A Consequence of Opposing the Heroine’s Halo (GL) - Chapter 19

Liu Sanye’s body passed through layer after layer of mist before plunging heavily into the water. Surprisingly, she didn’t stir a single splash.

Submerged, she gazed at the multicolored surface, finding the Sunset Water Valley bizarre and dreamlike.

Perhaps I’ll never go back in this lifetime, she thought despairingly. With a heavy heart, she began to swim upward. Just then, she saw a shadow falling from above.

Through the hazy water and shifting clouds, she concluded in an instant—that was Bai Tong! Startled, she hurried toward the point of impact. The moment she arrived, she caught a face-full of Bai Tong in a tight embrace beneath the water.

Bubbles of all sizes drifted toward the surface, reflecting the colorful sunset glow with ethereal beauty.

Finding that Liu Sanye was still alive, Bai Tong’s tearful face broke into a smile. She hugged Liu Sanye with a death grip, clearly forgetting they were underwater.

Caught off guard by the sudden hug, Liu Sanye lost her breath and accidentally choked on the water. Fortunately, Bai Tong noticed in time and dragged her splashing onto a massive rock. While patting her back, Bai Tong asked, “Are you alright?”

Liu Sanye coughed incessantly, water dripping from her hair. She shook her head. “I’m fine.” Then, she looked at the equally drenched Bai Tong. “Why did you jump down too?”

Bai Tong’s eyes were still red. She choked out, “I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“But jumping down is useless! If there was no water down here, I’d be dead, and you’d be dead too! Are you stupid?!” Liu Sanye never imagined Bai Tong would follow her! The original Bai Tong was calm and composed—nothing like this little dummy who acted without thinking.

Liu Sanye’s heart was a mess. On one hand, she thought that since Bai Tong jumped, the “cheat code” should still be available; on the other hand, she was touched that Bai Tong would risk her life for her.

How could she jump for me?! The more Liu Sanye thought, the more she frowned. “You’re a little dummy!” She reached out and mussed Bai Tong’s hair as punishment.

Bai Tong was filled with pure joy and didn’t care about her messy hair. She only smiled. “It’s so good that you’re okay.”

Liu Sanye felt a flash of anger toward this version of Bai Tong who deviated so much from the original plot. “You have a blood feud to settle! Your parents’ bones aren’t even cold yet! Why don’t you cherish your own life?”

Logically, she should be happy—Bai Tong falling meant she still had a chance to snatch the treasure. But she couldn’t control herself. Human emotion truly is the hardest thing in the world to master.

Bai Tong had a great grudge to avenge; it was that very spite that had kept her alive until now. Yet, just moments ago, she had discarded her chance at life so easily.

Bai Tong fell silent. After a long pause, she lowered her head. “I just thought I could catch you.”

She had been powerless. She couldn’t protect her family, and now, she couldn’t even protect Sanye.

The scenery of Sunset Water Valley was breathtaking. Everywhere one looked, the water shimmered with a beautiful radiance. In the distance, mist swirled over the surface; nearby, lotus leaves grew in dense layers. With the gentle breeze, it felt like a fairyland.

In this paradise, two drenched children crouched on a giant rock—one silent, the other with a complex expression.

Liu Sanye broke the silence first. She reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Bai Tong’s eyes and offered a stiff comfort: “Alright, don’t cry anymore.” She added, “Don’t do such stupid things again.”

Bai Tong didn’t make a promise. Instead, she replied with a face full of determination, “I won’t. I’ll become stronger. Then, no one will be able to bully us.”

Liu Sanye laughed in spite of herself. “Fine. Then I’ll become powerful too and stay by your side to slay your enemies.”

“Mhm!” Bai Tong nodded vigorously.

Watching Bai Tong’s resolute face, Liu Sanye’s thoughts drifted. Only now did she truly understand what Xun Qiu had said: Being ordinary only makes you a fish on a chopping block. Even if you don’t provoke others, they will provoke you. In a world where martial prowess is everything, even a minor “cannon fodder” character could push the heroine into a death trap.

Unknowingly, Liu Sanye had begun to integrate herself into this world. Even her desire to go home had faded slightly as she started looking toward the future.

Bai Tong seemed to remember something and suddenly laughed through her tears. “When you threw me into that cave earlier, a sword manual flew into me.”

With that, she pulled a floating, diamond-shaped, water-blue crystal from her person. Before Liu Sanye could even get a good look, Bai Tong pressed it into her hand. “Do you like it?”

Liu Sanye stared at the manual in her hand, bewildered.

Dust-Spirit… Sword Manual? It was in her hands!

“Is… is this for me?” Liu Sanye stuttered. The “cheat code” had come so easily.

“Yes, a gift for you,” Bai Tong nodded.

Happiness came so fast that Liu Sanye closed her eyes, expecting to be transported home instantly. She waited for a long time, but nothing happened. She peeked one eye open—she was still there.

Liu Sanye: “…”

Her heart went cold. She had the treasure, but there was no reaction. She felt cheated, yet somewhere deep down, she felt a strange sense of relief.

Bai Tong found her behavior odd. “What’s… wrong?”

Liu Sanye shook her head repeatedly and handed the Dust-Spirit Sword Manual back to Bai Tong. She said sadly, “Forget it, I don’t want it.”

“Why? You seemed to like it.”

“I liked it a moment ago; I don’t like it now.” A water-attribute manual couldn’t take her home, so what use was it to her?

Bai Tong was forced to take it back. She told Liu Sanye, “Then tell me whatever you like in the future. As long as I have it, I’ll give it to you.”

Liu Sanye: “…” For some reason, she felt she had done a lot of useless, stupid things. As it turns out, the heroine was so generous that a “cheat code” could be obtained with a single sentence. But now, having it was useless; it seemingly couldn’t take her home.

How then am I supposed to steal her luck? Mess up her harem of suitors? Thinking about the soon-to-appear Male Lead #1, #2, #3… all falling for the heroine at first sight, Liu Sanye fell into deep thought.

That task seemed even more daunting than stealing treasures.

The two laughed and cried for a while. Once they calmed down, they realized they were trapped. Wearing water-soaked clothes, Liu Sanye was starting to feel the chill, sneezing several times in a row. “This is bad. We’re stuck.”

She asked Bai Tong, “Did you bring your Soul Tool? I think that thing has a communication function.”

“I have it.” Bai Tong pulled out the crane seal. “I’ll contact Elder Xun right now.”

She channeled water-blue spiritual energy into it, and a pale blue light screen appeared above the tool, showing Xun Qiu’s face. Xun Qiu squinted with a smile. “The water spiritual qi there is very pure. Are you in Sunset Water Valley?”

“This place is Sunset Water Valley?” Bai Tong was surprised.

Xun Qiu raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t know?”

Bai Tong explained, “We accidentally fell off the cliff. Elder Xun, please help us up.”

“We?” Xun Qiu’s eyes darted to the side and saw Liu Sanye, shivering like a drowned rat. She laughed. “Oh, you even fall off cliffs together~”

Bai Tong grew anxious and repeated, “Elder Xun, please help.”

Elder Xun pondered for a moment, putting on an air of a scheming elder. “The water qi in Sunset Water Valley is so pure; it’s the perfect place for your cultivation. Normally you couldn’t get in even if you wanted to. Such an opportunity is rare—you must seize it. I believe you can use this chance to break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining and fly up on your own.”

The meaning was clear: she wasn’t coming to save them. Seeing a pitiful Liu Sanye beside her, Bai Tong pleaded, “But Sanye is here too. She hasn’t started drawing qi yet; she’ll catch a cold. Can you at least take her back?”

Elder Xun wagged a finger at the screen. “Doesn’t her presence here give you even more motivation to cultivate faster?” With that, she waved goodbye and cut the connection before Bai Tong could respond.

Bai Tong: “…”

Liu Sanye: “A-choo!”

Seeing Bai Tong’s worried look, Liu Sanye spoke up: “Just help me dry my clothes with your magic. I’m fine, just a bit cold.”

Bai Tong raised her hand to dry the clothes. Liu Sanye pumped her fists in encouragement. “Go for it! I believe in you!”

At this point, for Liu Sanye’s sake, Bai Tong had to reach the Middle Stage of Qi Refining as quickly as possible. Only then would she have enough spiritual power to fly someone up the cliff.

Bai Tong didn’t waste a second. She immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing the pure water qi to break through. To avoid disturbing her, Liu Sanye moved to the very edge of the giant rock. She watched as a steady stream of water-blue qi gathered from the surroundings, spiraling into Bai Tong’s body like a whirlpool.

Within moments, Bai Tong’s face showed signs of pain. Absorbing so much pure qi at once was a strain on even the most resilient spiritual veins. She shifted her hand seals, using the Hegui Sect’s unique cultivation technique to circulate the qi, refining it bit by bit into spiritual power to store in her dantian.

She circulated the qi over and over, from day to night, and from night until the next morning. As the first light of dawn appeared, Bai Tong stopped. A dense mist of water vapor enveloped her—a sign of a successful breakthrough.

Liu Sanye, who had stood guard all night, said weakly, “Congratulations.”

Bai Tong, now brimming with energy, stepped forward to embrace her. “I’ll take you back now.”

Liu Sanye’s arms hung limp over Bai Tong’s shoulders as she gave a soft “okay.” Then, she felt herself being lifted into the air. However, she didn’t feel excited. She was too exhausted; leaning against Bai Tong’s shoulder, she fell into a dazed sleep within moments.

Liu Sanye’s body temperature was burning hot. Bai Tong realized she had likely caught a chill and developed a fever. Sanye had endured it in silence until now just to avoid disturbing her breakthrough. Overcome with guilt, Bai Tong sped back toward their courtyard as fast as she possibly could.