98 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 98 (1/2) - Reborn as the Malicious Senior Sister GL The group made their way quickly toward the Qingzhu Sect. Though Chunyan and the others hadn't left the sect, they had heard about the breach of the riverbank in Dongshan Prefecture. Internally, they all held a deep disdain for Si Xiao's actions. When they learned that Fu Ling had dueled Si Xiao during the trial and emerged victorious, their pride knew no bounds. After all, she was the junior sister who had grown up under their care and protection. The excited group of young women immediately surrounded Fu Ling upon her return, eagerly asking her to recount the scenes from the duel. Fu Ling detected admiration and respect in their eyes—praise she had never experienced before. It made her feel both happy and uneasy at the same time. She wasn't yet accustomed to living a life where so many recognized and esteemed her. Caught in her tumultuous thoughts, she instinctively turned her focus elsewhere, as she had always done in times of difficulty, to seek Jiu Ying's help. But this time, the person she longed to see wasn't by her side. Jiu Ying had already left with Elder Hui Ming the moment they stepped back into the sect. As night fell, Fu Ling found herself unable to sleep. The candle in her room remained burning, with the night breeze slipping through the window cracks, making the flame flicker gently. The shadows danced on the bamboo walls, mirroring her own unsettled emotions. She remained anxious about what had occurred during the day. In this world, only Jiu Ying could make her pure and carefree heart become sensitive and suspicious. Blinking, she silently sighed. Just as she turned over in her bed, faint and clear footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Since returning to the sect, she hadn't seen Jiu Ying even once. Upon hearing footsteps outside her room now, she instinctively hoped it was Jiu Ying coming to see her. Before there was even a knock, she hastily put on her clothes and slipped her feet into mismatched shoes, rushing to the door. Opening it eagerly, she hoped to see the face she had been longing for all night. Yet, when she saw who it really was, her smile froze instantly. Jiu Ying indeed stood before her, but alongside her were Xuan Xiu, Fu Yue, and Hui Ming. Such a gathering usually indicated something significant had happened. "Senior Sister~" Fu Ling murmured softly, removing her hand from the door handle, and stepped back, her face betraying her disappointment. Everyone noticed the shift in her mood, their expressions subtly changing. Unbidden memories of when Fu Ling had declared she'd elope with Jiu Ying in front of everyone three years ago resurfaced. Back then, Fu Ling had been just like the Fu Ling of now, exactly as Jiu Ying had described. Xuan Xiu, at the forefront, entered the room first, gently clearing his throat, a hint of worry on his face. Fu Ling's gaze traveled over the three elders' faces, a sense of alertness stirring within her. Looking towards Fu Yue, she suppressed her unease, curling her lips into a small, innocent smile, reverting to the adorable and understanding Fu Ling from before, devoid of worries. "Aunt, why is everyone here? Has something happened?" Her smile was so pure it was hard to utter words that could hurt her. Fu Yue felt a tightening in her chest, her eyes reddening as Fu Ling called her 'Aunt'. "Jiu Ying told us you suddenly had a heart episode today. We were all worried and came to check on you." This current Fu Ling was no longer the gullible girl she was three years ago, who could be deceived by a few sweet words. If they were truly concerned about a heart condition, shouldn't she have been taken to the Healer's Hall immediately after returning to the sect during the day? Why wait until night to come together like this? Even if no one told her, she could guess that the secret Jiu Ying was hiding from her was also known to these three elders. Fu Ling nodded, not displaying any confusion, maintaining her innocent demeanor. "It was just a slight pain, not a serious illness. This afternoon, I wanted Senior Sister to accompany me to see Elder Hui Ming, but they were both away, so I didn't have a chance to inform everyone not to worry." Feigning annoyance, she pursed her lips, casting a glance at Jiu Ying, who avoided her eyes as if guilty, not daring to meet her gaze. This action only confirmed her suspicions. She wanted to uncover the truth, to know what important matter the four before her were hiding. When she next spoke, she couldn't hide the note of reproach in her voice. "Senior Sister, where did you and Elder Hui Ming go this afternoon?" Everyone in the sect knew she was closest to Jiu Ying, practically inseparable. Hearing her ask such a straightforward question was entirely expected. Jiu Ying raised her gaze at the sound of her voice, her eyes dark and inscrutable. After a moment of silence, she spoke with a perfunctory tone. "Just had some matters to attend to outside the sect." While she admitted to leaving, she didn't disclose the destination. Fu Ling didn't press further. She knew that no matter how she asked, those present wouldn't disclose anything. The conversation turned to innocuous topics, with questions about whether this was the first heart episode she had experienced, what might have triggered it, and what symptoms preceded it. Elder Hui Ming stood at the bedside with a slight frown, holding a bowl of medicine. This scene felt strangely familiar to Fu Ling, as if she had experienced something similar before. She subtly glanced at the bowl, the medicine's color and aroma both unmistakably familiar. Despite her shock, she remained outwardly calm. As Xuan Xiu asked the same question for the third time, her face finally displayed a hint of impatience. "Uncle Xuan Xiu, I've told you multiple times now, today was indeed the first time the heart condition occurred. Why won't you believe me? What is it that you truly want to know?" Already upset over her senior sister hiding things from her, and now being questioned like a criminal by three elders, her temper flared. Xuan Xiu fell silent, and a look of struggle appeared in Fu Yue's eyes. Hui Ming glanced at the bowl of medicine and then at Jiu Ying beside him, making the implication unmistakable. At this moment, only Jiu Ying could soothe Fu Ling. The air thickened with silence, the atmosphere growing tense. Turning away, Fu Ling's face expressed a mixture of hurt and sadness. Seeing her like this, Jiu Ying's heart ached inexplicably, guilt, and remorse surging in her chest, making her expression particularly icy. She wanted to comfort Fu Ling with kind words like before, but no matter how hard she tried to speak, the words wouldn't leave her lips. Ultimately, of all four people present, Jiu Ying was the least willing to deceive Fu Ling with lies. Her lips parted, but her throat remained dry. When her gaze fell on the bowl of medicine, a strong desire to flee the room overcame her. However, the words that emerged were ones of retreat. "I'm going out for some fresh air." She couldn't bring herself to lie to Fu Ling, like she had three years ago, when she told the most regrettable lie just to coax her into accepting the Heart Forgetting Worm. "Do you like me, Senior Sister?" "Yes, I like you." After Jiu Ying left, silence took over the room. Finally, when the night wind blew the window ajar, Fu Yue spoke softly, breaking the awkward quiet. "Fu Ling, everyone is only concerned about you." Fu Ling listened, but remained silent. Quietly, she lifted her gaze, looking through the window toward the corridor. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a white hem. Once certain that Jiu Ying hadn't left, the agitation within her subsided slightly, and her tone softened. "I know, it's just... I'm upset you don't believe me." The pitiful tone in her voice stirred a wave of sympathy in the three elders. Silence returned, and when the medicine in the bowl lost its heat, Hui Ming spoke again. "Fu Ling, when the heart episode occurred, did you recall anything?" Fu Ling froze for a second, then quickly realized that Hui Ming's question referred to the vision she'd seen while digging the bones from the well. She looked into the eyes of the three, each filled with tension and concern. The sincerity of their worries was indisputable. She never doubted their care and love for her, but now, instinctively, she didn't want to reveal the truth. She shook her head without a moment's hesitation and answered swiftly. "No." Her intentional concealment was so adept that even Jiu Ying couldn't discern the truth, let alone the others. Seeing her certainty, Hui Ming finally concluded that her anomaly stemmed from the gradual effect of the Heart Forgetting Worm, not her feelings for Jiu Ying. Recalling the shock and struggle in Jiu Ying's eyes when she spoke about it earlier, he sighed lightly, handing her the bowl. "This medicine specifically treats the heart condition. After drinking it, you won't experience episodes again." Fu Ling looked at the dark concoction, her lips moving slightly. After a moment's pause, she reached out for the bowl. "This medicine looks terribly bitter; I'll need to drink it in a few goes. Uncle Xuan Xiu, you all can go back first, and I'll return the bowl to the Healer's Hall after I finish." Despite her usual aversion to pain and bitterness, requiring several people to coax her into taking medicine when sick, Fu Ling's gentle request left the three unable to refuse her. After a moment's consideration, they relented. In no time, the room returned to silence. Fu Ling stared at the bowl of medicine in her hand, overwhelmed by resistance. Without much contemplation, she poured it under the bed. She knew perfectly well that the medicine wasn't meant to treat any heart ailment. The medicinal liquid spread on the floor, filling the room with a faint, bitter smell—a scent so unpleasant it was hard to imagine how bitter the taste might have been. Her expression turned grim as her determination to uncover what Jiu Ying was hiding from her deepened. She sat alone on the bed for a long time, until the breeze from the window dispersed the bitter scent entirely. Only then did she pick up the empty bowl and leave the room. It had been an hour since Xuan Xiu and the others had left. Outside, the night sky was dim, a bright moon hanging in the sky. Its light scattered through the trees and buildings, casting faint and fragmented patches of light on the ground. She had assumed the corridor was empty. But as she reached its end, she noticed a slender silhouette standing in the shadows of the corner. The dimming light obscured the person's face, making her hesitant to approach further. As she grew uneasy, the figure emerged from the darkness. It was Jiu Ying, who had not left. Fu Ling's heart trembled seeing that cold, beautiful face under the pale moonlight. "Senior Sister?" Why was she still there—was she waiting? Fu Ling didn't know and dared not speculate, only clutching the bowl tighter in her hands. Jiu Ying's expression was calm, devoid of any emotion, only darkening slightly when she noticed the empty bowl. "Did you drink the medicine?" Fu Ling stepped back, thinking Jiu Ying had discovered her deceit. She feigned calmness and nodded. "I-I did drink it." Expecting her lie to be immediately exposed, she was surprised when Jiu Ying fell into silence instead. Her expression hinted at regret, possibly even anger. Seeing her Senior Sister in such distress was new to Fu Ling, and she couldn't concern herself with fear, dropping the bowl and rushing to stand before her. "Senior Sister, what's wrong?" Fu Ling's voice was soft and soothing, each word laden with genuine care. But the softer her tone, the deeper Jiu Ying's guilt grew. Fu Ling's unusual behavior could only be explained by two reasons: either she had truly fallen for Jiu Ying, or the Heart Forgetting Worm was taking effect. Whichever it was, neither was acceptable to Jiu Ying. The true source of her pain was her inner turmoil over her perceived "selfishness." Upon realizing Fu Ling might be developing feelings for her, she felt an uncontrollable urge to flee. She didn't know how to confront the affection, nor did she know what stance to take. Having lived her past manipulated by a love-gu poison, repaying that false love with guilt throughout her reborn life, she held little longing for romance. Yet this was precisely why she approached love with utmost seriousness. Emotionally, she forced herself to focus entirely on Fu Ling's needs, fulfilling all her wishes, including accepting her love. But rationally, she was constantly reminded that false love was the most damaging thing; if she did not love Fu Ling back, she should not promise any future together. She had once assured Elder Hui Ming that if Fu Ling were under the control of a love-gu, she'd spend her life by her side. But that promise was made under the premise of Fu Ling being manipulated, not because of a real, conscious affection. Just contemplating that Fu Ling might truly have feelings for her made Jiu Ying want to escape far away. She didn't want to reject Fu Ling's love, yet couldn't offer a false promise of love in return. This realization filled her with a sense of selfishness so profound she couldn't bear facing Fu Ling. Knowing now that Fu Ling had consumed the potion meant to enhance the love-gu's effects only increased her anguish. She finally lost control of her repressed emotions, reaching out to pull Fu Ling into a tight embrace. The force in her grip seemed to channel all her hidden negative emotions into this embrace. She hated herself for not preventing Si Xiao from poisoning Fu Ling; she hated herself for being unable to accept Fu Ling's love and remove the poison. Ultimately, she blamed herself for everything. Held tightly in Jiu Ying's trembling arms, Fu Ling felt every tremor emanating from her. "Senior Sister—" "I'm sorry." As soon as she softly called out, Fu Ling heard an apology whispered in her ear. The voice was soft yet cold, reminding her of Jiu Ying but still feeling unfamiliar. She didn't understand why Jiu Ying apologized, but she responded gently. "It's alright, no matter what Senior Sister has done, I won't be mad at her." She raised her hand, tenderly patting Jiu Ying's back, mirroring Jiu Ying's comforting gestures—gentle and patient. ### Author's Note: Rationally, Senior Sister knows one shouldn't accept love without reciprocating feelings. Yet, Fu Ling's special status and the affection and care she has for Fu Ling compelled her to accept it, hence her struggle. Today's turmoil is the first step for her to sincerely consider Fu Ling's feelings for her. Ultimately, she and Fu Ling are quite similar when it comes to dealing with love. Fu Ling wasn't afraid of liking Senior Sister; she feared not liking her back. In accepting Senior Sister's affection, she wanted to reciprocate, but knowing she didn't love Senior Sister bothered her. She eventually convinced herself to gradually accept her. Now, Senior Sister faces the same dilemma: she's most afraid of not being able to return Fu Ling's love. Like Fu Ling, with time, Senior Sister might also gradually try to accept it. However, her process might take longer since she is aware of their actual relationship, unlike the initial obliviousness of Fu Ling. To Fu Ling, love came first, then the relationship truth. For Senior Sister, she's considering Fu Ling's love knowing their true relationship, which makes her acceptance journey potentially longer. The protagonist's inner conflict is truly complex. P.S.: Little Angel Fu Ling is a pure soul, only she can warm Senior Sister's heart and offer the devoted, true love she desires. Next time, when the love-gu acts up, Senior Sister will reveal the secret of her rebirth to Fu Ling! Thanks to all the little angels who voted with rockets or nurtured me with nutrient fluids between 2020-11-15 10:30:40 and 2020-11-15 20:36:13! Thanks to the rockets from the little angel: Feng Zi 2 units; Thanks for the nutrient fluids from the little angel: tokuisuzuko 20 bottles; 2240817 15 bottles; I am extremely grateful for your support and will continue to work hard! Note: If you encounter issues moving to the next page and being redirected to another site, please use the 'Report Chapter Error' or 'Contact Us' options at the bottom to inform us. We'll address the problem promptly. Thank you for your understanding!