After Infusing Love Poison to the Cold Sword Sovereign - Chapter 50

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the few people in the room tensed, and the atmosphere instantly became oppressive or not.

Jiang Qingbei lazily stretched and even covered her face as she yawned. Wu Ruo tilted her head as if she hadn’t heard anything. Luo Qingyi remained expressionless, just as before, and merely gave a slight nod. “Mm, I understand. Zhiruo, there’s no need to panic.”

“He’s dead!” Yang Zhiruo didn’t understand and repeated emphatically, “How?”

After finishing her yawn, Jiang Qingbei walked up to Yang Zhiruo and said arrogantly, “Hmph, he’s not one of our Falling Snow Peak. The four main peaks are independent of each other. Over a decade ago, your Hundred Flowers Peak bullied our Falling Snow Peak. Someone like him, hmph, deserved to die.”

Hearing the mention of “over a decade ago,” Wu Ruo pricked up her ears sensitively, but Jiang Qingbei didn’t continue the topic. “In my opinion, it’s already generous of my senior sister to come and save you all. You just need to go back and report the mission as completed. That guy’s death is his own problem.”

“Jiang Qingbei!” Yang Zhiruo was clearly a bit angry, her face darkening. “He used to have a good relationship with you. How can you be so unsympathetic?”

“Good, my foot! And who’s unsympathetic? Back when my senior sister was stripped of her position as Peak Master, Falling Snow Peak was left leaderless. It was your Hundred Flowers Peak and Long Wind Peak that took advantage of the situation the most! You even egged me on, made me.”

Jiang Qingbei grew angrier as she spoke, her expression shifting dramatically. She planted her hands on her hips and pointed at the other’s nose, scolding, “Back then, it was that guy surnamed Chen, and your dear junior brother, blabbering in my ear all day long. I almost made a huge mistake!”

When she mentioned the word “mistake,” Jiang Qingbei seemed to unintentionally glance at Wu Ruo.

In that instant, Wu Ruo seemed to understand something. Jiang Qingbei was straightforward and quick-tempered, easily manipulated and used as a weapon by others. Her past hostility and targeting of Wu Ruo were also because she had been used as a pawn.

As long as the sect’s young lady took the lead in bullying, such behavior would become the norm. Jiang Qingbei had no ill intentions herself; it was just that there were many, many people whispering in her ear.

Yang Zhiruo was stunned. She clearly didn’t know that Jiang Qingbei’s relationship with her junior brother had already soured, and she asked mechanically, “Ah? What happened?”

Jiang Qingbei glanced at Wu Ruo again. This time, their eyes met, and she immediately looked away, pretending she hadn’t been looking at Wu Ruo. “I already said it’s something bad. Who would want to talk about it?”

Yang Zhiruo was seething with anger, but since the other party was the sect leader’s daughter, she wisely refrained from pressing further.

While the two were arguing, Luo Qingyi had remained silent on the side, as if deliberately giving Jiang Qingbei time. Once they stopped talking, Luo Qingyi finally stepped in to take charge. “Zhiruo, your junior brother’s jade token—did it develop cracks a few days ago and shatter completely today?”

The jade token was the identity badge held by every inner sect disciple of the sect. One was kept on their person, and another was stored in the sect. It served as proof of identity for each disciple and as evidence of their connection to the sect. If a disciple’s life was in danger, the jade token would develop cracks until it eventually shattered.

“Probably yes,” Yang Zhiruo said. “I didn’t know about it in the past few days, but this morning, I found a pile of fragments next to my own jade token and realized my junior brother might have met with misfortune.”

“Your junior brother was not a pure-hearted person. When he entered the Wish Temple earlier, he must have made an excessively greedy wish. However, the Wish Temple operates on the principle of exchange—it grants wishes but demands even more in return.”

Yang Zhiruo let out a dazed “ah” and lowered her head. She was not particularly clever, nor did she possess a mind full of twists and turns. Whatever others said, she would believe it.

Before this mission, she had stubbornly believed that every fellow disciple was a kind person. Even when her junior brother dragged her into a task that was originally his alone, she never asked for anything in return.

In recent days, while her junior brother had left a message and disappeared without a trace, she had diligently organized mission-related information, refusing to slack off for even a moment, even though the task was not hers to begin with.

“Peak Master Luo, I’m sorry.” She bowed her head, her overly tall stature paired with a round, baby-faced expression, her face etched with disappointment, her voice tinged with suppressed sobs.

It was as if years of accumulated beliefs had been shattered on the ground, like pristine silk stained with the grime of the world—much like the broken jade plaque she had seen that morning.

Luo Qingyi said, “Go back alone to report on the mission. Claim the reward and keep it safely. The nature of the Wish Temple has been fully documented in the mission scroll.”

“Okay, huh? Wait—” Yang Zhiruo didn’t react immediately. Only after responding did she realize what the other had said. She looked up in surprise, her face filled with disbelief.

When she had been organizing the clues earlier, there were still so many gaps. And Peak Master Luo’s meaning was.

After rescuing them from the Wish Temple and completing the entire mission, was she giving her the credit?

Luo Qingyi remained expressionless, but her usually emotionless voice seemed to carry a hint of her own gentleness: “The Red Temple is surrounded by demonic cultivators and is no place for those below the Golden Core stage. I will help you uncover the truth behind your junior brother’s death. Go back and report.”

“Hmph, I just want to see what this broken temple is all about—it nearly got me killed, so of course I’m going to check it out!” Jiang Qingbei strode over arrogantly, chin held high. “It’s not like I’m doing it to help you.”

Uncovering the truth within the heavily guarded Red Temple, surrounded by demonic cultivators, was no easy task. Luo Qingyi had taken on this mission that was not originally hers, but Young Lady Jiang didn’t have to go. Yet, as soon as Luo Qingyi finished speaking, she had spoken up without hesitation, her tone resolute.

“I’ll go too,” Wu Ruo said. The moment she heard Luo Qingyi speak, she had already guessed what the other intended to say.

This was indeed the Luo Qingyi she admired.

Luo Qingyi looked over, her eyes showing surprise at her promise but still tinged with concern: “Lan Ting said the Right Envoy is tracking you. Shouldn’t you.”

Wu Ruo waved her hand and smiled. “To be honest, I’d really like to see what kind of person this Right Envoy is, who tormented Lan Ting so much.”

“Alright, then I’ll protect you,” Luo Qingyi said seriously.

Before Yang Zhiruo returned to the sect to report, Wu Ruo entrusted Jin Hua to her care.

Jin Hua still had the heart of a child. Bringing her along would undoubtedly slow the group down and might even cause trouble because of her—the losses would outweigh the gains.

When Jin Hua was dragged out of her quilt by Wu Ruo, she was still dazed. She whined and protested, not wanting to get up, only to have Luo Qingyi—with a cold expression—yank the blanket off her. “Get up.”

In just two days, Jin Hua had already lost her fear of the seemingly icy Luo Qingyi. She was about to throw a tantrum when she noticed two unfamiliar faces at the door and immediately swallowed her cries.

She obediently got up and changed her clothes, but then she grew upset that Wu Ruo, after caring for her for just one day, was already handing her over to someone else. Just as she was about to roll on the floor in protest, Luo Qingyi seized her by the scruff of her neck.

“Be sensible,” Luo Qingyi said. “I’m the bad one. If you keep making a fuss, I’ll take you away. If you behave, the nice sister will take you.”

Yang Zhiruo and Jiang Qingbei watched in astonishment, their eyes growing wider by the second.

Jiang Qingbei was still muttering under her breath when Jin Hua suddenly dashed over to her and exclaimed loudly, “Did my mother ask you to take me away?”

Jiang Qingbei hastily waved her hands and pulled Yang Zhiruo in front of her. “It’s her, not me.”

Jin Hua shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, and clung to Jiang Qingbei’s side. “I don’t want to go with her! I only want to go with you. I don’t know her.”

“Then do you know me?” Jiang Qingbei was utterly confused. “I’ve never seen you before in my life! Since I was little, the only Miao person I’ve ever met is Wu Ruo!”

“I know you, I do! You’re a good person. You often gave things to eat to me and my mother.”

“Don’t—don’t talk nonsense!!” Jiang Qingbei, already aware that Jin Hua and her mother had lived in the demon realm, shuddered in fear. “Are you out of your mind? Why are you framing me like this?”

“Wait!”

Wu Ruo stared at Jiang Qingbei’s face, recalling the earlier misunderstanding when she had first awakened and mistaken Jiang Qingbei for her old friend.

An incredible thought flashed through her mind, and her heart began to race. Patting Jin Hua’s shoulder gently, she asked in a kind tone, “Where did you meet this sister?”

“At my home!” Jin Hua replied loudly.

“Where is your home?”

“By a small stream! There’s a very pretty little house and a few rice paddies—that’s my home!”

“This sister.” Wu Ruo shot a glance at Luo Qingyi, who understood immediately and stopped the frantic Jiang Qingbei, calming her down in time.

Wu Ruo smiled and continued, “Is this sister about the same height as me?”

“Probably!”

“Do you know where she lives?”

“No, but she’s very kind. She helped my mother, and when she walks, she makes a tinkling sound!”

It was true.

Wu Ruo let out a long sigh of relief, as if a massive boulder had finally settled firmly in her heart. Every pore in her body relaxed.

Since she had awakened, having lost a portion of her past memories, she had never experienced such a moment of unburdened happiness.

Ah Xiang her dearest friend in the Miao region, was still alive.

Jiang Qingbei resembled her friend closely. If she had mistaken her, then Jin Hua, being just a child, had no reason to have distorted memories either.

Like a lone goose that had been separated from the flock for too long finally finding its familiar home, warmth spread through her body and heart. A sweet smile graced her face.

But there was still one more question.

“How is she doing? What does she smell like?” Wu Ruo asked urgently, her heart pounding with anxiety as never before. It felt like the finals of the Gu arts competition, when she and Jin Hua stood on the altar holding their vessels, waiting with bated hearts for the verdict.

“Isn’t she right here?” Jinhua pattered over to Jiang Qingbei, tugged at her sleeve, and took a deep sniff. “Huh? Why does your scent smell different now? That metallic smell is gone!”

Metallic smell iron rust, the scent of blood. According to Lan Ting, demonic cultivators crave blood like their lives depend on it.

It was within her expectations, yet a faint ache still tugged at her heart.

“Good girl, thank you.” Wu Ruo patted Jinhua’s head, earning a proud little hum from her. As she withdrew her hand, another crucial question suddenly flashed through her mind.

If Axiang had survived in the demon realm, why hadn’t Lan Ting mentioned her even once during their conversation?

Axiang and Lan Ting knew each other or rather, were familiar with one another.

“Jinhua.” Luo Qingyi seemed to read her mind, understanding her thoughts just by looking at her expression. After pointing at Jiang Qingbei, Luo Qingyi continued, “This older sister, what’s her general identity?”

“Hmm…” Jinhua bit her finger, thinking seriously. “I don’t know. But my mother always looks forward to her visits. Whenever she comes, I get delicious treats!”

“…” Luo Qingyi frowned, unable to deduce anything from such scant information. She turned to Wu Ruo and said, “When we meet Lan Ting again, we’ll ask.”

Wu Ruo nodded. “Mm.”

The three bid farewell to Jinhua and Yang Zhiruo, heading in the direction of the Red Temple.

After walking a considerable distance, Jiang Qingbei still wore a displeased expression. “She wronged me! I’ve never been a demonic cultivator. It must be someone who looks like me, how annoying! She might have chosen to become one, but I never would!”

Luo Qingyi said, “Qingbei, that’s enough.”

Wu Ruo explained, “She wasn’t accusing you. Do you remember how I once mistook you for someone else? The person she saw might be my friend.”

“Axiang?” Jiang Qingbei still remembered the name and quickly forgot her earlier irritation. “I’d really like to meet her! Just how much does she resemble me?”

“Perhaps we’ll see her today.” Luo Qingyi, walking at the front, sounded somewhat grave.

She closed her eyes, her spiritual sense swiftly probing the path ahead before quickly retracting.

“The demonic cultivators have sealed off the mountain.”

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