85 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Rebirth as the Villainous Senior Sister - Chapter 85 (1/2) Fully sober, Fu Ling clutched her chest as she crawled up from the pile of bones. Even though it had been a while, she couldn't forget the excruciating and genuine heartache she had just experienced, something she had never felt in her life. A weak red glow shimmered, illuminating the two clear traces of tears on her cheeks. She had lost track of how many times she had cried that day. All she knew was that at this moment, her heart, eyes, lips, and hands were all in pain. At the bottom of the well, Jiu Ying's breathing rose and fell rhythmically. So light, so faint, it seemed as if the sound might vanish any second. Fu Ling half-kneeled on the ground, recalling the scenes she saw in the illusion, especially the one where she sneaked into Jiu Ying's room at night to steal a kiss. A strange mix of embarrassment and restlessness surged within her. She had always believed Jiu Ying loved her deeply, yet she saw herself forcefully kissing Jiu Ying, a contradiction that shook her to her core. Despite her resistance, the memory of that kiss was etched firmly in her mind. Though it was merely a false illusion, the more she pondered over it, the more real it felt. So real that she could imagine the taste of that kiss. The affections of a young girl are often tender, shy, yet pure and flawless. Fu Ling was lost in thought, and when she came to, a slender jade finger had already touched her lips. Her face instantly flushed red. She wouldn't admit it, but she truly wanted to try what she did in the illusion with Jiu Ying. Just a fleeting thought, yet a bashful joy quietly surged from her heart. Fu Ling lowered her head, her body curling into the shadows, trying hard to dispel the embarrassing thoughts in her mind, though her lips inadvertently curved up slightly. She thought, perhaps she already liked Senior Sister Jiu Ying a little bit. The cave was silent, with only the quickened heartbeat of a young girl experiencing first love echoing. Jiu Ying was still at the bottom of the well, and although three protective spirit items created a little space for her to breathe, they couldn't save her. Fu Ling, red-faced, couldn't dwell on the illusion any longer; she knelt next to the demon-subduing staff and began tossing bones out of the well again. This time, with the red bead illuminating the way, she finally recognized that the bones at the bottom of the well were of different colors. Seeing that the white bones weren't intimidated by the spirit items, she guessed that these must be the remains of celestial spirits. Celestial spirits, chosen by destiny, whether human or spirit beast, possess unfathomable power. Besides, they have a kind and just heart, protecting all living beings and loved by humanity, making them the most revered by human cultivators. Out of respect for the ancient celestial spirits, Fu Ling carefully separated the white bones from the other two types. It was this sincere and devout belief that granted her the most precious blessing of the world—protection from the celestial spirits. When Jiu Ying opened her eyes, it was already broad daylight outside the cave. A night had passed, and she had regained some strength. Just as she wanted to get up to check her injuries, she felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest, immobilizing her. Turning her head slightly and looking up, she discovered that Fu Ling was sleeping soundly, sprawled over her chest. Surrounded by piles of bones, it was an eerie sight. Fu Ling had dug out all the bones in the well just to save her. A young girl who has never experienced hardship or injury went to such lengths to save her senior sister; how could one not be touched? Recalling the scene of Fu Ling crying and calling "senior sister" yesterday, Jiu Ying's expression shifted. She blinked, gaze resting on the young girl's dirty face. Upon closer inspection, Fu Ling's usually bright eyes were tightly shut, eyelids still swollen, underlined by a pale shadow, sure signs of falling asleep late. Even someone as calm and reserved as Jiu Ying couldn't help but feel a tug at her heart. "Compared to me, you're really foolish—" She softly chastised, though beneath her words was a tone of self-blame, for deep down, she was truly pained for Fu Ling. The atmosphere was gently warm. A breeze swept in a few droplets of mountain spring water at the cave entrance, bringing a subtle chill. After a long time spent gazing, Jiu Ying noticed how Fu Ling, in her sleep, wrapped an arm around her waist, nuzzling her cheek against her chest in a clingy manner. Only then did she come back to her senses. The sound of the waterfall echoed in her ears, and amidst the sound of flowing water, her heart seemed a little unsettled. No doubt, she wished for Fu Ling to grow and become strong, to eventually live independently without needing protection, unlike her past life where she had talent but no strength, eventually becoming a tool for Si Qi's cultivation. Achieving such a goal isn't easy; in the process, Fu Ling will inevitably face many hardships and injuries. Now, with just some minor physical injuries, she felt soft-hearted and pained; if this continued, she feared she might be the one hindering Fu Ling's progress. Perhaps because she had suffered too much in her past life, she hoped her current life would be a bit happier. Jiu Ying viewed her protection and affection for Fu Ling simply as familial care, not realizing when it started to become increasingly boundless— Whatever Fu Ling requested, she would fulfill; whenever Fu Ling was sad or angry, she would always be able to cheer her up; when Fu Ling was hurt, her anger was unmatched. In this light, she was no different from those elders in the sect who spoiled Fu Ling. Jiu Ying sighed lightly, realizing her concern for Fu Ling had surpassed family bonds, yet she didn't delve deeper into why this was or what feelings beyond familial love might mean. After all, in her view, Fu Ling and she were the same person in different lifetimes, and their relationship was naturally meant to be intimate. Time trickled by, and Jiu Ying closed her eyes, falling asleep once more with Fu Ling. When she awoke again, Fu Ling was propping her chin, quietly keeping watch by her side. "Senior Sister~" Jiu Ying had barely opened her eyes and regained consciousness when she heard a soft, cheerful voice call out. Looking towards the sound, she was greeted by the sweet, pure smile of a young girl. Since waking up, Fu Ling had washed her face; no dust marred her complexion, making her look even more clean and delicate. Jiu Ying pressed her lips but hadn't spoken when Fu Ling leaned in closer, helping her to sit up. "Senior Sister, is your injury feeling any better?" The young girl asked softly, her tone full of concern. When she gazed over, her eyes seemed to hold some other emotion, appearing even brighter than usual. Jiu Ying felt there was something different about her today, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. "Last night, I treated the wounds on your arm and neck with some ointment. You should be fine now." Seeing Jiu Ying remain silent, Fu Ling explained further. "Ointment? What ointment?" Upon hearing this, Jiu Ying frowned slightly, puzzled. She lowered her head, only to find her clothes had been changed. The reverse swan's blood, once on the skin, was a deadly poison. If not for her being a dragon spirit, with a much stronger human form than ordinary people, she might have already perished. She hadn't known Fu Ling carried such a potent ointment that could neutralize the venom of a great demon's blood. "It was given by Doctor Jiang when fixing my bones the other day. She said she admired my father's fame and gifted me a box of Purple Gold Blossom Balm, claiming it could cure any external wound." Just as Fu Ling finished speaking, she retrieved a small white jade box from the ground and handed it to Jiu Ying. Apparently, this was Yuchun Hall's most renowned wound-healing ointment, Purple Gold Blossom Balm. Unfortunately, the box was now empty. What was originally a gift meant for Fu Ling was now used entirely on her—Jiu Ying glanced at the empty box and a strange emotion welled up in her chest, a blend of agitation and restlessness, perhaps even unease. In a moment of silence, she caught sight of Fu Ling's hands from the corner of her eye. Only then did she notice that Fu Ling's palms and the backs of her hands were covered in layers of scabs, making her so angry she momentarily lost the ability to speak. The foolish girl hadn't even applied ointment to her own hands. Realizing this, Jiu Ying's expression turned instantly ominous, her eyes brewing with implicit irritation. She was touched by Fu Ling's concern for her, but she didn't need Fu Ling to compromise herself for her sake. Just one night had passed, yet it felt as if some things had changed completely. Jiu Ying knew, not only had she changed, but Fu Ling had as well. But exactly what had changed, she couldn't articulate. This change lurking in the shadows left her feeling anxious and scared, unable to control her emotions as she normally would. Without quite realizing it, she'd already gripped Fu Ling's wrist firmly, her voice cooler as she spoke. "Why didn't you apply ointment to your own hands?" The sudden question left Fu Ling somewhat taken aback. She didn't know what she'd done wrong, nor did she know how she'd upset her senior sister, causing her brows to furrow and her face to show a hint of grievance. "My injuries are merely superficial, whereas your wounds from the reverse swan blood are poisonous. There was only one bottle of ointment, so of course, treating yours came first. Why are you upset? I don't think I did anything wrong!" Yesterday, her hands aching from digging bones all day, she had expected her senior sister to praise her once awake. Who would've thought not a single word of praise awaited her, only a harsh rebuke. Her temper flared in an instant. "If today our roles were reversed, would Senior Sister really use such a precious ointment on her own hand wounds instead of treating my poison first? If you think so, then consider me foolish for choosing to save you first!" She forcefully shook her hand free from Jiu Ying's grasp and stormed out of the cave, stealing a final fiery glare at Jiu Ying before leaving. Her delicate demeanor exuded a pure and charming femininity. Even though she stormed off, her gaze seemed to say—'Stubborn Sister, if you don’t come and comfort me soon, I’ll be truly upset!' It was only after Fu Ling disappeared that Jiu Ying finally calmed down. She couldn't fathom why she had been so angry, especially upon seeing Fu Ling's hands; the simultaneous emotions of anger and guilt occupied her entire mind, leaving her unable to think rationally. Had Fu Ling done anything wrong? Clearly, she hadn’t. Given the circumstances, using the Purple Gold Blossom Balm on her was indeed the better choice. The ground was covered with a mountain of white bones, each stained with traces of red—Fu Ling's blood. Jiu Ying lowered her gaze, unable to look directly at the blood. To be more precise, she couldn't bear the thought of Fu Ling suffering so much to save her. Thinking about Fu Ling running off alone, likely sulking somewhere, her heart softened once more, overwhelmed by guilt— How could she lash out at Fu Ling? Jiu Ying felt restless, and as her eyes fell on her new, clean white robes, her heart surged with numerous emotions, leaving her in no mood to ponder what had changed between her and Fu Ling. She knitted her brows, her eyes filled with worry, pondering how the reverse swan's poisonous blood, though harming only her physical body, also managed to make her emotions so strange. After a sigh, she couldn’t sit still any longer. Propped by her arms, she rose from the ground and followed the direction Fu Ling had gone. Outside the cave, the waterfall still cascaded down. Lingering in her grievance and sorrow, Fu Ling wanted to run far, but her timid nature, coupled with her lack of spiritual energy, left her hesitating. Ultimately, she stopped a few meters from the cave, her back turned. Jiu Ying had worried she’d get lost in the forest, yet as soon as she stepped out of the cave, she spotted that slender, delicate figure. Her understanding of Fu Ling was profound, and she almost instantly guessed the reason why the young girl hadn't run off. With such a great talent and swift cultivation, she'd been praised often; why should her courage be so small? Jiu Ying was quite exasperated, about to step forward, when she remembered the same foolish girl crying and calling "Senior Sister" while draped over the pile of bones just yesterday, finding it amusing once more. Before she realized it, a subtle smile graced her lips. If she had a mirror right now to see how tenderly she was looking at Fu Ling, even she would be shocked. Because such a gaze could not be simply explained by the word 'family.' ----- The Senior Sister actually sensed a change in the way Fu Ling looked at her, feeling the ambiguity between them, which is why she felt fearful and uneasy. She only sensed it subconsciously and didn't realize it was ambiguity, just instinctively feeling flustered and resistant. Some people are terrified by shifts in unfamiliar relationships. Though she fell for Si Qi in her past life under the influence of an emotional parasite, she never truly experienced love. As previously mentioned, the love she knew was built on possessiveness and jealousy; the ambiguity Fu Ling now brought made her feel alienated and scared, which led to her sudden anger. Currently, Fu Ling feels a spark of affection for her Senior Sister, while the Senior Sister feels something more than familial love but hasn’t fully realized it yet. (I just love analyzing the shifts in their feelings for each other, so please forgive my verbosity! Apart from you guys, I have nowhere else to share this analysis.) Thank you to the lovely readers who voted or nourished the novel with nutrition points between 2020-11-02 17:06:06 and 2020-11-03 22:45:18~ Thank you to the readers who donated land mines: 韩絮, 阿故里嚓擦, 华其灼, 1 each; Thanks also for the nourishment fluid donations: 霜雪, 2 bottles; Thank you all for your support; I will continue to work hard!