150 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

# Chapter 150 - Daily Life as the Reborn Villainous Senior Sister Long Ling had an innate ability to sense the location of the Dragon Heart Grass. Originally, Fang Yuan Qing managed to take that golden grass from Si Qi because of his special constitution. Neither human nor dragon, he could not resonate with the Dragon Heart Grass like other dragon spirits. When Jiu Ying was reborn, the world gained a divine beast, the Azure Dragon, and a new Dragon Heart Grass. She needed to reclaim it. Perhaps due to the unexpected kiss from the previous night, whenever Fu Ling saw her again, she would unconsciously blush. Like now, as they were leaving the sect together, the young girl refused to walk beside her, insisting on staying half a step behind. Fu Yue, who was seeing them off down the mountain, felt the subtle and awkward tension in the air before they even reached the sect's gates. Unaware of the true nature of their relationship, she assumed the two had quarreled once more. After all, those two were inseparable on ordinary days. One was her most cherished niece, the other a disciple she had watched grow up, both held dear, making it hard to blame either. After some thought, she called Jiu Ying to a stop. Only when Fu Ling slowly approached did she offer her advice with heartfelt sincerity, "Disciples of the same sect should support each other. If conflicts arise, one should take the initiative to communicate. Never keep everything bottled up inside." With those words, she raised her eyes to look at Fu Ling. Unfortunately, the young girl kept her head down, blushing, completely missing her subtle hint. Jiu Ying witnessed this scene and couldn’t help but smile. Aware that Fu Ling was embarrassed by the previous night's kiss, she still played along with Fu Yue's words, "Master is right. Fellow disciples should indeed care for one another. Especially as a senior sister, I must take care of my junior sister, protecting her from any grievance and ensuring she isn’t bullied." Her calm and steady tone suggested she took the words to heart. After speaking, she gently lifted her arm. In the next moment, a soft, white hand appeared beside Fu Ling's. So beautiful, it was irresistible to touch. "What do you think, junior sister?" The cool and gentle voice, with an intentionally emphasized 'junior sister,' was especially alluring. Fu Ling lowered her gaze, staring intently at those five slender jade-like fingers. She was lost in thought for a good while before suddenly placing her hand upon them. Palms pressed lightly together, fingertips intertwined. The air was thick with unnoticed but undeniable tension and ambiguity. This intimate gesture in front of an elder felt like a secret flirtation. Both thrilling and nerve-wracking. As the white sleeve fell, everything was concealed, except for the back of the hand being lightly caressed, tickling and electrifying. The more this happened, the quicker Fu Ling's heart raced. After all, her aunt was standing right beside her. Unsure how to conceal her emotions, she still didn’t dare look up. After a while, she muttered a low 'mm' in response. Her behavior genuinely resembled that of someone sulking. Seeing her finally respond, Fu Yue sighed with relief. Even after descending the mountain, her face remained flushed. Jiu Ying, observing those rosy cheeks, felt her heart soften slightly. She subtly tightened her grip on the fair hand. An action filled with possessiveness, yet so gentle and assertive. Fu Ling's eyes sparkled with a hint of joy. She moved closer to her beloved, finally finding the courage to speak— "Senior Sister, where are we going?" Naturally, to retrieve the Dragon Heart Grass. But first, they needed someone's help. Because—the place where the Dragon Heart Grass grew was somewhere no ordinary person could reach. "We're going to Yu Chun Hall to find Fang Si Jian." Days had passed since the funeral, yet Fang Yuan Qing remained unconscious. Parricide was abhorrent. Although Fang Ke Yuan's death retained a shred of dignity for Xuanming Sect, the incident had been zealously stirred by the Si family, causing an uproar. As the new sect master, Fang Si Mian was swamped, leaving him with no mind to track his brother’s daily whereabouts or activities. Seizing the opportunity when no one noticed, Fang Si Jian stealthily headed to Yu Chun Hall. Firstly, to see his sister; secondly, because Jiu Ying wanted to meet him there. Since he spared Fang Yuan Qing the heart-piercing agony that day, Feng Su Qiu didn’t resent him. Knowing he genuinely cared for her daughter, she let him in after little hesitation. The woman in bed had shed her male disguise. Though her eyes were tightly shut, her features remained as handsome and elegant as ever. Her heartbeat and pulse were strong and steady, indistinguishable from those of an ordinary person, except she lacked breath. Upon closer inspection, one could faintly see something rise and fall within her slender neck— It was the Heavenly Primordial Qi that Fu Ling had pleaded for. Only by releasing this breath could Fang Yuan Qing awaken. Gazing at his comatose little sister, Fang Si Jian's eyes turned red. Remembering that curse-laden black coffin, he couldn’t bear to imagine the despair she experienced at death's door. The atmosphere grew increasingly somber. No one knew when Fang Yuan Qing might awaken. It could be a matter of days, or possibly an eternity. Fang Si Jian felt immense guilt, resenting his inability to help. "Jiang Gu Niang hurried back from the human realm the other day. She said Qing Qing's three souls and seven spirits are intact but couldn’t find where the issue lay," Feng Su Qiu sighed, her words filled with worry. Noticing his gloomy demeanor, she offered some comfort, "Qing Qing is alive here because you saved her during the autopsy. You need not blame yourself for this." Her sincere reassurance made Fang Si Jian feel somewhat relieved. He nodded, yet guilt lingered in his eyes. He stood by the bedside for two full hours before reluctantly departing. Jiu Ying and Fu Ling had waited for him outside for quite some time. They sought him out for information—a clue about the Nether Sea. "It’s said that someone in Gui Xi City can bypass the miasma screen to reach the Nether Sea directly. Do you know if this is true, Master Fang?" The Nether Sea was the world's most mysterious and perilous place. Rumor had it that a rare and powerful spirit beast called Kun inhabited the sea. Eating the flesh of this beast would grant eternal youth, freedom from the ravages of time. The temptation of eternal life was irresistible. But the Nether Sea was isolated from the world. Its edge was chained to a crag, beneath which lay thousands of miles of miasmal corpse qi. Any human body coming into contact would dissolve into blood. Although dangerous, the miasma screen was the best protection for the Kun beast. For thousands of years, many had sought it, unable to find a way to neutralize the miasma, let alone reach the Nether Sea. However, circumstances seemed different now. Fang Si Jian, surprised by Jiu Ying's question, paused before confirming, "Indeed, this is true." "Are you planning to go to the Nether Sea?" Jiu Ying nodded, hiding nothing of her intent, "My Dragon Heart Grass is on An Yang Island at the center of the Nether Sea." The Dragon Heart Grass was intimately linked to the dragon spirit’s life force. Should any creature on the island accidentally damage it, the dragon spirit, regardless of location, would inevitably suffer. Journeying to the Nether Sea was a last resort. Understanding the Dragon Heart Grass's significance, Fang Si Jian hesitated not long before retrieving a small circular token from his storage stone. The token was golden, appearing elegant. In sunlight, it radiated brilliant light, dazzling the eye. Jiu Ying accepted it, inspecting it carefully before noticing a tiny, shallow character 'Heaven' engraved on the token's surface. "Ling Bao Pavilion has indeed discovered a method to traverse the miasma. However, they can only ensure safe passage through it. Once beyond, the dangers are unknown." "Hold this token and go to Gui Xi City. Find a woman named Ning Wan Qiu. She will contact those from Ling Bao Pavilion to take you to the Nether Sea." Fang Si Jian’s willingness to help made matters significantly easier. At that moment, even Jiu Ying couldn’t help but reflect on how wealth, power, and connections were invaluable. Worried that Fang Si Mian might grow suspicious, Fang Si Jian dared not linger. Upon his departure, another guest arrived at Yu Chun Hall— Ming Yue from the Hehuan Sect. *** Ming Yue was a spent force, surviving this long was already a rarity. Her motivation to keep living was initially Gui Chen and later Fang Yuan Qing. Once Gui Chen's vitality was restored, her obsession eased slightly. But Fang Yuan Qing's death completely extinguished all her desires for life. To make matters worse, it was she who had cursed Fang Ke Yuan. She felt guilt over Fang Yuan Qing’s death and also despair. That night under the moonlight, she completely lost her will to live. Meng Ji knew some medical arts, but she was powerless to change fate. In the end, she could only use red string and copper coins to bind Ming Yue's soul, forcibly extending her life by seven days. Gui Chen had only recently regained consciousness and was still weak in bed. Considering Gui Chen’s condition, Meng Ji dared not share any of this. She tended to Gui Chen during the day and watched over Ming Yue at night. Ever since Ming Yue learned of Fang Yuan Qing's death, she hadn’t wanted to live a day longer, constantly seeking ways to end her life. With no other choice, Meng Ji used Gui Chen to inspire some desire to live in her. Ming Yue still deeply cared for her sister, and hearing Gui Chen’s name calmed her slightly, finally stopping her attempts at self-harm. Seeing this, Meng Ji breathed a sigh of relief, leaving only once she saw Ming Yue peacefully asleep. Unbeknownst to her, as soon as she left, the girl in bed secretly climbed out the window. Her destination was Fang Yuan Qing’s grave. By the time Meng Ji discovered Ming Yue was missing, it was already dawn the next day. The sun was high, and Ming Yue was slowly walking along, leaning against the wall. No one knew where she had gone the night before, but she was covered in dirt, her white shoes now black, leaving a trail of dark footprints behind. Meng Ji was startled by her desolate appearance, but before she could say a word, a sob reached her ears, strangely tinged with joy rather than sorrow— "Meng Ji, she didn't die, she didn't die." What? Fang Yuan Qing didn’t die? Meng Ji furrowed her brows, looking at the girl before her. Only then did she realize— Ming Yue had gone alone to dig up Fang Yuan Qing’s grave last night! The grave was at Yu Chun Hall, surrounded by people from large and prestigious clans. For Fang Yuan Qing, her bravery was truly extraordinary! Meng Ji was both angry and helpless, trying to speak, but couldn't voice a single word of reproach. She took a couple of steps forward but stopped abruptly at the sound of a faint plea in the air— "It’s my fault she suffered. Had I not cursed Fang Ke Yuan, she would never have endured such pain." "Meng Ji, please go to Yu Chun Hall and check on her, will you?" Before finishing her plea, Ming Yue looked at the woman in yellow beside her, her gaze filled with desperate pleading, easy to read. Meng Ji pressed her lips together, hesitating a moment, but she couldn’t refuse the request and nodded. Outside the medicine pavilion, Jiu Ying and Fu Ling were speaking softly under a tree when they heard someone say a strange girl was outside, looking for Fang Yuan Qing. Almost instantly, Fu Ling guessed the girl's identity. Without waiting for her senior sister's response, she ran out and brought the girl inside. Sure enough, it was the girl known as Ming Yue they had encountered days ago. This time, her eyes were normal. Fu Ling assumed this was thanks to the ice lake water and thought no more of it. Picturing Fang Yuan Qing waking to see Ming Yue with restored vision made her both happy and relieved. After they entered the medicine pavilion and found no one else around, she revealed the truth about Fang Yuan Qing's condition. "Don’t worry, Sister Yuan Qing isn’t dead." "If you hadn’t come today, my senior sister and I would’ve gone to Hehuan Sect to find you." "I imagine you’ve been quite worried about her these past days." Upon hearing this, Meng Ji sighed silently to herself, thinking about how it was more than just worry; she nearly didn’t survive it. She dared not reveal her emotions, only nodding slightly. As they passed under the tree, she happened to see Jiu Ying. Their eyes met but communicated nothing. Meng Ji quickly averted her gaze, following Fu Ling closely, not daring to linger outside. Jiu Ying gave her an unsettling feeling. She was somewhat afraid of her. Just a glance felt like Jiu Ying could see through her true self. Fu Ling led Meng Ji inside, introducing her to Feng Su Qiu. Fang Yuan Qing had mentioned in her letters about meeting a new friend, describing her as a kind and charming girl with only one flaw—a few small scars on her face. She had asked her mother to prepare some scar-removing ointment for this friend. Feng Su Qiu initially assumed this Ming Yue was that friend mentioned in her daughter's letters, but upon seeing Meng Ji’s face, confusion flickered in her eyes— Under the bright sunlight, she saw clearly that this girl in yellow had a clean, flawless face, without a trace of scars, unlike someone in need of scar-removal ointment. Perplexed, she asked a few more questions, including how Ming Yue and Fang Yuan Qing had met. These inquiries weren't overly probing; a mother’s duty is to understand these matters. Unaware of the suspicion, Meng Ji recounted the incident where Fang Yuan Qing was attacked by demonic hounds. In conclusion, she added some details—the interactions between Ming Yue and Fang Yuan Qing. For instance, a wooden cane; also, a pink ribbon. Both items were kept in Fang Yuan Qing’s storage stone, and Feng Su Qiu knew of them. Such a perfect story left no room for doubt, coupled with Fu Ling’s unconditional trust in the woman before her, Feng Su Qiu let go of her misgivings. Yet, Meng Ji was not the real Ming Yue. After confirming Fang Yuan Qing's situation, she quickly expressed her intent to leave. Seeing her about to go, Fu Ling immediately invited her to visit again. Meng Ji was momentarily stunned by the invitation, understanding that Fu Ling believed Ming Yue to be one of her kind, hence the warmth. If she knew Ming Yue’s true identity and how she had used Fang Yuan Qing in the past, it’s unlikely Ming Yue would ever cross Yu Chun Hall’s threshold again. Faced with such sincere hospitality, she felt awkward refusing and reluctantly agreed to return. Meanwhile, Jiu Ying continued watching from under the tree. It wasn’t until after they departed that she withdrew her gaze. Something about this “Ming Yue” girl felt off. A vague intuition told her and Fu Ling they had mistaken the identity. According to Fang Yuan Qing’s description, the female cultivator from Hehuan Sect had feelings for her. Yet, when she informed Ming Yue of Fang Yuan Qing’s grievous injuries, besides surprise, Ming Yue showed no real concern. Now, several days after Fang Yuan Qing's funeral, Ming Yue leisurely turned up, without a hint of sorrow. Any way she looked at it, their relationship seemed detached, not intimate. As suspicion grew, Feng Su Qiu pushed the door open. Jiu Ying stepped forward to ask about the happenings inside. Without hesitation, Feng Su Qiu relayed all she knew, "Qing Qing told me she met a friend outside with a scarred face and asked me to prepare ointment. I thought it was the girl who came today, but her face is flawless, not needing scar-removal. I don’t know who this friend was supposed to be." Only then did Jiu Ying realize that besides blindness, Fang Yuan Qing’s benefactor had another crucial trait—scars on her face. Indeed, she and Fu Ling had mistaken her identity. Not waiting to inform Fu Ling, she chased after them alone. As Meng Ji left Yu Chun Hall and hadn’t wandered far, an unsteady black figure stumbled toward her. It was none other than the demoness Ming Yue. Unaware they had been discovered, they spoke openly. Jiu Ying, hidden nearby, overheard it all. At some point, Fu Ling also arrived. Unfamiliar with Meng Ji’s true identity, she was curious, "Who is the girl beside Ming Yue? Is she also a disciple from Hehuan Sect?" Jiu Ying’s lips moved, face cold and unsmiling, pausing before coolly replying, "She’s the one Fang Yuan Qing truly liked, the real Ming Yue— Demoness Ming Yue." Author's Note: Edits made~ added 1,500 words~ I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful angels who cast king votes or provided nutrient solution for me between 2020-12-27 04:04:45 and 2020-12-28 23:54:15~ Special thanks to the angels who launched rocket cannons: Yang Zi and Bai He Saikou, 1 each; Thank you to the angels who threw grenades: lemonTT 10, 148 Ao 1; Thanks to the angels who planted landmines: 二人セゾン 2, Mu Qing Mu, Kang Chuo Zhang Hua Hao Duan Xiao, Duan Xian Ge, Da Shi Jie, 1 each; Thank you to the angels who provided nutrient solution: Ke Ji Dao Dao 37 bottles; Kang Chuo Zhang Hua Hao Duan Xiao 20 bottles; Qian Bei Ting's girlfriend 17 bottles; 47996392, Shi Ba Zi 14 bottles; La La La 10 bottles; Ai Chi Hua De Ren, Chuan Lu, Yi Zhi Qian Bi 5 bottles; H Ti Ti, Jing Gai 2 bottles; Thank you all for your incredible support. I will continue to work hard!