Chapter 4
Her mind was consumed by an inexplicable excitement, her blood seemed to be boiling, and she felt strangely anxious.
She had to do something.
Yao Qingyue told herself this over and over.
In the middle of the night, she climbed out of bed and went into the courtyard to fetch water and chop firewood.
After finishing all the household chores, she still felt as though she had an endless supply of energy. When she turned and spotted her bonded sword stuck in the firewood pile, something suddenly stirred in her heart.
Time was more precious than gold, and no amount of gold could buy back lost time.
She had actually wasted so much precious time sleeping in. How unforgivable! She needed to practice her swordsmanship!
Drawing her sword, she let her body move instinctively, executing a standard sequence of the Zhuyue Sword Technique.
The Zhuyue Sword Technique consisted of thirty-six forms, graceful, ethereal, and elegant. Yet in her hands, the movements became overwhelmingly forceful, as powerful as a thunderclap.
It was the You hour, and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, gently bathing the earth in its silvery glow.
In the neighboring courtyard, a door creaked open.
Her overachieving neighbor appeared in the doorway.
She glanced at the dim sky, then at Yao Qingyue, and suddenly said with satisfaction, “It seems you’ve finally taken my previous advice to heart.”
Huh?
Still immersed in her inexplicable excitement, Yao Qingyue blinked in confusion.
Her overachieving neighbor suddenly turned her head away with a haughty expression. “But don’t think I’ll acknowledge you just because you’ve managed this much. In a few days, I intend to accept the Hall of All Affairs’ case concerning the theft at the Treasure Pavilion. The reward is one hundred thousand spirit stones, and it requires a team. If you’re interested…”
What? One hundred thousand spirit stones?
A bell seemed to ring inside Yao Qingyue’s muddled mind, instantly clearing her thoughts. At that moment, the desire buried deep within her heart expanded without limit, like a flood bursting through a dam. Having finally found an outlet, it surged forward relentlessly.
She had finally discovered what she had wanted to do all along.
Make money! Make lots and lots of money!
“I’m in!” Yao Qingyue exclaimed excitedly.
Her overachieving neighbor paused at her enthusiastic response and gave her a suspicious glance.
She snorted. “In that case, I’ll come find you in a few days.”
With that, she gave Yao Qingyue another look, turned around, and left.
Meanwhile, Hua Yurong was growing suspicious because the Wangliang spirit had yet to return.
Once Yao Qingyue was possessed by the Wangliang spirit, it should only take a few days before she started threatening to kill herself again. Yet three days had passed without the slightest disturbance from her.
This was highly unusual. Could something have happened to the Wangliang spirit?
After considering the possibilities, Hua Yurong decided to investigate personally.
At the spiritual fields on the rear mountain of the Zhuyue Sect’s secondary peak.
From a distance, she spotted a slender figure bustling through the spiritual fields at an astonishing speed.
The person’s legs moved rapidly, and the hand watering the crops moved so quickly that it almost left afterimages.
Hua Yurong observed her, her brows knitting slightly.
She couldn’t understand why Yao Qingyue was working in the spiritual fields instead of hovering around Ji Yueming.
Wasn’t Ji Yueming supposed to be her greatest obsession?
With that thought in mind, she examined the other woman more carefully.
The young woman she had only met once before was dressed in pale yellow. Her features were merely delicate rather than striking, but the clear, almond-shaped eyes set in her round face gave her a particularly approachable appearance.
She looked nothing like the sharp-tongued, mean-spirited woman described in the rumors.
At the moment, however, she was in quite a disheveled state from working personally in the fields. Mud splattered her clothes and her little face.
Unexpectedly, Hua Yurong’s gaze met hers.
Looking into those round almond-shaped eyes, Hua Yurong’s heart tightened. Instinctively, she offered a faintly friendly yet exceedingly fragile smile.
“Senior Sister…”
Who’s that? Don’t know her.
Yao Qingyue looked away and walked straight past her without hesitation.
Hua Yurong’s smile instantly froze.
Was this Zhuyue Sect disciple ignoring her?
Her feelings were rather complicated, though it wasn’t exactly anger or embarrassment.
She simply felt that even if Yao Qingyue didn’t know who she was, her face alone should have been enough to prevent such blatant disregard.
It was almost as if, in Yao Qingyue’s eyes, she had even less presence than a blade of grass growing in the spiritual fields.
Hua Yurong composed herself and spoke gently once more. “Senior Sister…”
Yao Qingyue turned a deaf ear and walked past her again without looking back.
Hua Yurong: “…”
The young maid behind Hua Yurong couldn’t stand it any longer and protested indignantly, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear my young mistress speaking to you?!”
Hua Yurong’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and a desolate expression appeared on her face. “Senior Sister… do you look down on me, too?”
Yao Qingyue was neither blind nor deaf. Of course she knew the young woman in the fox-fur cloak was trying to speak to her.
But apart from their previous encounter, they were complete strangers. What good could possibly come from a stranger approaching her?
Could it be that the young woman was deliberately looking for trouble because Yao Qingyue had “left her to die” last time?
At the thought, a faint trace of displeasure arose in Yao Qingyue’s heart. But that tiny spark of irritation was instantly magnified countless times, to the point that she couldn’t even maintain basic courtesy.
Hua Yurong’s expression darkened almost imperceptibly, and for some inexplicable reason, she felt a little stifled.
She had been despised because of her identity before, even whipped by others. She had long since stopped caring about even the most intense malice. Yet this was the first time anyone had ignored her so completely.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she opened her lips to speak, only for a shrill female voice to suddenly ring out nearby.
“Well, well, look who we have here! Isn’t this Yao Qingyue, the arrogant young lady of our Zhuyue Sect who always thinks she’s above everyone else?”
Ever since transmigrating into the novel, Yao Qingyue had spent most of her time holed up in her little courtyard, living a self-sufficient life.
The only three people she had met were her overachieving neighbor, her rumored girlfriend, and her rumored romantic rival.
She had outright ignored her rumored romantic rival, so there was no chance she would show any courtesy to this random person who had appeared out of nowhere.
And so, under Hua Yurong’s knowing gaze and the unfamiliar female cultivator’s mounting fury, Yao Qingyue once again walked straight past them without looking back.
The unfamiliar female cultivator: “…”
Hua Yurong smiled apologetically and said to the woman, “Senior Sister Yao is in a bad mood. Please don’t blame her, Senior Sister.”
The unfamiliar female cultivator glanced at Hua Yurong and froze for a moment before suddenly letting out a cold laugh.
“And here I was wondering who you were. So you’re that famous cripple from the Linxian Sect?”
Hearing this, Hua Yurong bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening slightly, but she said nothing.
The little maid behind her, however, was nowhere near as meek and submissive as her mistress.
“Yao Shuang, what nonsense are you spouting?!” she snapped angrily. “Our young mistress is merely in poor health. She’s not a cripple! Besides, the Linxian Sect and your Zhuyue Sect are allied sects. We came here this time for friendly exchanges and sparring. Is this how the Zhuyue Sect treats its guests?”
The unfamiliar female cultivator was also fairly delicate-looking, but her excessively high cheekbones gave her face a somewhat mean appearance.
She folded her arms across her chest and said disdainfully, “Am I wrong? One cripple from the Linxian Sect and another cripple from our Zhuyue Sect. Two cripples together. How fitting.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the two lackeys behind Yao Shuang promptly joined in with mocking jeers, eyeing Hua Yurong maliciously.
Hua Yurong sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she drew a deep breath. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
“You may insult me if you wish, but why must you humiliate Senior Sister Yao?”
“I’ll say whatever I please. What are you going to do about it?”
“You!”
The three of them began arguing right there on the ridge between the fields.
Yet the quarrel among the five people had absolutely no effect on Yao Qingyue.
She remained completely focused on her work, diligently and meticulously carrying her little watering can past the five of them, continuing to water the crops without a single complaint.
Yao Shuang and her companions: “…”
Hua Yurong and her companions: “…”
Yao Qingyue’s attitude made them all look like complete fools.
Yao Shuang angrily snapped at the two followers beside her, “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and smash that damned watering can of hers!”
The two lackeys exchanged glances. After hesitating briefly, they rushed forward. One grabbed Yao Qingyue’s arm, while the other snatched the watering can from her hand. However, he merely held it and didn’t dare smash it.
With her task abruptly interrupted, Yao Qingyue froze.
Her sluggish mind wondered what exactly these people were here for.
First, they had inexplicably started arguing beside her spiritual field. Now they were even stealing her watering can and preventing her from farming.
She absolutely couldn’t let them get away with this!
The desire surging in her chest could no longer find its original outlet, so it rushed violently in another direction.
Rather than struggle with the two lackeys over the watering can, Yao Qingyue made a split-second decision. She quickly crouched down and scooped up a handful of mud.
Both Yao Shuang and Hua Yurong watched her closely.
Yao Shuang thought to herself that this cripple had finally reached her limit and was about to attack. As long as Yao Qingyue dared to make the first move, she would have every right to retaliate.
She and Yao Qingyue came from the same cultivation family and had entered the Zhuyue Sect together. Within the family, the main branch held authority over the collateral branches. After joining the sect, Yao Qingyue’s status as a senior sister had once again placed her above Yao Shuang.
In the past, Yao Shuang had only ever been on the receiving end of beatings. But things were different now.
Given Yao Qingyue’s current physical condition, there was absolutely no way she could defeat her.
The prospect of giving Yao Qingyue a perfectly justified beating filled Yao Shuang with eager anticipation.
Hua Yurong, meanwhile, leaned comfortably back in her wheelchair. Her face showed concern, but inwardly, she was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
It had certainly been unexpected that Yao Qingyue hadn’t gone looking for Ji Yueming to threaten suicide again. But if she provoked Yao Shuang and ended up dying beneath her sword, this spectacle of two dogs tearing each other apart would ultimately achieve the same result.
Completely unaware of the two women’s malicious thoughts, Yao Qingyue clenched the mud tightly in her hand.
The wet earth formed a ball between her fingers.
Under everyone’s uncertain gazes, Yao Qingyue took three steps backward, broke into a short run, and struck a classic basketball-shooting pose.
The mud ball struck Yao Shuang’s face with a wet splat, bursting apart on impact.
Chunks of mud also fell onto her green skirt, leaving her clothes filthy.
Yao Shuang stood frozen as she wiped her face, then stared blankly down at her soiled clothes.
Yao Qingyue dusted off her hands and, before anyone could react, drew her sword and charged.
At first, Yao Shuang was consumed by rage. But when she saw Yao Qingyue draw her sword and rush toward her without the slightest hesitation, fear suddenly seized her.
What was going on? Could the information have been wrong? Wasn’t Yao Qingyue supposed to be incapable of using spiritual power?
Yao Shuang hurriedly drew her own sword to defend herself, bracing for Yao Qingyue’s next deadly attack.
But when Yao Qingyue collided with the light from her sword, she actually toppled straight backward.
Even without spiritual power, she shouldn’t be this useless. Could this be a feint, some sort of deceptive technique?
Yao Shuang gripped her sword hilt tightly, her palms growing damp as she stared at her opponent without blinking.
Yao Qingyue fell backward with a startled cry, hit the ground, and rolled several times before barely managing to stop herself. She looked utterly miserable.
Yao Shuang looked at her sword, then at Yao Qingyue rolling on the ground, her expression turning bewildered.
She had only raised her sword to defend herself. Had she even done anything?
Before Yao Shuang could think too deeply about it, Yao Qingyue had already stubbornly climbed back to her feet and charged at her again.
Yao Shuang nervously swung her sword. Before the sword’s radiance could even touch Yao Qingyue, the force of the swing had already sent her flying.
Yao Shuang looked at her in alarm, then down at her own sword, sinking into profound confusion.
She knew Yao Qingyue couldn’t use spiritual power, which was precisely why she had dared to provoke her.
But even without spiritual power, Yao Qingyue should still remember her sword techniques, and the physical conditioning she had developed through years of cultivation shouldn’t have simply vanished.
So why was she behaving like a disciple who had only just joined the sect? How could she fail to withstand even a single move from a low-ranking disciple like herself?
Should she test her again?
When Yao Qingyue climbed up from the ground for the third time and charged, Yao Shuang was still suspicious. Hua Yurong and the others were also watching with considerable interest.
By the time Yao Qingyue had gotten up and recklessly charged for the tenth time, Yao Shuang was growing impatient, while Hua Yurong’s brows had furrowed slightly.
When Yao Qingyue rose from the ground and charged for the fiftieth time, Yao Shuang’s impatience had turned into speechless disbelief. Hua Yurong, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought.
Yao Qingyue knelt on the ground, clutching her sword hilt. Her body swayed unsteadily, her face bruised and swollen, yet her expression remained unwaveringly determined.
Two little figures were locked in a fierce tug-of-war inside her head.
One was rolling on the ground in agony, begging her to stop fighting.
The other wore an expression of absolute resolve, excitedly warning her that she must never give in.
In the end, the second little figure won.
Controlled by that inexplicable impulse, she had even forgotten her original purpose. All she could do was keep charging at Yao Shuang.
Even Yao Shuang, who thoroughly despised her, was rendered speechless by Yao Qingyue’s suicidal persistence, clinging to the fight like an impossibly stubborn piece of sticky candy.
When it became clear that Yao Qingyue was about to start all over again, Yao Shuang finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Forget it!” she snapped viciously. “Let the two cripples wallow in their own misery together! We’re leaving!”
With that, she didn’t spare Yao Qingyue another glance and swaggered away.
With her target suddenly gone, Yao Qingyue fell into a state of bewilderment. The pain throughout her body finally caught up with her, and before she knew it, she collapsed onto the ground.
Hua Yurong remained silent for a moment before signaling to her maid to push her wheelchair over to Yao Qingyue.
She extended her slender, pale fingers and gently touched Yao Qingyue’s cheek.
The skin there was covered in blue and purple bruises, without a single uninjured patch. It was a horrifying sight.
Yao Qingyue cried out in pain. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with tears as she glared accusingly at Hua Yurong.
Hua Yurong paused, then sighed. “Senior Sister, you’re badly hurt.”
Lying on the ground, Yao Qingyue studied Hua Yurong’s face without blinking.
They said a beauty could captivate an entire kingdom and make even an emperor smile in delight. The beauty of this young woman in the fox-fur cloak was truly flawless.
But she was her romantic rival.
She hated her.
She would become a mirror. Whoever hated her, she would hate them right back.
The malice in her heart was magnified once more.
Yao Qingyue’s gaze shifted from Hua Yurong’s face to those slender fingers. Suddenly realizing something, her expression changed drastically.
She covered the cheek Hua Yurong had just touched. Her eyes abruptly reddened, and she murmured to herself,
“…I’ve been defiled.”
Hua Yurong: “???”
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