Achieving A Happy Ending With The Tragic Female Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 24

Wanqi Yue seemed a bit startled. Before Su Mi could even let go, she pulled her hand back and hid it behind her back, her fingers curling slightly where they had been touched.

An air of unnaturalness flickered across Su Mi’s face as well. She turned her head slightly and pursed her lips near the spot where the medicine had been applied; it felt as if it were burning.

Realizing she was still holding the jade jar, she replaced the cap and handed it back to Wanqi Yue. “Here.”

Wanqi Yue originally intended to tell her to keep it, but after a momentary thought, she reached out and took it.

Glancing at Wanqi Yue’s palm, Su Mi noticed a lingering trace of her own blood. With a casual flick of her fingers, she cast a Cleansing Charm to wipe it away.

The ointment on the palm was absorbed quickly within moments, all traces of the application vanished, leaving only a slight tingling sensation at the site of the wound.

Both stayed silent, lost in their own thoughts.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from behind. Su Mi walked a few steps toward the exit and saw the guards leading several more people toward them.

Among the newcomers was a woman dressed in goose-yellow clothes. Her aura alone was significantly more refined than that of the other cultivators.

Su Mi couldn’t help but feel curious. What exactly was the City Lord planning that required so many cultivators? Perhaps it truly was related to the Divine Physician.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Wanqi Yue’s eyes widened in surprise. She lowered her voice and whispered, “Eldest Senior Sister, I’ve seen that person before.”

“Oh?” Su Mi looked at her. Though she didn’t specify who, Su Mi knew exactly who she meant.

Wanqi Yue explained, “If I remember correctly, that’s Lin Huanyi, an inner-circle disciple of the Xuanji Sect. I saw her three years ago at the Immortal Sect Competition.”

Back then, the woman possessed impressive strength but was rather flamboyant in her actions. She had even boasted in front of the Qingyang Sect disciples that she would take first place, only to be defeated by Second Senior Sister Fang Yun.

Listening to Wanqi Yue’s account, Su Mi searched the original owner’s memories. There was indeed such an event, but the original Su Mi had found such competitions boring and refused to participate, so she had never met her.

The Xuanji Sect and Qingyang Mountain were of equal standing. Inner-circle disciples from such sects were rarely short on funds, so it was unlikely she was here for the money. Likely, she had seen the notice and come out of curiosity.

“I thought there would be many high-level cultivators here, but it’s just a bunch of mediocrities.”

Lin Huanyi’s mumble wasn’t particularly loud, but it was just enough for everyone near the door to hear clearly.

Those who heard her were dissatisfied, but none dared to show it. Most were wandering cultivators who lived by their wits, they preferred to avoid trouble, complete the task, and collect their pay.

Lin Huanyi looked around with dissatisfaction until her eyes landed on Su Mi and Wanqi Yue under the eaves. Her interest piqued, as she found herself unable to see through the cultivation of these two.

Wanqi Yue met her probing gaze calmly. Since she had altered her appearance, she wasn’t afraid of being recognized.

As for the Eldest Senior Sister, there was even less to fear. She rarely appeared in public, many outsiders knew of Qingyang Mountain’s Second Senior Sister but remained ignorant of the Eldest Senior Sister’s existence.

Just as Lin Huanyi was about to approach them, the female priest who had been screening applicants at the gate arrived with a guard. Behind them followed a man in his fifties who introduced himself as Steward Xu of the City Lord’s Manor.

Everyone was gathered inside the hall to hear Steward Xu speak.

“Thank you, Immortals, for coming. The City Lord intended to greet you personally, but a sudden matter required his attention. He specifically instructed me to convey his apologies and promised to meet you all later.” Steward Xu bowed deeply, his sincerity appearing impeccable.

“Steward Xu is too polite. It is our honor to share the City Lord’s burdens.”

“Indeed, the City Lord is far too kind.”

Flattery filled the room for several rounds, with only a few remaining silent.

Lin Huanyi was the least tactful. She urged Steward Xu to get to the point and explain exactly what they were needed for.

Steward Xu didn’t seem offended by her attitude. He remained genial, a smile fixed on his face. “Please be patient, Immortals. The City Lord wishes for your collective help in reinforcing a powerful array. This array was left by our ancestors and has recently become unstable. We struggled to find someone capable of repairing it, but fortunately, an Immortal recently provided a method, suggesting that by combining the spiritual power of many, we might overcome the deficiency and succeed in the repair.”

Someone asked, “What array? And where is it?”

Since the reward was so immense, everyone suspected it was no ordinary array.

Steward Xu replied, “Do not worry. We didn’t expect to gather so many of you in just half a day. Once the City Lord is finished, he will inform you personally. In the meantime, we have prepared some refreshments. It would be best to rest and eat before we begin.”

Servants filed in, carrying trays of food and teapots, arranging them on the round tables.

Since there was serious work to be done, Steward Xu did not serve wine, replacing it with fresh tea instead.

The cultivators, not wishing to snub the City Lord’s hospitality, took their seats. However, a few remained wary and refused to eat. Steward Xu didn’t force them, appearing perfectly indifferent to their choice.

Wanqi Yue, now wary of any food provided, had no intention of touching anything, but Su Mi pulled her to a seat.

She whispered in confusion, “Eldest Senior Sister, are we really going to eat?”

Su Mi looked at her and silently mouthed two words: Fake it.

She noticed the guard with the register and the female priest standing to the side. They seemed to be just waiting, but their attention was fixed on the group.

When someone refused to eat, the priest’s gaze immediately locked onto them, while the guard quietly turned his back.

If Su Mi wasn’t mistaken, the guard seemed to be crossing names off the list, likely the names of those who refused the food.

This appeared to be a screening process, only those who ate were granted “entry.”

Su Mi and Wanqi Yue managed to “eat” successfully. At the moment they brought food to their mouths, they used their wide sleeves as a screen, surreptitiously dropping the food into a silk pouch hidden in their sleeves.

Such behavior wasn’t seen as strange; some refined people ate in such a manner to maintain decorum.

In contrast, Lin Huanyi ate heartily, tasting almost every dish on the table.

After everyone had eaten and rested for a while, Steward Xu returned, announcing that the City Lord was ready.

Before leaving, Steward Xu split the group into two. He explained that the City Lord would meet them in shifts.

Su Mi noticed that those who hadn’t touched the food were grouped together, along with a few who had.

Fortunately, Su Mi and Wanqi Yue were not separated, and the Xuanji Sect disciple was in their group. They were in the first batch to see the City Lord, led by the silent female priest.

The priest led them through the sprawling manor. The landscape and decor were elegant, with Monstera and Evergreen plants in every corner, and vast beds of Marigolds and Chrysanthemums in the gardens.

These were all symbols of health and longevity.

After crossing a winding corridor, they reached a courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with rockeries and rare stones, the paths lined with lush greenery, and the faint sound of flowing water could be heard. The central building was extravagant, with golden-painted roof charms and glazed tiles shimmering in the sunlight.

“Please wait here. The City Lord will arrive shortly.” The priest stood by the open door and invited them in.

The feng shui here was excellent. Several complex arrays were visible, but they were all defensive ones designed to keep intruders out, so the cultivators didn’t feel overly alarmed.

Though they hadn’t eaten the food, Su Mi and Wanqi Yue remained vigilant. They stayed at the back of the group as they entered the room.

Inside, the doors and windows were closed, making the lighting dim. Still, the room was clearly opulent, with thick carpets that muffled any footsteps.

As the others began to chat and look around, a few people who had bonded over the meal were talking animatedly.

Su Mi and Wanqi Yue stood to the side, not joining in. Lin Huanyi, on a whim, walked over to them.

“Are you from an Immortal Sect?”

Su Mi didn’t want to court unnecessary trouble, so she denied it. “No.”

Lin Huanyi hugged her sword, eyeing them. “Loose cultivators then? Are you here for the money?”

Su Mi didn’t have much patience for her. “If not for money, then what? For fun?”

“Of course,” Lin Huanyi answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

While the others were conversing, the sound of a door slamming shut suddenly rang out. When they turned around, they only saw the cold face of the priest disappearing as the door closed. Immediately after, a massive array manifested on the door.

Panic set in. Someone tried to force the door open but was sent flying by the array. The windows were the same, impossible to open.

“It’s a trap!”

“A thousand taels… I knew a job this good was too good to be true.”

“Don’t panic! There are so many of us, we can find a way out.”

The cacophony of voices was broken by a dull thud as someone collapsed.

Before the others could realize what was happening, several more people fell.

Lin Huanyi tried to draw her sword to slash the seal on the door, but she found she couldn’t channel her spiritual power. She looked toward Su Mi and Wanqi Yue and saw they were seemingly unaffected. She immediately realized the food was the culprit, but it was too late. Gritting her teeth, she held on for a few more seconds before finally swaying and collapsing.

Su Mi checked Lin Huanyi’s condition and found that her spiritual veins were in a state similar to when Wanqi Yue had been poisoned before.

By now, most people in the room had collapsed. Soon, only the two of them remained conscious.

“Eldest Senior Sister, we…”

A shadow flickered at the door. Su Mi quickly pulled Wanqi Yue toward her, bringing them both to the floor.

Afraid that Wanqi Yue would hurt herself hitting the ground, Su Mi used her own body as a cushion, pulling the younger girl into her arms as they fell.

Wanqi Yue clutched her senior sister’s sleeve, looking for all the world as if she were nestled in her embrace.

The two were so close they could see each other’s individual eyelashes, their breaths mingled, indistinguishable from one another.

Su Mi quietly rolled over, keeping them both lying on their sides.

She looked at the startled Wanqi Yue and placed a finger over her own lips.

Shh…