Chapter Seventy-Two: Exchanging Identities

Qu Yiqiu had no intention of wasting time with her and cut straight to the point. “Where is the teleportation array in Spring Rain Tower?”

Jin Yiqiu’s lips trembled. She no longer dared to show any temper and answered fearfully, “It’s beneath the dungeon where you’re being held.”

Qu Yiqiu smiled faintly. “You’d best be telling the truth. If I find even the slightest deception, your lovely face will rot to mush.”

Jin Yiqiu blanched, her pupils dilating in terror as she clutched her own cheeks. “I swear it’s all true! Please, I beg you, don’t ruin my face!”

Qu Yiqiu’s expression turned cold and stern. “So long as you obey, I won’t torment you. For now, turn your face into mine. Tonight, you’ll serve as my maid.”

She had originally intended to dispose of her directly, but the true location of the array required Jin Yiqiu to guide her. She would keep her around for now.

Jin Yiqiu, like a cicada in winter, nodded frantically while cupping her face. “Yes, yes, I’ll be your maid tonight!”

She must be a demonic cultivator! No disciple of a proper sect would be so cruel. Jin Yiqiu cursed her luck for running into a predator among predators and started scheming to contact the people of the Venomous Manor.

Qu Yiqiu took a drop of Jin Yiqiu’s blood, forging a binding contract. Within her spatial domain, Jin Yiqiu’s thoughts and actions would be shaped by its laws. In a haze, Jin Yiqiu surrendered her blood, not understanding why she was being so compliant. Now, with a mere thought, Qu Yiqiu could decide her fate.

Secretly, she contacted Little Yan, and while Jin Yiqiu was still dazed, slipped out of the spatial domain. Since the layout inside mirrored that of the Wind and Elegance Chamber, Jin Yiqiu, aside from a heightened urge to resist, noticed nothing amiss.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, come in. I have something to tell you.” Qu Yiqiu called out to the door as she changed clothes.

Jin Yiqiu immediately understood—Bai Shulan had betrayed her. She glared at Bai Shulan as she entered, a flash of venomous hatred in her eyes. It was her—this wretch, colluding with an outsider to bring her down!

Jin Yiqiu was now disguised as Qu Yiqiu. Bai Shulan, seeing two identical figures, froze in disbelief. Qu Yiqiu chuckled. “Fairy Jin Yiqiu is now on our side—a chess piece in the plan for Unreturning Peak.”

Both Bai Shulan and Jin Yiqiu turned to her in shock.

“How did you do it, Fellow Daoist You?” Bai Shulan’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O,’ her shock beyond words.

Several thoughts flashed through Jin Yiqiu’s mind, and all her earlier assumptions collapsed in an instant.

This person isn’t a demonic cultivator! She’s a disciple from Unreturning Peak named You! I have to get this news back to the Venomous Manor!

Qu Yiqiu blinked and smiled lightly. “As an elite disciple of Unreturning Peak, I naturally have secret techniques for concealment. No need for further questions, Fellow Daoist Bai. Just work with Jin Yiqiu and follow my lead.”

Bai Shulan nodded, still stunned, but an involuntary sense of inferiority welled up in her. She looked at Qu Yiqiu with a mixture of envy and jealousy. So this is what it means to be an elite disciple of a major sect? Once—once she should have had such a life, too!

Qu Yiqiu didn’t notice Bai Shulan’s gaze. After dressing, she styled her hair into the nine-coiled immortal bun, tucked in a butterfly hairpin, and adorned her hair with a few pearls. Unbeknownst to her, Bai Shulan’s eyes grew even hotter, jealousy burning like a flame.

Qu Yiqiu gazed at herself in the bronze mirror, satisfied, and then turned to face them. The other two quickly masked their own thoughts.

Her eyes swept between them, and she smiled slightly. “Let’s go. Everyone is waiting for me outside.”

Bai Shulan instinctively replied in the affirmative. Jin Yiqiu, hiding her resentment, lowered her head and followed suit.

Qu Yiqiu caught every nuance of their expressions and gave a faint smile. She warned, “Outside, I won’t tolerate a single slip. If anyone exposes us, the plan fails—and I won’t be able to save you.”

“Yes!” This time, both answered with a note of solemnity.

Though their circumstances and loyalties differed, both were now under Qu Yiqiu’s control. She had made herself clear.

With slow, measured steps, Qu Yiqiu strode out, no longer sparing them a glance. Jin Yiqiu and Bai Shulan, clad in dark green Daoist robes, followed respectfully.

In the main hall of Spring Rain Tower, men sat in circles, with a few sturdy female cultivators among them. The madam, Wei Juan, was glancing about anxiously. When she spotted Qu Yiqiu emerging from the top-tier chamber, she hurried over.

“My dear, you’ve kept me waiting!” Wei Juan clutched her chest in mock distress, hustling Qu Yiqiu inside and slamming the door on Jin Yiqiu and Bai Shulan.

Jin Yiqiu reached to grab Wei Juan’s sleeve but was quietly blocked by Bai Shulan. Daring no further moves, Jin Yiqiu glared at her.

Bai Shulan avoided her gaze for a moment, but then stubbornly watched Jin Yiqiu.

“What’s going on with you? Why are you so late? Think just because you’re the courtesan you can run Spring Rain Tower?” Wei Juan sneered and flicked her handkerchief. A soundproof barrier poured down, shrouding them.

Qu Yiqiu blinked innocently, inwardly alarmed. The madam looked ancient, yet she actually possessed a Golden Core cultivation.

She quickly regained her composure and imitated Jin Yiqiu’s coquettish tone. “You misunderstand, madam. I wouldn’t dare harbor such treacherous thoughts. Spring Rain Tower is forever yours!”

The cold smile on Wei Juan’s heavily powdered face didn’t fade. Her lips twitched. “Jin Ningning, don’t forget you’re just a dog raised by the Venomous Manor. No matter how much the master favors you, a sparrow will never become a phoenix!”

Qu Yiqiu’s face darkened, as if she’d truly been drawn into Jin Yiqiu’s world. “I know my place, I wouldn’t dare reach beyond myself.”

The master of the Venomous Manor? The most infamous ugly man in the Five Elements Realm, his body covered in sores from poison, unable to show his face—famous for his disfigurement.

And yet Jin Yiqiu is smitten with him?

Qu Yiqiu couldn’t help but shudder.

Wei Juan smiled triumphantly. “Enough, it’s almost time. Go on—you’re about to go on stage.”

“Yes,” Qu Yiqiu replied as deferentially as she could, imitating Jin Yiqiu’s manner.

Wei Juan, apparently satisfied, broke into a wrinkly smile.

The doors opened once more. Wei Juan turned back. “Put on your veil—keep them guessing.”

Qu Yiqiu did as she was told.

From the moment Wei Juan left, Jin Yiqiu’s gaze never left her. “If you don’t want your face ruined, tell me who she is,” Qu Yiqiu transmitted coldly to Jin Yiqiu as Wei Juan reached the stage.

Bai Shulan only saw Jin Yiqiu’s expression shift, but knew nothing of what passed between them.

“Yes, Master.” Jin Yiqiu dared not disobey and revealed everything she knew about Wei Juan’s identity.

——

Once again, thank you all for your support and for reading.