After Being Cursed, My Cold Senior Sister Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 8

If Jiang Rulian could go back in time, she would definitely cover her mouth.

Knowing half as much as you think you do is far more dangerous than knowing nothing at all.

She had answered so confidently and swiftly, as if she had the book’s contents memorized.

Then she left so decisively, even telling Senior Sister to contact her if anything came up.

What could possibly go wrong in this situation?!

If she knew the side effects of Phoenix Blood and still said those things, that’s just shameless! People would hate her!

Jiang Rulian flipped the book open again, fantasizing about finding a way to remedy her mistake.

Perhaps an herb that could neutralize the Phoenix Blood.

Skimming through the text, she realized that these delicate Immortal Herbs and Spiritual Grasses either withered from depleted spiritual energy or were so rare that they might only be seen once in a century.

Herb-based solutions seemed hopeless. She turned her hopes to external forces instead.

Since medicinal effects varied from person to person, would her own blood still cause side effects when used on Senior Sister?

Jiang Rulian took a deep breath, beginning to recall Qing Qian’s earlier reaction.

At first, Qing Qian’s high fever had completely captivated her attention, leaving no room for anything else. Now, it was as if a stuck television had been given a sharp rap, jolting her into clarity.

Her mind, rusted from disuse during rote memorization, suddenly sprang to life, frantically replaying scenes in vivid 4K resolution.

Chaotic and unorganized.

Under the dim lighting, the arch of Qing Qian’s foot tensed, the sheets crumpling into layers of creases with each movement.

Her tongue wiped away the blood between her lips. Tears glistened on her lashes as they slowly blinked, her eyes losing focus.

Long, slender fingers brushed back her hair. Everywhere Jiang Rulian’s gaze fell was a luminous white, with only the tear mole at the corner of her eye like a drop of ink splashed on snow.

The stark contrast of black and white was almost overwhelming. Jiang Rulian could feel her heart skip a beat before resuming its frantic pounding.

The air in the study, unwittingly heated by Jiang Rulian’s agitation, grew stifling. She tugged at her collar and strode out of the room.

She settled onto a stone bench beneath the pear tree, poured herself a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp before refilling the cup.

Most of the time, Senior Sister was like the moon, lofty and untouchable. But when she was sick, she became soft and vulnerable, easily broken.

The cold tea slid down her throat, but it couldn’t soothe the anxiety in her heart.

Jiang Rulian twirled the teacup in her hands, thinking of another solution.

With her Senior Sister’s abilities, she should be able to expel the Fire Spiritual Energy from her body. But her Spiritual Veins were still damaged, and doing so would be excruciatingly painful.

If they did nothing and let it progress…

A flock of startled birds suddenly burst from the distant forest. Moments later, an owl and a falcon swooped past the eaves, flying deeper into the night.

Jiang Rulian buried her face in the crook of her arm, muffled a soft sob, and fell still.

She wondered why she always seemed to be the one who got Senior Sister hurt.

“Senior, you haven’t been here all night, have you?”

Pei Yanyan lifted the teapot, discovering it had been drained dry by a certain Phoenix.

She had come to check on Qing Qian, but Jiang Rulian intercepted her in the courtyard.

“You don’t need to sleep,” Jiang Rulian said flatly.

Though she spoke with such calm, her head propped up as she absentmindedly tapped her phone, she looked utterly exhausted.

While Jiang Rulian typed a reply, Pei Yanyan had her servants bring out a fresh pot of tea. Rolling up her sleeves, she poured herself a cup and took a sip.

Jiang Rulian casually asked, “Why are you here alone? Didn’t the old man from Hengwu Peak say he wouldn’t let me enter Tingyun Mountain?”

“He’s already returned to the Nine Heavens. Before he died, he specifically told me to keep an eye on you.”

“Oh, what about the round-faced girl from the Mess Hall?”

Pei Yanyan crossed her legs, her feet tapping rhythmically against the floor in an unbecoming posture.

“There’s no girl in the Mess Hall now. There used to be a plump auntie who made delicious osmanthus cakes, but she passed away ten years ago.”

“Oh, that’s a shame.”

“Her pastries were delicious. If you have time, bring a red plum blossom to place on her grave.”

Jiang Rulian spoke without looking up, her voice calm and detached, as if it were a trivial matter.

Yet she clearly remembered the flower her friend had loved.

Pei Yanyan cupped her face in her hands and sighed dramatically. “Ah, there are so few of your generation left in the cultivation world.”

“Mm,” Jiang Rulian replied, seemingly oblivious to Pei Yanyan’s theatricality. She poured herself a cup of tea to clear her head. “Only that person from the Monster Bureau is older than me.”

“Centuries have passed. Both enemies and friends have perished, yet you remain. How does it feel, Senior?”

Jiang Rulian lifted her teacup, the rising steam softening the proud lines of her brow and lending her an ethereal, immortal aura.

“It feels… ordinary. To demons, a century is but a dream. And to most humans, a dream is but a century. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of the natural order.”

Pei Yanyan nodded vigorously, like a pecking chick, in agreement. Then, with practiced smoothness, she tossed out her next prepared question: “Martial Great-Aunt is also of the Human Race.”

“…”

The immortal demeanor crumbled. Jiang Rulian slammed her teacup onto the table with a resounding clatter, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Pei Yanyan.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Before Pei Yanyan could respond, Jiang Rulian continued, “I don’t need your reminder. I will definitely cure her.”

What Jiang Rulian didn’t say was that if the day ever came when her Senior Sister was truly dying, she would force a Dao Companion Contract with her, even if it meant losing her Senior Sister’s affection.

“Alright then, Senior. It seems you have your own plans.” Pei Yanyan brushed the fallen petals from her shoulder and stood up. “I have other matters to attend to. Please let me know if Martial Great-Aunt wakes up.”

Jiang Rulian waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

No sooner had Pei Yanyan left than Jiang Rulian’s phone screen flashed.

[Dog sent a new message.]

[You guessed correctly. In the previous incidents, the demons killed on the scene had no connection to each other, but their Demon Cores were incomplete.]

[And the humans who were attacked almost all had a bite wound.]

Jiang Rulian wanted to explain, but her mind was filled with fragmented memories, and she couldn’t remember the name of the Gu Insect.

In the end, she could only write:

[That type of Gu only parasitizes within weak demons, destroying the Demon Core before bursting out of the host’s body.]

[What kind of power do these people have to attract demon attacks? Even docile Rabbit Demons can’t resist attacking them.]

She suspected that the first victim of the Gu wasn’t a demon, but a human. The mastermind might be using the demons as pawns to eliminate their true targets.

[Understood. I’ll investigate those humans immediately.]

[Especially the man we rescued yesterday. Which couple on a date would choose a desolate riverbank? And his girlfriend died while he only suffered some minor injuries—too fortunate.]

******

After sending the message, she realized it was already past noon.

Still no movement from Qing Qian’s room.

Jiang Rulian softened her footsteps as she approached the door, mentally preparing how to explain last night’s events.

Silently reciting her rehearsed words, her hand froze mid-air before it could knock. The door swung open on its own.

Caught off guard, she remained frozen in the act of knocking, the spring breeze sweeping through the room and enveloping her.

Qing Qian said nothing, waiting for Jiang Rulian to speak.

She must have just bathed, wearing a robe with her white hair neatly pinned up. Jiang Rulian could even smell the delicate scent of her bath soap.

After a few stunned seconds, Jiang Rulian averted her gaze to her feet, stammering, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I really didn’t know…”

“It’s nothing,” Qing Qian said, cutting her off. “Thank you for bringing me back.”

Her tone was businesslike, as if a transparent wall separated them.

Jiang Rulian felt like she’d run headfirst into that wall, her emotions in turmoil—she didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

After all, Senior Sister wasn’t angry, and they had been so intimate last night.

“One more thing,” Jiang Rulian said, pulling a thermos from behind her back. “I’ve kept the medicine Yanyan sent over yesterday warm.”

Qing Qian’s brow furrowed imperceptibly as she stepped aside to let Jiang Rulian enter.

Unlike the messy bed from last night, today’s quilt was neatly folded, and the sheets were smoothed flat. Jiang Rulian’s sharp eyes noticed her jacket, neatly folded and placed on the bedside table.

She glanced at it briefly before turning her attention to the still-warm medicinal decoction. The liquid reflected a murky, multicolored darkness and emitted a pungent, bitter aroma.

Last night, Jiang Rulian had secretly examined it and almost suspected Pei Yanyan had used the wrong ingredients. This stuff had long surpassed the bounds of medicine; it was downright bizarre.

Yet Qing Qian took the bowl and drained it in one gulp, without pausing.

Seeing her finish, Jiang Rulian spread her hand to reveal a colorful assortment of mint candies resting in her palm. She smiled. “Here, Senior Sister, have some candy.”

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