After Infusing Love Poison to the Cold Sword Sovereign - Chapter 67

What kind of feeling was it?

Wu Ruo couldn’t quite describe it. She held Luo Qingyi loosely in her arms; the other’s condition was far from good, one could say she was barely breathing. Wu Ruo had never seen Luo Qingyi in such a state.

In her eyes, Luo Qingyi had always been composed and self-assured, a master of her peak, noble and virtuous, the revered Immortal Luo admired by thousands.

But the Luo Qingyi before her now was so weak she seemed on the verge of death at any moment. Her spiritual awareness and inner breath were extremely unstable, her spiritual energy rampaging within her dantian, shrouded in dark energy.

The Heart Demon Curse. How could it affect Luo Qingyi? In her understanding, those with a clear conscience and no regrets would not develop inner demons, nor would they be affected by such a curse.

Luo Qingyi had asked her to kill her.

How could she?

A sharp, sour ache suddenly rose in Wu Ruo’s heart, as if a small bottle filled with lemon juice had been overturned, its acidic contents spilling everywhere, seeping into her heart, lungs, internal organs, and even her dantian.

How could she bear it? How could she have the heart?

Luo Qingyi, saying something like that. Do you think it wouldn’t hurt me?

She looked at the other’s closed eyelids, the lashes trembling faintly. The tone of that sentence had been calm, devoid of strong emotion, yet Wu Ruo could distinctly sense that Luo Qingyi’s emotions had wavered as she spoke.

Wu Ruo remained silent, maintaining the loose embrace. After saying those words, Luo Qingyi had also fallen quiet, as if too weak to speak further. Yet Wu Ruo had an intuition this silence was Luo Qingyi waiting for her response.

Waiting for her.

Waiting for a word of comfort, a promise.

“Luo Qingyi.” Wu Ruo supported the other’s head, letting it rest on her shoulder, and said solemnly, “No.”

“As long as I’m here, you won’t fall to demonic influence, and you won’t harm anyone. Don’t be afraid.”

Luo Qingyi shifted her head slightly and let out a soft hum.

The dark energy of the Heart Demon surrounding her seemed to lessen slightly.

Wu Ruo: “Take back those words. Don’t say them again, or I’ll be angry.”

“Mmm.”

“I won’t abandon you. Never.” Wu Ruo’s gaze swept from afar to nearby, scanning their surroundings to confirm there were no dangers—no monsters with bared fangs lying in wait, no demonic cultivators ambushing them.

Reassured, she held Luo Qingyi tightly in her arms.

“Qingyi, I need to apologize to you first. When I left before well, I was emotionally unstable and disregarded your kindness. That was my fault. I won’t do it again. Never again.”

“Also, I met a senior who said she was the one who taught you about the Dust-Forgotten Powder. I wrongly accused you.”

“As for what happened before, the senior told me a little about it.”

Luo Qingyi suddenly tugged at her sleeve. “Don’t find out.”

Wu Ruo suddenly realized: the current Luo Qingyi, with her head buried low, tugging at her sleeve, and that long sentence just now it was as if.

She wanted to be coaxed.

Oh no, this is a little too adorable.

Seeing the usually stern and composed Luo Qingyi acting so cute, Wu Ruo couldn’t resist stroking her hair. To her surprise, she felt as though Luo Qingyi was secretly nuzzling against her hand during the motion.

“Alright, I won’t find out,” Wu Ruo said with a laugh.

“Mmm.”

Luo Qingyi trembled again, a physiological shudder. Her skin remained cold, a result of her chronically low body temperature, yet deep within her core, the incessantly mutating dark energy tempted and surged, only to be forcibly suppressed by her.

The Heart Demon Curse was still in effect.

Her earlier words held no falsehood. The Heart Demon Curse, one of the most powerful curses in the demonic cultivation system, used the flesh and blood of a great demon at or above the Soul Division level as a catalyst, capable of instilling inner demons in righteous cultivators of the same rank, forever altering them.

It was unsolvable and irreversible.

And for someone like Luo Qingyi, who already harbored inner demons, it was even more devastating.

Her weakness was not feigned; she had been using her own cultivation to forcefully suppress the inner demons. Yet, circulating her spiritual power inevitably stirred the demonic energy provoked by her inner demons, planting seeds of corruption within her veins.

Moments ago, under Wu Ruo’s soothing presence, she had shown slight improvement. With her beloved by her side, she had allowed herself a moment of respite.

But the inner demons were insidious, seizing upon her momentary negligence. The suppressed turmoil gathered strength once more, rising from the ashes like a smoldering fire.

Luo Qingyi bit her lower lip, her canine teeth piercing the soft skin. A few strands of blood trickled out, only to be swallowed back into her abdomen. Her brows furrowed tightly, agony spreading from the depths of her heart, piercing through her limbs and bones, permeating the very air around her.

No! She must not succumb to demonic possession in front of Wu Ruo. She could not let the other worry for her, nor cause any trouble.

If she fell to demonic possession, no one could stop her!

She abruptly shoved Wu Ruo away, staggering backward several steps. Countless versions of Wu Ruo surrounded her, some holding long swords aimed at her heart; others wearing expressions of disgust, sneering at her..

The first one pressed aggressively, “I know everything about the past. Now, it’s time for you to repay me with your life!”

The second one remained expressionless, “I truly regret ever meeting you.”

The third one dismissed her with contempt, “Leave. From now on, let’s not see each other again. You promised we’d go our separate ways, dust to dust, earth to earth. Why come back to haunt me?”

Each figure vanished after speaking, replaced by the next, and the next, an endless cycle, trapping her in a space more confined than the Hundred Coffins Array. Countless ghostly hands reached out, clawing not at her body, but at her heart.

“Ah—”

She seemed to lose control, energy blades swirling around her, sharp and menacing. Her spiritual power seemed to circle Wu Ruo briefly, but her lifebound sword, Jinghong, did not descend. Instead, she summoned the low-grade sword she commonly used and swung it fiercely at her surroundings!

No.

In the instant she struck, she realized something and forcibly retracted her power. The aggressive sword energy, instead of lashing outward, turned inward toward her own spiritual veins.

“Pfft…”

Luo Qingyi could no longer hold back, coughing up a mouthful of thick, fresh blood.

“Luo Qingyi!!”

Wu Ruo rushed forward, snatching the sword from Luo Qingyi’s hand with lightning speed. She firmly grasped the other’s wrist, pressing two fingers against the pulse, and sent a stream of spiritual energy inside.

That move had inflicted severe damage. Combined with the minor injuries from her earlier battle with the Right Envoy, the damaged blood energy now spread through her meridians.

“Teacher, is Shiniang injured? I’ll…”

Du Chuncao, who had been watching from a distance, her view obscured by the surrounding demonic energy, couldn’t see clearly.

As a medical cultivator, her combat abilities weren’t strong, so she didn’t approach to cause trouble for Wu Ruo. Hearing the commotion and realizing Luo Qingyi had suffered a backlash from her technique, she quickly stepped forward.

“Mmm.” Luo Qingyi wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth, only bloody foam came out. She immediately closed it again, not wanting to dirty Wu Ruo’s clothes.

She just shook her head very slightly.

But Wu Ruo understood.

In that instant, she suddenly comprehended Luo Qingyi’s meaning, the other was saying she could fall into a frenzied state at any moment, that Wu Ruo shouldn’t worry about her or come close.

Otherwise, she might hurt whoever approached.

Wu Ruo said, “Chuncao, no need.”

Du Chuncao walked closer and finally saw the expressions on both their faces, but being assaulted by the intense demonic energy, she shivered and didn’t dare move forward.

She stopped in her tracks, but steeled herself, suppressing the fear in her heart, and said loudly, “Teacher, have you forgotten I’m a medical cultivator! You’ve just suffered serious injuries some treatment will help. Let me assist you!”

Wu Ruo looked at Luo Qingyi, who was still shaking her head, so she turned to Chuncao and said, “No need. Go check if Jiang Qingbei is injured.”

Du Chuncao had no choice but to go, her face still showing concern. She took a few steps, then stopped to look back. Only when her view was blocked again did she reluctantly go find Jiang Qingbei, who was secretly bandaging herself nearby.

After Chuncao left, Wu Ruo placed two fingers on Luo Qingyi, concentrating her spiritual power at her fingertips, and tapped once each on the other’s spiritual platform, limbs, and dantian.

Her spiritual power shared the same origin as Luo Qingyi’s. With her assistance in regulating energy, it might be more effective than a medical cultivator.

Several streams of energy, like sweet springs, flowed through Luo Qingyi’s meridians. Luo Qingyi coughed up a mouthful of blood with a “wah” sound, the black energy around her body lightening again, becoming less dense. Even her reversed qi and blood stagnated momentarily, allowing for some improvement.

Wu Ruo softened her voice, speaking gently, “I know you’re afraid of hurting her. It’s alright, I believe in you, you won’t harm anyone.”

Seeing Luo Qingyi didn’t refute, she continued, “Don’t resist me. Qingyi, don’t be afraid. Accept my spiritual power, and then…”

A word suddenly appeared in her mind. She paused and said solemnly.

“Then, I’ll take you home, alright?”

Home.

As if ignited by a spark, Luo Qingyi suddenly lifted her head. Her turbid eyes cleared for a moment before quickly dimming again.

“Would you be willing?”

“Willing, of course I’m willing.” Wu Ruo pondered, “Many people at Falling Snow Peak are waiting for you. I’ll stay with you all the way. Or, um if you’re willing, we could also stay at Apricot Grove Sect. Or wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”

She suddenly remembered the trouble she’d caused when leaving Falling Snow Peak. Although that man from Longfeng Peak had brought it upon himself, it was said that peak lord was extremely protective of his disciples and might make excessive demands, taking advantage of their situation.

She wasn’t afraid for herself, but worried Luo Qingyi might get hurt.

“Not to Apricot Grove Sect.” Luo Qingyi said hoarsely.

“Alright, we won’t go. I’ll stay with you. Where do you want to go?”

“Back.” Luo Qingyi clearly also realized the complications with Zhiyuan Immortal Sect’s main peaks. Her thoughts moved slowly, pausing for a long time before she said with effort, “Back to Falling Snow Peak, using the White Tiger Token.”

“Snowfall Peak collapsed once before. The current Snowfall Peak is formed from a White Tiger puppet. Summon its split spirit, proceed to its belly, and you can return inside the peak without passing through the immortal sect’s mountain gate.”

“Alright.” Wu Ruo agreed without hesitation. She was about to retrieve the White Tiger token from her Qiankun pouch something Luo Qingyi had shoved into her possession some time ago, and now it would come in handy.

But the moment her hands left Luo Qingyi and she stopped channeling spiritual energy, Luo Qingyi suddenly stiffened, her face twisting in an instant.

“Ugh.! Hngh!”

She spat out a mouthful of half-black blood, her slender hand clutching her sleeve so tightly that veins bulged, her nails turning pale from the immense pressure, as if she were suppressing extreme agony.

“Qingyi! How are you?”

Wu Ruo quickly grasped the other’s wrist, channeling spiritual energy with both hands, holding her steady in her embrace.

She frowned Luo Qingyi’s condition was far more severe than she had thought. Perhaps being in the demonic realm, surrounded by dark energy, was exacerbating Luo Qingyi’s inner demons.

They needed to leave soon.

But the moment she activated the White Tiger token, Luo Qingyi would fall into a frenzied state. The other, bound by her inherent kindness, refused to harm anyone, leaving only Luo Qingyi herself to bear the injuries.

Wu Ruo couldn’t think of a suitable solution right away and was considering whether to have Chuncao take over when she suddenly heard Luo Qingyi’s voice.

Muffled against her chest, Luo Qingyi murmured, “Ah Ruo, let go of me. Once my cultivation is depleted to a certain extent, I will fall unconscious.”

Falling unconscious would allow them to leave.

Without a second thought, Wu Ruo replied, “No!”

She understood what Luo Qingyi meant she wanted Wu Ruo to stop channeling spiritual energy, allowing her to succumb to her inner demons and use her own dantian as a vessel to endure the backlash of her demonic energy!

If she weren’t severely injured, it might be manageable, but given Luo Qingyi’s current state, her body would likely give out before her dantian’s spiritual energy was depleted.

Luo Qingyi, just how much do you intend to torment yourself?

Do you think I won’t feel heartache?

Despite all her coaxing, Luo Qingyi remained stubbornly determined to be the savior of heaven and earth, everyone but herself. Wu Ruo was so furious she could spit fire, wishing she could knock Luo Qingyi out with a single strike. But cultivators possessed resilient meridians and wouldn’t fall unconscious from a mere blow.

However, there was still…

Wu Ruo steadied her mind, and an unprecedented idea surfaced in her thoughts.

She had considered using her original gu techniques before, but any gu art was ineffective against a Great Ascension cultivator except.

Except for the Love Gu.

She remembered, in the very beginning, when her youthful heart first stirred, she had cast the Love Gu on Luo Qingyi, and the other had briefly fallen unconscious.

Yes, past experience told her that for cultivators, the Love Gu had no harmful effects beyond inducing affection. Its growth within a cultivator’s body consumed the primordial energy of the dantian and inner palace, capable of plunging the afflicted into slumber.

And the inventor of the Love Gu, Gu Master Wu Juncheng, had first used it on the Demon Lord. The Love Gu initially consumed the target’s demonic energy before moving on to spiritual power.

So, if demonic energy were continuously channeled into the Love Gu, would Luo Qingyi’s inner demons improve?

As for refining the Love Gu, it required no gu insects, no nourishment—only her own enduring and steadfast love for another.

Of course, now that she had inherited Wu Juncheng’s legacy, her gu cultivation had reached its peak. The time needed for her to refine it would only.

Wu Ruo slit her wrist, allowing blood to drip from the wound. She then guided the flow of the love gu with her emotions, tracing elegant arcs in the air.

She withdrew her spiritual energy, watching as the surrounding demonic aura grew increasingly dense, shrouding their figures.

Now, all it took to refine the love gu was the time of a single kiss.

“Luo Qingyi.”

The other lifted her head, and Wu Ruo cupped Luo Qingyi’s face.

“Listen carefully.”

Luo Qingyi murmured in confusion, “Hmm?”

“Back then, I placed the love gu on you without your consent, causing your cultivation to plummet and trapping you in endless suffering. Later, I removed the gu, and we well. What’s past is past.”

She noticed Luo Qingyi’s face twitch slightly, as if unwilling to revisit the topic, so she quickly moved on and continued.

“Now, I regret removing the gu. I want to start over with you. Would you be willing to bind the love gu with me once more, and never remove it again?”

Though Luo Qingyi was at the end of her strength, she forced herself to stay conscious and spoke with solemn resolve, “Yes.”

The blood sigil traced through the air, blossoming into a brilliant crimson flower in her palm, forming a beautiful curve. It then gradually compressed and collapsed, turning into a pale flesh-pink hue and solidifying into the form of an insect-like gu.

Wu Ruo pressed the back of Luo Qingyi’s head and gently kissed her.

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