't I want that?" Quetang smiled and took a bite of vegetables. "But you will have to leave eventually, A-Yuan. In the future, if fate permits, come and visit me if you’re passing by."
"Quetang... how about... you come with me?" Looking at Quetang eating happily, Shuoyue finally spoke after much hesitation.
Quetang froze, her brow furrowing in conflict. "It’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s just..." She lowered her head to look at the food in her bowl, avoiding Shuoyue’s gaze. "A crude woman like me is different from you... Being by your side would only cause you trouble." She looked up and saw Shuoyue about to argue, so she gave a gentle smile. "A-Yuan, I told you, I didn't save you for a reward. I just couldn't live with my conscience if I hadn't. Even though I’m illiterate, I understand how the world works. I’m finished eating; I’ll go boil some water for you." She set down her chopsticks and left the room.
Staring at the unfinished bowl of rice, Shuoyue felt a sense of loss, not knowing what to do.
The next morning, after Quetang went out, Shuoyue swept the courtyard as usual. Although the snow had been cleared, light flurries still fell occasionally, making the yard muddy. After finishing, she checked the firewood pile and saw there was less than three days' worth left. Since it had been snowing lately, if she didn't go up the mountain today to gather wood and let it dry, they would soon have nothing to burn.
She figured that as long as she was careful to avoid people, nothing would go wrong. Shuoyue shouldered a bamboo basket and headed out.
Following the mundane details Quetang had told her over the days, she followed the trodden path into the mountains. The outer woods had mostly been picked clean, so she headed deeper, where she indeed found plenty of wood. It didn't take long to fill her basket. Seeing that it was still early and she could make it back in time to prepare dinner, she turned to leave.
However, after only two steps, her martial artist's intuition picked up the sound of multiple footsteps approaching from a distance. She immediately suppressed her aura and hid in a secluded spot.
"Miss Quetang. Have you made up your mind?"
She had only intended to avoid villagers, but she hadn't expected the newcomer to be an acquaintance. Shuoyue was shocked to recognize Mo Wufei’s voice. She never imagined that Quetang’s business these past few days was due to her being in contact with him... Shuoyue bit her lip hard, struggling not to let her panic expose her, but the pain in her heart was even sharper than in her previous life...
"Young Master Mo... I agree." Quetang’s voice lacked its usual playfulness; the cold solemnity in it was something Shuoyue had never heard before.
"Very well. Here is a packet of medicinal powder. Mix it into her food. Once the deed is done, light the smoke signal, and I will arrive immediately."
"I am willing to help you, but you must not forget what you promised me," Quetang said firmly.
"Naturally. You can rest assured, Miss Quetang. Capturing this demonic enchantress alive is a great service to the righteous path of the Wulin." Mo Wufei’s facade of a virtuous gentleman only made Quetang feel disgusted.
"I wish Miss Quetang a successful endeavor." With that, he moved with swift, light steps and vanished from the forest.
Shuoyue quietly parted the bushes, her heart aching unbearably as she watched Quetang stand there holding the packet of medicine for a moment before leaving.
Only after both had departed did she slowly emerge from hiding. Looking in the direction Quetang had gone, she couldn't help but start laughing. Her laughter grew wilder and more unrestrained until tears began to fall.
"If I am destined to die by her hand in this life as well... then I have nothing left to struggle for." Her heart was deader than ashes; Shuoyue felt she had nothing left to live for. She shouldered her basket and used her qinggong to return to the house.
When Quetang returned, she smiled easily at Shuoyue, who was sitting at the table. "A-Yuan, how was your day? I went to town earlier and traded for some new clothes. Come and see if they fit." She waved a cloth bundle at her.
Shuoyue looked at her with an unreadable expression, trying to find any trace of guilt on her face. But whether it was because the other woman hid it too well or because her own mind was in a whirlwind, everything she saw felt blurred.
"A-Yuan? Why are you crying?" Quetang had been happily holding up the clothes, waiting for Shuoyue to tease her about not knowing how to manage a household, but she hadn't expected tears. She rushed forward in a panic. "What’s wrong? What happened? Did that stupid cat bully you?" She even glared at the innocent Little Mushroom.
"Quetang..." Shuoyue grabbed Quetang’s clothes and pulled her into an embrace.
"...You know?" Quetang’s tone suddenly turned cold. Shuoyue only buried her face in Quetang’s chest and shook her head without speaking.
"Since you know, then there’s nothing left to say. This time, I am the one who has wronged you, Shuoyue." Quetang calmly called out to Little Mushroom to activate the pre-prepared "One-Second Fainting Incense." Sure enough, a second later, Shuoyue collapsed unconscious in her arms.
"A-Yuan... you must take good care of yourself." She stroked Shuoyue’s cheek, then retrieved Shuoyue’s sword from the room. Hoisting the woman onto her shoulder, she moved quickly toward a cave in the mountains she had been preparing for a long time.
Having rehearsed the plan countless times, Quetang successfully reached the cave. She placed Shuoyue on a mat covered with a thick layer of straw and wrapped her in a quilt. Numerous daily necessities had already been placed nearby. Once everything was ready, she knelt beside Shuoyue and pressed her cheek against the other woman’s, nuzzling her gently. Then, she stood up and left without looking back.
That night, a raging fire broke out at Quetang’s residence. It burned for an entire night, drawing the villagers to help, but by the time the fire was extinguished, the place was a charred ruin, and Quetang was nowhere to be found.
When Shuoyue woke up, it was already two days later. She opened her eyes blankly, taking in her surroundings by the light filtering through the cave entrance.
"This... I’m not dead?" Looking around, she saw plenty of dry rations, clothes, and water, along with a letter placed on top of the clothing. Shuoyue immediately grabbed the letter and opened it. It read:
*A-Yuan, by the time you see this letter, that Mo fellow should have already left. You are safe for now, but to prevent him from doubling back, it would be safer for you to stay in this cave for a few more days before leaving.*
*If that man hadn't used the village elders to threaten me into handing you over, I wouldn't have had to resort to this to preserve both duty and your life. Although I had no intention of deceiving you, I did lie in the end. I hope you won't hold it against me. Safe travels.*
Shuoyue’s hands trembled as she finished the letter, her heart swinging between great joy and profound sorrow. She wept and laughed all at once.
She was joyful because Quetang had not betrayed her, but sorrowful because of... Quetang’s... safety.
She stood up abruptly, strapped her sword to her back, and rushed down the mountain.
When she reached the place where she had spent the last few months recovering, she stood silently before the ruins of the house. Shuoyue’s usually calm emotions ignited into a towering hatred.
"Miss, are you looking for Quetang?" A passing woodcutter saw her standing before the house and struck up a conversation.
"Yes... Sir, do you know where the owner of this house went?" Even though she knew the odds were grim... she still held onto a sliver of hope.
"Alas, two days ago, a sudden fire broke out. The villagers all rushed to fetch water, but it was too late." The woodcutter sighed.
*And the owner?* Shuoyue didn't dare ask... In the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Suppressing her grief, she thanked him and returned to the cave, clutching the quilt and weeping in agony.
"Quetang, I will definitely avenge you."
***
Quetang woke up from her unconscious state. The first sip of water she managed to drink was immediately spat out all over Little Mushroom. "What the hell is 'She, The Ultimate Weapon' supposed to mean?!"
"Meow! You're so gross, Host!" Little Mushroom shook its fur in indignation. "It’s because you 'died,' and as a result, the Female Lead’s negative stats hit MAX, unlocking the Hidden Female Lead! Meow!"
"I’m still perfectly alive! Luckily that Mo Wufei prides himself on being a gentleman; he just poked me once and ran off. And with a 'pit-trap' like you by my side who can actually be useful in a super emergency, I was saved." Quetang shed a tear for her own misfortunes.
"Meow! Remember to give me dried fish when we get back!"
"Hmph." Quetang was about to speak when another prompt appeared from Little Mushroom. This time, she knocked over the water entirely.
"Meow! Unlocking Hidden Plot: 'The Golden-Haired Witch.' Due to extreme grief, the Female Lead’s hair turned gold overnight. she has become the 'Golden-Haired Witch' of the Wulin, a demonic figure who kills without regard for right or wrong, feared by all."
"...Is this a rip-off of that wuxia novel I’m thinking of?" Quetang really didn't want to admit she understood the reference.
"Meow, probably. Meow-kind doesn't understand." Little Mushroom licked its paw and then secretly wiped it on Quetang’s clothes.
"The Golden-Haired Witch... how can hair turn gold overnight?!" She swatted Little Mushroom away. "Why is this system just as much of a pit-trap as you are?"
"That’s not the point. The point is that the righteous sects are planning to ambush the Female Lead. Please set out immediately to save her, Host. Meow~"
Quetang shook her head weakly. "I know, I know."
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 墨无非 | Mo Wufei | A character from a "righteous" sect, likely an antagonist. |
| 金发魔女 | Golden-Haired Witch | A title Shuoyue gains after her hair turns gold from grief; a parody of the "White-Haired Witch." |
| 最终兵器彼女 | She, The Ultimate Weapon | A reference to a famous manga/anime title, used here as a joke by the system. |
| 杀马特 | Shamat / Smart | A Chinese subculture known for exaggerated hair/fashion; used here to mock the "Golden-Haired Witch" trope. |
| 青功 | Qinggong | Martial arts technique for lightness/swift movement. |
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Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 92 | A Heartfelt Deception | Novela.app | Novela.app
