Guide to the Rebirth of the Evil Woman in the Immortal Realm - Chapter 16

Ji Ting tilted her face just in time to avoid the flash of sword light, clutching her left cheek as she tumbled into the courtyard of the immortal’s residence. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “How cruel. I thought I was different in Xiao Fu’s eyes compared to others.”

Shen Fuxin raised her sword and struck without hesitation. “You think too much.”

The sword’s energy sliced through several ancient maple trees in the courtyard, sending them crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. Startled by the noise, the Ancient Vine Immortal flew out of the house alone, his face taut with anger. “What is the meaning of this?”

The bridal selection banquet had long concluded, and the venue had been cleared, restoring peace to the Ancient Vine Immortal’s residence. The Ancient Vine Immortal had just settled down to rest in his room when he emerged to find his meticulously cared-for immortal trees utterly destroyed. Rage surged within him.

But when he saw that the sword-wielder was Shen Fuxin and recalled her descent from the divine realm, the Ancient Vine Immortal forcibly swallowed his anger. Glancing at the distant green ox fading into the horizon, he forced a smile. “Fuxin, why have you returned so soon? Tell your father all about the divine realm. Let me share in your joy.”

Seeing this, Shen Fuxin smiled gently as well. “Perfect timing. I, too, have important matters to discuss with you, Father.”

Noting her cheerful expression, the Ancient Vine Immortal grew even more convinced that this “important matter” was undoubtedly a joyous occasion. He eagerly ushered Shen Fuxin inside.

As they walked along the corridor, Shen Fuxin suddenly noticed a frail figure kneeling in the shadows.

The young woman kneeling on the ground was covered in wounds, blood seeping through her white robes. Her lowered face bore unhealed sword scars. Shen Fuxin glanced at her briefly before looking away, recalling that this was the sword cultivator the Ancient Vine Immortal had half-coaxed, half-tricked into adopting after she had left to study at the Green Emperor’s Spirit Mountain.

In her previous life, Shen Fuxin had suffered greatly, struggling to survive and having little interaction with this girl. They were hardly acquainted. Hearing Shen Fuxin and the others pass by, the girl curled her fingers against the ground, afraid of obstructing Shen Fuxin’s path and provoking her to step on her.

Sure enough, a clean shoe paused for a moment beside the droplets of blood and sweat she had shed.

The sword cultivator knew Shen Fuxin’s ruthlessness all too well. During the banquet, she had witnessed them dragging her elder brother barely recognizable from the room, the bloody hole in his forehead leaving a long trail on the ground.

Alone in the immortal realm with no one to rely on, she feared Shen Fuxin might suddenly lose her temper. Biting her lip, she discreetly used her still-clean sleeve to wipe away the bloodstains near Shen Fuxin’s shoe, hoping to appease her.

As she scrubbed diligently, Shen Fuxin stepped over her hand and strode directly into the room.

Watching this scene, Ji Ting’s eyes held an indescribable mix of pity and indifference. It seemed she had witnessed too many such tragedies over the years, the overwhelming suffering leaving her numb. Perhaps, in the forgotten currents of time, she had once been a savior of the world. But eventually, she realized that salvation alone could never save everyone.

Salvation alone could never save everyone.

Her footsteps slowed. Shen Fuxin’s wavering shadow ahead seemed to grow dimmer. Ji Ting pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling something gnawing at her memories. What had she done after saving the world? What had become of those lost memories, and where were they hidden.

“Xiao Ting.”

Ji Ting looked up abruptly.

Shen Fuxin stood in the dim light, looking down at her from above. Her serene face showed no emotion, but her eyes were bright, like the calm surface of a shallow stream.

But Ji Ting knew her calm was as thin as paper, ready to tear at the slightest touch. Beneath the facade lay a twisted web of hatred and rage. Sooner or later, the truth would burst through. Her gaze shifted, settling on the unsuspecting Gu Teng Immortal.

She had no doubt that Shen Fuxin would not leave his body intact.

–

Shen Fuxin sat in the hall adorned with precious gems, wiping the bloodstains from her soles onto the floor.

Opportunities to come here were rare so few that even counting them on one hand would suffice across both her past and present lives. Gu Teng Immortal stood with his back to her, brewing tea. A celestial pearl, harvested from the depths of the sea, hung above his head on a silk thread. To Shen Fuxin, it looked unsettlingly like a human eyeball.

Everything here was built upon the exploitation of their flesh and blood.

The jade tiles paving the floor were Shen Fuxin’s flesh, the pearls her eyeballs, the rare and exotic flowers her severed fingers, and the mountain spring flowing through the courtyard was the blood wrung from her body Shen Fuxin felt she was going mad. Perhaps she had lost her sanity the moment she awoke, or even earlier back when Zhao Lanying lifted her bridal veil.

At that moment, the world shattered before her blurred vision, yet she thought of nothing. She sat there emptily, letting Zhao Lanying toss her veil to the ground.

Later, confined to the courtyard, Shen Fuxin often had chaotic, disjointed dreams. Sometimes she dreamed of her childhood punishments kneeling until her knees were bloody only for the blood beneath her knees to transform into the red bridal veil Gu Teng Immortal gently placed over her head, smiling. In her dreams, she chased and killed them, but no matter how many she slaughtered, they were endless. She would wake exhausted to see Zhao Lanying pushing the door open, carrying a meal, and placing it before her bed as if offering alms.

“Eat,” she said.

Now, Shen Fuxin watched as Gu Teng Immortal turned around with a cup of tea and set it before her.

“Drink,” he said.

Shen Fuxin lowered her eyes, lifted the teacup, and took a small sip.

Gu Teng Immortal was in high spirits, but just as he was about to speak, the door creaked open. A celestial attendant entered and reported, “Immortal, the runaway consort who fled hours ago was severely beaten at Tianqing Manor and is now clamoring to return home.”

Hearing this, Gu Teng Immortal glanced at Shen Fuxin. She sat in the shadows, calmly sipping her tea, not a trace of fear on her face. Reassured, he turned to the attendant. “Keep him under watch. Do not allow him to return.”

The attendant acknowledged the order and left. Gu Teng Immortal smiled, refilling Shen Fuxin’s empty cup. “Fuxin, you know I’ve always valued you the most, don’t you? As for Fairy Hongjing.”

Shen Fuxin replied gently, “It’s settled. Thanks to you, Father, Fairy Hongjing has already given me the contract. She has agreed to form a bond with me on the fifth day of the sixth month.”

Overjoyed, Gu Teng Immortal exclaimed his approval repeatedly. But Shen Fuxin set down her cup, her smile shadowed and ambiguous. “Is that all it takes to make you happy, Father?”

He felt a flicker of offense, as if her words subtly mocked his shortsightedness. His expression darkened slightly. “Naturally, I am happy for your good fortune.”

“My joy is my own. But now, Father, you have a reason to celebrate as well.”

Shen Fuxin produced a golden token and placed it on the table with a sharp clack. She smiled. “Father, I am now the direct disciple of Yan Dan, the Upper God of the Divine Realm. With his guidance, it is only a matter of time before I ascend perhaps even sooner than Zhao Lanying.”

Vine Immortal’s breathing suddenly grew heavy. His eyeballs shifted slightly, his gaze involuntarily glued to the token on the table.

“Divine Lord Yandan, knowing our family circumstances, specially arranged a favorable opportunity for cultivation,” Shen Fuxin said with a gentle smile. “The Divine Lord values filial piety, saying there’s no reason for a daughter to ascend to immortality while neglecting her father. This token is for you, Father. The path has been paved for you. Once the training is complete, you’ll gain ten thousand years’ worth of merit. Will you go?”

He swallowed hard, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the token.

“I… I’ll go!” He clutched the token tightly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “Where will I be training? The mortal realm?”

Shen Fuxin replied, “The Animal Realm.”

Vine Immortal’s expression instantly turned peculiar. His lips twitched a few times, but his hand refused to let go of the token. Shen Fuxin stood up, pressing her advantage: “You’ll undergo ten cycles of reincarnation in the Animal Realm, accumulating ten thousand years of merit. Moreover, we’ve made all the arrangements. I’ll be there to watch over you. What is there to worry about?”

She added softly, “Do you not trust me?”

Vine Immortal looked at Shen Fuxin.

This adopted daughter had grown up before his very eyes. Though stubborn, her greatest virtue was her obedience to the family. In the past, despite her dull innate talent, she had never once defied him, even after enduring so much family discipline, let alone the upcoming marriage alliance with Zhao Lanying.

He felt reassured. It was worth all the effort he had invested in her, constantly emphasizing his hardships and sacrifices, so that this immortal seedling could become a stepping stone for his own ascent. Looking at the inscription “Sixth Day of the Sixth Month” on the token, he voiced one last doubt: “Isn’t the sixth day of the sixth month the day of your marriage alliance with Rainbow Capital Immortal?”

“I will explain it to the Immortal,” she said. “Father, don’t worry. A splendid future awaits. Just go with peace of mind.”

–

Shen Fuxin stepped out of the room under the setting sun. Vine Immortal did not see her off. She walked side by side with Ji Ting back to the corridor they had passed earlier.

The light fell on the dried bloodstains on the ground. The young girl kneeling there already showed signs of exhaustion but still forced herself to concentrate, silently reciting cultivation techniques. Hearing familiar footsteps behind her, she quickly prostrated on the ground, fearing further punishment.

A pair of familiar-looking shoes stopped before her.

Shen Fuxin said, “Look up.”

Standing under the corridor, she gazed at the weary, haggard face, as if looking back in time at her past self in the same situation.

“Do you want to end up like the one who was discarded today?” she said lightly. “Like a lifeless lump of flesh, carried out with drums and gongs.”

The girl’s eyes flickered with shock, and she instinctively shook her head. Having knelt for a long time, her lips were pale, and her voice hoarse: “I don’t want to.”

Shen Fuxin glanced at her, then turned and left.

Ji Ting followed her and said softly, “I thought you were going to take her away from here.”

Shen Fuxin chuckled, though it was unclear whether she was laughing at her past self or at Ji Ting. “She’s of no use to me. I never play the savior for free.”

Since it was useless, why bother passing by the corridor and speaking up to remind her? Ji Ting curved her lips slightly, choosing not to expose Shen Fuxin’s thoughts. She followed a few steps and, seeing that Shen Fuxin had no intention of stopping, asked, “Won’t you stay here for the night tonight?”

“Hmm,” Shen Fuxin replied, “Let’s return to Qingdi Ling Mountain. Before descending to the mortal realm, we still have many, many things to do.”