...
Sixth Elder refuted, “That child Song Yao... although this matter is inseparable from her, if anyone is truly to blame, it’s Ye Chang’an.”
“If he had truly been devoted to Tangtang, how could all these subsequent events have occurred?”
“He was beaten black and blue by Tangtang, yet still had the nerve to go back and complain. Now he’s marrying the Saintess of Beiyao Sect, with a boundless future, but who knows how Tangtang is faring in the Wen family.”
The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Jiang Jin stammered from the side, “It can’t all be Senior Ye’s fault, can it? Maybe Song Yao used some underhanded methods...”
Mid-sentence, he felt Sixth Elder’s sharp gaze and swallowed his words.
He turned to look at the silently observing Song Yao, trying to cover his tracks, “Junior Sister Lin, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Song Yao lowered her head, her long, slender eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes.
She had been wondering before: the later plot deviations might be due to her accidental interference, but why had the earlier plot also twisted in such a way?
In the book, Ye Chang’an returned to apologize to Fifth Junior Sister, and though Fifth Junior Sister didn't immediately agree, she ambiguously entangled with him for a long time before eventually falling for Jiang Jin, and the matter was finally dropped.
Now, Fifth Junior Sister not only hadn't accepted him but had also beaten him up directly and returned to the Wen family.
And now, the Wen family's people forcibly entering the forbidden grounds and trying to kill Second Senior Sister—these were all events outside the original plot.
She understood Fifth Junior Sister. The girl was bright and cheerful, always with crescent-shaped eyes, saying she loved everyone in Nine Saints Hall.
Every time they entered the demon realm or encountered danger, she would try to shield everyone.
Every time she caused trouble or did something bad, Fifth Junior Sister would kneel even faster than her, begging the elders and master to forgive her.
Such a good girl, even if corrupted, would only hate her, not allow the Wen family to attack Nine Saints Hall.
The only possibility was that something had happened to Fifth Junior Sister.
The atmosphere grew somewhat tense. Sixth Elder reached out and rubbed Song Yao’s head. “Were you scared? You took quite a hit just now. Both of you should go back and rest well. Don’t spread word of today’s events for now; we will find a way to investigate it thoroughly.”
Song Yao came back to her senses. “What about Second Senior Sister...?”
Sixth Elder said, “Ah Zhao is temporarily out of danger. The main peak has a barrier, so let her rest there. You two take good care of her, and I will come daily to treat her injuries.”
Jiang Jin quickly replied, “Sixth Elder, rest assured, we will definitely take good care of Second Senior Sister.”
The small courtyard had a total of two rooms.
One room housed cauldrons, piled high with Qi-Replenishing Pills, leaving no space to even step.
The other was a bedroom.
In late spring, early summer, a gust of wind made the main peak so cold one could wrap themselves in a quilt.
Considering her weakened body might not survive a night freezing outside, Song Yao had no choice but to share a room with Zhu Zhao.
The room was quiet. Song Yao hugged a thick quilt, placed it in a corner, curled up into a ball, and opened a pill manual, preparing to lull herself to sleep.
Just as she yawned, Zhu Zhao suddenly sat up on the bed not far away.
Moonlight slanted in through the window frame. Dressed in a white nightgown, with black hair cascading over her shoulders, her face was pale, and her dark eyes stared fixedly at Song Yao.
Song Yao: “!!”
A ghost!
Her drowsiness was instantly scared away. Before she could react, Zhu Zhao was already standing before her, barefoot.
She reached out, grabbed Song Yao’s collar, and lifted her straight out of the quilt.
Song Yao: “...”
Struggling twice to no avail, she waved a hand in front of Zhu Zhao’s eyes, tentatively asking, “Second, Second Senior Sister, are you not feeling well? If you’re not, should I go find Sixth Elder?”
Zhu Zhao didn’t speak. She raised her hand, snatched the Bishui Sword leaning against the table, and threw it into Song Yao’s arms.
The hard sword sheath thudded against Song Yao’s chest, making her feel a dull ache. Zhu Zhao’s voice was icy in her ear, “Didn’t you want to compete with me? Fight.”
Song Yao’s heart skipped a beat.
Zhu Zhao often said these words to her in her previous life. Could it be...?
She looked up again. In the night, Second Senior Sister’s pupils were veiled in a mist. It didn't look like she recognized her, but rather like the dark poison had flared up, causing a nightmare.
Why was she fighting her even in a nightmare?
Just how deep was this obsession?
Song Yao’s face crumpled like a steamed bun. She reminded her, “Second Senior Sister, I’m Lin Mu, a pill cultivator. I don’t fight.”
Zhu Zhao’s grip loosened slightly, her movements clearly pausing.
Song Yao breathed a sigh of relief.
She could still communicate. Good, good.
Just as she was about to sneak away, before she could move—
The hand gripping her collar suddenly tightened again.
Malevolence surged in Zhu Zhao’s eyes, coupled with an indescribable obsession. She lifted Song Yao fiercely and slammed her against the wall with a "bang," saying, “Who allowed you to die? If you’re going to die, you’ll die by my hand!”
With that, she raised her hand and struck at Song Yao, her palm strike sharp and fierce.
Song Yao gasped, ignoring the pain in her back.
No way.
This lunatic was serious!
She just knew she hated Zhu Zhao!!
The Bishui Sword flew up, barely deflecting the incoming palm strike.
Song Yao used all her strength to break free, then ran out into the courtyard with a tear-streaked face.
Zhu Zhao pursued relentlessly. Even poisoned, her speed was like lightning.
Song Yao was still clutching the pill manual. Several times she nearly got caught, and she felt like crying from running.
Wasn’t she a pill cultivator?
Wasn’t she supposed to be an ordinary person?
Why was she still being chased to be killed?
Just as Song Yao was wondering whether to jump off a cliff to survive, as she had in her previous life, a heavy thud sounded behind her.
Zhu Zhao fell stiffly to the ground, having fainted.
Song Yao didn’t dare to relax. She ran a few more steps, leaned against a tree, gasping for breath, and observed Zhu Zhao.
Only after confirming that Zhu Zhao wouldn't suddenly "reanimate" did she cautiously walk over, squat down, poke her head, and drag her back into the room.
After immense effort to get Zhu Zhao onto the bed, Song Yao sat on the edge, rummaging through the talismans in her spatial pouch, wondering what she could use to restrain Zhu Zhao.
If Zhu Zhao were to suddenly get up and fight her again at night, with Song Yao’s sleep quality, she might as well just die.
The talismans were quite expensive; most were given to her by He Yu previously.
Hesitating, unwilling to use any of them, and still deliberating, a pale, cold hand suddenly reached out from behind her, grabbing her wrist with a force so great it felt like it would embed itself in her flesh.
Song Yao’s heart trembled.
Again?
She subconsciously tried to summon the Bishui Sword. She turned her head to look, but Zhu Zhao was still lying down, showing no intention of fighting her.
Only cold sweat seeped from her temples, her eyes were half-closed, and her voice was hoarse. She clutched Song Yao and mumbled, “Song Yao, can you... not go to the Earth Realm?”
Song Yao: “...”
The cold wind in the courtyard brought clarity.
After settling Zhu Zhao, Song Yao walked around outside for a bit before returning to her corner, curling up into a ball, and obediently going to sleep.
She hadn't expected Zhu Zhao to say that.
Zhu Zhao had always disliked her, hated her to the extreme, wishing to get rid of her as quickly as possible.
Yet now, Zhu Zhao said, "Can you not go to the Earth Realm?"
Was she reluctant to lose her evenly matched opponent?
How rare.
Song Yao twitched the corner of her lips, her mind a mess.
She couldn't understand.
She really couldn't understand these people.
Rate on N.U.
