Chapter 7: Fragile

Dong Huiting had already woken up and was sitting on her bed in a daze, like a soulless walking corpse.

“Senior Sister, it’s time to eat.”

Bai Wuzhuang’s heart was filled with regret, and her words carried a hint of apology, but for the sake of revenge, she could not speak the truth.

“Why are you still here? Get out! Who do you think is your Senior Sister?”

The moment Dong Huiting saw Bai Wuzhuang, her anger flared up, and she instantly came back to life, glaring at her viciously and shouting loudly.

It seemed she had spent the entire night thinking and could only barely accept reality, forcing herself to acknowledge that Bai Wuxie, that man, did not exist.

All the little liars had been caught and had confessed with their own mouths. No matter how much she tried to make up stories, she could no longer convince herself.

But though she cursed, Dong Huiting didn’t do anything else too extreme.

With her strength, she could kill Bai Wuzhuang with just a finger.

“Senior Sister, eat breakfast early.”

Bai Wuzhuang put the food on the bedside table, pretended to be afraid, and dashed out in a flash.

Of course, she wasn’t actually afraid, but if you’re going to act, you have to act all the way. Right now, her persona was that of a despicable, shameless, freeloading, cowardly liar—she had to maintain it well and not let any cracks show.

If her enemies ever found out she had become a girl, everyone here would die, including the lover she had once hurt.

Though that was unlikely—as long as she didn’t say anything, no one would know. Even if she did say it, others might not believe such a bizarre tale of swapping genders.

So when would they be able to recognize each other again?

She had turned into this—she was a woman now.

Her enemies didn’t know, her lover didn’t know, perhaps they would never be able to reunite.

“How is Huiting?” The Sword Sect Master stood in the corridor and asked.

“She’s alright.” Bai Wuzhuang forced a smile.

“Don’t give me that cheeky grin. Don’t forget the reason I let you eat here. You’re responsible for persuading her to return to us and dispelling her inner demons.” The Respected Master erupted with a wave of pressure and spoke coldly.

“I understand, I understand.” Bai Wuzhuang bowed and nodded repeatedly, stepping aside.

The Respected Master left and went into the room to check on her eldest disciple.

Bai Wuzhuang turned to leave, but as soon as she turned her head, Little Junior Sister Xiaochun blocked her path.

“Is there something you need?” Bai Wuzhuang immediately put on the act of a silly dog, rubbing her hands together.

“Here, do a good job for me—clean the courtyard thoroughly, and remember to go to the lakeside to feed the pigeons.” Chun shoved a broom into Bai Wuzhuang’s hands, then ran off cheerfully.

It seemed Little Junior Sister had dumped all her chores onto Bai Wuzhuang.

But Bai Wuzhuang didn’t mind—in fact, she was grateful for the broom.

Since she wanted to stay here, she would have to find some work to do and make herself useful.

Only then would the Sword Sect of Demon Apprehension keep her.

Bai Wuzhuang picked up the broom and wandered around, exploring the place she would be staying in for a long while.

The Sect was built by the lakeside, a rundown big compound surrounded by a low wall.

There was only one word to describe it: shabby—extremely shabby.

But that was good. The less eye-catching the place, the less likely she would be exposed.

It was so remote that, for now, she didn’t have to worry about those bastards finding her.

Bai Wuzhuang arrived at the lakeside.

There was a pigeon loft here, housing many Messenger Pigeons.

She scattered some grain for them to eat.

She squatted by the lake, stretching out her head.

The surface of the water reflected her face.

It was a thin, sickly girl’s face, eyes full of sorrow and gloom, messy pale hair, the left eye blood-red, the right eye dull gray, looking like she could die at any moment—frail and weak.

She looked at her body.

She had become a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, so thin she was like a bamboo pole.

Yet…

She was very beautiful, tall and slender, with fair, delicate skin as smooth as flowing water.

All the oddities of her appearance, under the absolute beauty, became unique features—striking and distinctive.

Although Bai Wuzhuang didn’t feel as weak as her reflection in the water, her actual strength was nothing like her outer appearance, but being this good-looking was not necessarily a good thing.

It was easy to make others have improper thoughts.

With her current fighting strength, even an ordinary adult man could easily knock her down.

Thinking of this, she decided it was better not to wander outside.

Bai Wuzhuang scurried back to the Sect’s courtyard, sweeping up the fallen leaves with the broom and patching up the broken walls of the compound as she went.

The Sword Sect Master sat in meditation in his room all day.

Little Junior Sister and Second Senior Sister disappeared after eating, each busy with their own lives.

Only the Senior Sister lay motionless on her bed, refusing food and drink, not even eating breakfast.

But after Bai Wuzhuang finished sweeping, she sneaked in and ate Dong Huiting’s breakfast herself, so it wouldn’t go to waste.

“Not just a liar, but a thief too.”

Actually, Dong Huiting knew everything. She lay in bed pretending to sleep, so angry her face was flushed.

“Sickly Servant, come help me.”

At night, Little Junior Sister Xiaochun came home with bags in hand and started a fire to cook.

“Sickly Servant, is that me?” Bai Wuzhuang had been resting under a tree, but upon hearing the call, she headed to the kitchen.

“Of course it’s you. You look half-dead, like you’ll drop after a few steps. Come help me add firewood—when I say add, you add; when I say stop, you stop. Give me a strong flame.” Chun scolded loudly.

“Oh~” Bai Wuzhuang responded repeatedly, squatting by the stove to add firewood.

Chun clanged away above, stir-frying a few quick dishes over the fierce fire.

Bai Wuzhuang was smoked until she couldn’t open her eyes, even a few strands of hair got singed.

“Carry the dishes! Why are you standing there?” Chun kicked Bai Wuzhuang’s butt, urging her to work faster.

“Oh oh oh~” Bai Wuzhuang got up and helped carry the dishes, preparing dinner.

“Go call Master and Senior Sister to eat.” Chun said.

“Oh oh oh~” Bai Wuzhuang scurried off like a mouse, running around as she was ordered.

“Respected Master, it’s time to eat.”

“Mm.”

The Sword Sect Master came as soon as he was called, but calling Dong Huiting was a real headache for Bai Wuzhuang.

“Senior Sister, dinner’s ready. You haven’t eaten all day—you’ll starve yourself like this.” She quietly slipped to the window and called softly.

“Why haven’t I eaten? Isn’t it because you ate my breakfast?” Dong Huiting suddenly sat up, shrieking like a madwoman.

The moment Bai Wuzhuang saw Senior Sister get up, she ran away, covering her ears. “Not listening, not listening, turtle chanting scriptures.”

“You little liar! Don’t you dare cover your ears!” This made Dong Huiting even angrier, grinding her teeth.

But this time, she obediently got out of bed and went to eat.

Second Senior Sister didn’t come home for dinner, so the three of them sat together, eating fragrant rice and piping hot stir-fried dishes—life was too comfortable.

Only Bai Wuzhuang had no food, standing to the side, watching with hungry eyes and drooling.

She was like a dog raised by the Sect, not qualified to sit at the table.

“Sickly Servant, remember to wash the dishes.” Chun said.

After everyone finished eating, Bai Wuzhuang came over to clear the table, collecting some leftovers to eat—that was her dinner.