After Infusing Love Poison to the Cold Sword Sovereign - Chapter 3

Wu Ruo slept deeply this time.

The scenes shifted swiftly her younger self sat by the wind-facing altar at home, gazing at the transparent glass dish in her hands.

A rose-red thread lay quietly at the bottom, translucent under the light. It curled slightly before settling back into stillness.

“Ruo, unless absolutely necessary, never use the love Gu…”

She opened the lid of the dish, watching silently as the cool breeze seeped in. The red thread stirred, painting a flicker of crimson palpitations in her heart.

“Because the complexity of the human heart is far heavier to bear than any Miao Gu…”

Fragments of bygone memories surfaced in her dreams, along with the face of a woman as pure and flawless as white jade.

Yet the moment she woke, everything shattered into nothingness with an earth-shaking boom.

Wu Ruo was jolted awake by the clamor of gongs outside. The streets were alive with noise gongs, trumpets, thunderous drumbeats, and the boisterous chatter of villagers.

Little Yu’er from the neighboring bed had woken early and was already perched by the windowsill, peering outside eagerly.

Seeing Wu Ruo awake, the child’s innocent voice echoed through the cramped room, “Sister! Sister Lingzi from the east end of the village is getting married today! Mama went out to help too! Hehe, Sister Lingzi looks so pretty in her dress!”

Wu Ruo wiped her face briefly and looked outside.

The Lingzi family from the east end was among the wealthier households in the village, and their wedding arrangements naturally reflected that.

The bridal procession was lavish, eight bearers carried a vividly red sedan chair, already passing the small path in front of Yu’er’s home, leaving only a distant silhouette behind.

The sedan was ornately decorated, with long, dense red satin ribbons tied into floral knots at the top and beaded curtains hanging from the sides. Though it couldn’t compare to the extravagance of wealthy families, in this simple village, it stood out magnificently.

The procession left behind laughter and scattered red firecracker debris in its wake. The children, always eager for excitement, had already dashed out, chasing after the procession with loud cheers, hands outstretched for candied treats.

“Aren’t you going?” Wu Ruo asked, noticing Yu’er’s longing gaze.

“Sister, I won’t go.” Yu’er blinked. “I just wanted to see Sister Lingzi. She looks so beautiful as a bride.”

The little girl waved her tiny hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling. “That headpiece is so pretty! All shiny gold, with so many beads and flowers. It looks just like the ones in the books!”

“Hmm…” Wu Ruo smiled faintly. “It’s called a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, what brides wear when they marry.”

“Wow!” Yu’er’s eyes widened, brimming with innocent curiosity and yearning. “Sister, I love it so much. I wonder if I’ll ever get to wear something like that.”

Suddenly, her lively gaze shifted to Wu Ruo. “Sister! You’re about the same age as Sister Lingzi, right? Have you ever worn one?”

Wu Ruo froze, her smile stiffening imperceptibly.

She lowered her eyes slightly, forcing her expression to soften before the child could notice. A faint, resigned smile touched her lips. “No, I haven’t. Study hard, Yu’er. When you grow up and earn money, you can wear it to your heart’s content.”

“Great! When I grow up, I want to go to school too and become the top female scholar in the exams someday!”

Under Wu Ruo’s deliberate guidance, the little girl quickly developed lofty ambitions, her attention shifting from her past to dreams and hopes for the future.

Wu Ruo let out a sigh of relief as she watched Yu’er pick up the beginner’s textbook by the window and read it aloud word by word. Only then did she release the hem of her skirt, which she had been clutching tightly, the cheap fabric now bore deep creases from her grip.

When Yu’er asked that question, her mind went blank, as if a heavy gear had slammed into her skull, leaving her thoughts scattered and slow to return.

The phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, she had worn them before.

And the one who had held her hand, standing by her side, was the person she could never let go of in the first half of her life. Yet now, that same person regarded her as a lifelong stain, the flawless, sacred moon of the cultivation world.

She had once stood hand in hand with Luo Qingyi, both dressed in phoenix coronets and robes of different colors but similar designs. Their matching jewels glittered brilliantly, the long red and golden robes dazzling as they stretched endlessly across the carpet, casting an unending glow.

Back then, Luo Qingyi had loved her.

But that love had been built on deception and demonic enchantment, it was something she had stolen.

She had returned it and paid the price. They should be even now.

But her head hurt so much.

It felt like something was pulling at her, exhausting her. Or maybe the flowers needed watering? Her thoughts were so sluggish.

Was she content with this? Maybe, it was fine. Her head hurt too much to think, too much to wake up. She just wanted to sleep forever in a dream she never had to leave, living half-heartedly in a daze.

She stopped moving.

“Big sister! Big sister, what’s wrong? Wake up! waaah!”

Yu’er had just finished reciting a short passage from the Three Character Classic and was about to sneak over to Wu Ruo for a little break and some affection when she suddenly saw the woman collapse like a puppet with its strings cut light as a feather, yet terrifyingly weightless.

“Big sister! Big sister, you! Waaah, please wake up!”

The young girl, still dreaming of the future, had never experienced such a sudden tragedy before. Fear overwhelmed her completely as she threw herself over Wu Ruo, crying uncontrollably.

“……”

Yu’er cried for a long time, too absorbed in wiping her own tears to even check for a heartbeat or breath.

When she finally tired herself out and let go of Wu Ruo lying on the ground, she sniffled in despair only to suddenly realize that the spot where she knelt was now inexplicably covered by a shadow.

“Ah! A ghost, waaah?!”

The little girl turned around in panic, ready to spread her arms and shield the only person who had ever been kind to her from the terrifying apparition. But when she saw the other’s face, she froze, utterly speechless.

So beautiful, an immortal? No, even immortals couldn’t be this perfect. The fairy sister from yesterday wasn’t as pretty as this one.

Skin whiter than snow, willow-leaf brows like mist. Beneath those delicate brows were eyes like autumn waters serene, unfathomable, and breathtakingly beautiful. Though there was no shimmering light in them, they flickered with a drowsy grace, as if gazing down upon the mortal world like a deity.

Her hair cascaded down to her ankles, strands of snow-white silk curling in the air, ethereal, divine, a miracle of beauty.

Yu’er stared up at her, small hands dropping limply to her sides, utterly entranced.

“How long have you known her?” The woman who had mysteriously appeared in her home spoke with an otherworldly calm, her voice as light as a breeze.

“Ah! um… I… about a year.”

“She likes you very much,” the woman added, her tone as calm as water, devoid of any discernible emotion.

“Mhm… Elder Sister is the kindest person in the world to me!” Yu’er finally regained some composure, her sharp senses picking up on the unusual atmosphere.

It seemed that ever since yesterday, after she and Wu Ruo had visited the Hundred Merchants Street, listened to an unpleasant story there, and encountered a temperamental yet generous immortal sister her Elder Sister had inexplicably become despondent.

She had long suspected that Elder Sister was from an immortal sect. Could it be, this woman was Elder Sister’s old acquaintance?

“Mm, step aside,” the woman said. Her jade-like hands seemed to lightly pat the girl’s shoulders, taking away something unknown.

Had Jiang Qingbei been present, she would have explained to the girl that this was a mark left by someone from their immortal sect. Cultivators could leave such marks on mortals without their knowledge, completely undetected.

Yu’er heard the command but didn’t want to move. She guessed that the other party was likely Elder Sister’s old acquaintance. Judging by the immortal’s tone, there was no ill intent, but she couldn’t just let them take Elder Sister away without a word.

Yet, under the woman’s gaze, she found herself involuntarily stepping aside, her small frame shifting to the edge.

“You!” Will you hurt her?

Yu’er wanted to speak, but her teeth began to chatter uncontrollably. She could only watch as the woman bent down and effortlessly picked up Wu Ruo, who lay collapsed on the ground.

The immortal sister’s movements were gentle did she also like Elder Sister? Would Elder Sister be in danger if taken away?

“No.”

Yu’er hadn’t voiced the question, but she clearly heard the response. The woman’s pale eyes seemed to pierce through all her thoughts, filling her with an indescribable fear.

“Medicine,” the immortal woman said.

Without any visible movement, a small bottle exuding a potent medicinal fragrance appeared steadily on the worn-out bedside table. The richness of its scent was a thousand times stronger than the medicine they had exchanged for at Hundred Merchants Street the day before.

It was undoubtedly a miraculous elixir. Yu’er knew this was the immortal’s kindness to her family.

The woman was terse, her words never exceeding five, fitting Yu’er’s understanding of aloof immortals. But she was taking away the Elder Sister Yu’er adored.

“Take it yourself,” the woman added. “If it awakens your spiritual roots, you may take the preliminary test at Zhiyuan Immortal Sect before you turn eight.”

With that, the woman paid her no further mind, cradling Wu Ruo closer to her chest and resting the sleeping girl’s head against her, as though handling a priceless treasure.

Yet, the moment she touched Wu Ruo, an inscrutable darkness flickered in her eyes.

“Forget,” the woman said again.

Yu’er suddenly felt an overwhelming fatigue, her mind growing heavy and muddled, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

So sleepy! What happened today? Did I dream of an immortal sister who gave me a bottle of medicine? Hmm, yesterday, there was also a kind Elder Sister who helped me exchange for medicine outside. Who was it?

Staggering to the bedside, she soon fell into a deep slumber.

Luo Qingyi did not spare her magic. Her true body remained at Zhiyuan Immortal Sect, this was merely a mortal-world projection but even a tenth of her power was more than enough for her purpose here.

She held the unconscious woman in her arms, and with a thought, a door as fluid as running water silently materialized out of thin air.

Beyond the door lay a world of unparalleled beauty, the legendary realm of cultivation. Their destination was none other than the famed Xuanyuan Immortal Sect’s Snowfall Peak, a place celebrated in countless poems and tales.

The summit of Snowfall Peak was perpetually blanketed in endless snow, vast and pure, like a sky full of goose feathers. A lone snow pine stood at the highest point, beneath which sat a simple tea table, two plain and weathered stone stools, and a cup of long-cold tea.

The woman did not linger. Her ethereal form gradually solidified, merging seamlessly with her original body.

Had anyone passed by at that moment, they would have bowed their head in reverence, not daring to look up, and addressed her with the utmost respect: “Immortal Luo.”

Ever since eight years ago, when Luo Qingyi shattered her inner demons with a single sword strike, reforging her path of heartlessness and emerging as a deity, those around her had noticed a chilling transformation in her demeanor, one that grew increasingly icy and distant.

Like the eternal snow atop Snowfall Peak, frozen into permanence, no warmth could ever melt it again.

Luo Qingyi carried the woman in her arms, walking slowly into the house. She seemed to be smiling, yet her expression was inscrutable, a mix of obsession, resentment, and hatred, all condensed into an enigmatic fixation and boundless love.

“Ah Nuo…”

She laid the woman gently on the bed. The red canopy here remained unchanged from years past, a paulownia wood double bed, two meticulously embroidered pillows placed side by side, beneath which lay two intertwined love knots, now slightly faded with time.

“Found you.”

She embraced the woman tightly, her grip unyielding, then retrieved a small vial from her robes. From it, she took a blood-red pill and carefully slipped it between Wu Nuo’s tightly sealed lips.

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