What Do You Mean I’m Supposed to Be the Villain, But Everyone’s Chasing After Me? - Chapter 11:

Chapter 11: Remember, After the Castration, Sear with Red-Hot Black Iron!:

In the morning, the Phoenix Perch Palace where Xiao Hongyan lived was brightly lit. She stood by the window, gazing into the distance. A thin mist veiled her beautiful face, making her look dreamlike and ethereal.

Having just finished cultivation, a light sheen of sweat covered her slender, fair neck. A cool breeze stirred her black hair, carrying a refreshing chill. 

Turning around, Xiao Hongyan lifted a teacup from the table with delicate hands and took a graceful sip.

A shadow flickered past. The corners of her lips curled into a perfect arc, her beauty dazzling and alluring.

“Senior Sister, drinking tea?” A clear male voice came from behind.

Xiao Hongyan slowly turned, the smile at her lips deepening. “I knew you would come!”

Li Changju grinned. “Senior Sister truly has foresight.”

“You’re just as glib-tongued, little Juju.”

Li Changju’s face darkened. “Little Juju? That sounds awful!”

“Awful? I simply combined your traits to make a nickname,” Xiao Hongyan said, her phoenix eyes half narrowed, gaze rippling as she teased him.

“Really?” Li Changju chuckled and scratched his head.

“So, what did you talk about with Senior Sister?” Xiao Hongyan toyed with her teacup as she asked.

“Nothing much,” Li Changju blinked innocently. “Just some casual talk.”

“Really?” Xiao Hongyan let out a soft hum, stepped forward, and suddenly seized his vital point.

Li Changju gasped in pain, quickly begging for mercy.

“Speak! What was the deal with that pair of silk stockings?” Her eyes glinted dangerously, like a predator ready to devour.

Li Changju feigned ignorance. “What stockings? That was Ye Yan framing me!”

“Others may not know, but do you think I don’t?” Xiao Hongyan’s tone was certain.

“And you? What’s with your sudden change? Didn’t you hate me before and love Ye Yan the most? Why are you suddenly throwing yourself into my arms?”

Li Changju flung her hand away angrily. When you realize you’re in the wrong during a quarrel, what’s the best move? Get even angrier than her!

“I…” Xiao Hongyan was momentarily speechless. She couldn’t possibly say it was because of a dream, could she? Such a ridiculous reason—he’d never believe it.

“Enough! I won’t pry into your affairs. As for Ye Yan, let’s just say I was blind before!” she said coldly.

Hearing this, Li Changju breathed a sigh of relief.

“Now, will you tell me why you came to me?” Xiao Hongyan asked. Tonight she wore no palace gown, just a simple red robe. Her long black hair was loosely tied in a bun with a hollowed jade hairpin, her casual appearance carrying a natural charm.

“It’s nothing much… I just want to discuss something with Senior Sister,” Li Changju said.

“Oh? You want me to do something for you?” Xiao Hongyan’s red lips curled as her eyes glimmered. “Then pay your debt first.” She reached toward him.

“Wait—hey…”

…

When the palace candles burned out, it was already afternoon. 

Xiao Hongyan formed a seal, reigniting the lights in the hall.

“So, you want to use my belongings to bribe Fifth Junior Sister?” Her voice suddenly rose. “Li Changju!”

She glared at him.

“I’ve run into a cultivation problem. I need Fifth Junior Sister to refine pills to resolve it. So…” Li Changju looked at her earnestly, “I ask Senior Sister to help me cultivate!”

Fifth Junior Sister?

In her dream, Li Changju kidnapped Fifth Junior Sister to threaten Ye Yan, and that was how he truly fell into demonic ways. Even though he hadn’t suffered the same punishments as in her dream, why was the path still unchanged? 

Could dreams of the past life truly be irreversible?

Xiao Hongyan frowned, her expression complicated. Fine, if it cannot be changed, so be it. Her past told her there was no absolute good or evil between immortals and demons. The Dao of cultivation held no inherent righteousness or wickedness—only the human heart did.

Changju, if you fall into demonic ways, then I’ll accompany you!

“You don’t plan to kidnap Fifth Junior Sister and do something indecent, do you?” Xiao Hongyan asked sharply.

Li Changju froze. “W-what? Of course not! How could I dare…”

“Good. Best that you don’t!” Xiao Hongyan arched her brow, her beautiful eyes narrowing again. “Or do you plan to kidnap me instead, to get revenge for yesterday when I tied you up?”

“Come on then, you can vent all your revenge now!” She summoned the Phoenix-Binding Golden Chains and bound herself tightly.

Li Changju: “…”

…

Central Peak, Punishment Hall.

Elder Cao Qiang had just finished handling affairs and was about to return to his cave residence when he suddenly sensed something. His eyes snapped open. Snowflakes froze midair as a mist spread out.

“Hmm?” Cao Qiang frowned in surprise. After sensing carefully for a moment, his expression turned stranger still. “Someone dares to use forbidden arts near the Punishment Hall?”

Footsteps approached through the snow. A shadow appeared, impossible to discern male or female.

Cao Qiang’s eyes narrowed warily at the fog.

“Rest assured, Elder Cao. I mean no harm. I came tonight only to ask a favor,” the shadow said, the voice low and pleasant.

Cao Qiang raised a brow but remained silent.

“Will you help me?” the figure pressed again.

“Tell me, senior,” Cao Qiang said flatly.

“A disciple of Jade Peak, Ye Yan, committed grave sins and has already been punished here. By sect law, he must suffer the punishment of ‘Sixfold Thousand Cuts.’ Thousand Cuts means one thousand slashes upon the same spot.”

Cao Qiang’s pupils contracted. “Senior means… you want me to kill him?”

“No need. I only want you to castrate him during the punishment,” the voice said coldly, each word chilling as ice.

Cao Qiang froze for several seconds, his face shifting from blue to white, then back again.

“This is your payment.” A pouch containing 3,000 spirit stones was tossed into his arms.

When he looked up again, the mist had dispersed, snow and wind unchanged. There was no one there.

Still stunned, he clutched the pouch. Just as he was about to leave, another voice called out. This time it was a woman.

Turning, Cao Qiang saw a woman in a frost-colored robe and white veil standing not far away.

“Fairy, what do you need?” he asked politely.

“Today, a disciple of Jade Peak was imprisoned here,” she said coldly.

“Ye Yan?”

“Correct.” She nodded. “Here are 5,000 spirit stones. I want you to help me with something.”

“You want him castrated?” Cao Qiang almost blurted out.

The woman paused, then nodded. “Fine. Please trouble Elder with it.” She handed him the spirit stones and departed on her sword.

“…” Cao Qiang stared at her vanishing figure. “Easy money!”

“No one else will come, right?”

To be responsible, Cao Qiang registered Ye Yan’s punishment that very night. By the time he was done, it was already late. 

Muttering to himself, he locked the Punishment Hall’s doors, intending to sleep soundly. But when he turned, he was greeted by an incomparably beautiful face.

“Princess Xiao?”

Cao Qiang quickly bowed. “Why… why are you here?”

Xiao Hongyan smiled and pointed toward the hall. “I was passing by, saw the lights still on, so I came to take a look.”

Cao Qiang’s lips twitched. What kind of excuse was that?

Xiao Hongyan sighed, wearing an expression of deep concern. “Ye Yan is imprisoned here, isn’t he?”

“You don’t also want me to… castrate him, do you?” Cao Qiang asked cautiously.

“Oh, you understand quickly!” Xiao Hongyan’s eyes sparkled as she tossed him a pouch. “Here are 10,000 spirit stones. Make sure you cut deep!”

Cao Qiang accepted it with trembling hands. “I’ll do my best.”

“And one more thing!” Xiao Hongyan added with a charming smile. “Remember, after the castration, sear the wound with red-hot black iron!”

Cao Qiang: “…”

Just who on earth did Ye Yan offend this badly?