After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 53

Since her memories began to return, Xu Jingqiu had rarely dreamed.

Today, perhaps because she was in a place that held few pleasant memories, she had a dream for the first time in a long while.

The dream started when Ai Yanran also arrived at the Joyful Union Sect. From that day on, the disciples and elders, who had never liked her, became even more unfriendly. Even Chen Yulan, who had once been close to her, gradually began to drift away.

At that time, she was unaware of the existence of the Outer Gods and had never considered that Ai Yanran’s ability to be the center of attention wherever she went was due to the influence of the “Heavenly Dao.” Back then, all she knew was that she felt deeply uncomfortable staying in the Joyful Union Sect.

But aside from the Joyful Union Sect, she seemed to have nowhere else to go. She was still being hunted by the Solitary Charm Sect, and she was just an ordinary mortal.

She gradually learned to be alone again, but to her surprise, Ai Yanran had no intention of letting her off.

Ai Yanran claimed to have contracted an illness that could only be cured with a drop of blood from Xu Jingqiu’s heart. For a mere mortal, losing a drop of heart’s blood meant certain death.

At the time, she had been drugged, yet she still managed to escape, though not without sustaining severe injuries. The sharp pain of the blade slicing through her chest felt all too real.

She woke up, her eyes meeting the blinding sunlight, and felt something small licking her face it was the calico kitten from yesterday, still lingering in her room.

Xu Jingqiu sat up, smiling as she stroked the kitten’s fur, then suddenly realized something: when she had fallen asleep the night before, she hadn’t covered herself with a blanket, yet now one was draped over her. There was no trace of anyone else’s presence in the room.

Xu Jingqiu remained cautious but kept her usual easygoing demeanor. The calico kitten, unaware of her thoughts, closed its eyes and purred contentedly as Xu Jingqiu scratched its chin.

“Time to eat, I suppose?” Xu Jingqiu muttered to herself, gazing up at the sun, not noticing the kitten in her lap nodding in agreement.

She found the bell Chen Yulan had mentioned and rang it. Soon, an array of delicacies was brought to her. Chen Yulan, unsure of her preferences, had sent one of each dish and arranged for someone to observe her secretly.

Xu Jingqiu paid it no mind, eating calmly and occasionally feeding the kitten a bite. Surprisingly, the calico was a bit picky, its tastes reminiscent of someone she knew.

Xu Jingqiu: …

She must be losing her mind, why would she think the kitten was that person? And yet there was a resemblance.

Just as the dishes were cleared away, there was a knock at the door.

Xu Jingqiu didn’t need to guess who it was. “Come in.”

As expected, Chen Yulan entered with her familiar smile and casually took a seat opposite her. “Did you rest well last night?”

Xu Jingqiu thought of the nightmare but replied, “Quite well. The room was comfortable. Thank you for your trouble.” There was no point in bringing up the past now, especially since it hadn’t been Chen Yulan’s intention back then, so she saw no reason to dwell on it.

Chen Yulan nodded in relief. “That’s good. I was worried you might not be used to it. As long as you rested well. Would you like to go out for a stroll today?”

“Where to?” Xu Jingqiu pondered for a moment, but nothing nearby seemed particularly worth visiting.

Chen Yulan raised a finger to her lips and winked at Xu Jingqiu. “Of course, it’s the city where we first met! Trust me, there are some surprises waiting there.”

Xu Jingqiu shook her head, not particularly enthusiastic about taking a stroll through the city at the moment. There was nothing there for her, and she’d rather stay in her room, shut the door to keep everyone out, and peacefully care for her cat in peace.

Oh, right she also needed to find time to fix her phone. Staying in would be the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yulan grabbed her arm and started pulling her outside. “Don’t be so quick to refuse. You’ll understand once we’re there. Today is different from yesterday. Think of it as accompanying me on a little vacation, alright? Being a saintess is exhausting, you know.”

In the end, Xu Jingqiu couldn’t withstand the combined urging from Chen Yulan and the little calico cat, so she reluctantly agreed. Chen Yulan took out a spirit whistle and summoned the same white crane from the day before, carrying Xu Jingqiu and the little calico away.

Just as they left the boundaries of the Joyful Union Sect, an uninvited guest arrived at the small courtyard. Finding no one inside, the visitor vanished without a trace. Xu Jingqiu, however, remained unaware of this.

As soon as they entered the city, Xu Jingqiu understood what Chen Yulan meant by “different” today was the Lantern Festival. Every household and shop was adorned with colorful lanterns.

The last time she had experienced a Lantern Festival was before her first death. Since then, it felt like ages since she had taken part in any such celebration. The sight now felt strangely surreal.

Noticing Xu Jingqiu’s distracted expression, Chen Yulan exchanged a glance with the little calico. The cat continued to nestle in Xu Jingqiu’s arms, while Chen Yulan gently tugged at her sleeve.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Jingqiu snapped out of her reverie, her expression returning to normal. “It’s nothing, just reminiscing about the past. But I’m a bit surprised the Lantern Festival is still being held.”

Logically, such celebrations were usually suspended during wartime they consumed time, effort, and manpower, especially now when the military was aggressively recruiting young fighters.

Chen Yulan didn’t fully understand the reasoning either. To her, placing hope in elusive deities was a foolish act. Still, this Lantern Festival offered a chance for her to spend peaceful time with Xu Jingqiu.

“How should I put it?” Chen Yulan pondered how to phrase her thoughts. “The more intense the war, the more frequently these festivals are held. Both mortals and cultivators alike pin their hopes on the gods, praying for victory.”

As she spoke, Chen Yulan placed a silver coin in front of a beggar and then casually continued walking beside Xu Jingqiu. “For those with status or for cultivators, it’s no big deal. The funds for these celebrations don’t come from their pockets, it’s the common people who bear the cost. They lose nothing and might even profit from it. There’s never a shortage of such people.”

While talking, Chen Yulan casually bought a few items, leaving silver coins at every vendor, an amount equivalent to a year’s income for most people here.

Xu Jingqiu observed all this silently. Suddenly, Chen Yulan placed a fox mask over her face, and only then did Xu Jingqiu realize that night was falling.

It seemed she really had slept for a long time.

People on the street had begun wearing masks, so they didn’t stand out walking among them. However, most of the mask-wearers were either elderly or children.

The latter could still run around joyfully, playing and laughing, while the former merely went through the motions of the celebration with numb repetition.

Many of them still had loved ones on the battlefield, and the gods could not ensure their safe return. On the contrary, it was the gods who had taken their kin away.

Xu Jingqiu seemed to understand why Chen Yulan had brought her here: first, to genuinely lift her spirits, having already given her countless amusing trinkets; second, to use this opportunity to offer some support to the people here, even if only a little.

With the Saintess leading the way, and several other cultivators following suit, it was undeniable that the people’s hearts leaned toward them.

Most cultivators looked down on mortals, viewing themselves as fundamentally different once they embarked on the path of cultivation. To them, mortals were little more than expendable tools.

Unbeknownst to them, these very “tools” would one day turn against them at least, the Heavenly Order had already made breakthroughs in this regard.

There were also some on the street who genuinely enjoyed the celebration, as it was one of the few peaceful days they had. Watching the people ahead holding hands, Chen Yulan felt a momentary daze.

Stealing a glance at Xu Jingqiu, who appeared as calm as ever, Chen Yulan suddenly said, “You know, during the time we were on the run, I really did think about our future.”

Back then, she hadn’t dared hope to return to the Joyous Union Sect and clear her name. Her greatest wish at the time was simply to live a peaceful, quiet life with Xu Jingqiu.

“I even imagined what it would be like if we could live like that forever so calm and steady. I even pictured us growing old together.” At this, Chen Yulan let out a bitter laugh. Such dreams were no longer something she dared to hope for.

To be fair, that period had been a rare moment of tranquility for Xu Jingqiu as well. But “the future”, she had never dared to hope for it. “Back then, I was just a mortal. I would have aged before you.”

Chen Yulan smiled faintly. “I know. But I didn’t care. If you were willing…”

Xu Jingqiu didn’t respond, and Chen Yulan didn’t press further. If she asked again, the little cat might get prickly.

As Chen Yulan strolled with Xu Jingqiu, she occasionally checked on her condition. Noticing she seemed a bit tired, Chen Yulan asked, “Tired? Should we head back?”

Xu Jingqiu glanced at the Heavenly Rule Measure on her wrist she had just successfully made contact with the other side. “No need. I’ve mostly recovered, and I’ve found the way. It’s time to return to the Heavenly Order. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days.”

Seeing that Xu Jingqiu truly intended to leave, Chen Yulan hurriedly grasped her hand. “You, you’re leaving now? Can’t you stay a little longer?”

After a moment of silence, Xu Jingqiu shook her head. “You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? The Joyous Union Sect isn’t exactly welcoming toward me.”

Just like before, they still “welcomed” her with gossip and disdain. Xu Jingqiu didn’t mind these things, but she had to be cautious of the Sect Leader.

After all, this was the Joyous Union Sect. If she wanted to investigate the matter of the Outer Gods, she couldn’t avoid dealing with the Sect Leader. If the Sect Leader explicitly asked her to leave, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to stubbornly remain.

Fortunately, Ye Shuran’s recent message had provided a rather clever solution.

Chen Yulan understood Xu Jingqiu’s implication, if Xu Jingqiu wished to stay, she would inevitably have to face the sect leader, especially since he had gone to the courtyard right after they left. As for what Xu Jingqiu was investigating.

She didn’t mind it at all; in fact, she was more than willing to offer a helping hand along the way.

If this was what Xiaoqiu wanted, she would play her part. “It’s alright. With me here, no one will harm you again,” Chen Yulan said softly, gently stroking Xu Jingqiu’s cheek.

Xu Jingqiu knew that someone as sharp as Chen Yulan had already grasped her intentions. Before she could say anything, drowsiness washed over her again, and even maintaining her consciousness became a struggle.

Amid the panicked cries of the little calico cat, Xu Jingqiu slowly closed her eyes and collapsed, only to be caught by someone’s steadying hands.

One had to admit, Chen Yulan acted swiftly. That was Xu Jingqiu’s final thought before slipping away.

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