After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 8

“…(Is this person insane?) But I went through great efforts to stay by His Excellency’s side. Why should I leave just because you say so?” Xu Jingqiu said expressionlessly, feigning ignorance.

Ai Yanran raised her chin arrogantly. “Why? Because I am his one true destined partner. You’re nothing but a stand-in, and a stand-in should know their place. Now that I’m here, why are you still lingering?”

Xu Jingqiu, the actual person in question replied, “? Are you saying you’re His Excellency’s long-lost, tragically deceased white moonlight? But you don’t resemble her at all. Besides, I heard that white moonlight was kind and courteous to everyone, not some shrew who goes around cursing and picking fights.”

Ai Yanran had received information about “Xu Jingqiu” from her system merely an ordinary mortal. But now, she was the divine maiden of Penglai! “How dare you say I’m inferior to a mere mortal?!”

“Oh? Then tell me, in what way are you better than her?” Xu Jingqiu let out a soft, mocking laugh, growing more certain of her suspicions. She took a relaxed sip of tea. “Not in looks, not in temperament, and certainly not in intellect. Aside from what you’ve stolen, you have nothing to your name.”

The original Ai Yanran had been adept at adapting her behavior to her surroundings, capable of sweet-talking almost anyone into being deceived without even realizing it.

But this person, Xu Jingqiu glanced at the fuming woman slamming the table and cursing. She lacked that one’s cunning, her mind filled only with dreams of wealth and status. The only threat she posed was the remnant of the Heavenly Dao’s soul within her.

After hurling insults for a while with no response, Ai Yanran finally drew her sword, gritting her teeth. “Do I really have to teach you a lesson before you’ll listen? Honestly, that face of yours is truly irritating. Maybe I should just ruin it.”

Sensing the fluctuation of demonic energy, Xu Jingqiu waved a hand to signal Yin Ruolan not to worry. The Heavenly Ruler on her wrist glowed red, transforming into flames that gathered in her palm and solidified into a longsword.

[Weapon Manifestation: Spirit Sword]

The moment Ai Yanran’s sword made contact with Xu Jingqiu’s flaming spirit blade, it was severed. The cut glowed red, as if burned through, yet the heat curiously did not spread, remaining concentrated at the break.

Ai Yanran had never seen anything like it. Terrified, she collapsed to the ground, her face pale as she stared at the broken sword.

Suddenly, Xu Jingqiu lost all interest in continuing. This wasn’t the person who had harmed her back then revenge was meaningless. “Over there. See yourself out.”

As if waking from a dream, Ai Yanran scrambled to her feet and fled, her face still deathly pale. Only when she reached the bustling streets did she finally catch her breath.

“You told me she was just a mortal! How could a mortal destroy my treasured sword with one strike?!” If the system had a physical form, Ai Yanran would have dragged it out and beaten it senseless.

The system remained silent for a moment before replying, [The Demon Lord’s former partner was indeed an ordinary mortal, incapable of using spiritual power.]

Ai Yanra scoffed. “So I went through all that fright, not only failed to drive her away, but also confirmed she’s not the real one?”

[Given that the host is indeed no match for the opponent and cannot force her to leave, and the system has detected no other systems present, this is the only conclusion.]

So in the end, it was still her fault? Ai Yanran didn’t want to waste any more words on this artificial idiot. She took out her communication talisman and randomly flipped through it until she saw three words: Wen Banxia.

She remembered this person was also one of her followers, and what’s more, the young master of the Duyun Sect, who had helped her deal with Xu Jingqiu before.

Now that she had encountered someone who looked almost exactly like Xu Jingqiu, having him handle this shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Thinking this, before the system could even issue a warning, Ai Yanran directly initiated communication with Wen Banxia. Mimicking the tone she remembered, she skillfully put on an act: “Banxia? Banxia, are you there? How have you been lately?”

Wen Banxia paused for a moment upon hearing the voice, deeply burying the disgust in his eyes as he feigned concern and asked, “I’m fine, and you?”

He took the bait. Ai Yanran curled her lips triumphantly and replied in a voice on the verge of tears, “I was doing fine, but as soon as I arrived somewhere, I was attacked by someone who looks just like Xu Jingqiu. She was ruthless.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ai Yanran heard the sound of a cup shattering on the other end, and the screen abruptly shook and disappeared. “Banxia?”

“I’m fine.” Soon, Wen Banxia’s calm face reappeared on the screen, his tone as gentle as ever. “Where are you now? Do you need me to come find you?”

“Black Cloud City.”

Black Cloud City? The place where that madwoman Yin Ruolan was? Wen Banxia frowned almost imperceptibly but maintained his gentle tone. “Why did you go there?”

At this, Ai Yanran grew angry. “I went to see Yin Ruolan because I was concerned about her, but she refused to see me and was hanging around with someone who looks just like Xu Jingqiu. What do you think she means by that? Xu Jingqiu has been dead for so long and yet she…”

Wen Banxia didn’t hear the rest of her words, his mind completely occupied by the thought: “There’s someone who looks exactly like Xu Jingqiu by Yin Ruolan’s side.”

He knew Yin Ruolan well she would never seek out a substitute. Moreover, for the past twenty years, this madwoman had never given up on her insane resurrection plan.

Could it be that she succeeded?

Has Xiao Qiu truly returned?

Wen Banxia quickly regained his composure, though the trembling, bloodied hand clutching the shards under the table still betrayed his inner turmoil.

“Don’t worry, I’ll head over right away. Just stay calm.”

With that, Wen Banxia ended the communication, paying no mind to Ai Yanran’s reaction. Of course, Ai Yanran didn’t care either to her, Wen Banxia was nothing more than a lackey.

[Do you realize how reckless you’re being?] The system finally managed to interject.

Ai Yanran brushed it off without a second thought. “Reckless? Hardly. This is the result of careful consideration. After all, Wen Banxia is just a simp, he’s easy to control.”

After Ai Yanran fled in panic, Yin Ruolan voluntarily revealed herself. Xu Jingqiu waved her over, signaling for her to sit down, and Yin Ruolan obediently complied.

Xu Jingqiu couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Yin Ruolan lately. She was too docile, nothing like the person she had seen when she first woke up. “You’ve been acting strange recently.”

Yin Rulan blinked. “In what way?”

“I remember on the first day, you were quite assertive. Why are you so, now?”

“Because you’re here now, I can calm down. Besides, haven’t you been helping me all along?” Yin Ruolan interrupted Xu Jingqiu’s words, and there wasn’t really anything wrong with what she said, so Xu Jingqiu had no choice but to let it go.

The two of them sat there, one drinking tea and the other watching her drink, neither speaking. It wasn’t until Xu Jingqiu took the initiative to bring up a topic: “I see that people can still enter the demon realm now?”

Yin Ruolan nodded: “Yes, now that the humans and demons have ceased hostilities, some cities in the demon realm have opened up, allowing exchange between the two realms. As long as no one is harmed, it falls within the terms of the treaty, and we won’t interfere. Moreover, anyone entering the demon realm must register before entering the city. If anything happens, there’s no way to hide it.”

“That’s not bad,” Xu Jingqiu said. “Constant conflict between the two races benefits neither side.” Especially since the demon realm and the human realm are actually one and the same the collapse of either would lead to the complete destruction of the world.

Yin Ruolan had realized this much earlier than she had. It was only this morning, while wandering around Black Cloud City, that Xu Jingqiu sensed the considerable amount of spiritual energy mixed in with the demonic energy and came to understand this point.

Her special ability was [Disassembly], which essentially involved analyzing, dismantling, and reassembling things. Naturally, she could also discern that the two realms were fundamentally one.

Being able to calm down now was truly a good thing.

Thinking that she had nothing else to do for the day, Xu Jingqiu decided to stay put. After all, the tea and snacks here were quite good, she liked them, and Xiao Bai was enjoying them too.

As for Yin Ruolan, she was quite happy to keep feeding her. It had been a long time since she had spent such a peaceful, ordinary time with Xu Jingqiu.

If only that presence hadn’t arrived, it would have been perfect.

Xu Jingqiu was the first to notice, followed closely by Yin Ruolan. Xu Jingqiu only felt a sense of familiarity but couldn’t pinpoint who it was. Yin Ruolan, however, stood up with a grim expression: “Wen Banxia.”

Xu Jingqiu: “…”

“Who?”

“Wen Banxia is coming. She’ll probably be here soon. This is her first time here, she never deigned to come before.” Yin Ruolan’s expression darkened, and the demonic energy around her showed signs of spiraling out of control again.

Xu Jingqiu skillfully used their partner bond to help soothe the demonic energy: “Don’t get too worked up. By the way, have you two seen each other over the years?”

“We’ve met. We’re not close.”

Xu Jingqiu patted her clothes and stood up, picking up Xiao Bai and holding her in her arms: “Let’s go out and take a look. She’s probably here for me. I wonder what Ai Yanran told her.”

Yin Ruolan followed behind Xu Jingqiu, her killing intent growing harder to conceal. That person was undoubtedly here for her Xiao Qiu, and it wasn’t for the confrontation Xu Jingqiu imagined. It was simply that she hadn’t gotten over her feelings, regretted her decision, and wanted to take her back.

She would never let her take Xiao Qiu away.

When they went downstairs, sure enough, they saw Ai Yanran looking at her with excitement. Xu Jingqiu looked up and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure rapidly approaching on a flying sword.

Ai Yanran looked at her provocatively, as if to say: “Look, I’ve found backup.” Your time is up.”

Xu Jingqiu shrugged indifferently, put Xiao Bai down, and stood with her arms crossed. Behind her, Yin Ruolan’s face was full of malice, her gaze alone enough to kill.

Wen Banxia descended, clad in the distinctive cyan robes of the Young Sect Master of the Duyun Sect, her spiritual sword hovering obediently by her side. Before Ai Yanran could utter a word, a gust of wind swept past, and in the blink of an eye, Wen Banxia had already moved behind her, not sparing her even a glance.

Xu Jingqiu, assuming Wen Banxia had come with her sword to settle a score, stood ready, the Heavenly Ruler in hand, only to be abruptly pulled into a tight embrace.

Xu Jingqiu: ?

Yin Ruolan: !

“Finally! Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re alive.” Before Wen Banxia could finish her words, the person in her arms was gone, now held by another.

Yin Ruolan’s demonic aura surged violently, her eyes blazing crimson as she sneered coldly, “She is my Dao Companion. What do you think you’re doing?”

Wen Banxia finally turned her gaze to Yin Ruolan, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust. “Dao Companion? Did you ever ask her?”

Yin Ruolan proudly revealed the mark on the back of her hand, instantly rendering Wen Banxia speechless.

Wen Banxia instinctively looked toward Xu Jingqiu, who was still processing what had just happened. Sensing Wen Banxia’s gaze, she lifted her head: “Huh? What’s wrong?”

To Wen Banxia, this reaction seemed like tacit agreement. “You, why?”

“Do you think you have any right to judge here? Weren’t you the first to abandon her?” Yin Ruolan retorted coldly, turning to leave with Xu Jingqiu. But Wen Banxia grabbed the hem of Xu Jingqiu’s robe.

Xu Jingqiu signaled Yin Ruolan to wait and turned to face Wen Banxia.

Wen Banxia gazed at the person she had longed for day and night, her voice trembling as she asked, “Do you still blame me?”

Support