After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 22

The chill and change in her relationship with Xu Jingqiu seemed to begin with Ai Yanran’s arrival.

Ai Yanran was brought by the sect leader, dressed in the fine clothes commonly worn by wealthy young ladies. It was clear at a glance she was no commoner likely from an official family or a cultivation clan.

Yet during her initial self-introduction, she carried none of the airs of a privileged miss. Instead, she warmly addressed everyone: “My name is Ai Yanran, the sect leader’s final disciple. Regardless of my past status, from this day forward, I am merely your fellow disciple. I hope we can get along well in the days to come.”

Following this were more humble remarks. Combined with her gentle demeanor and striking beauty, she quickly won over nearly everyone’s hearts, all except Xu Jingqiu at the time.

But Wen Banxia hadn’t noticed anything amiss then, for she too was influenced, instinctively feeling goodwill toward this person. She even thought there could be no one else in the world with such outstanding looks and character.

It wasn’t until later, when members of the Heavenly Order arrived and shattered the cognitive enchantment, that she realized she had been under influence and charm all along though that came later.

“Something felt very off when she looked at me like being stared at by someone full of malice,” Xu Jingqiu told Wen Banxia on their way back to the courtyard after leaving.

Wen Banxia recalled the entire introduction. Aside from the surprise of her being the sect leader’s final disciple meaning he would take no more students there was nothing else startling. As for any discomfort there was none at all.

“Are you overthinking it? Isn’t Junior Sister Ai kind and gentle? Where is the malice?”

Xu Jingqiu seemed a bit deflated, as if she had expected Wen Banxia wouldn’t believe her, and could only mutter under her breath, “It just feels strange, like before with that person.” She was referring to one of the former candidates for young sect master who had targeted her expelled from the Duyun Sect the previous year for a major transgression.

Wen Banxia felt a twinge of unease but, as usual, ruffled Xu Jingqiu’s hair. “Don’t overthink it. It’s fine, don’t worry.”

After that, Xu Jingqiu never brought up anything similar again, and Wen Banxia didn’t mention it either. Both tacitly agreed to drop the subject, though each knew they hadn’t convinced the other.

What neither anticipated was that Ai Yanran would soon pay them a visit, bringing two sachets as gifts.

Holding the sachets, Xu Jingqiu’s discomfort grew, but with Wen Banxia present, she accepted them nonetheless.

“I didn’t have a proper chance to greet you earlier. Now that I see you, Miss Xu, you truly are remarkable. For a mortal to stand among the inner disciples of the Duyun Sect, you must have real capability,” Ai Yanran remarked warmly, taking Xu Jingqiu’s hand.

Yet Xu Jingqiu felt a sharp sting in her hand. She endured it silently, withdrew her hand discreetly, nodded without responding, and took a step back.

After a few more words, Ai Yanran left. Once she was gone, Wen Banxia looked at Xu Jingqiu, her brow slightly furrowed. “You really don’t like her, do you?”

“Her words made me very uncomfortable,” Xu Jingqiu replied. Even though she was already a disciple of the Duyun Sect, Ai Yanran’s words carried an underlying tone that she didn’t belong here, that she wasn’t truly part of the sect.

Wen Banxia spoke to Xu Jingqiu with a hint of seriousness for the first time: “Junior Sister Ai was just greeting you. Don’t be so rude next time.”

Xu Jingqiu: “I’m tired. I’ll go rest first.” With that, she turned and left. As for that sachet, it was later buried by her.

After that, Ai Yanran often sought out Wen Banxia for conversations. Xu Jingqiu repeatedly reminded Wen Banxia that there was something off about this person and not to get too deeply involved, but her warnings were dismissed as malicious targeting. Wen Banxia continued as before, actively taking Ai Yanran on missions and even voluntarily giving away cultivation treasures. Rumors began circulating within the sect that the two were a perfect match. Though Wen Banxia firmly denied it, it was to no avail. Xu Jingqiu eventually stopped asking about it, which outsiders interpreted as silent acceptance.

“I’ve found out those rumors originated from Ai Yanran,” Xu Jingqiu said in her final attempt to warn.

Wen Banxia had lost her patience and questioned, “Why are you always targeting Junior Sister Ai? Has she ever done anything to harm you?”

“If that’s what you think, then so be it,” Xu Jingqiu muttered gloomily. “She’s here. I’ll take my leave now and not disturb your intimate moment.”

Wen Banxia instinctively wanted to call Xu Jingqiu back, but she had already walked away. With Ai Yanran approaching, she didn’t call out again.

Ai Yanran watched the retreating figure, a faint, unnoticed smile curling at the corner of her lips before she quickly put on an innocent expression. “Why did Miss Xu leave? Does she dislike me? Have I offended her in some way?”

“It’s just a rebellious phase. Xiao Qiu is a good person at heart. You’ll see if you spend more time together,” Wen Banxia explained. “There must be some misunderstanding between you.”

“…Is that so?” Ai Yanran feigned understanding, then pretended to be curious. “By the way, what is your relationship? I often see you together, and you even live in the same courtyard.”

Wen Banxia replied, “She is my younger sister.”

Ai Yanran acted surprised. “Biological sisters? But you don’t share the same surname.”

“We’re not biological sisters. I was adopted.”

“Ah, I thought you were cultivation partners. After all, in a cultivation sect like this, aside from attendants, there are no ordinary mortals.”

Wen Banxia was taken aback for a moment before denying it. “We are not cultivation partners. My feelings for her are purely sisterly. And she is not an attendant, she is Elder Li’s disciple, accepted for her talent in sword cultivation.”

Ai Yanran bowed her head apologetically. “So it was my misunderstanding. I will apologize to Miss Xu.”

Whether Ai Yanran ever apologized, Wen Banxia did not know. Her relationship with Xu Jingqiu even began to cool. Xu Jingqiu no longer confided in her, and though they lived in the same courtyard, they rarely spoke.

Wen Banxia wanted to change this situation but didn’t know where to start. She had a vague sense of the root cause, but whenever she was about to voice it, the thought would suddenly slip away.

Then, one day during her cultivation, Wen Banxia was abruptly interrupted.

The person who interrupted her said, “Xu Jingqiu has injured Junior Sister Ai.” They offered no further explanation.

By the time Wen Banxia arrived at the scene, the area was already tightly encircled by layers of onlookers. Ai Yanran sat on the ground, clutching her arm, her sleeve stained red with blood. Xu Jingqiu stood unscathed on the other side, her sword still bearing traces of blood.

It was almost immediately clear who was at fault. Combined with the strained relationship between the two, one being the sect leader’s closed-door disciple and the other a lowly mortal looked down upon by everyone the blame fell overwhelmingly on Xu Jingqiu.

When Xu Jingqiu noticed Wen Banxia’s arrival, she calmly lifted her head and asked, “If I told you she suddenly rushed at me while I was practicing my sword, would you believe me?”

Unsurprisingly, no one believed her. Even if some had witnessed the entire incident, not a single person spoke up in her defense. Those who had seen the truth unanimously chose to conceal or forget it.

This was the first time Xu Jingqiu realized the extent of human malice even her own sister, whom she had relied on for survival, was no exception.

“Xiao Qiu, if you’ve made a mistake, you should have the courage to admit it, not fabricate lies,” Wen Banxia said, shaking her head with visible disappointment.

Xu Jingqiu offered no rebuttal. After all, no one would believe her anyway.

In the end, Xu Jingqiu was naturally punished. On the day her punishment ended, Wen Banxia skipped her cultivation training and waited in the small courtyard for Xu Jingqiu’s return, hoping to have a proper conversation with her.

But Xu Jingqiu never came. Instead, Ai Yanran arrived, her wounds still unhealed, claiming she wanted to apologize.

Wen Banxia absentmindedly sent her away and waited in the courtyard all day. It wasn’t until the sun rose the next morning that she realized Xu Jingqiu wasn’t coming back.

She had moved away.

Wen Banxia went to find the elder who had taken Xu Jingqiu under his wing, only to anger him so much that he furiously chased her out and slammed the door shut with a loud “bang.”

“Get out! Only now you come looking for her? Where were you earlier? Out! I don’t want to see you!”

After that, the two rarely saw each other. Even when they did cross paths, Xu Jingqiu would quickly walk away without so much as a glance in her direction. And with each passing encounter, Wen Banxia noticed fresh wounds on Xu Jingqiu’s body.

Xu Jingqiu grew increasingly silent and withdrawn. The cheerful, lively girl she once was had vanished without a trace.

Wen Banxia wanted to ask Xu Jingqiu what had happened, but she never found the opportunity.

Then, the hot-tempered elder, the only one who had ever protected Xu Jingqiu suddenly passed away, and Wen Banxia never saw Xu Jingqiu again.

It wasn’t until the discovery of a secret realm and the selection of participants that Xu Jingqiu’s name appeared on the registration list.

Wen Banxia jolted awake, instinctively wanting to find Xu Jingqiu. As she sat up, she realized the life-devouring wound that had plagued her was gone.

After taking a moment to collect herself, she searched the room and spotted Xu Jingqiu curled up in a corner, eyes tightly shut. Only when she saw the bloodstains on Xu Jingqiu’s face did she let out a sigh of relief.

Liu Ruichu was nowhere to be seen, likely having retreated into hiding to stand guard nearby.

Wen Banxia slowly walked over and gently stroked Xu Jingqiu’s cheek, just as she had when they were children. She withdrew her hand only when she noticed Xu Jingqiu’s eyelashes flutter slightly. Watching as Xu Jingqiu opened her eyes, Wen Banxia’s heart sank when she caught a flicker of confusion in her gaze.

Suddenly, she recalled Xu Jingqiu’s previous condition. Had her memory damage worsened again?

Xu Jingqiu took a moment to process before recalling what had happened earlier. She patted her head and said, “Ah, it seems we can leave now. I’ll have it open the door to the middle level. What’s wrong?”

Wen Banxia forced a faint smile. “It’s nothing. Could you stay and rest with me a little longer?”

She seemed to understand now why Xu Jingqiu treated her this way there was no trace of resentment to be felt.

Because the past had already been erased.

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