After Infusing Love Poison to the Cold Sword Sovereign - Chapter 19

Before meeting Luo Qingyi, Wu Ruo had never imagined that the Bonding Ceremony would have anything to do with her.

She was merely a gifted young girl from the tribe, the most favored and designated successor to the Miaojiang Witch Envoy, the next Holy Maiden. Her life should have had nothing to do with bonding.

Yet by some twist of fate, she met Luo Qingyi.

The path outside the window was strewn with flowers, and the Miaojiang tribe was adorned with lanterns and decorations. Every girl’s face was radiant with joy.

As the Holy Maiden of this land, she had always been well-liked, and Luo Qingyi was the honored guest who had saved the tribe. Their Bonding Ceremony was naturally grand and extraordinary.

Wu Ruo let out a soft sigh and smiled, adjusting the floral hairpins and silver combs in her coiled black hair. She wasn’t used to wearing intricate ornaments, just a few hairpins made her scalp ache.

The Miao elder arranging her hair quickly stopped her. “Little Ruo, don’t move. This is your most important day, you must pay attention to your appearance and bearing.”

Yes, the most important day.

Her Bonding Ceremony with Luo Qingyi also the one thing in her life that left her increasingly uncertain.

Ever since she had cast the Love Gu on Luo Qingyi, the other woman had been utterly devoted to her, never mentioning leaving Miaojiang again. They spent their days together, sharing the same bed.

But as time passed, Wu Ruo began to feel increasingly unwell, showing signs of frailty.

Sometimes, her heart would inexplicably race, her chest heavy as if crushed by a boulder, making it hard to breathe. At other times, she would suddenly space out, her head throbbing as if her thoughts had been severed.

Yet the pain was fleeting, vanishing after a moment.

Perhaps she hadn’t practiced her cultivation in too long? After bonding with Luo Qingyi, she ought to maintain her habit of rising early and not indulge too much in their morning embraces.

“Alright, thank you, Elder.”

Wu Ruo straightened her posture before the mirror, watching as the elderly woman deftly secured the last hairpin. Silver tassels dangled by her cheeks, the forehead ornament gleaming brightly, while the crimson veil behind her head fluttered like butterfly wings magnificent and unique, embodying the distinctive charm of Miaojiang.

Holding the elder’s hand, she slowly rose to her feet. The long hem of her dress trailed like cicada wings on the ground, the deep red hue dazzlingly vibrant. The ornaments chimed softly with each step she took.

“Little Ruo, may you and that honored guest from the immortal sect have a long and happy union.”

She nodded. “Thank you. We surely will.”

Following the guidance of the crowd, she stepped outside. At the entrance stood a massive golden toad, its back carrying a palanquin shimmering with rosy light. The toad was one of the Five Poisons revered in Gu cultivation, and this one, bathed in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, was enormous, a symbol of auspicious joy within the tribe, regarded by the Miao people as a blessing.

The golden toad extended its long tongue and spoke in human words:

“Phoenix soaring, phoenix dancing, mountains swaying, rivers flowing.
A fated bond long foretold, a pair of lovers now made whole.” [1]

Wu Ruo thanked it softly, then lifted the curtain and stepped into the bridal sedan. Around her, the sound of musical instruments filled the air primarily the insect flute, accompanied by suonas and others creating a jubilant atmosphere.

The golden toad carried Wu Ruo all the way to the Sacred Altar, the place where the Miao people held their grandest ceremonies.

She felt the bridal sedan chair come to a smooth halt. Another golden toad, its body shimmering with flowing light, had already stopped before the platform. The curtain was lifted, revealing Luo Qingyi descending slowly, adorned in a phoenix crown and embroidered robes. As if sensing something, she looked up and found her, offering a gentle smile.

“Qingyi.” Wu Ruo walked over and took the woman’s hand. “You look so beautiful today!”

“You too. This is the first time I’ve seen you like this. Whether fresh as a lotus or adorned in such rich makeup, each has its own enchanting charm,” Luo Qingyi replied.

Her gaze lingered on Wu Ruo, unwilling to look away. She seemed about to say something more when she suddenly covered her mouth, her face paling as if in pain.

“Qingyi, what’s wrong?”

Wu Ruo quickly supported Luo Qingyi, holding her shoulders with concern. She heard her cough softly a few times and murmur, “It’s nothing.”

After the light coughing, Luo Qingyi seemed to recover, her pale cheeks regaining some color. She gently tugged Wu Ruo’s hand. “Alright, let’s continue.”

“You!” Wu Ruo wanted to ask more but saw no further signs of distress in Luo Qingyi. Her posture remained upright, the warmth in her palm unchanged, and her expression as composed as ever, tinged with the same joyful anticipation as Wu Ruo’s.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence those coughs from Luo Qingyi. No, that couldn’t be it.

At the same moment, Wu Ruo felt a faint twinge in her chest, a metallic tang of blood rising in her throat. She reflexively covered her mouth, forcing down the coppery sweetness.

“Cough!”

She suppressed the blood before it could escape, swallowing the cough that threatened to burst forth, leaving only the lingering taste of iron in her mouth.

Luo Qingyi asked worriedly, “A’Ruo?”

“Mmm…” Wu Ruo discreetly wiped her wrist across her face, removing the traces of blood. “Seems like I’m fine too.”

If both she and Luo Qingyi were affected at the same time, could this be a side effect of the love charm?

Her heart grew uneasy. The metallic taste in her throat and the embroidered robes on her body felt like two curses, pressing down on her with unbearable dread. She searched Luo Qingyi’s face for any sign even reproach or doubt but found only unconditional acceptance in her gaze.

“Alright, let’s continue,” Luo Qingyi said.

Petals scattered by apprentices danced in the air, swaying like spirits of flowers.

Amid cheers and petals, they walked to the center of the sacred platform, the scene beautiful and dreamlike. Wu Ruo watched as Luo Qingyi drank from the nuptial wine cup, her bright red lips glistening with the wine’s sheen, like a flower blooming at dawn.

This was her beloved, who had eyes only for her. This was Luo Qingyi, who belonged to her.

Suddenly, Wu Ruo felt a sense of release. This was the most important day of her life, why should she torment herself with baseless suspicions?

She too drank deeply, setting aside unnecessary thoughts, and clasped hands with Luo Qingyi.

The cheers were endless, firecrackers rang out one after another, and the grand ceremony was complete.

Chuncao brought scissors, grinning as she placed them in Wu Ruo’s hand. Lanting followed closely, holding a red silk pouch tied with a love knot this was the ritual of binding their hair, the final step of the bonding ceremony.

Wu Ruo lifted a lock of Luo Qingyi’s raven-black hair and snipped it gently. In turn, Luo Qingyi gathered a strand of Wu Ruo’s dark tresses and cut it as well.

The two locks of hair were entwined into one, forming a complete braid tied with a thin cord, then placed into the love-knotted pouch.

The strands of hair entwined, forming an inseparable arc, and in Wu Ruo’s heart, it felt as if the tips of those strands had brushed past, leaving a faint, ticklish sensation like tiny hooks.

“Qingyi” She gazed at the woman’s face so close to hers, her lips as radiant as the morning clouds on the horizon, the silver hoops of her earrings singing the enduring songs of Miaojiang in her heart.

The woman she loved had finally become one with her.

No.

A sudden, violent pang of pain in her chest nearly overwhelmed her senses. Clutching her chest, she couldn’t suppress the thick, metallic taste of blood rising in her throat.

She could no longer hold back the nausea, barely managing to cover her mouth as crimson blood seeped slowly between her fingers, like plum blossoms in the snow of deep winter.

“…”

Dazed, she collapsed into Luo Qingyi’s embrace, unaware that the arms holding her so tightly belonged to a woman whose lips were as pale as paper, her complexion ghastly, barely able to steady herself.

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