After My Death, the Female Lead Breaks the Heartless Path - Chapter 9

Xu Jingqiu hesitated for a few seconds between breaking free and staying put before deciding to remain in Yin Ruolan’s embrace for the time being. She had a premonition that if she struggled free, it would trigger a chain reaction.

Upon hearing Wen Banxia’s reply, Xu Jingqiu did not refuse as she had secretly hoped. Instead, she retorted, “What do you think?”

“She killed you!” Wen Banxia exclaimed agitatedly, pointing at Yin Ruolan, still unable to believe that Xu Jingqiu would choose this madwoman.

Hearing this, Yin Ruolan immediately grew tense and looked down at the person in her arms, only to find her completely unfazed. “So what?”

“Why are you taking her side? We’re supposed to be family!”

Xu Jingqiu replied calmly, “But I am not Xu Jingqiu. Though it’s interesting that you still consider us family.”

Even now, as her memories began to fade, Xu Jingqiu could still vividly recall the events of that time. Perhaps it was the subsequent betrayal that made the earlier warmth feel all the more absurd.

She had found Wen Banxia in a snowy field.

Back then, Xu Jingqiu was only about three years old, holding her parents’ hands as they trudged through the deep snow. Halfway through their journey, Xu’s mother noticed signs of life in a snowdrift by the roadside. After brushing away the snow, they discovered Wen Banxia, her skin purplish from the cold, breathing faintly.

Fortunately, Xu’s mother was a wood-attribute cultivator. She quickly treated Wen Banxia and brought her home. During the treatment, little Xu Jingqiu stood guard nearby, watching curiously.

“You must take good care of this older sister, alright? Your father and I will go see if we can find her family. If she wakes up, give her that bowl of medicine. Can our little Qiu do that?” Xu’s mother asked gently, ruffling little Xu Jingqiu’s hair.

Little Xu Jingqiu nodded earnestly, patting her chest as she promised, “Of course! I’m very capable! Is sister going to be okay?”

“She’ll be fine. She just needs to rest a bit longer before waking up. We’re just not sure if she got separated from her family or if…” Xu’s mother trailed off, then gave a few more instructions before leaving. Having accompanied her parents on many occasions, Xu Jingqiu had picked up some basic knowledge and was capable of providing simple care.

Thus, when Wen Banxia awoke, the only person she saw was a little bundle wrapped tightly in layers of clothing. Startled, she almost tried to hide before realizing this wasn’t her home.

She had already been driven out her family could no longer afford to feed another mouth. To them, she was nothing but a useless burden.

Wen Banxia forced herself to calm down. Just then, the little bundle scampered away, only to return moments later carrying a bowl of dark, bitter medicine.

“Mama said you have to drink this after waking up,” the little bundle said, straining to lift the bowl higher.

Wen Banxia hesitated for a moment before deciding to trust her. She downed the medicine in one gulp, nearly overwhelmed by its bitterness. Seeing her reaction, little Xu Jingqiu quickly offered a piece of candy. Wen Banxia ate it and felt much better.

“Was it very bitter?” Little Xu Jingqiu took the bowl back, sniffed it curiously, and immediately scrunched up her nose. “It smells awful.”

Wen Banxia couldn’t help but laugh at her expression. Hearing her laughter, little Xu Jingqiu broke into a silly, gleeful chuckle.

Little Xu Jingqiu chattered away beside Wen Banxia, her words still lacking much logic at her young age, and Wen Banxia only half-understood what she was saying.

In summary, Xu Jingqiu’s parents had brought her back for treatment and then gone out again to search for her own parents.

Parents, Wen Banxia lowered her head, her hands unconsciously clenching the quilt. Just then, Xu Jingqiu’s parents returned, their expressions grave.

Little Xu Jingqiu was sent outside to play by herself. She only remembered that Wen Banxia and her parents talked for a long time, and after that, Wen Banxia stayed. Little Xu Jingqiu simply thought she had gained an older sister and loved clinging to her whenever she could. Wen Banxia patiently accompanied her and took diligent care of the young Xu Jingqiu whenever her parents were away.

Then, a year later, on Wen Banxia’s seventh birthday, her biological parents suddenly showed up at the door, accompanied by a group of people for support.

Xu Jingqiu’s parents sent the two children into the inner room and calmly confronted the crowd outside. Inside, Wen Banxia held little Xu Jingqiu tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

At the time, little Xu Jingqiu only felt how cold and frightened Wen Banxia was, so she hugged her as tightly as she could. The two small figures huddled together in the corner, leaning on each other for comfort.

In the end, Xu Jingqiu’s mother gently patted their backs, and she and her husband each carried one of the children out.

“It’s all right now,” Xu Jingqiu’s mother softly reassured Wen Banxia. “They’ve left and won’t bother you again. If you don’t mind, would you like to become my daughter?”

Before Wen Banxia could answer, little Xu Jingqiu exclaimed, “Yes! Then I’ll have a sister! Yay!”

Wen Banxia suddenly felt her eyes well up. She hastily wiped her tears but couldn’t hold back as she buried her head in Xu Jingqiu’s mother’s shoulder, crying and saying, “Yes, yes, Mother.”

Little Xu Jingqiu grinned widely. “Yay! I have a sister now. Can we have meat for dinner tonight?”

Wen Banxia and Xu Jingqiu’s mother burst out laughing. The three of them were always very careful about little Xu Jingqiu’s diet, keeping a close eye on the little one to ensure she didn’t pick at her food and finished all the vegetables in her bowl, no matter how much she tried to wheedle her way out of it.

“All right, tonight your father will cook.”

“Yay!”

Wen Banxia wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiled, and joined in the preparations, while also keeping an eye on the little one to prevent her from sneaking bites. That period was likely the happiest time Wen Banxia had ever experienced. But two years later, it all fell apart.

Cultivators of dark arts invaded the village. As two of the only reclusive cultivators living there and the village leaders, Xu Jingqiu’s parents stood at the forefront of the resistance. The belief that kept everyone going was the hope that they could hold out until the divine soldiers from Penglai arrived.

Almost everyone who could wield a weapon went to the front lines to protect their home, clinging to the belief that they only needed to hold out until the reinforcements from Penglai arrived.

But the people of Penglai never came. They refused the request for aid, reasoning that a village like theirs, which had never produced a single cultivator, was unworthy of their help.

That day, blood stained the world red.

Wen Banxia fled with Xu Jingqiu, leaving behind the brutally slain bodies of Xu Jingqiu’s parents. By then, few in the village remained alive.

Only the two of them managed to hold out until a mortal cultivation sect happened to pass by, though even that moment of respite was not without peril.

To protect Wen Banxia, Xu Jingqiu was pierced through by a malevolent cultivator. Only after they arrived at the sect did they learn that this single strike had shattered Xu Jingqiu’s spiritual foundation, rendering her unable to cultivate ever again.

Feeling Yin Ruolan’s arms tighten around her, Xu Jingqiu snapped out of her reverie. Seeing Wen Banxia’s dazed expression, she didn’t want to say anything more and simply patted Yin Ruolan’s arm. Understanding her intention, Yin Ruolan swiftly whisked her away, leaving only Wen Banxia and the contorted-faced Ai Yanran behind in the clearing. In the shadows, demon soldiers had quietly surrounded the two.

Ai Yanran couldn’t believe that the reinforcements she had summoned hadn’t even glanced at her. She was so furious she could almost grind her teeth to dust, but when Wen Banxia turned around, she forced herself to smile under the system’s urging. “Banxia, are you alright?”

Wen Banxia let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. “I’m fine. I just mistook someone else for her and couldn’t help but remember. Sorry for neglecting you earlier.”

Seeing Wen Banxia speak to her so gently, Ai Yanran swallowed her suspicions. It must be my imagination. They’re just characters in a story, after all they don’t have thoughts of their own. Besides, she’s my devoted follower. How could she possibly harbor murderous intent toward me?

“What do you plan to do now?” Ai Yanran asked casually, shooting a glare at the onlookers around them.

Wen Banxia concealed the killing intent in her eyes and smiled warmly. “Shall I take you to find an inn to rest? You just arrived today, right?”

At this reminder, Ai Yanran indeed felt tired and nodded. “Let’s go, then.Ai Yanran naturally chose a high-end room and then waited for Wen Banxia to pay. Wen Banxia showed no reluctance and readily paid the fee. After going upstairs, Ai Yanran lay down on the bed and habitually ordered, “Go see if there’s anything to eat, I’m hungry.”

Wen Banxia nodded. The moment she stepped out the door, the smile vanished from her face. Expressionlessly, she took the meal tray and, when no one was around, sprinkled a packet of poison over the rice and dishes. Then, as if nothing had happened, she pushed the door open and said cheerfully, “Here you go.”

Ai Yanran finally sat up, unceremoniously taking the meal. Halfway through eating, she noticed Wen Banxia hadn’t touched her chopsticks and frowned. “Aren’t you eating?”

Wen Banxia shook her head calmly. “I’ve long since transcended the need for food. This was specially prepared for you.”

“Right, you cultivators don’t eat,” Ai Yanran said without a hint of suspicion, continuing to eat. She completely failed to notice that she hadn’t heard a word from her system in a long time.

As she ate, she suddenly felt short of breath, and the sensation grew increasingly intense. Ai Yanran clutched her throat, coughing uncontrollably. “Cough, cough! What’s happening? System? System?”

“No use calling for it. It can’t hear you now,” Wen Banxia said coldly, shedding her pretense of gentleness.

Only then did Ai Yanran realize the truth. “You! You poisoned me!”

Wen Banxia nodded, her expression unchanged. “So, what if I did? After all the wicked deeds you’ve committed, what’s wrong with me punishing you? Besides, you’ll just come back to life, won’t you? But don’t worry this time, I won’t let you suffer.”

Ai Yanran could no longer speak. She collapsed to the floor, foaming at the mouth, a far cry from her usual arrogant self. Her hand trembled as she weakly pointed at Wen Banxia.

“Still not convinced?” Wen Banxia leisurely sat there, speaking as if nothing had happened. “But you have no right to refuse. It was you outsiders who brought such misery upon Xiao Qiu. If not for you, Xiao Qiu would never have left me, isn’t that, right? Yes, exactly like this.”

Ai Yanran stared at Wen Banxia in disbelief, then ceased breathing. Wen Banxia remained seated without moving a muscle.

Moments later, a faint red glow suddenly emanated from Ai Yanran’s body, and in the blink of an eye, her breathing resumed. Wen Banxia grabbed her by the collar and tossed her onto the bed, then called for the attendant to clean up the debris scattered across the floor. After finishing these tasks, she sat calmly at the table sipping tea.

When Ai Yanran opened her eyes again, Wen Banxia wore that same artificial smile: “Awake? Have you been overworking yourself lately?”

Ai Yanra scratched her head somewhat confusedly: “Really? Maybe. There’s been quite a lot to handle recently. By the way, do you know where Yin Ruolan is?” She needed to hurry and win over this female lead that way she could remain the divine maiden here forever and never have to face those debt-collecting fools in reality again.

Wen Banxia showed no surprise at this situation, nodding slightly: “She should be at the Demon Palace now. Would you like to go, see? I believe I still remember the way there.”

Support