Qiu Chongyun (秋重云) was one of the three leaders in Mu He’s harem. If Tantai Meng was the unreachable white moon in the sky, then Qiu Chongyun was the bright sun that occasionally appeared over one’s head. She was a harmonious bedmate and a top-tier business partner. Mu He was able to take over the Demonic Sect thanks to her drawing away its big boss: the currently who-knows-where-he-was Demon Lord Chi Yan (赤炎).
Initially, Tantai Meng fans ruled over the comments section until Qiu Chongyun appeared midway and slaughtered a path to the readers. She had a completely different set of styles and smarts from Tantai Meng that immediately drew in a large wave of otakus, thus winning half the fanbase. More importantly, she had great skills in bed. If Mu He didn’t know whose bed to go to at night, he always ended up seeking her out.
Of course, Mengmeng’s noble, fairy-like ethereality was goddess standard in men’s minds, but Aunt Yun’s passionate, enthralling charms were also addictive. Moreover, she not only had a big chest, but big brains. Even her “Aunt Yun” nickname didn’t come from fans like Tantai Meng’s “Mengmeng,” but was coined by Mu He himself.
Mu He’s mother was a rebel of the Demonic Sect, but before escaping she was its other saintess, Qiu Zhaoshui (秋照水). Although she wasn’t related to Qiu Chongyun by blood, the two of them had grown up together with the same surname and close feelings. Qiu Chongyun had been searching in vain these years for the big sister who abandoned all ties of loyalty in the name of love. Most likely, Mu He’s mother had no face to see her old friend. After all, it wasn’t honorable or glorious to be cast off by her lover and fall from the Demonic Sect saintess to a mere opera singer that anyone could bully.
This was an era that laughed at prostitutes but not the poor. Mu He discovered that his mother had a rather respectable identity as a saintess, which was much better than some singer. His fair little face long moved Qiu Chongyun’s heart, and the two got to know each other. As a Demonic Sect member, Qiu Chongyun had never put things such as morals or principles in her mind. Mu He was also in a rush to use her to take down the Demonic Sect, so the two had a fast, fiery relationship full of sparks.
Xie Zhiwei remembered the Tantai Meng fans cursing Qiu Chongyun in the past: “Aunt Yun is a shameless mistress!” Mu He had so many women, but they only targeted Qiu Chongyun, which proved that both within and without the book, she was already an existence who threatened Tantai Meng’s standing in the harem.
But so what? In a series of bizarre and meandering plot twists, even the number one heroine Tantai Meng wasn’t spared from being swept offline barely three seconds after she debuted. This time, he wondered how Qiu Chongyun would die.
Then Xie Zhiwei came to his senses.
He had to exert some effort this time! He couldn’t always leave it to youngsters to set things up themselves. Mu He hadn’t awakened to the notion of romance yet, so he had to stay on scene to assist him.
It was impossible for Qiu Chongyun to show up just for an idle chat. She naturally focused on the higher-ranking Xie Zhiwei and mused, “A handsome disciple and a handsome master. Do you choose students based on looks here?”
Xie Zhiwei liked hearing praise but had to remain detached and shoo her away. “Our sect and the Demonic Sect are at odds with each other. I advise you to leave quickly.”
Qiu Chongyun changed her tone faster than flipping a page as her mouth twitched and she half-covered her face with a sleeve. “Alas, are you so inhospitable? Nujia is still sad over this elder’s terrible death, but this daoist master is being so cruel.” Tears seem to pool in her eyes as they sparkled and fell on Xie Zhiwei’s body.
F**k, I know you like to tease, but please have mercy…flirting in front of the hero’s face will make him unhappy!
Xie Zhiwei abruptly remembered Bai Yu’s ending in the original novel. Although scum like he was destined to a bad end, the hero was all too creative. He didn’t kill Bai Yu after capturing him, but broke all the joints in his body and shattered his meridians so the proud man was reduced to a cripple. Bai Yu’s heart had turned to ashes by then, but one day a beautiful woman suddenly entered the jail cells looking poor and pathetic. Whenever she saw Mu He, she put on a show of wanting to die rather than submit and demanded he let her go. Mu He seemed to like her very much, because he never persecuted her and gave her plenty to eat and drink.
Bai Yu admired the woman’s character and felt quite happy when she openly rebuked Mu He, who could only take it and not retaliate. He tried talking to her and she was very sympathetic to his situation. Soon enough, the two of them grew affectionate with each other. At last came the day when she took advantage of the unprepared guards to break out of the prison cell, dragging Bai Yu along.
Bai Yu thought he could see the long-missed sunshine again. Seeing the woman’s flower-like smile, he had the courage to keep on living. But the woman took him along a darker and darker path before stopping somewhere so black he couldn’t even see his own fingers in front of him. While Bai Yu was wondering what was going on, lights came on from all directions.
This was actually Mu He’s bedchamber.
The aloof and holy woman before him suddenly changed into a set of red robes, making him feel like she was a stranger. It wasn’t until Mu He tore apart the female’s clothes and the two began to make love on the bed that he accepted what was going on. He couldn’t bear to watch them, but there were people who forced his eyes open to enjoy the view. The pair on the bed tried out all sorts of positions and the female catered to Mu He in every way, only giving Bai Yu looks of disgust.
He finally found out this woman was the Demonic Sect saintess Qiu Chongyun and everything was a farce by Mu He to trick him. Bai Yu began to curse, but only got one sentence out before someone cut his tongue. Blood poured out of Bai Yu’s mouth as the underlings made him watch the “goddess” of his heart make out with his hated enemy until his death.
Neither Bai Yu nor his father died with an intact corpse, which was proof of how deeply the hero held grudges.
Xie Zhiwei broke out into cold sweat. Although it was important to protect the hero’s harem, he couldn’t stick himself into their affairs. Right now the hero’s expression looked slightly off too, so he had to be extra careful.
By contrast, Qiu Chongyun was oblivious to the subtle signs in the air and only singled out Xie Zhiwei. “If this daoist scorns us so much, why do you know nujia’s name? So you were faking your decency the entire time.”
Xie Zhiwei gave a start. Right, ah. Qiu Chongyun doesn’t even know who I am. I can’t say I’ve read the script, right?
Mu He was extremely displeased with Qiu Chongyun’s blatant teasing of his master. Even less could he accept that a lofty figure like shizun could pay attention to some demoness, so he stepped forward and stopped Qiu Chongyun from staring at Xie Zhiwei. “Shizun is very knowledgeable, so what’s so strange about him knowing Demonic Sect matters?”
Xie Zhiwei silently gave Mu He a big thumbs up. Smart, you really know how to find excuses for your master.
And you’re resourceful enough to create opportunities to chat with girls!
Xie Zhiwei intoned, “Precisely. I’ve heard that the Demonic Sect used to have two saintesses of the left and right orders. Sixteen years ago, the Right Order’s saintess Qiu Zhaoshui ran away, her wherabouts unknown. Thus, this maiden’s identity is self-evident.”
“Maiden? What a refreshing form of address,” Qiu Chongyun covered her mouth and laughed. “This daoist master is full of immortal bearing, while the little gege there is certain to be a charming devil when he grows up. Nujia already loves this place despite it being my first time here, but sadly…”
Mu He looked at her coldly. “Sadly what?”
“Sadly, nujia has to leave.” Qiu Chongyun winked and added, “See you again, oh.”
“Hold it!” Mu He wasn’t ready to let this insulting demonic sect woman go. Good and evil were naturally incompatible, so it would be a waste not to kill her now before she pestered shizun later. But before he took a single step, white fog rose from all directions. It rushed into their ears, eyes, mouth, and nose, accompanied by an acrid scent. Mu He quickly took out White Lotus to purify the mist, but by then the doorway was empty and the person long gone.
Even the corpse at their feet had disappeared.
Before Mu He could give chase, Xie Zhiwei called him back. “Don’t run after her.”
He turned back, completely puzzled. “Shizun, the Demonic Sect has done so many evil deeds. Shouldn’t we eradicate them?”
Youngster, how is your mother supposed to feel after hearing those words? Won’t you be embarrassed when you find out your true origins one day?
Xie Zhiwei replied, “She is the Demonic Sect’s saintess. If she dies here, it’ll undoubtedly give the Demonic Sect an excuse to seek trouble. Moreover, you’ve been working hard these days and still have Dog in your arms. Master is afraid of something happening to you.”
Afraid?
The godlike shizun can actually feel fear for my sake?
Mu He continued to over-interpret Xie Zhiwei’s words as he felt extremely touched. But he didn’t forget to analyze the severity of the situation. “But shizun, someone from the Demonic Sect has already died. If they really want to attack, that’s enough of an excuse.”
Xie Zhiwei slowly stepped out of the stinking house to peer at the wide blue skies. “Master naturally has my own considerations.”
After all those harem losses, we finally saved one girl. Let me stop fretting for once.
It was still a big deal for the Demonic Sect to charge into their grounds, so Xie Zhiwei immediately reported the matter to Yan Zhifei. Chu Zhishi happened to be there as well and spoke up before Yan Zhifei stopped creasing his eyebrows.
“Second senior brother, why didn’t you call me back then? A crazy woman like that deserves a lesson or two.”
Chu Zhishi was very mindful of his pride. It was inglorious to have the Demonic Sect invade his backyard with him none the wiser.
“Don’t be impulsive, youngest junior brother,” Xie Zhiwei replied, “Since the Demonic Sect came secretly, they must have other plans. If we strike now, we’ll startle the snake hiding in the grass.”
Yan Zhifei nodded. “Zhiwei is right. I need to take strict precautions and see what the Demonic Sect has planned.”
Has planned? They came to wreck the place after Xie Zhiwei died, so they’re probably scoping the area right now. Xie Zhiwei smiled and muttered an assent without saying anything else. After all, heavenly (plot) secrets (spoilers) couldn’t be leaked.
That was hard. Thankfully, I left a wife alive for the hero.
The second day Xie Zhiwei heard the daoist novices secretly gossiping amongst themselves about Pill Furnace City launching a mountain-wide manhunt.
Cheng Daoxiu had gone missing.
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The author has something to say: At last we have a girl who survived past 3 seconds, everyone applaud and throw flowers
The Chinese commenters:
Translator’s Note: Shoutout to my Ch. 19 readers Keke, who said Mu He would take the initiative to kill his harem members first and Lynx.09, who said Cheng Daoxiu would last less than 20 chapters before she dies again. (Ok so she might not be dead yet, but she’s treading on thin ice.) Also special kudos to LicoLico from Ch. 37: you were right, Qiu Chongyun did “go away soon.” X3