129.1 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

In the novel chapter, "Chapter 129: Spirit Pearl," the fiery flames slowly consumed Lin Yanghui's body along a pale golden line that started from his tail and burned away all his flesh and blood. Even the falling blood droplets were consumed by the fire. After Lin Yanghui disappeared without a trace, the dark red flames quickly dissipated, leaving only some rising black mist. Wei Nanyi extended his hand, his pearly white fingertips glowed with a faint halo, and with a light touch, the slowly rising black mist gradually turned into tiny specks of light, which slowly faded away, disappearing without a trace. Not a single trace was left behind. In the tent, there were low, sobbing sounds that quickly fell silent. Shen Su looked over at Lin Qingqi, and by the candlelight, she saw the wet trails at the corners of her eyes and the tears glistening in her eyes. Lin Qingqi lightly bit her lip, her delicate white hand trembling as she curtsied. "Thank you, please come to my tent first." She did not relish in the joy of revenge but directed Shen Su and Wei Nanyi to her tent. They should leave by now, but Shen Su glanced hastily at Lin Qingqi. Though she wasn’t crying incessantly, her body was still trembling, and the hand that had held the knife was covered in bulging veins, shaking uncontrollably. It was better to see her back safely. Otherwise, if Lin Qingqi made a mistake in her panic, it wouldn’t be good. Following Lin Qingqi’s guidance, they quickly and silently entered her tent. The sky had long since turned dark, and after such a series of events, it was already deep into the night. They were about to leave, but Lin Qingqi blocked their path without a word, as if she had something to say. Shen Su lifted the tent flap, outside, the disciples of Sheng Lian Sect were patrolling two by two, chatting and laughing. It remained uncertain if they would still be able to laugh after discovering Lin Yanghui’s disappearance. Shen Su could sense the presence of the Elder's divine sense covering the Sheng Lian Sect’s encampment, but avoiding it wasn’t particularly difficult for Wei Nanyi. Wei Nanyi followed closely behind Shen Su, and with a faint golden shimmer on his fingertips, he raised a thin light barrier from the ground, merging it with the tent’s fabric. After completing this, he asked Lin Qingqi, who still appeared somewhat dazed, “Does the Young Sect Master have something to say to us?” Lin Qingqi took a deep breath and knelt before Shen Su and Wei Nanyi with a straight back, "Not only did you help me, but you also saved the one hundred and twenty-one souls imprisoned in the dungeon. We owe you a debt, and I will repay it." Shen Su had Xu Rong lift Lin Qingqi up. “Miss Qingqi, I didn’t kill him for your thanks, but because he wanted to kill me. I had no choice but to strike first. You needn’t keep this in your heart.” Lin Qingqi slowly clenched her fingers at her knees and firmly shook her head, “No, I must repay you.” Shen Su smiled, not taking Lin Qingqi's words to heart. She didn’t want Lin Qingqi’s gratitude, and Wei Nanyi wouldn’t want it either. If that’s all Lin Qingqi had to offer, they had no reason to stay. Shen Su smiled and was about to leave with Wei Nanyi. As they were about to leave the tent, Lin Qingqi stopped them, “Immortal Wei, Miss Lin, could you do me one more favor?” Shen Su turned around. Her eyes were full of eagerness. After long contemplation, Lin Qingqi finally mustered the courage to ask them. If rejected, she might not dare ask again. Shen Su didn’t see herself as soft-hearted, but she still stopped, “You have to tell us what it is so my husband and I can answer.” “I have two bones marked with a Heavenly Grade Spirit Severing Curse, using Lin Yanghui's spiritual root aura as the lead. It requires someone of equal cultivation level to remove the curse.” Though she seemed to be asking Shen Su, it was actually Wei Nanyi she was begging. In this room, even though Fox Sanbai had the same cultivation level as Lin Yanghui, he was a demon, and demons weren’t skilled in such spells. Since she knew Lin Qingqi was asking Wei Nanyi, Shen Su let Wei Nanyi make the decision. Wei Nanyi didn't agree immediately, and Lin Qingqi grew anxious. “I know the rules of the Secret Realm Trial, you need the Mirror of Compassion, don’t you? The Spirit Severing Curse affects spiritual power purity. With my current body, I wouldn’t be able to secure the Mirror of Compassion even as the successor.” Wei Nanyi showed signs of being moved, “Are you certain? It will be very painful. The Spirit Severing Curse is planted deep in the bones and binds with flesh and veins. To remove the curse, all the flesh, veins, and bones must be crushed, the curse broken, and the shattered pieces extracted. Lin Yanghui is dead; the curse won’t affect you anymore.” According to Wei Nanyi, there was no need for Lin Qingqi to endure such agony. Lin Qingqi’s determination was unexpected. “I want to help you and, now that he’s dead, nothing of his should remain.” “Very well.” Wei Nanyi agreed to help Lin Qingqi, and Shen Su had no reason to refuse her. Lin Qingqi lay on the edge of the bed, Wei Nanyi stood beside the bed and pulled out a three-finger wide short blade. The blade was so thin that candlelight faintly shone through it. The tip glowed with a reddish-brown hue, and even before it approached Lin Qingqi's back, it took on a blood hue, and a scent of blood spread in the tent. Fox Sanbai, curious about the Spirit Severing Curse, had taken a couple of steps forward. Seeing the blade Wei Nanyi held, he abruptly stepped back. Hearing the movement, Shen Su glanced at him curiously, “Elder Fox, what’s wrong?” Fox Sanbai looked at the blade gripped by Wei Nanyi and whispered to Shen Su, “See the blade? It has my blood on it.” That wasn’t surprising; Wei Nanyi’s own spiritual tools had been commandeered by Jiang An, and he now used Jiang Rui Ping's. Jiang Rui Ping had fought Fox Sanbai. Caught in a whirlpool of memories, Fox Sanbai looked somewhat ashen, “This blade is called ‘Cicada Wing’. True to its name, the blade is as thin as cicada wings yet extremely sharp. Once it enters the flesh, it easily crushes flesh and bones, so all one feels is pain and nothing else. It was Jiang Rui Ping's early instrument of torment.” Shen Su was shocked at first but then felt it was only natural since it involved Jiang Rui Ping. Expecting a murder weapon to be gentle and kind would be absurd. She fell silent, while Fox Sanbai hushed, watching Wei Nanyi’s fingertip glide along the blade, silver-white light lines appearing, rekindling some harsh memories. He couldn’t help but warn Shen Su, “Leader, everyone says Wei Nanyi is merciful, but you see Jiang Rui Ping’s ruthless methods. Could she be any different? Be cautious if you seek her as a Dao companion.” Fox Sanbai had been thoroughly traumatized. Shen Su’s gaze followed Wei Nanyi. With the blade in her hands, pale golden spiritual words flowed from her lips, turning into complex golden symbols that merged into the blade. Each symbol seemed to add a streak of blood to the blade. Wei Nanyi’s ears twitched slightly as if listening to something. Someone was eavesdropping. Unexpectedly, Wei Nanyi heard every word of Fox Sanbai’s provocations. Shen Su's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile as she watched Wei Nanyi's back and murmured, “My wife treats me well and would never hurt me.” Fox Sanbai softly shook his head. If not for Wei Nanyi, he would’ve grabbed Shen Su for a serious talk. Ultimately, he fell silent, watching Wei Nanyi break the curse. Seemingly focused on Wei Nanyi, Shen Su's eyes occasionally drifted to Wei Nanyi's blushing ears. Pushing aside stray thoughts, Shen Su watched as Wei Nanyi picked up the lamp from the table, the fire reflecting on the blade, light and shadow dancing on its silver-white surface. With a light flick, the blade's tip sent the lamp oil flying from the cup, splattering over Lin Qingqi’s back. As the oil hit it, a flame ignited, burning just enough to scorch the fabric. Once the flame died down, Lin Qingqi’s back was exposed with a burn mark. The mark was peculiar, forming an indistinguishable, irregular pattern. Lin Qingqi flinched, unconsciously biting into the cushion beneath her arms. Wei Nanyi didn't hesitate. Pale golden spiritual light emanated from his palm, first flowing into the wick of the oil lamp, then climbing up along it, wrapping around the short blade. The moment the spiritual light enclosed the blade, Wei Nanyi's hand holding it tilted, and the blade slipped from his grip. The blade, as if it had lost its weight, floated lightly like a falling leaf, slowly drifting toward the mark on Lin Qingqi's back. As soon as it touched the skin, the blade abruptly became sharp again. The tip pierced precisely through the center of the mark on her skin. The intense pain tormented Lin Qingqi’s nerves. She dared not make a sound and bit down more tightly on the soft cushion. In just an instant, the skin covered by the mark became a bloody mess under the 'Cicada Wing'. White fragments of bone were faintly visible, but in no time, her flesh turned black and ashen, even dyeing the bone fragments the same color. The mark vaguely pieced together on these fragments. Wei Nanyi then murmured a lengthy incantation, continuously channeling pale golden spiritual power into Lin Qingqi's wound. As the spiritual power flowed in, the black and ashen mark slowly faded. Once it completely vanished, Lin Qingqi's flesh and bone fragments returned to their normal color. Reaching out towards Lin Qingqi's back, Wei Nanyi made a slight gesture, and the 'Cicada Wing,' fully embedded in her body, flew out and returned to his hand. The bone fragments and flesh particles followed the short blade and scattered onto the ground. Tilting the oil lamp downward, the lamp oil and sparks fell, consuming the scattered fragments and bones entirely. Lin Qingqi was covered in cold sweat from the pain, with a bloody hole on her back. Wei Nanyi stopped her bleeding and gave her a pill to heal and restore her strength. "In four hours, your bones will regrow. During this time, you have to endure the pain and refrain from moving." Lin Qingqi weakly nodded, looking somewhat exhausted. "Thank you." Fortunately, she usually wasn't the type to have many visitors, apart from Xu Rong and Mu Yuan, hardly anyone disturbed her at night. By morning, her flesh and bones would have healed. But things tend to go wrong when you most fear them. "Miss Lin, are you asleep?" The barrier only obstructed sounds from inside going out, not the other way around. A soft female voice came from outside the tent. Lin Qingqi almost tried to sit up but fell back, pulling on her wound. The sudden voice was quite familiar. Shen Su felt she had heard it somewhere before. Before she could recall who it was, Xu Rong muttered softly, "Sister Bai is here." Bai. Someone Lin Qingqi knew with the surname Bai; Shen Su instinctively thought of Bai Ruoyi. Shen Su and Wei Nanyi exchanged glances, both simultaneously thinking of Bai Ruoyi’s other identity, the Heaven's Chosen Bride selected for Yu Muhuan by fate. The twelve spiritual roots are undoubtedly crucial for Yu Muhuan's future, especially Bai Ruoyi, who is connected to the twelfth root. Since none among them were familiar with Bai Ruoyi, they had planned to wait for Sheng Qingling to wake up and let her talk to Bai Ruoyi. They hadn't expected to encounter Bai Ruoyi here. Why was she visiting Lin Qingqi at this hour? Were they close? Shen Su had question after question in her mind as Lin Qingqi, pretending not to hear, quickly lay back down to feign sleep. "Miss Lin." The voice outside called again. Lin Qingqi's head, lying on the bed, lifted slightly, contemplating whether to respond. Meanwhile, Shen Su grabbed Xu Rong, “Is this Sister Bai from Mount Linxian Bai Ruoyi?” “Yes.” Xu Rong nodded. So it was Bai Ruoyi. Shen Su thought the voice sounded familiar. Scrutinizing Lin Qingqi, Shen Su asked Xu Rong, "Are they close?" Xu Rong firmly nodded, "Sister Lin usually isn't close to others. Mu Yuan and I often accompany her in our animal forms. Among living people, she’s most willing to talk to Sister Bai." “No, I’m not—Not close to Miss Bai.” Lin Qingqi, who had been silently listening, finally spoke, vehemently denying any familiarity with Bai Ruoyi. Wei Nanyi was, after all, from Mount Linxian. Bai Ruoyi was her junior disciple's student and Jiang Xu's senior. Although they hadn’t interacted much, there was still some relationship there. The voice from outside was cautiously gentle, worried about waking a sleeping person. While Bai Ruoyi was being careful, Lin Qingqi was outright denying their closeness. “She might feel hurt if she heard you say that.” Shen Su thought it was odd. "Is she above your social station or something?" “No, it’s not that.” Lin Qingqi denied quickly, forcing a bitter smile. “Miss Bai is a good person. If anyone should be aspiring for more, it’s me.” The proximity of the oil lamp cast a shadow on her face, making it hard to see her expression clearly, enveloping her in darkness. She wasn't complaining about Bai Ruoyi; she felt she herself wasn't worthy. Shen Su knelt by the bedside, meeting Lin Qingqi's eyes, “You said you owe me a favor. Does that still hold?” Silent, but her head nodded faintly. With sapphire blue eyes, Shen Su softly said, “Miss Qingqi, I hope you can ask Miss Bai for an orb.” Given the significant shock inflicted upon Sheng Qingling, it’s uncertain when she would wake. Shen Su and Wei Nanyi needed to acquire the Spiritual Breakthrough Orb before entering the secret realm to restore Shen Yinxue’s soul and link it to Yu Muhuan’s fate, thereby borrowing his destiny. Now might be a good opportunity. Standing in the night breeze, Bai Ruoyi's robes swayed gently. She stood upright, holding a bamboo basket filled with freshly picked peach-colored honey fruit. Disordered strands of hair partially obscured her view, yet she had been waiting for a reply in silence. Strange. Bai Ruoyi could see the faint light in Lin Qingqi’s tent. Why was there no response? Lin Qingqi wasn’t usually very sociable, but she would always speak a few words to her. Perhaps she should leave. However, the thought was quickly dismissed. Her master had always taught her to be kind and considerate towards others whenever possible. Although Sheng Qingling herself wasn’t exactly like that, she had mentioned these teachings came from her master. Sheng Qingling might not have followed them well, but the teachings were undoubtedly right. Bai Ruoyi believed her master’s principles couldn’t be wrong. Thus, she felt it was right to show some concern for Lin Qingqi. Yu Muhuan and the others claimed Lin Qingqi was unsociable and indifferent, never showing gratitude, even to those who treated her well. But Lin Qingqi had saved her twice, even though she had caused her harm twice as well. Bai Ruoyi considered Lin Qingqi to be easy to get along with, provided a respectful distance was maintained. Crossing her comfort zone made her uneasy. But that wasn’t an issue. Friendship required mutual adjustment. If Lin Qingqi preferred her not to get too close, she would keep a distance. She didn’t believe Yu Muhuan and the others were right because she hadn’t found Lin Qingqi difficult at all. Though Lin Qingqi didn’t appear weak, that made her situation even more pitiable. She behaved cautiously more often than not, like a hedgehog that had its limbs severed and spikes pulled out, only to regrow them. It was merely her mistrust of others. Still no response; was she in trouble? Bai Ruoyi wasn’t sure if Lin Qingqi was avoiding people or indeed in trouble. Tilting her head, she slowly peeked into Lin Qingqi's tent, pushing open the tent flap, her gaze sweeping inside. She saw Lin Qingqi lying on the bed, eyes closed, breathing weakly, with a pale face and a significant wound on her back. She had known Lin Qingqi had no close friends in the Sheng Lian Sect. But she hadn’t expected that, even injured, their Young Sect Master had no one to care for her. Lifting the tent flap, Bai Ruoyi entered the tent with the bamboo basket. She quickly walked to the bedside, placing the basket down. “Miss Lin, you’re hurt.” Bai Ruoyi’s voice roused the half-conscious Lin Qingqi. Opening her eyes, she saw Bai Ruoyi but hesitated to speak. (Note: This work is updated timely by the author, Jiao Jian. Remember to follow the story for updates.) "I'll take a look at your wound," Bai Ruoyi suggested, but before she could approach, Lin Qingqi grabbed the bed cover and pulled it over herself. The sudden movement and pressure on the wound caused fresh blood to spill out, soaking the cover. The pristine white blanket quickly turned a vivid red as if scarlet flowers were blooming on it. Bai Ruoyi hadn't expected Lin Qingqi to refuse even to show her wound. She was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure. She placed a bottle of medicinal pills on the bedside table. "Miss Lin, I will come back to check on you another day." She understood that Lin Qingqi wasn’t keen on being close to others, especially with a back injury. As Bai Ruoyi was about to leave, Lin Qingqi finally murmured quietly, "Miss Bai...” Her retreating steps hesitated. Bai Ruoyi was genuinely pleased that Lin Qingqi had called out to her. A smile appeared on her face. "Miss Lin, are you willing to let me see your wound?" Lin Qingqi glanced at her. Her gaze was filled with warmth. She couldn’t bring herself to lie. Lin Qingqi deflated and returned to lying silently on the cushion. Bai Ruoyi was contemplating whether to take the initiative and approach when the tent flap was lifted again. This time, Xu Rong entered, carrying a basin of steaming hot water. Surprised to see Bai Ruoyi in the tent, she said, "Sister Bai, what brings you here?" Xu Rong, who usually appeared in her animal form, wasn't recognized by Bai Ruoyi, though she recognized Xu Rong's voice. "Are you Xu Rong?" Xu Rong nodded, placing the hot water near the bed. A soft cloth was then gently pressed onto Lin Qingqi's sweaty face. Seeing someone who could speak properly in the tent, Bai Ruoyi urgently inquired, "What happened to Miss Lin?" "When we were out today, we encountered a bear demon. Without any reasoning, it attacked us. Miss Lin was injured protecting me. The demon's innate ability seemed quite special; after Miss Lin came back, she couldn’t speak properly. Elder Sheng examined her and said her soul was damaged. She’s taken Golden Water Pills, but those can only stabilize the soul, not repair it." Xu Rong, seemingly trusting Bai Ruoyi completely, revealed everything she knew. Afterward, she glanced outside the tent and lowered her voice, "Please, Sister Bai, don't spread this around. The Secret Realm trial is urgent, and if Miss Lin’s condition gets out, who knows what trouble it might cause." "Don't worry, I won’t tell anyone." Bai Ruoyi was genuinely concerned, her eyes falling on the cloth that Xu Rong was using to wipe Lin Qingqi’s sweat, hindering her view. "No wonder she wouldn’t speak to me; her soul must be damaged." Bai Ruoyi's gaze slowly traveled to the blood-soaked covers. She bit her lip, seemingly making a decision. "Brother Yu has an orb that can heal souls." She thought of Yu Muhuan and suddenly disappeared from the tent. Once Bai Ruoyi vanished, Xu Rong stopped wiping Lin Qingqi’s sweat and hurriedly pulled back the cover to stop the bleeding. Lin Qingqi, biting the cushion, uttered not a sound despite the pain. Shen Su and others, who had temporarily hidden outside, emerged gradually. Luckily, Bai Ruoyi was just at the peak of the Golden Core stage, not particularly powerful. There were many ways for them to avoid her detection, not even needing to use Full Star Jade. They had listened to all the commotion outside. Wei Nanyi looked at Xu Rong with some surprise, while Fox Sanbai couldn’t help but express his amazement, "This young girl is a better liar than our tribe’s little foxes." Hearing Fox Sanbai’s voice, Xu Rong hesitated with the cloth in her hand. Among them, the only one who didn’t seem surprised was Shen Su. "Xiao Su, how did you know Xu Rong could manage?" It was clear that Lin Qingqi couldn’t bring herself to lie to Bai Ruoyi earlier, so Shen Su had called Xu Rong in. Xu Rong’s fabrication was surprisingly seamless. Shen Su glanced at Xu Rong, then at Mu Yuan, explaining to Wei Nanyi, "Those raised by Lin Shuiyan probably know a thing or two." Reuniting at Biyou Valley, Shen Su had noticed that nine out of ten kids raised by Lin Shuiyan possessed certain traits. Lin Shuiyan’s life principle was to become the most cunning among the strong. For those growing up under her wing, learning to deceive was expected; it was a wonder they hadn’t all developed cutting remarks like hers. It was rather unexpected that Bai Ruoyi went to ask Yu Muhuan without even needing Xu Rong to mention the Spiritual Breakthrough Orb. Her kindness was genuine, as was her concern for Lin Qingqi. With bleeding staunched, Lin Qingqi lay in bed, enveloped in a cloud of gloom, murmuring to herself, "I lied to her, but... she’s so good to me, I shouldn’t have lied." Why was she so fixated on this? Fortunately, Xu Rong had stepped in. Otherwise, if it were left for Lin Qingqi to confess, her guilt might have overwhelmed her. Shen Su corrected Lin Qingqi, “It was Xu Rong who lied, not you.” Lin Qingqi’s gaze lifted, feebly focusing on Wei Nanyi and Shen Su. She spoke with an air of desolation and helplessness, “I... I was also part of it.” Shen Su was momentarily unsure whether to commend her sense of responsibility or advise her against bearing such a heavy burden. Her sparkling eyes shifted slightly, prompting Shen Su to have an idea. “Miss Qingqi, since you lied to her, you can make up for it by saving her.” “Save her?” Both Fox Sanbai and Wei Nanyi looked toward Shen Su. Seeing their collective gaze, Shen Su pursed her lips, “Dear, Bai Ruoyi is the Heaven's Bride, isn’t she?” She had considered it. They needed someone to talk to Bai Ruoyi anyway. Whether it was Sheng Qingling or Lin Qingqi, they both could. Having two familiar faces discuss it might make her believe it more, thereby mitigating Lin Qingqi’s guilt. Additionally, involving Lin Qingqi could prove advantageous. Now that Lin Qinghuai and Lin Yanghui were dead, Lin Qingqi was the legitimate Young Sect Master of Sheng Lian Sect. Given the urgency of the Secret Realm, Sheng Lian Sect would likely hasten her appointment as Sect Master despite her lower strength, supported by the sect’s elders. If she was willing to help... The Big Four Sects would then have two major allies. In Lingxian Mountain, Jiang An's authority even surpassed Sheng Qingling’s. Until Jiang An's downfall, he couldn’t be counted among their allies. Lin Qingqi, drawn by Shen Su's words, couldn’t help but ask, “Heaven’s Bride? What is a Heaven’s Bride?” “Miss Qingqi, what do you think of Yu Muhuan?” Rather than immediately answering her, Shen Su posed a question. At the mention of Yu Muhuan, Lin Qingqi uneasily rubbed her arm, a hint of aversion appearing in her eyes, though her tone remained calm, “He is someone Miss Bai likes, but he is not a good man. I’ve seen him entangled with other female cultivators. I’ve advised Miss Bai, but she didn’t seem to care much. She’s just concerned about how sincere Yu Muhuan’s feelings are.” Listening to Yu Muhuan and Bai Ruoyi’s conversation, Shen Su had initially thought Bai Ruoyi didn’t have much affection for him. Now, it seemed that wasn’t entirely true. She must have feelings for Yu Muhuan. Being the Heaven's Bride, she originally owned the most complete story, the most genuine affection. With deviations occurring, her love for Yu Muhuan was also altering. Bai Ruoyi wasn’t a woman to be won over with mere fondness. She certainly had affection, and even deep affection. But Lin Qingqi... Shen Su squinted slightly. “You dislike him?” Lin Qingqi didn’t deny it. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “If he wasn’t someone Miss Bai liked, I would have killed him.” When mentioning killing, a fierce glint appeared in Lin Qingqi’s eyes. It turned out she, like Jiang Xu, stood on the side of extreme hatred, restrained only because of Bai Ruoyi's feelings for Yu Muhuan. However, her distance from Yu Muhuan was likely a factor. Unlike Jiang Xu, Lin Qingqi had fewer chances for conflict due to their different sects. As Shen Su pondered, Lin Qingqi’s gaze suddenly became clouded. “I don’t know how you knew I was Lin Qingqi and not Lin Qinghuai, but he didn’t. He seemed to have had feelings for Lin Qinghuai and harassed me, thinking I was Lin Qinghuai. I detest Lin Qinghuai and I detest him.” Shen Su bent slightly at the waist, a deep smile blossoming on her lips, “It's simple really. Because I killed Lin Qinghuai. I imagine this is good news for you as well.” “So she's really dead?” Lin Qingqi's murky gaze gradually cleared, a new light returning to her eyes, bringing a slight flush to her previously pallid face. "Good riddance." Sheng Lian Sect had never found Lin Qinghuai's body, which had always been a source of anxiety for Lin Qingqi. If Lin Yanghui was a villain, Lin Qinghuai was no less so. Both were born as cauldrons, yet Lin Qinghuai sided with Lin Yanghui due to their shared bloodline. When Lin Qinghuai took her face, Lin Qingqi was not as enraged. But being the victim turned the accomplice of the perpetrator, and being proud of it, was what Lin Qingqi despised the most. This news was music to her ears. “Thank you.” She had already expressed her gratitude to Shen Su and Wei Nanyi numerous times today. The nightmare that entangled her for nearly a century, which she thought invincible, requiring courage from others just to attempt escape, was now swiftly resolved. They died without a sound, leaving no trace behind. Shen Su didn’t let Lin Qingqi dwell in her thoughts for long. She looked deeply into Lin Qingqi’s eyes. “Lin Qingqi, you must know Master Gui Cang of Yanbi Mountain, renowned for his divination and foresight. Some days ago, Master Gui Cang predicted a disaster in Bai Ruoyi’s fate, a disaster where she would be killed by Yu Muhuan. Only by severing her emotional ties and ceasing to love Yu Muhuan can she escape this disaster.” She didn’t disclose the full truth to Lin Qingqi. Although she seemed more rational than Jiang Xu, she also stood on the extremes. Shen Su embellished the truth; though anyone with the twelve spiritual roots would die for Yu Muhuan, Bai Ruoyi wouldn’t. She would lose her true self and become subservient to him. She exaggerated only to ensure that Bai Ruoyi had someone to warn her. Gui Cang’s reputation was formidable. Even a newcomer like Lin Qingqi had heard the elders mention it when she arrived at Yanbi Mountain. However, she was puzzled, “Why would you have Master Gui Cang divine Bai Ruoyi’s fate?” Her distrust of Shen Su was understandable. Shen Su still held Wei Nanyi’s hand, bringing her closer, “Have you forgotten who my wife is?” That face, that person, that name—she had just heard Lin Yanghui call it out. “Wei Nanyi, once the eldest senior sister of Linxian Mountain, who was supposed to inherit the position of sect leader, also Bai Ruoyi’s martial aunt...” Finally understanding the relationship more clearly, Lin Qingqi believed Shen Su a bit more. Shen Su, skilled in turning situations to her advantage, followed up on Lin Qingqi’s words, “Bai Ruoyi is my wife’s junior disciple’s student. Strictly speaking, she should call me ‘Martial Uncle's Wife.’ I care about her and had Master Gui Cang divine her fate—what’s wrong with that?” "Martial Uncle's Wife?" Lin Qingqi's face stiffened, looking at Wei Nanyi, hesitant to speak. Wei Nanyi felt embarrassed under Lin Qingqi’s gaze. Feeling the scrutiny of her juniors often unnerved her. Lin Qingqi hesitated before blurting out to Shen Su, “You, you're better than Jiang An.” Wei Nanyi was always concerned about how people perceived her relationship with Shen Su, thinking they did not match in terms of appearance or status. However, most people, upon realizing she was Wei Nanyi, thought Shen Su wasn't worthy of her. Unlike Wei Nanyi, Shen Su wasn’t intimidated by Lin Qingqi’s gaze and remained unfazed. Hearing Lin Qingqi compare her to Jiang An made her slightly annoyed. Her eyes shifted and she suddenly said, “You and Ruoyi are peers, even friends. By seniority, you should call me Martial Uncle's Wife, too.” “Xiao Su,” Wei Nanyi shook her head helplessly at Shen Su. This wasn’t the first time—Shen Su had previously joked about Shen Yinxue calling her Martial Aunt’s Husband. Why was she so keen on gaining these seniority titles? Lin Qingqi was taken aback, then hastily shook her head, “You are Miss Bai’s elder; how can I call you that? I am not worthy.” Wei Nanyi’s words got stuck in her throat. It was easy to see that Lin Qingqi held herself in very low esteem. Wei Nanyi was generally soft-hearted when it came to those she didn’t have to kill. She reached out, wanting to comfort Lin Qingqi, but midway through, she retracted her hand, softly saying, “It’s just a title. If you want to follow her call, you can undoubtedly do so.” Such reassurances evidently weren’t very effective. Shen Su didn’t give Lin Qingqi a chance to wallow in her thoughts, cutting through her negative emotions with a single phrase. “Bai Ruoyi is in a difficult situation now, would you like to help her?” Before Shen Su could get a reply from Lin Qingqi, a frantic call came from outside the tent. “Miss Lin!” The Heaven’s Bride indeed carried her rightful weight. Although Yu Muhuan wasn't as enamored with her as before, he still gave her what she asked for. Bai Ruoyi returned swiftly, catching Shen Su and the others by surprise. Wei Nanyi hurriedly activated the Full Star Jade, immediately concealing their presence. Unexpectedly, Xu Rong was also concealed within the barrier. Before they could push her out, Bai Ruoyi already entered, tightly gripping a semi-transparent orb—the very Spiritual Breakthrough Orb they had seen in Yu Muhuan’s possession. Bai Ruoyi didn’t see Xu Rong, a puzzled look crossed her face. But the urgency of the situation left no time for that. She pressed the orb into Lin Qingqi’s hand. “Brother Yu gave me the Spiritual Breakthrough Orb. Take it. Return it when you’ve healed.” Once the orb was in Lin Qingqi's palm, Bai Ruoyi began to withdraw her hand. “Miss Bai.” As Bai Ruoyi was about to let go, Lin Qingqi grasped her hand. Bai Ruoyi, surprised, looked at Lin Qingqi holding her hand. She knew Lin Qingqi disliked physical contact, otherwise she wouldn’t have been thrown twice. Yet now, Lin Qingqi clung to her hand, refusing to let go despite the evident discomfort. Taking several deep breaths, Lin Qingqi mustered the courage to pull Bai Ruoyi’s hand close to her chest. Finding it still improper, she guided her hand further up, finally resting it on her neck. Soft skin, warm and smooth beneath her fingertips. Bai Ruoyi’s eyes widened. “Miss Lin, what... what are you doing?” Her fingers stiffened, afraid to move. Lin Qingqi’s body trembled under the covers, but she still held Bai Ruoyi’s hand, breathing heavily. “Someone told me that Yu Muhuan’s fate will be your doom. If you continue to love him, you might die. I want to help you.” Bai Ruoyi blinked, not fully comprehending. Lin Qingqi’s voice wavered, almost tearful. “The best way to stop loving him is to fall for someone else. I know you won’t love me, but I understand you well. Miss Bai, you have a strong sense of duty. You touched me, so now you must take responsibility.” She was using this method to distance Bai Ruoyi from Yu Muhuan? Even Shen Su, hiding under the Full Star Jade, was dumbfounded. Bai Ruoyi gently withdrew her hand, feeling uncertain. “Does this really count?” Lin Qingqi, her eyes red with fear, teeth barely holding back tears, insisted, “It counts.” Bai Ruoyi abruptly withdrew her hand, almost fleeing from the tent. “Miss Lin, I... I’ll visit you another day.” Lin Qingqi lowered her gaze, the faint warmth from Bai Ruoyi’s touch still lingering. “I don’t think I can save her; I scared her away.” She knew Shen Su and the others were still present. Wei Nanyi put away the Full Star Jade, revealing their presence once again. Lin Qingqi raised her hand, tossing the Spiritual Breakthrough Orb to Shen Su. Catching the orb, Shen Su observed the once lively Lin Qingqi now looking listless again. If she hadn’t seen it herself, she would find it hard to believe what had just happened. She had intended for Lin Qingqi to persuade Bai Ruoyi more, not take such an extreme measure. Holding the orb tightly, Shen Su softly told Wei Nanyi, “Dear, you should cast a sealing spell on her. Some things must not be spread.” (Note: All novels on this site are voluntarily uploaded by members. If you feel your rights are infringed, please contact us, and we will remove it promptly.)