After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 4

Xu Jingqiu sneezed several times in a row, as if trying to expel the water from her brain, and only then did she have the mental capacity to start thinking about what was happening.

If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a Spirit Gathering Array beneath the room she was in, a spell from Penglai, specifically designed to collect spiritual energy.

After the plot of the book had been altered, Penglai’s role had also changed. What was once an immortal sect dedicated to saving the world now monopolized the world’s spiritual energy, turning a blind eye to the calamities befalling the mortal realm.

Only in such a situation could she have been resurrected. And Xu Jingqiu took an inward glance at her own soul and saw the golden chains entwined around it. Those were the Chains of Divine Binding. Once bound by them, she had to obey the one who controlled the chains the former goddess standing before her, now shrouded in demonic energy, her former dao companion, Yin Ruolan.

Xu Jingqiu: …

She lay back down peacefully for the third time.

She truly had no idea how to face Yin Ruolan. It was clear that Yin Ruolan still had lingering feelings for her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have defied the natural order to “resurrect” her.

But their relationship had begun with deception and ended with deception. Yin Ruolan had approached her with an ulterior motive from the start and chose to conceal it. To escape the situation, Xu Jingqiu had also chosen to conceal the truth, crafting a new scheme to lure Yin Ruolan into it.

Forgetting each other was the best way to handle it.

However, it seemed Yin Ruolan didn’t think the same way. Xu Jingqiu shifted her gaze to the person standing beside her, who was still lost in thought, and after a moment’s hesitation, she tentatively called out, “Yin Ruolan?”

In Xu Jingqiu’s memory, Yin Ruolan had always worn white robes embroidered with golden-edged clouds and cranes, which accentuated her righteous and untouchable aura, untainted by worldly matters. She had rarely seen her in such a dazed state.

After all, she was the goddess of Penglai. She had once been a staunch advocate of the righteous path, and even a fallen goddess was different from an ordinary person.

Not like this, clad in a dark red robe, as if her sacred white robes had been soaked in the blood of sin. Her once-clear emerald eyes were now filled with a crimson hue, a far cry from the goddess she once was.

Xu Jingqiu could smell the scent of blood on Yin Ruolan and could sense that she was suppressing something. What was she holding back?

After pondering for only a moment, Xu Jingqiu dismissed the thought. She couldn’t figure it out. She had never been good at understanding people’s hearts and wished she could grow a brain for it.

Hesitating briefly, Xu Jingqiu leaned forward slightly, trying to hear what Yin Ruolan was muttering. She suddenly wondered if the overwhelming demonic energy had affected her mind.

Had she gone mad? Please, no she had only just arrived.

She could only make out phrases like “It really worked” and other fragmented words. At the sound of the long-unheard, familiar call, Yin Ruolan snapped back to reality and suddenly rushed forward, embracing Xu Jingqiu, stirring a gust of wind that carried the scent of blood.

Instinctively, Xu Jingqiu tried to push her away. She was no longer accustomed to physical contact, especially with Yin Ruolan. But her resistance only made Yin Ruolan tighten her grip.

“Don’t go,” Yin Ruolan’s voice trembled. “Please, don’t leave.”

Xu Jingqiu sighed and reached out to gently pat the person clinging to her. “Mm, mm, mm, I’m not leaving now. Rest well.”

Once she regained her senses, they would need to have a proper talk.

Perhaps due to the extreme emotional turmoil, Yin Ruolan truly fell asleep under Xu Jingqiu’s comfort, though her slumber was shallow. The slightest movement would startle her awake, only to be soothed back to sleep again.

After falling into demonic cultivation, Yin Ruolan’s emotions seemed highly unstable likely influenced by the demonic energy, or perhaps due to the Path of Asura? Well, it could wait until she woke up. Xu Jingqiu sighed once more, closing her eyes but unable to sleep.

Fortunately, with her memories restored, she now understood the usage of the Heavenly Ruler, it could transform into anything she had seen before. This was originally her own ability, a hidden secret within it. After using the Heavenly Ruler to materialize a blanket to cover them, she lay awake until dawn.

By the time Yin Ruolan woke, she had calmed down, quickly rising with a hint of embarrassment. “Xiao Qiu, are you alright now?”

“I’m fine, but I’d like to know what’s going on,” Xu Jingqiu replied, subtly shifting a little farther away. “About you, and about me.”

“I changed my cultivation path and used a forbidden art to revive you,” Yin Ruolan’s voice grew softer, tinged with guilt and fear. She wasn’t sure if what she had done was right. “Those letters before they were all fake, altered by someone. I really did intend to take you away back then.”

Sensing the chaotic demonic energy, Xu Jingqiu reached out and summoned the Heavenly Ruler before speaking. “I know. From the moment the Penglai disciples surrounded us, I knew it wouldn’t end peacefully.”

Yin Ruolan was well aware of this too. During the confrontation, Xu Jingqiu had secretly used their prearranged signals to warn her of what was to come. But why did death have to be the only solution? “But why?”

“Because it was the best course of action,” Xu Jingqiu said, lowering her gaze to conceal the turmoil in her eyes. “I was always going to leave. You will find a better path.”

There was no doubt that Ai Yanran would continue to pester Yin Ruolan. The protagonist of this world was still alive and well, after all. Xu Jingqiu had no interest in getting entangled in their conflicts.

She needed to find a way back as soon as possible. She didn’t belong here, and becoming too deeply involved with either Yin Ruolan or Ai Yanran would only complicate things later.

Glancing sideways at Yin Ruolan, who sat there as if her soul had left her body, Xu Jingqiu’s eyes darkened. She finally made a decision, rising and walking to the door, reaching for the handle.

In that instant, the aura of the person behind her surged violently. The suppressed ferocity erupted in a flash, now mixed with a trace of demonic energy.

No, something was wrong another familiar presence was manipulating the demonic energy.

Her survival instincts kicked in, and Xu Jingqiu swiftly turned, placing her hand on the Heavenly Ruler. Before she could activate it, Yin Ruolan had already seized her shoulders with a grip so forceful it felt as though her bones might shatter.

Knowing Yin Ruolan’s current state was highly unstable, Xu Jingqiu refrained from resisting. Even as Yin Ruolan’s grip drew blood, she did not push her away. Instead, she used the Heavenly Ruler to sever and block the other presence.

“Calm down, focus!” Golden light flickered in Xu Jingqiu’s eyes as she grasped Yin Ruolan’s hands in return, channeling her own energy into her. A faintly glowing golden rune appeared on the back of her hand.

Yin Ruolan didn’t hear Xu Jingqiu’s words. Her eyes were bloodshot, her mind consumed entirely by the thought that Xu Jingqiu wanted to leave. There was no room for rationality to spare on any other questions.

Why did her Xiao Qiu want to leave? Where did she want to go? Was she going to find those two people?

“You want to leave? Are you going to find those two? Why would you rather go to them than stay here?” Before Xu Jingqiu could even process who “those two” referred to, demonic energy had already surged to the heavens.

“No, I won’t go to them. I couldn’t possibly go to them.” Xu Jingqiu comforted Yin Ruolan while carefully suppressing the demonic energy, sensing that something seemed to be connecting them.

Just as the suppression was halfway done, the door suddenly swung open. Xu Jingqiu glanced over and saw a woman dressed in maid attire enter, a triumphant smile on her face.

“Your Excellency, your demonic energy has flared up again. Let me. Who are you! Why are you in the Your Excellency’s room? Ordinary people are not allowed to enter, do you understand? Get out now!” The maid’s smile vanished the moment she saw Xu Jingqiu holding Yin Ruolan, replaced by sheer fury.

Xu Jingqiu found it utterly ridiculous. A maid had barged into her master’s room uninvited and was now acting like the rightful mistress, questioning her identity?

Glancing at the contract mark on her hand and then at the furious maid who looked ready to catch them in an affair, Xu Jingqiu continued suppressing the demonic energy while isolating the aura that was agitating it from the maid. She raised her hand to show the contract mark.

“What do you think? A maid barges into her master’s room and questions me? Do you recognize this? If you do, then get out now!”

“You!” The maid’s eyes turned red, her aura fluctuating even more violently as she repeatedly tried to provoke the demonic energy within Yin Ruolan.

Unfortunately, Xu Jingqiu couldn’t break free at the moment, the Heavenly Ruler was busy suppressing and drawing out the demonic energy. Suddenly, she heard a noise from outside the window. A slight smile curled on Xu Jingqiu’s lips as she commanded, “Xiao Bai, throw her out! And lock the door.”

With a crash, the window burst open, and a small beast, about the size of a puppy, charged in. In an instant, it grew to the size of a lion. It sniffed the air with a hint of disdain, then swatted the maid out with one paw before stationing itself by the door.

Finally, Xu Jingqiu could focus entirely on suppressing the demonic energy. Thanks to the Dao Companion Contract, the process went relatively smoothly.

It seemed this Dao Companion Contract was the “chain” that had pulled her back once again.

Once Yin Ruolan had recovered, Xu Jingqiu pointed toward the door. “That woman told me to get out, so I had Xiao Bai drive her away. She’s problematic, she was the one who caused your loss of control this time.”

A murderous intent flashed in Yin Ruolan’s eyes, but her voice remained eerily calm. “I understand. Let her in.”

Xiao Bai blinked, tilting its head to look at Xu Jingqiu. Only after receiving a nod of approval did, it move aside, shrinking back to its smaller form and leaping into Xu Jingqiu’s arms, looking utterly composed.

The maid outside had been trying to force her way in. When the resistance suddenly vanished, she stumbled forward and fell into the room. The moment she saw Yin Ruolan standing before her, her anger instantly dissipated. “Y-Your Excellency! I…”

She quickly stood up, pointing a finger at Xu Jingqiu standing behind her, and was just about to complain to Yin Ruolan when she heard Yin Ruolan say, “From now on, you don’t need to come here anymore. She is my Dao companion, and you should respect her.”

“Besides, what she said is not wrong. A maid should follow the rules of a maid. This is not a place you should be. I warned you, but it seems you didn’t take it seriously.”

“Go and receive your punishment yourself,” Yin Ruolan’s voice had turned completely cold. “Otherwise, you know the consequences.”

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