Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

Yino felt as if he had accidentally unlocked some hidden attributes deep within the soul of Ye Chaerin.

However, Chaerin was only talking for the moment. She and Yino had only known each other for a few days, so it was impossible for them to have any real emotional foundation. Although their recent conversations were filled with vulgarity and crude remarks, her current judgment was based purely on logic and self-interest.

Women in the cultivation world who possessed even a bit of talent were not actually as aloof or arrogant as commoners imagined. They prioritized two things above all else in their lives. First was their cultivation. Second was maintaining the absolute purity of their Dao heart. In a sense, the Dao heart was directly linked to one’s chastity. Most high-level ladies chose to either never love at all or to love only one person for their entire lives.

The higher a Lady’s cultivation level, the more she valued her purity. If a heroine was defiled by a man she despised, her Dao heart; which she had guarded for years, would be trampled and shattered by reality. Even if she managed to take her revenge later, that experience would become a lingering Inner Demon in her heart. It would make it impossible for her to maintain a focused mind when facing a future Heavenly Tribulation.

Of course, if a Lady truly did not care about her body or her reputation, she could entertain a hundred guests a day and still survive the Heavenly Tribulation to become an Immortal. After all, the Dao heart was a subjective concept. There were no written rules in the Heavenly Dao regarding it; there were only the secular moral standards of human society established over thousands of years. But if the whole world pointed at you and called you a whore, how could you truly smile and ignore it?

Chaerin harbored exactly these kinds of worries. She could certainly close her eyes and pretend she didn’t care about what Yino had done in the Illusion Realm, but every time she sat down to meditate, would she be able to face the interrogation of her own soul?

Ultimately, the moment Chaerin believed his words, Yino had gained an invisible grip on her Dao heart. Currently, if she wanted to live with a clear conscience, she only had two options. The first was to reconcile with Yino and forbid him from ever speaking of it. The crude events of the Illusion Realm would remain a secret known only to the two of them. In that case, she could barely pretend nothing had happened. Since no one in the real world knew, her body was still technically clean.

The second option was for her to directly develop a romantic relationship with Yino. This was the most effective way to protect a Dao heart since ancient times, yet it was also a path that had caused countless ladies immense suffering.

Initially, Chaerin had intended to choose the first option. She thought that Yino’s character wasn’t inherently bad and he wasn’t the type of man who made her feel physically nauseous. Furthermore, she was the one who had been in the wrong earlier today. As long as they could reach an agreement, she could still protect her Dao heart despite this minor incident.

However, she hadn’t expected Yino to claim he would help her break her Heavenly Mandate and survive her Heavenly Tribulation. A young girl like Ruoning might not understand the weight of those words, but Chaerin had cultivated for over a hundred years and knew exactly how much they were worth.

There was a saying that true feelings are revealed in times of trouble. If a person was willing to risk death to stand up for her when she was most vulnerable and help her ascend to the Immortal Realm, how could she not be moved by such a rare bond? At the very least, Yino had said he would take responsibility for her, and he didn’t seem to be joking. If that was the case, she could choose the second method of offering herself to satisfy the Dao heart that Yino had teased and defiled today.

Thinking of this, Chaerin couldn’t help but lightly bite her lip as a wave of emotion stirred within her.

As they walked down the path from the peak, Chaerin glanced back at Yino. Seeing his youthful and spirited profile, she sighed and puffed out her cheeks with a hint of resentment. “Even if you truly have those intentions, that is something for many years in the future.”

“For now, you are just the Junior of Yuyan, while I am an Elder of the Liuli Sect and the Honored Master of Ruoning. In the future, you must still address me with respect when we are outside. Once we leave Jinglan Peak, you are absolutely not allowed to tease or humiliate me in front of others.”

Before they finished their descent, Chaerin put her hands behind her back and straightened her posture to regain her cold and aloof demeanor as she issued her warning. Yino followed behind her and his gaze drifted downward. He found himself distracted by the rhythmic swaying of her curves beneath her green dress as she walked down the stairs.

He quickly snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly when he felt a sudden surge of hostility. “Don’t worry, my lady! I wouldn’t dare!”

“You wouldn’t dare? You pervert have plenty of guts! Where were your eyes just now? At my level of cultivation, I can feel every inch of your gaze on my body!”

Chaerin grew angrier the more she listened. She used her smooth hand to cover her rear and turned around. She raised her other hand high as if she were about to slap him. Yino quickly raised his hands in defense and spoke with a helpless tone. “Wait… I was just looking down while thinking about things! And then… I just got distracted and my thoughts went in the wrong direction…”

“You!” Ye Chaerin raised her hand a bit higher, giving Yino a fright.

“Is this how you look at Yuyan back at the Wuji Sect?” Chaerin let out a breath and slowly lowered her hand.

“How did you know?” Yino asked curiously.