After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 5

After being reprimanded, the maidservant glared at Xu Jingqiu with reddened eyes and gritted teeth, only to have Yin Ruolan step directly in front of her, blocking the line of sight. Upon receiving Yin Ruolan’s murderous warning glance, the maidservant finally retreated resentfully and dejectedly.

Once certain the woman had left, Yin Ruolan turned to Xu Jingqiu. After confirming that Xu Jingqiu wasn’t upset about the earlier incident, she asked, “Do you have a plan?”

Xu Jingqiu, stroking the fur of the little creature in her arms, replied cheerfully, “Mhm, it’s a simple setup. Dealing with someone whose mind isn’t quite right is easy. We can start soon. Before that, though.”

Xu Jingqiu suddenly grabbed the little white creature by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up. “Xiao Bai, how did you get here?” she asked.

The small white beast bristled at the name, struggling to jump down. “How many times do I have to say it? I’m not called Xiao Bai! It’s so tacky! My name is Bai Zhenjun! Bai Zhenjun!”

“Xiao Bai, come here,” Xu Jingqiu said expressionlessly.

Xiao Bai: Tucking its tail, it obediently trotted over, allowing Xu Jingqiu to stroke its fur before quickly hopping aside again.

It wasn’t cowardice, just showing some respect to its nominal master.

“The boss gave me a spacetime crystal. I swallowed it and tore through space to get here,” Xiao Bai answered honestly, only to feel a sudden sensation of being lifted again. “Huh? Huh?!”

Xiao Bai was once again hoisted by the scruff of its neck, its four legs flailing in fright. When it saw that the person holding it was the very demon lord it had been cursing earlier, it instinctively tucked its tail again and grinned sheepishly at Yin Ruolan.

Xiao Bai: “Woof!” It wagged its tail ingratiatingly while inwardly cursing Xu Jingqiu, who was watching the scene with a faint smile and made no move to rescue it.

Yin Ruolan didn’t recall Xu Jingqiu having such a creature by her side before. “What is this?” she asked, placing it aside with a hint of disdain and pushing it a little farther from Xu Jingqiu.

She could still detect the scent of the fox clan on this dog. Those creatures were cunning she couldn’t let her Xiao Qiu be led astray.

Pretending not to notice Xiao Bai’s resentful gaze, Xu Jingqiu said calmly, “My spirit beast, a young Pixiu named Xiao Bai.”

The divine beast Pixiu, known as the “gold-devouring creature”? “Why keep it? It eats too much. When did you get a spirit beast?” Yin Ruolan appeared calmer, though her hands were unconsciously fidgeting.

Xu Jingqiu knew this was a sign of nervousness, but she couldn’t quite gauge Yin Ruolan’s state, she was too good at acting. So she went along with Yin Ruolan’s question. “A long time ago, but it only recently found me. Why? Is there a problem?”

Yin Ruolan opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. In the end, she could only manage, “You’ve changed a lot. You’re very different from before.”

“Maybe. But after experiencing so much, it doesn’t matter anymore.” With that, Xu Jingqiu’s gaze returned to the still-bleeding wound on Yin Ruolan’s hand, her brow unconsciously furrowing slightly. “As for you, the divine maiden of Penglai has also changed quite a bit.” And even became the Demon Lord.

The maidservant’s presence reappeared behind the door. Xu Jingqiu made a gesture, and Yin Ruolan nodded in understanding.

“I left long ago. I no longer belong to Penglai.”

“Xiao Qiu, do you despise me?” Yin Ruolan’s eyes lowered slightly, and though she tried to keep her tone even, a trace of unease still seeped through.

The wound on her hand seemed to burst open, blood pooling at her fingertips, with wisps of black energy visibly coiling around it. The former goddess was long gone; what remained here was a capricious demon, unpredictable in her moods.

Xu Jingqiu quietly used her own power to heal the wound, then said, “There is no longer any connection between us. After that sword strike, all ties were severed.”

“I thought you understood this clearly. No matter what you do, we can never go back to the past.”

Yin Ruolan took a step back, her voice trembling. “So, you won’t forgive me?”

“Yin Ruolan, right now, I want to be alone, to have some peace.” With that, Xu Jingqiu picked up Xiao Bai and lay down on the bed.

Yin Ruolan nodded, glancing outside as if lost in thought. “Alright, I, I’ll leave for now, but you must promise not to go anywhere.”

After speaking, Yin Ruolan left looking utterly dejected. Once the sound of the second set of footsteps faded outside, Xu Jingqiu sat up again and let out a soft laugh.

Next, it was Yin Ruolan’s turn. All that was left was to wait for the outcome.

Returning to the cave where she usually confined herself when she lost control, Yin Ruolan was unsurprised to see the maidservant following her.

“Why are you following me?” Yin Ruolan tilted her head to look at her, her tone cold.

The maidservant lowered her head and replied, “This humble servant noticed that Your Eminence seemed troubled and wished to serve you, to ease your worries.”

“I don’t need it,” Yin Ruolan said impatiently. “Haven’t I told you before? Don’t appear in front of me. You should know your place. And what makes you think you have the right to say such things? My consort is still alive.”

“But isn’t it because of that consort that Your Eminence is like this? You even lost control earlier,” the maidservant retorted, unwilling to back down.

Yin Ruolan abruptly turned around, narrowing her eyes dangerously. “Now I’d like to ask you, why is it that every time my demonic energy erupts, you’re always by my side?”

“Because this servant cares deeply for Your Eminence! Is she really worth it for you? I can.” The maidservant spoke urgently, taking a step forward, but Yin Ruolan stopped her.

Yin Ruolan flicked her sleeve in disgust. “I don’t need it. You can leave.” After saying this, she glanced outside. “It seems it’s almost noon. Time to bring Xiao Qiu her meal.” Without another word, Yin Ruolan brushed past the maidservant and headed outside.

As expected, the maidservant followed. Just as Xu Jingqiu had predicted, upon realizing she was merely a mortal, the maidservant’s resentment grew even stronger.

Yin Ruolan prepared three dishes according to Xu Jingqiu’s preferences, placed them in a food box, and turned to leave. But as she turned, her figure swayed unsteadily.

It was at this moment that the maidservant reappeared, reaching out to support her and taking the food box. “Your Eminence should rest. I’ll deliver this.”

Yin Ruolan held her head, appearing somewhat unwell, and did not refuse. However, as the maidservant was about to leave, she issued a cold warning: “Don’t try anything. I’ll be watching you.”

Xu Jingqiu sat quietly inside, reading a book, while Xiao Bai hopped around nearby. Seeing that Xu Jingqiu was ignoring him, Xiao Bai leaped onto the table. “What do you think we’ll get to eat later? Someone will bring lunch, right?”

“Poison. If you dare, you can try it,” Xu Jingqiu said calmly.

Xiao Bai blinked. “Huh?”

Xu Jingqiu glanced at the dazed creature. “The maid who’ll bring food later, what do you think she’ll bring?”

Xiao Bai searched its memory, swearing it had never seen this person while accompanying Xu Jingqiu. “We’ve never even met her! When did you offend someone? Confess!”

Xu Jingqiu’s lips twitched. “Do I look like someone who goes looking for trouble? Probably one of Yin Ruolan’s admirers. After all, when she was still the Divine Maiden, she was quite popular. Plus, the ones behind her are likely targeting me now.”

“What’s your plan then? Why not just capture her outright?”

“To avoid alerting the enemy. The maid’s connection to the remnant soul of the Heavenly Dao is parasitic, she could easily slip away. It’s safer to find an excuse to detain her and interrogate her slowly. Soon, an excuse will present itself, and we’ll investigate step by step.” Xu Jingqiu spoke nonchalantly, flipping over leisurely.

Thankfully, she had listened to plenty of songs out of boredom in her original world and could now replicate them almost perfectly otherwise, she’d be utterly bored.

About an hour later, the maid finally arrived with the meal, her expression calm again. “Your meal is served.”

Xu Jingqiu removed her earphones, transformed the Heavenly Dao Ruler back into a bracelet on her wrist, stood up, and tucked the book away. “Leave it on the table, then you may go.”

Seeing that Xu Jingqiu showed no intention of eating, the little maid’s expression remained unchanged, though she gritted her teeth and replied, “Yes.” She stepped inside, her anger barely contained.

Where did His Excellency find this stand-in? Why was she allowed to stay in His Excellency’s quarters? How could she order her around so shamelessly? She was just a stand-in and a mortal at that!

As the maid brought the food over, Xiao Bai lifted its head, sniffed, then disdainfully turned away and lay back down.

Poisoned, as expected. Disgusting.

Out of the corner of her eye, the maid noticed Xu Jingqiu seemingly selecting another book to read. She drew a dagger from beneath the tray, unaware that Xiao Bai had cracked open one eye to glance at her before closing it again in contempt. Her mind was consumed with killing this impostor.

Only then would His Excellency notice her! She had been by His Excellency’s side the longest, why was he so fixated on that mortal?

Besides, He had promised that if she killed this mortal, her decades-long dream would come true.

The little maid lunged forward, dagger in hand.

Xu Jingqiu tilted her head and looked at her, letting out a cold laugh. At that moment, the maid’s wrist was seized by another hand wreathed in demonic energy. The dagger clattered to the floor, and all escape routes for the remnant soul were silently severed.

The maid glared furiously, only to find Yin Ruolan standing there. Her rage instantly turned to terror. Meanwhile, Xu Jingqiu rose leisurely, snapped her fingers, and silvery threads of light shimmered around them before vanishing with a wave of her hand.

She glanced at the table, the dishes were all her favorites. What a waste. Xu Jingqiu sighed and shook her head, then noticed Yin Ruolan holding another food container in her other hand. Immediately, she tossed the one on the table toward Xiao Bai, who disdainfully incinerated it with a single breath of fire.

“Y-Your Excellency?” the little maid stammered, her expression tinged with a hint of delirium. “Have you finally decided to acknowledge me?”

Yin Ruolan gently placed the food box on the table, then glanced at the maid with a cold sneer. “For attempting to assassinate the Consort, you are to be imprisoned in the dungeon.” With that, she took the two connected iron rings (handcuffs) that Xu Jingqiu had just modified and promptly cuffed the maid, ordering the soldiers waiting outside to take her away.

The maid cast a resentful glance backward and happened to witness Yin Ruolan diligently opening the food box, carefully arranging the dishes one by one, and setting them out for Xu Jingqiu.

Unfortunately for the maid, Xu Jingqiu happened to look up at that moment, flashing a mocking smile in her direction. In her eyes, the maid could clearly read two words:

Worthless.

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