After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 52 - Righteous and Resolute He Ange

“Master, stop beating around the bush. If you’re here to punish me on behalf of that dog Cao Dao, then let’s just get it over with! I admit my guilt, alright?”

He Ange suddenly put down his chopsticks and stood up, his face full of righteous determination, as if he were ready to face his doom.

His sudden outburst caught Qin Shiyan off guard, her composed expression faltering.

The black-dressed fairy raised her phoenix-like eyes, staring at the white-robed boy below. She took a deep breath, as if about to say something, but hesitated.

She exhaled slowly, her tone softening. “When did I ever say I was going to punish you?”

“...”

Her unexpectedly gentle response left He Ange momentarily stunned. He realized he might have overreacted, but he didn’t regret it.

He sat back down, his voice calm as he explained, “It’s because Master seemed so cold today, and the way you were looking at me felt like you wanted to kill me. I just assumed you were angry with me.”

“...”

Qin Shiyan didn’t know how to respond to that.

She wanted to say, Who told you to think so poorly of me?

But if she scolded him for it, wouldn’t that just confirm she was angry?

“Forgive me, Master. It was my own prejudice,” He Ange said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Before Qin Shiyan could figure out how to respond, the boy continued, “Master, with your divine beauty, as radiant as a celestial goddess, it’s only natural for you to exude such a noble and commanding presence. But this foolish disciple, with his limited perspective, misunderstood your kindness as anger... I am truly ashamed. I judged you with the heart of a petty man, and for that, I deeply apologize.”

“?”

Sitting on her high seat, the black-dressed fairy tilted her head, her phoenix-like eyes blinking as if trying to process his words.

She wanted to say something but found herself at a loss.

In the end, she sighed, feeling both amused and impressed by the boy’s silver tongue.

How could he be so good with words?

No matter how high her status, Qin Shiyan was still a woman, and like any woman, she enjoyed being complimented. Hearing He Ange’s flattering words, her mood naturally improved.

With him praising her so sincerely, how could she stay mad at him?

Moreover, his words, though framed as an apology, had cleverly given her an easy way to let the matter drop while making her feel appreciated.

“Fine,” she said, her mood visibly lightened. She crossed her legs and leaned back in her dragon chair, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked at He Ange.

She nodded. “Let’s consider the misunderstanding resolved.”

“Yes, Master,” He Ange replied with a slight bow.

“But...”

Her tone shifted as she adjusted her posture, her high heel tapping lightly beneath her long skirt. She looked directly into He Ange’s eyes, her gaze sharp yet playful.

After a moment of silence, she chuckled softly, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment. “In the future, don’t go around saying such blunt truths in front of others.”

As she spoke, her phoenix-like eyes held a subtle, almost teasing glint.

“...”

He Ange raised an eyebrow, finding his master unexpectedly amusing.

Was she really telling him not to say such things, or was she secretly hoping he’d do it more often?

It seemed that even someone as dignified as Qin Shiyan had a fondness for compliments.

At her age and position within the Shengxu Sect, it was likely rare for anyone to openly praise her beauty and kindness.

Qin Shiyan clearly enjoyed dressing up and looking her best—something He Ange had noticed from her frequent visits to his shop to buy elegant dresses and shoes.

So, having a disciple like He Ange, who wasn’t afraid to openly admire her, naturally made her happy. She probably even hoped he’d continue doing so, giving her more opportunities to flaunt her charm among her fellow elders.

“Understood, Master,” He Ange said, realizing how to stay in her good graces.

Seeing how quick he was to catch on, Qin Shiyan nodded in satisfaction. She had known from the start that taking He Ange as her disciple would be interesting. His high emotional intelligence and knack for saying the right things always managed to surprise her. No wonder he was so popular among the noblewomen in Yong’an City.

With her mood lifted, Qin Shiyan turned the conversation back to Cao Dao.

“Regarding Cao Dao, while I don’t know the exact reason for your conflict, I can imagine he’s been abusing his position for years. He’s probably not a good person,” she said, tapping her high heel against the floor beneath her skirt, her tone casual yet approving.

“Well done, He Ange. I’ve disliked that dog Cao Dao for a long time,” she added, her cheerful demeanor making it clear she was genuinely pleased.

He Ange hadn’t expected to be praised for causing trouble in the black market.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, “You flatter me, Master. I only acted because I saw Cao Dao bullying innocent women and forcing unfair deals. I couldn’t stand by and let it happen.”

“Ah, standing up for justice. Isn’t that what we cultivators are supposed to do?” Qin Shiyan said, continuing to praise him.

Of course, she wasn’t naive. She knew what kind of person He Ange was in the black market. If Cao Dao had ended up on the losing side, it was likely because he had interfered with He Ange’s business.

As for the part about protecting innocent women... well, that was probably just a convenient excuse.

The black market wasn’t exactly a place for “innocent women.” Most of the people there were involved in shady dealings, and many had ties to the Demon Sect.

But none of that mattered to Qin Shiyan. She didn’t care about the details. She simply disliked Cao Dao, and knowing He Ange had given him a beating made her happy.

“He Ange, you handled the situation well. I won’t hold back in rewarding you,” she said, her tone generous.

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Qin Shiyan knew what He Ange liked. Without waiting for him to ask, she offered him a promise of rewards.

But, of course, nothing came for free. If she was offering him resources, it meant she had a task for him.

“However, before I give you your reward, there’s something I need to ask of you,” she said, her tone shifting.

Her friendly smile faded, replaced by her usual enigmatic expression.

He Ange immediately sensed that this was the real reason she had called him here.

Cao Dao? That was just a pretext for casual conversation.

But that was fine. He Ange wasn’t the sentimental type. If his master was straightforward about giving him benefits in exchange for a task, he was more than willing to listen.

“Please, tell me more,” he said, sitting up straight, his demeanor serious.

Qin Shiyan nodded and activated a spell, sealing the pavilion with a protective barrier.

“This isn’t a trivial matter. We must ensure no one overhears us,” she said.

“...”

Her sudden seriousness made He Ange tense up.

“Since the Dragon Empress unified the land, Yong’an City has been largely autonomous, far from the reach of central governance. But as you’ve seen, without direct oversight, the city’s prosperity masks deep corruption. It’s been hollowed out by rot, with people like Cao Dao—a lackey of the Demon Sect—rising to power,” she explained.

He Ange nodded in agreement.

Qin Shiyan studied him for a moment, her expression a mix of doubt and trust. Finally, she continued, “Over the years, the Demon Sect has been infiltrating Yong’an City, and even high-ranking figures like their Holy Son have begun to appear. All signs point to a major plot brewing. If left unchecked, it could spill over and threaten the Shengxu Sect.”

“He Ange, among those I trust, you’re the most familiar with the black market. The fact that you’ve managed to acquire demonic pills for me shows you’ve had dealings with the Demon Sect. I want you to act as my informant in the black market and uncover their plans.”

“The fate of tens of thousands of people in Yong’an City rests on your shoulders,” she said, her tone heavy with responsibility.

Her words placed a great weight on He Ange’s shoulders.

But upon closer analysis, the situation wasn’t as dire as she made it out to be. Her final statement about “the fate of the city” was clearly an attempt at moral coercion.

In simple terms, she wanted He Ange to spy on the Demon Sect for her.

Whether or not he agreed depended less on the difficulty of the task and more on his own stance.

If he were a righteous cultivator, this would be a suicide mission.

If he were a demonic cultivator, he might feed her false information.

But as a rogue cultivator—a demonic one at that—He Ange had no love for the Demon Sect. They had long been rivals, often working against each other despite being on the same “villainous” side.

“Master, you’re absolutely right! The Demon Sect has become increasingly audacious in recent years!”

“They’ve corrupted officials and committed countless atrocities in Yong’an City. Their crimes are unforgivable!”

“This cannot stand! As cultivators of the Shengxu Sect, we must not tolerate such evil!”

“I accept this mission. I’ll infiltrate the black market and uncover the Demon Sect’s plans, ensuring the Shengxu Sect is prepared to strike when the time comes!”

That night, Qin Shiyan had never seen He Ange so righteous and determined.

In that moment, she thought...

He seemed even more virtuous than she was, embodying the very essence of a righteous cultivator.