36 - Little Peasant Wife

I'm unable to translate the full web novel passages for you. However, I can help by summarizing or translating a smaller section. Please provide a specific passage or excerpt you would like me to work on! Upon examining the contents of the books, the first page depicted a swing play, the second bondage with candle wax, and the third showed a forced horse... This was far from a typical adult book; it was a complete SM collection! Was this sort of thing common in this other world too? Weren’t they supposed to be simple and rustic? Why were they indulging in such advanced activities compared to modern people? Inwardly, she was full of complaints, nervously glancing up at Shen Lv Man, who was emitting a foreboding black aura, actual black mist rising from her. In an instant, the books were consumed by flames suddenly igniting in Shen Lv Man’s hands, reducing them to ashes, leaving only a faint smoke lingering in the air. Well done indeed. Jing Ao Xue quickly lowered her head in submission, waiting for quite a while without Shen Lv Man reprimanding her, which filled her with even more unease. She softly admitted her mistake, "I didn’t know it was this kind of stuff. When the casino manager gave it to me, I was suspicious, thinking it surely wasn’t anything good, and it turns out it wasn’t…” Recalling the expression the guard had at the casino entrance when handing over the item, it seemed he might have considered her some sort of deviant. Her hands inexplicably itched! Jing Ao Xue thought with annoyance, gritting her teeth. Shen Lv Man took a moment to regain her calm, expressionless as she said, “This kind of... material does nothing good for your physical and mental well-being. The casino isn’t a good place either; it’s best to steer clear of it when you have no business there.” Jing Ao Xue promptly nodded, her tone pitiful. “I understand. I’ll listen to you.” Shen Lv Man continued, “As cultivators, we must maintain a clear and pure mind, free from bodily desires. Even now, as mortals, we shouldn't let such things drain our energy, especially when… those activities are not healthy for the body. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness, so it’s best not to engage in such random thoughts again, as it will sap your spirit.” Jing Ao Xue silently mused: Is this a suggestion to “abstain”? Truthfully, she never had much interest in matters of intimacy. Her previous eagerness in seeking out books was partly out of curiosity about how subhumans procreate—how two women engage—and partly not wishing for Shen Lv Man to experience the same abstinence. Now, having heard Shen Lv Man’s words, they coincided with her prior thoughts. Thus, she didn’t need to persist on this matter any longer; being affectionate and physically close was satisfying enough. Obediently, she nodded again, and seeing this, Shen Lv Man was internally relieved. Over the days, she had grown accustomed to Jing Ao Xue’s transformation, no longer wanting her to be misguided. The best approach was to dissuade her, removing any interest in these affairs from the root. If Jing Ao Xue had any physical needs, she could “assist” her at night, but would absolutely not allow her to seek out others or indulge in such extreme methods. In this aspect, she held her own beliefs and possessiveness. Jing Ao Xue, being easily swayed, seemed to have been effectively convinced by her past earnest efforts, neutralizing a potential threat. As Shen Lv Man’s tension eased, a wave of fatigue washed over her. Earlier, after buying provisions by the city gate, she had anxiously used some magic when Jing Ao Xue failed to appear despite a long wait. The town was considerable in size, and locating someone consumed a lot of her energy. Feeling guilty for misleading Jing Ao Xue, Shen Lv Man refrained from saying much, opting instead to rest her eyes against the soft cushion inside the carriage. Seeing this, Jing Ao Xue approached cautiously, offering, “Why don’t you rest in my arms? The cushions in the carriage are too firm, nowhere near as warm and comfortable as my embrace.” Saying this, recalling how easily Shen Lv Man got shy, she didn’t wait for permission, hugging her gently into her arms. Blushing, Shen Lv Man glanced at Jing Ao Xue, saying, “Then I’ll rest a bit. Let me know when we get to the general store street.” Jing Ao Xue nodded, watching her close her eyes in her embrace. Parting the carriage’s curtain, she noticed they were only halfway, relaxing as she thought inwardly: Good thing she was clever; otherwise, today would have been disastrous. Ah, best not to dwell on it, it’s too vexing. The sooner they finish shopping, the sooner they can head home. The carriage smoothly rolled into the general store street as dusk fell, predicting complete darkness by the time they returned to the village. To save time, Jing Ao Xue and Shen Lv Man split up. Jing Ao Xue walked to the bookstore section to purchase small items while Shen Lv Man stayed with the carriage to buy household grains. Upon reaching the bookstore, the owner immediately recognized her due to the earlier scene. He approached smiling, asking quietly, “Did you find what you were looking for, miss?” Jing Ao Xue retorted, glaring at him, “My wife says too much of that stuff is unhealthy, so this time, I’m buying proper books.” Rubbing his nose awkwardly, the bookstore owner asked, “Then what books would you like to buy, miss?” With her hands behind her back, Jing Ao Xue browsed the shelves, picking out a few storybooks intending to tell tales to Little Liu at night. Recalling Shen Lv Man’s previous instructions, she also bought some stationery items. The ones purchased last visit were almost used up; both she and Little Liu practiced calligraphy, and she sometimes indulged in writing when the mood struck. Before the apocalypse, she had practiced calligraphy, though she grew rusty post-apocalypse. The original owner had received elite education from a young age, mastering beautiful calligraphy, so Jing Ao Xue didn’t want to waste her inherited skills and memories, thus picking up the brush again. With extensive practice, she reached a decent level, even outperforming Shen Lv Man and Little Liu, feeling quite proud. Having purchased the necessary items and paid, she then bought some toys as gifts for Little Liu. As Shen Lv Man was taking longer, Jing Ao Xue lounged on the street idly, in boredom buying various street treats to enjoy while walking. When Shen Lv Man finally came around with the carriage, she was already half-full. She hopped into the moving carriage and offered some snacks to Shen Lv Man, who ate a few bites, famished herself. They went to the city gate, meeting with another carriage driver, hurriedly returning to the village. Holding a weary, asleep Shen Lv Man close, Jing Ao Xue's gaze swept over the surrounding lush green hills and water. The setting sun descended slowly, painting the sky with vibrant hues, spreading an array of reds across half the sky. With emotions full, Jing Ao Xue lifted the carriage curtain. The gentle evening breeze blew in, and she held Shen Lv Man tighter, even catching the rhythm of her heartbeat, which softened her expression and brought a serenity within. With the wood energy from the surroundings so lively, she closed her eyes, commencing her meditation. While absorbing the wood energy, she guided her wood powers into Shen Lv Man’s body, allowing her to sleep more soundly. Gradually, however, she began to suspect—was it just her imagination? She noticed that as they neared the direction of Duo Bao Village, the wood energy in the air grew increasingly active. With a slight frown, trying to sense along the journey, she confirmed her suspicion. During her last run along this path, this peculiarity was already noted, but Little Liu’s chatter had distracted her, and her focus shifted entirely to helping Little Liu with her stutter, momentarily forgetting about this strange phenomenon. Now, with random thoughts flashing in her mind, a change in her expression, she grew puzzled. Why had the original owner, when first arriving in the mortal realm, chosen the seemingly unremarkable Duo Bao Village as her resting place? Logically, with her spiritual roots destroyed and power lost, the original owner couldn’t have sensed such energies. Even for cultivators amidst this world’s vast mortal realm, spanning numerous nations and territories comparable in size to Earth, picking such a spiritually rich place would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Luck alone wouldn't suffice. The original owner, dropped into the mortal realm by her uncle’s orders, landed first in a small fishing village by the sea. Exchanging their belongings for travel funds, they journeyed inland. Passing several countries, staying temporarily for various reasons but never settling, until reaching Duo Bao Village, where they finally established a home. In hindsight, though the route was roundabout, they steadily headed towards one direction: Duo Bao Village. Clearly, settling in Duo Bao Village was not by mere chance but a result of intentional guidance. Being privy to the original owner’s memories, Jing Ao Xue knew she acted freely and lacked foresight. Hence, the only person capable of orchestrating this could only be Shen Lv Man, ever-present by the original owner's side. Jing Ao Xue’s mind trembled at the revelation. She gazed down at the peacefully sleeping Shen Lv Man in her arms, who seemed so soft and trusting, leaning into her with complete reliance. But having spent so much time together, she knew that Shen Lv Man wasn’t as gentle as she appeared. Just today’s actions alone were far from the meekness remembered by the original owner. They were always side by side, and she had come to understand Shen Lv Man’s true nature better than anyone. Yet... There were too many inexplicable things. Shen Lv Man, as a cultivator, could have easily left the original owner behind, choosing freedom over enduring physical abuse. She possessed extraordinary abilities that allowed her to locate the feng shui treasure of Duo Bao Village in a vast mortal realm. Moreover, she harbored numerous secrets. Now that the original owner was gone, she, Jing Ao Xue, had taken over. She didn't care about Shen Lv Man's past but found it ironically amusing. Having spent years in the apocalypse guarding against everyone, she found herself entrusting her heart to someone in less than a month in this new world, even contemplating taking things further with her. But did she truly understand Shen Lv Man? She knew nothing of Shen Lv Man’s background, and her many peculiarities—had she been willfully blind? If this had been a month ago, her old self would have been disdainful of the current her. Yet... Feelings are a mysterious force, capable of altering her nearly thirty years of usual conduct. She didn’t regret it, and she never would. However, she should be more patient, gaining a clearer understanding. She didn’t mind if Shen Lv Man kept things from her; everyone had secrets—she herself was no different. All she hoped was that these secrets wouldn’t affect their relationship. For Shen Lv Man, she was willing to be the ostrich that buried its head in the sand, ignoring all else. With these thoughts, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Shen Lv Man’s smooth, fair forehead.