After Redeeming The Beautiful and Tragic Heroine [Transmigration] - Chapter 35.1

Yu Yan bounced out of the mystic realm, still swinging the bamboo branch she had pilfered from inside. She stood on her tiptoes, scanned the audience, and finally fixed her gaze on Yu Yuan and Qin Beilu. “Sister! Qin Beilu!” She raised her hands high, waving frantically at them.

Hearing the shout, Yu Yuan and Xue Qingshu simultaneously looked around awkwardly, then gave small, raised-hand waves in response. Yu Yan knew their temperaments, so she stopped shouting, quickly moved to their side, and cheerfully traded seats with the disciple sitting there.

“Sister, Qin Beilu, you two finished so fast?” Yu Yan asked.

Yu Yuan nodded.

Qin Beilu also nodded along.

Yu Yan was curious. “So fast? Who won then? Or was it a draw?”

Qin Beilu shook her head: “Neither.”

“Neither?” Yu Yan frowned in confusion. “What do you mean, neither? Oh, stop talking in riddles, you know I can’t think in circles.”

Qin Beilu: “It means neither the Young Sect Master nor I lost, but neither of us won either.”

Yu Yan: “Huh? Isn’t that a draw then?”

“No, not exactly,” Yu Yuan, who knew Yu Yan’s thought process well, said directly. “The mystic realm Senior Sister and I were in was tampered with, and the match was halted.” She didn’t explicitly say someone tried to harm her. Otherwise, knowing Yu Yan, she would likely turn the Miaoyin Sect upside down.

“Tampered with? Sister, are you okay?” Hearing Yu Yuan, Yu Yan immediately grabbed both of her hands, raised them, and carefully scrutinized her entire body for any injuries.

“I’m fine,” Yu Yuan pulled her hands back from Yu Yan, “Master intervened in time and saved Senior Sister and me.”

Yu Yan breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good.”

Next to them, Qin Beilu suddenly cleared her throat. Yu Yan looked over. “What’s wrong?”

Qin Beilu: … (She was, of course, seeking attention, but she couldn’t say so directly.) Yu Yuan, who caught the meaning of the cough, was caught in the middle. Her gaze shifted awkwardly between the two, finally resting on Yu Yan.)

“A’Yan, how about I switch seats with you,” she suggested.

Yu Yan didn’t understand. “Why?”

Qin Beilu blurted out: “Good.”

Yu Yuan: “A’Yan, just don’t ask.” Yu Yuan stood up, gesturing for Yu Yan to sit in her place. Yu Yan glanced at Yu Yuan strangely, obediently sat down, and then whispered to Qin Beilu: “Did you have a falling out with my sister?”

Yu Yuan: …

Qin Beilu: ….

The temples of both women throbbed violently. Fortunately, Yu Yan’s attention was quickly drawn to a paper crane flying over from the Four Directions Stage.

“That’s the old man’s paper crane.” Yu Yan opened her palm, and the crane landed in her hand. Yu Yan channeled a thread of spiritual energy into the crane’s long beak. The crane opened its mouth and relayed Yu Qinzhong’s voice. “A’Yuan, Beilu, after careful consideration, the elders and I have decided to send both of you to the Hehuan Sect to relax.”

Yu Yuan: . She couldn’t smile.

Qin Beilu: .. She also couldn’t smile.

Yu Yan: … She definitely couldn’t smile. “If both of you are going to the Hehuan Sect, then what about me? No way! I’m going to talk to the old man—I’m going too!”

Yu Yan angrily stood up, quickly left the audience, and made a beeline for the Four Directions Stage.

Seeing this, Qin Beilu said to Yu Yuan, “Young Sect Master, I’ll go follow and check on her,” and quickly rose to chase after Yu Yan.

With the two of them gone, Yu Yuan was left alone in the audience.

She clutched the paper crane Yu Yan had pressed into her hand, looked up at the four darkening spectral screens, and pondered what excuse she could use to leave the venue early.

Before she could think of anything, a crisp young female voice interrupted her.

“Young Sect Master!”

The shout startled Yu Yuan, causing her to straighten her back and look at the person approaching. It was Qin Niang.

The girl was wearing an Outer Sect disciple’s uniform today. The light-colored Daoist robe looked very fitting and made her appear much more spirited. The crescent shape of her eyes as she smiled showed a kind of youthful vitality never seen in the Sleepless City.

Did she win her match? Yu Yuan had been too focused on Yu Yan to watch the other two matches earlier.

But judging by Qin Niang’s demeanor, she must have won.

Yu Yuan returned a faint smile, and as Qin Niang sat down beside her, she prepared to offer her congratulations. “Qin Niang, you—”

“Young Sect Master, I’m going to the Hehuan Sect! What’s it like there? Is it fun? The Elder just described it as a very beautiful place.”

Yu Yuan swallowed her words.

Qin Niang noticed her hesitation and hurriedly said, “Young Sect Master, did you have something you wanted to tell me? Qin Niang was too hasty just now and interrupted you. It’s my fault.”

Qin Niang spoke so quickly that Yu Yuan couldn’t get a word in. Only after the other girl stopped did Yu Yuan reply: “I was going to tell you that you’re too naive.” She couldn’t believe Qin Niang actually bought into the purple-robed elder’s deceptive advertising.

“It’s fun, but it depends on what you do there.” Yu Yuan gave Qin Niang a brief explanation.

Without waiting for the other girl to fully grasp her meaning, she swiftly changed the subject, asking in return: “How have you been settling in at the Miaoyin Sect recently? How is your recovery coming along?” Yu Yuan remembered that Elder Qin had previously said that Qin Niang’s body was beyond saving.

“Don’t worry, Young Sect Master,” Qin Niang rolled up her sleeve, where terrifying scars had been replaced by smooth, tender, white skin. “The medical cultivators, uncles and sisters in the sect are wonderful. They’ve already healed all the injuries on my body.”

Yu Yuan was relieved: “That’s good.”

She smiled, and a shadow suddenly fell over her head.

Yu Yuan turned around, meeting Xue Qingshu’s eyes.

“Master? Why did you come here?” Yu Yuan stood up and glanced around, noticing that everyone’s gaze was now fixed on Xue Qingshu.

Xue Qingshu couldn’t be bothered with those stares. She just stared intently at Yu Yuan and left a single command: “Return to the Hot Spring Valley.” Then she walked away.

Yu Yuan stood rooted to the spot, watching Xue Qingshu’s retreating figure, and inexplicably felt that the other woman was angry. Why?

She looked at Qin Niang, who was sitting right next to her, and understood. Xue Qingshu was jealous.

Hmm, she’s even jealous of a stand-in.

Yu Yuan laughed briefly to herself, said a quick farewell to Qin Niang, and hurried to catch up with Xue Qingshu.

The Hot Spring Valley was quiet, as usual—

“Clang!”

“What happened!”

“That brat bumped into me! I accidentally dropped the Immortal’s glazed cup, and it shattered.”

“What? The glazed cup! We’re finished, that was the Immortal’s most cherished item.”

“Clang!”

“What now?!”

“I accidentally knocked the corner of the table and spilled, spilled the Immortal’s Nightglow Wine.”

“Spilled the Nightglow Wine? Hurry, hurry and clean this up before anyone sees! If the Immortal asks, just say, just say it was Elder Yunting. Elder Yunting came and stole a drink again.”

Yu Yuan paused, listening to the voices coming from the great hall. She glanced sideways at Xue Qingshu and asked, “Aren’t you going to deal with that?”

Xue Qingshu folded her arms. “What’s there to deal with? It’s not my treasures that are broken, and it’s not my favorite things that are spilled.”

Yu Yuan nodded. “That’s true.”

She recalled the true owner of the glazed cup and the Nightglow Wine and thought to herself that if her villainous Master knew her treasures, which she had preserved for so many years, had been wrecked like this, she would likely die of anger again, even if she managed to leave the Demon Prison Pavilion alive.

Footsteps and arguments continued to echo inside the hall. Xue Qingshu stood for a while, lost her patience, and without caring about the occupants’ reactions, walked straight over the threshold into the great hall with Yu Yuan.

There were five disciples inside the hall. Yu Yuan focused and saw that two of them were from Qinglan Peak.

The five disciples clearly hadn’t expected the two women to return at that moment. They quickly bowed, saying in unison, “Greetings, Immortal! Greetings, Young Sect Master!”

Xue Qingshu looked down, gave them a brief glance, and walked around them to sit on the nearest cushion.

Seeing this, the five disciples looked at each other, their breathing catching: Did the Immortal hear what they were just saying?! They were shocked and looked toward Yu Yuan, who was still standing, apparently seeking confirmation.

Yu Yuan realized she was the center of attention and gave a slightly awkward smile, saying directly, “Don’t worry, we didn’t hear anything.”

The five disciples: !!!!!!!

Their faces were a collective five masks of shock: See! See! They totally heard!

Yu Yuan knew she had said the wrong thing. She put a hand to her forehead in embarrassment, then skillfully changed the subject, asking, “What are you setting up here?” Her gaze landed on the long table several paces away, pieced together from several smaller desks.

“The Second Young Sect Master asked us to come and set this up,” a disciple in Qinglan Peak attire stepped forward. “The Second Young Sect Master sent a message a quarter of an hour ago, instructing the two of us to come to the Hot Spring Valley to host a farewell feast for you and her trip to the Hehuan Sect.”

Another Qinglan Peak disciple chimed in: “That’s right. In addition, the Second Young Sect Master specifically told us to tell you, Young Sect Master, that once you enter the Hehuan Sect—”

“Alright, stop talking,” Yu Yuan hastily interrupted. She didn’t want to hear the phrase, Once you enter the Hehuan Sect, you cast aside your virtue.

“Did A’Yan say when she’s coming over?”

“The Second Young Sect Master didn’t say, but judging by the light, it should be soon.”

Yu Yuan understood. “Are you done with the setup? If you are, you should go to the dining hall soon, or you might go hungry if you miss the mealtime.”

The five disciples bowed again, saying, “Thank you for your concern, Young Sect Master.”

Yu Yuan slightly lowered her head: “It’s nothing.”

The farewell feast was quickly set up. After saying their goodbyes to the two women, the five disciples left.

Yu Yuan and Xue Qingshu sat on one side of the long table, with one empty seat between them.

“Did you call me back to the Hot Spring Valley because you had something to tell me?” Yu Yuan asked, sitting cross-legged and facing Xue Qingshu.

Xue Qingshu unhurriedly poured the wine from the glazed cup in front of her back into the decanter, swapped it for a cup of clear tea, and calmly replied to Yu Yuan: “Can’t I call you back if there’s nothing wrong?”

Yu Yuan pressed her lips into a thin line. “Fine.” She didn’t argue but changed the subject, asking the other: “Do I absolutely have to go to the Hehuan Sect?”

Xue Qingshu took a sip of tea and nodded. “Absolutely.”

Yu Yuan probed: “Is that my father’s decision?”

Xue Qingshu: “Yes. Someone in the Miaoyin Sect wants to harm you, and he wants you to go to the Hehuan Sect to avoid the trouble.”

Yu Yuan didn’t understand. “Go to the Hehuan Sect to avoid trouble? Wouldn’t leaving the sect be more dangerous?” In the sect, she still had people protecting her. Leaving the Miaoyin Sect was akin to a novice leaving the starter village.

Xue Qingshu: “Sect Master Yu has placed his trusted subordinate by your side. She will protect you.”

Yu Yuan: “Trusted subordinate?”

Xue Qingshu nodded, about to explain, when a sudden commotion from outside the hall interrupted her.

“Old man, we’re having a girls’ night drinking. Why are you tagging along?” Yu Yan stepped into the great hall, followed by Yu Qinzhong. Yu Qinzhong frowned: “Drinking? You’re drinking, why can’t I watch? A’Yan, you’re a young lady, you should drink less wine, it’s bad for your health.” He urged her. Qin Beilu and a man in an ivory-white robe entered the hall one after the other. Following them was one more person whom Yu Yuan and the others knew: Qin Niang.

“Quite lively,” Xue Qingshu said faintly, lowering her gaze and leisurely sipping her tea.

Yu Yuan’s body was rigid. Seeing the people file in, she said nothing. With this many people, I should have claimed illness and stayed in my room.

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