When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 67

Volume Three: Those Years I Was a Wangye

The dam bursts

Wen Nuan felt she hadn’t drunk too much, at most she was just slightly tipsy. Although her consciousness was a bit scattered, it allowed her to relax completely and feel comfortable.

It was indulgence within order, rationality within madness.

Qi Hanrong looked at Wen Nuan, who was slumped over the table. “Wangye, shall this commoner go call Miss Lin to help you back to rest?”

Wen Nuan waved her hand. “No need. You can leave first. I want to be alone for a while.”

Qi Hanrong nodded and turned to leave.

Wen Nuan stared blankly at the wine cup on the table. The porcelain-white cup seemed to glow in her eyes.

After a moment of daze, she realized it wasn’t the cup glowing, but the tears in her eyes.

“Tongzi, I want to cry,” Wen Nuan said, her heart aching.

Sometimes, it was true that the onlooker sees most of the game¹; everything Qi Hanrong saw, she had missed.

The carriage was clearly so bumpy, how could she have slept so soundly, completely unaware?

If she detested being intimate with her, why would she argue with Ji Chenwei over who would play her male consort?

If she resisted her touch, why would she lie obediently in her arms, letting her knead and touch her?

It had long been clear, but she had been too cautious, missed too much…

The system sighed: 【Go ahead and cry. Need a tissue?】

Wen Nuan sniffled. “Give it to me.”

【One pack of tissues costs ten points.】

Wen Nuan: “…”

She lifted her sleeve and wiped the corner of her eye. “No need, I’ll use my clothes.”

The system showed a look of disgust: 【So dirty.】

Wen Nuan: “…Dirty your damn grandpa!”²

Hearing footsteps approaching from a distance, very light, easily missed if one wasn’t paying attention.

Wen Nuan closed her eyes, pretending not to know.

The person slowly approached, stood before her, bent down, their gaze and fingertips falling upon her simultaneously.

Lin Tinghan looked at the already drunk Wen Nuan. Her peach-blossom-like eyes were closed, the corners tinged red, as if all her flirtatious charm had been retracted, leaving only a childlike tenderness and softness.

Cold fingertips brushed over her brow, the tip of her nose, and finally landed on her warm lips, gently caressing them.

Wen Nuan kept her eyes closed, still as a mountain, as if she had already lost consciousness, like a lamb ready for slaughter.

The lamb was already on the chopping block; it just depended on whether the hungry wolf’s fangs were willing to open?

The fingertips trembled slightly and moved away.

Just as Wen Nuan thought Lin Tinghan was about to leave, a warmth suddenly covered her lips.

Her heart pounded like thunder, and she trembled in alarm.

A fleeting kiss. Before Wen Nuan could open her eyes to kiss back, her vision blurred, and Lin Tinghan had flown away.

Her retreating figure looked utterly flustered and helpless. Wen Nuan felt that if she chased after her at this moment, she could scare Lin Tinghan to death.

The system coughed: 【Ahem, the blackening value has dropped. The female lead’s current blackening value is 3.6!】

Wen Nuan touched her lips, as if the warmth and sensation from moments ago hadn’t dissipated.

“So she liked me all along?” Wen Nuan laughed out loud. “So she liked me all along!”

The system sighed: 【Silly child.】

Wen Nuan frowned. “Why are you scolding me?”

【How could I? That’s my term of endearment for you,】 the system said with a dry laugh.

Wen Nuan: “…”

Lin Tinghan flew away, landing on the roof tiles. She looked at the dark, heavy sky, where storm clouds churned violently, much like her own turbulent heart at that moment.

Was she really crazy?!

To actually… actually dare to do such a disgusting thing to Wen Nuan. If Wen Nuan found out, she would definitely loathe and despise her.

Lin Tinghan slapped herself hard across the face, criticising: “Lin Tinghan, you’re so f#cking disgusting!”

She struck herself again with force, cursing, “Lin Tinghan, why don’t you just go die?!”

Lin Tinghan lowered her head, bit her lip hard, and choked out, “Lin Tinghan, you’re truly nauseating. You deserve to die alone, deserve to be a lone star of misfortune³, deserve to meet a bad end…”

…

Suddenly, a shadow flashed before her eyes. Lin Tinghan looked over, only to see a dark figure disappear into the shadows.

She took out a dagger from her robes and immediately got up to follow.

The night was deep, and the room was pitch black. Fang Shangwei was tied between two pillars, her hands and feet bound, her body spread out in a “大” character shape.

Fang Shangwei’s head drooped, as if she was enduring immense pain.

The door to the room was quietly pushed open. Fang Shangwei lifted her head, trying to see who it was.

The moment she looked up, a white light flashed, and a sharp pain shot through her neck.

Her eyes widened, and blood spurted out.

Fang Shangwei opened her mouth wide but couldn’t utter a single word. Her bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at the person before her, finally, her head drooped lifelessly, devoid of breath.

The newcomer was about to turn and leave but was forced back by a blade at their neck.

Lin Tinghan said coldly, “The leader of Ji Ge, Qiao Zhimo?”

The newcomer’s pupils trembled. “Who are you?”

“It’s not?” Lin Tinghan sensed the confusion and shock in the person’s eyes. “Then who are you?!”

Just as the newcomer was about to counterattack, several shadow guards tumbled in through the room’s window, drawing their sharp swords and pressing them against her neck.

Someone pushed open the door and walked in. “Presumably… you are the Grand Protector⁴ of Ji Ge, Rong Yu⁵, right?”

Rong Yu removed her veil, revealing peculiar patterns on her right cheek, like some kind of totem.

She looked at Wen Nuan and sneered, “Your Highness Xian Wang.”

“Oh my, This King is so famous that the esteemed Grand Protector of Ji Ge actually knows of This King?” Wen Nuan said, feigning surprise.

She walked forward, pressed down Lin Tinghan’s arm holding the dagger, and said gently, “It’s alright. This place is heavily guarded; she can’t stir up any trouble.”

Lin Tinghan’s body stiffened, not daring to look at Wen Nuan.

“Your Highness Xian Wang, your great name is known far and wide. How could I not know of Xian Wang’s prestige?” Rong Yu glanced at Fang Shangwei. “Moreover, Xian Wang’s strategies are superb. Deliberately using Fang Shangwei as bait, for those willing to take it—this move is truly brilliant, isn’t it?”

“Brilliant?” Wen Nuan smiled. “It’s alright. After all, dealing with people like you whose minds aren’t too bright, This King merely used two small tricks, luring the tiger from the mountain⁶ and luring the snake out of its hole⁷, to run you all in circles. There’s no sense of accomplishment at all.”

“…” Rong Yu gritted her teeth. “The victor is king, the loser is a bandit⁸. Whether Xian Wang wants to kill or dismember, I’m at your disposal.”

Wen Nuan disagreed. “This King is kind-hearted and never likes to get physical or brandish weapons. Look at you,” she pointed at the throat-slashed Fang Shangwei, “killing someone and making the room so messy. Truly unaesthetic.”

Rong Yu: “…”

Wen Nuan saw Lin Tinghan beside her, head lowered, lost in thought.

“Tinghan?” Wen Nuan nudged her. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Tinghan shook her head. “Nothing. There’s nothing for me to do here. I’ll head back first.”

She was about to leave when Wen Nuan grabbed her wrist, her chin forcefully lifted.

Wen Nuan’s eyes narrowed, and she said coldly, “Where did that handprint on your face come from?”

Lin Tinghan wanted to shake off Wen Nuan’s hand but couldn’t. She could only say, “It’s nothing.”

Wen Nuan looked at Rong Yu. “Did she do it?”

Lin Tinghan frowned. “No.”

Wen Nuan took a deep breath, raised her hand, and slapped Rong Yu across the face, cursing, “You don’t hit people in the face! Don’t you know this Jianghu rule? How could you f#cking bring yourself to strike such a beautiful face?”

Rong Yu: “…”

Who the hell told her that the person who just said they didn’t like to get physical was her?

Also, don’t hit people in the face? Where did this Jianghu rule come from?!

Why had she never heard of it?!

Lin Tinghan took advantage of Wen Nuan loosening her grip, turned, and left.

When Wen Nuan turned back, she found the person gone.

“Where did she go?”

Shadow Guard A was silent for a moment. “Gone.”

“Why didn’t you stop her?”

Shadow Guard B was silent for a moment. “Didn’t dare!”

Wen Nuan: “…”

“Forget it, I’ll go find her myself later.” Wen Nuan glanced at Rong Yu. “Keep a good watch on her. Tomorrow, we’ll raid Ji Ge’s main lair.”

Hearing this, Rong Yu sneered, “Xian Wang has quite the nerve. Wanting to go to Ji Ge? I’m afraid you might have the life to go but not the life to return, eh?”

Wen Nuan turned around, arms crossed. “Then take a guess, why does This King only capture your Ji Ge assassins and not kill them?”

Rong Yu frowned. “What do you mean?”

“This King naturally knows what you mean by ‘having the life to go but not the life to return.’ Isn’t it just because the outskirts of your Ji Ge are full of poisonous miasma, venomous insects, and all sorts of deadly traps?” Wen Nuan walked forward and reached into Rong Yu’s robes.

Rong Yu was greatly alarmed and struggled fiercely. “Xian Wang, what are you… ?!”

Wen Nuan took out a blood-red, phoenix-shaped jade pendant from her robes. “Knew you’d have this pendant on you.”

Rong Yu looked composed and said calmly, “This is my family heirloom. It should naturally be worn close to the body. Isn’t Xian Wang overthinking things a bit?”

“Is that so?” Wen Nuan feigned distress. “Why does This King remember that this jade pendant can control all the traps and mechanisms in Ji Ge?”

“How do you know?” Rong Yu said in alarm.

Wen Nuan covered her mouth in feigned surprise. “Aiya, you’ve exposed yourself.”

Rong Yu: “…”

“Now that everything’s in place, tomorrow I’ll send you all back to your hometown.” Wen Nuan patted Rong Yu’s cheek. “Aren’t you happy?”

Rong Yu gritted her teeth. “…You’re f#cking courting death—oomph…”

A shadow guard kicked Rong Yu fiercely, criticising: “Who gave you the guts to insult Her Highness Xian Wang!?”

Wen Nuan smiled contemptuously. “Go ahead and curse. After all, when you get down below, after a trip through the cauldron of boiling oil and other severe tortures, you won’t be able to curse anymore.”

Rong Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, glaring daggers at Wen Nuan’s retreating figure.

She had truly underestimated Xian Wang. No wonder during the palace coup in the Jianing Kingdom back then, the originally weak Crown Princess of Jianing ascended to the throne as if divinely assisted. It must have been this Xian Wang supporting the Jianing Emperor from behind the scenes.

The world only knew Xian Wang as carefree, flirtatious, and unlearned. Now it seemed that this Xian Wang of Jianing Kingdom was the truly scheming and farsighted one.

Wen Nuan walked out of the room. Less than a hundred meters away, she was sure to see Lin Tinghan’s figure.

She stood under a tree, hidden in the shadows, her back to Wen Nuan, her body trembling slightly.

Just as Wen Nuan was about to approach, she heard the system dissuade her.

【Don’t go. The female lead is crying.】

Wen Nuan paused. “Then shouldn’t I go even more?”

【I think she probably doesn’t want you to see her vulnerability, right?】 The system was also speculating.

Wen Nuan stood in the distance, then turned and left.

Lin Tinghan heard the departing footsteps, and the tension in her back eased.

The suppressed sobs gradually grew louder, eventually becoming uncontrollable.

Wen Nuan hadn’t gone far, merely hiding in a place Lin Tinghan wouldn’t notice, secretly watching her.

She sighed softly under her breath, “Little crybaby.”

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The next day, a torrential downpour arrived, the wind sweeping away the clouds, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

At the foot of Weng Mountain in the northern suburbs, a faint white mist drifted out, shattered by the large raindrops, only to gather again.

The shadow guards brought out the Ji Ge assassins captured over the past few days, lining them up one by one in front of the crowd.

Rong Yu didn’t understand Xian Wang’s intentions but saw Xian Wang shout, “Bleed them!”

As soon as the words fell, the shadow guards’ hands rose and fell, slashing a deep cut on the arms of the Ji Ge assassins.

Everyone noticed that the blood of the Ji Ge assassins was very light in color, not as rich as their own, and the white mist seemed to fear this blood, not daring to approach.

Rong Yu said in horror, “So you kept them alive to deal with Ji Ge’s poisonous miasma and venomous insects!?”

Wen Nuan nodded. “What else? Besides being human antidotes, what other use do you have?”

Rong Yu: “…”

The Ji Ge assassins were all trained by the Tower Master from childhood. As children, these assassins were forced by the Tower Master to consume all sorts of strange drugs to control them and ensure their loyalty to Ji Ge. It was precisely because of these drugs that their blood could resist the poisonous miasma and venomous insects on the outskirts of Ji Ge.

“As for the mechanisms and hidden weapons inside Ji Ge, with the jade pendant so carefully provided by Miss Rong, we can enter Ji Ge safe and sound,” Wen Nuan patted Rong Yu’s shoulder, a gratified expression on her face.

Rong Yu’s face turned livid, resentment piling up layer by layer in her chest. She was so angered by Wen Nuan that she actually spat out a mouthful of blood.

Wen Nuan said in pleasant surprise, “Aiyo, don’t waste it! Grand Protector Rong personally spitting blood to detoxify for us, isn’t she just too kind?”

Rong Yu, overcome with anger, rolled her eyes back and fainted.

The group entered the valley. With the blood of the Ji Ge assassins clearing the path and Rong Yu’s blood-red jade pendant controlling the mechanisms and hidden weapons, they proceeded unimpeded into the valley. What greeted their eyes was the true stronghold of Ji Ge.

Logically, their group’s movements should not have been small, but the Ji Ge assassins hadn’t sensed anyone intruding, as the venomous insects and mechanisms were all quiet.

As a result, they saw a group of people appear out of thin air before them. Just by their attire, they knew these were not people from their Ji Ge. Before they could react…

Wen Nuan raised her hand, pointed at Ji Ge, and glanced at the shadow guards and Ji Chenwei. Qi Hanrong and Ruilin had remained in the residence in Wangfu City, which was comparatively safer.

A murderous glint flashed in her eyes, and she sneered, “Capture the Ji Ge leader. Leave no one else alive.”

Lin Tinghan also wanted to go out and fight, but Wen Nuan grabbed her wrist. “Don’t you go. Stay by my side. Let Ji Chenwei handle this dirty and tiring work.”

Ji Chenwei, who was just about to dash forward, nearly tripped upon hearing Wen Nuan’s words.

Are those even human words?

Lin Tinghan looked at the hand gripping her wrist and nodded. “Alright.”

Everyone in Ji Ge had blood on their hands. Wen Nuan felt no coldness in slaughtering them; after all, mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.

She had known this principle since she was a child, and she wouldn’t make that mistake.

Moreover, Ji Ge had to be destroyed. This would also guarantee the male lead’s future personal safety. Especially Qiao Zhimo, the leader of Ji Ge. The reason she wanted to capture Qi Hanrong was firstly for his beauty, and secondly for the unique skills of Yao Village—Gu techniques and bewitchment arts. After all, Yao Village had been wiped out, leaving Qi Hanrong as the sole inheritor.

Therefore, Qiao Zhimo needed Qi Hanrong’s bewitchment and Gu techniques to help her contend for the throne and eliminate dissidents.

But Wen Nuan hadn’t expected someone to reach Ji Ge’s main lair before her.

Wen Nuan looked at the woman who had already tied up Qiao Zhimo, and raised an eyebrow. “Crown Princess of Zhangqing Kingdom, Qiao Juce⁹.”

Qiao Juce raised her hand, signaling her guards to lower their weapons. Her gaze swept over Lin Tinghan, a flash of amazement in her eyes.

She raised her hands in a salute. “Xian Wang of Jianing Kingdom, Xu Wen Nuan.”

Wen Nuan got straight to the point¹⁰, pointing at Qiao Zhimo. “I want her life.”

Qiao Juce opened her folding fan and smiled leisurely. “She is my imperial younger sister. If she’s disobedient, it’s up to me, her imperial elder sister, to discipline her. It’s not for outsiders to point fingers.”

Wen Nuan looked up, murderous intent flaring. “This is Jianing Kingdom. If This King were to casually kill a few stowaway thieves from Zhangqing Kingdom here, I’m afraid even if the Emperor of Zhangqing Kingdom herself came, she wouldn’t dare say much.”

“Is Wangye threatening me?” Qiao Juce closed her fan, her eyes narrowing.

Wen Nuan glanced covetously at Qiao Juce’s fan and sneered, “I don’t care about your relationship with Qiao Zhimo, but Qiao Zhimo shouldn’t even think about leaving here alive under my watch.”

Lin Tinghan raised the dagger in her hand, poised and ready, awaiting Wen Nuan’s command at any moment.

Qiao Juce hadn’t expected the beauty beside Wen Nuan to be a guard. Moreover, that beauty had no Adam’s apple; she must be a woman.

For a woman to be born so stunningly beautiful, it was truly a bit of a pity.

The two locked eyes for a moment. Qiao Juce took a deep breath and smiled. “Since Wangye insists, how could I spoil Wangye’s mood?”

She waved her hand. “Wangye, please proceed. We’ll take our leave first.”

Wen Nuan looked at Qiao Zhimo’s gradually horrified and contorted expression and said with a sarcastic smile, “Take care, no need to see you out.”

As the two passed each other, Qiao Juce hadn’t gone far when she heard Qiao Zhimo’s tragic scream.

A guard beside her asked, “Crown Princess, the Third Imperial Daughter was killed by Xian Wang. We didn’t bring the Third Imperial Daughter back to Zhangqing Kingdom. I’m afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Emperor.”

“Who said the Third Imperial Daughter was killed by Xian Wang?” Qiao Juce twirled her fan, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. “Xian Wang only killed the leader of Ji Ge. The Third Imperial Daughter of Zhangqing Kingdom is still roaming the Jianghu, her whereabouts unknown.”

The guard understood and said in a low voice, “This subordinate understands.”

“This Xian Wang, however, is quite surprising to me.” Qiao Juce’s eyes deepened. “An interesting person.”

All the people in Ji Ge were killed. Wen Nuan wiped the blood from Lin Tinghan’s hand and sighed, “I told you I’d do it. Why did you still have to make a move?”

Lin Tinghan pulled her hand back, her expression sinking. “It’s nothing.”

If Wen Nuan didn’t know Lin Tinghan liked her, seeing her resist her touch so much, Wen Nuan’s heart would probably have turned cold again.

“Let’s go, to Ji Ge’s lifeblood.”

Lin Tinghan was puzzled. “Lifeblood?”

“It’s the control room for all of Ji Ge’s mechanisms, poisonous miasma, and venomous insects. Moreover, all the information Ji Ge has collected is in that lifeblood.”

“But… Qiao Juce came. The things in that lifeblood have probably already been cleared out by her, right?”

Wen Nuan shook her head. “No. Because Qiao Zhimo deliberately used the lifeblood as her life-saving talisman. Without her decryption, no one can open the lifeblood.”

“Then you?”

Wen Nuan said proudly, “Of course, I know how to open the lifeblood.”

Lin Tinghan watched as Wen Nuan twisted the vases on both sides of the main door. Then, a bronze ring emerged from the tiger’s mouth on the door. Wen Nuan picked up the bronze ring and knocked on the iron door a few times. The sounds were sometimes short, sometimes long, sometimes crisp and decisive, sometimes dull and drawn out.

After Wen Nuan finished knocking, she stepped back and watched as the large door slowly opened to both sides.

Other shadow guards stood guard outside the door. Wen Nuan led Ji Chenwei and Lin Tinghan inside.

“Wangye, what are you looking for here?” Ji Chenwei asked, seeing Wen Nuan searching around.

Lin Tinghan saw Wen Nuan looking left and right. “What are you looking for?”

Wen Nuan gestured. “Looking for a box, made of white jade, containing a fiery red pill called the Fire Source Pill.”

Upon hearing this, the two immediately threw themselves into the search.

Wen Nuan passed by rows of stone shelves. On them were mission slips that Ji Ge had accepted since its establishment, divided into Tian, Di, Xuan, Huang¹¹, with varying prices.

For example, Huang-level missions were too numerous to count, while Tian-level missions numbered less than ten.

Wen Nuan casually glanced around and discovered Lin Tinghan’s mission slip.

She glanced at Lin Tinghan, who was still searching for the Fire Source Pill in the distance, and opened the bamboo slip.

Mission Content: [Find Xian Wang of Jianing Kingdom, Xu Wen Nuan. If there is news, Lin Tinghan is willing to hand over all of Lin Manor’s assets and use her own life as collateral.]

In an instant, Wen Nuan felt as if a torrential rain was flooding the heavens, and the world was turning upside down.

And her emotional dam had burst.

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