I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 71

“It was you who chose to follow me.”

“Within the Imperial Capital, powerful restrictions are everywhere. Wanqi Yanjing is severely wounded; she couldn’t possibly have fled far. Search everywhere! You must find her!” the First Princess roared.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Yiqing had been brought to a cavern by Wanqi Yanjing. Upon entering, she began to shiver violently from the biting cold, while the blood on Wanqi Yanjing’s body began to congeal in the freezing air.

She observed Wanqi Yanjing’s body; she was covered in countless wounds of all sizes, her clothes in tatters. To think the dignified Empress of a nation could ever look this wretched. As if sensing Jiang Yiqing’s gaze, Wanqi Yanjing’s brow furrowed. Her exquisite, pale cheeks trembled slightly as she waved her hand, conjuring a set of mysterious black magus robes to cover herself.

Jiang Yiqing hadn’t expected that after sustaining such an assault, Wanqi Yanjing would still possess enough spiritual power to flee to this place. Although the Crimson Begonia Silk she had brought played an immeasurable role, Wanqi Yanjing’s personal strength was truly terrifying.

Furthermore, her apparent indifference toward her own injuries gave Jiang Yiqing a jarring sense of detachment from the mortal world.

Consequently, Jiang Yiqing dared not lower her guard. She figured that Wanqi Yanjing wouldn’t be able to achieve her goal of imprisoning her in the short term. She knew she had to perform well; even if she couldn’t restore her reputation in Wanqi Yanjing’s heart, she at least had to sever this ill-fated connection once and for all.

The cold was becoming unbearable for Jiang Yiqing. She couldn’t resist purchasing a fox-fur coat from the system mall. Just as she was about to pull it from her spatial storage, Wanqi Yanjing suddenly spun around, her hand clamping onto Jiang Yiqing’s neck as she pinned her against the icy rock wall.

Jiang Yiqing shuddered and said, “Empress, I’m cold. I wasn’t planning on doing anything. Besides, even if you are injured, I’m no match for you anyway.”

“Do not act rashly. Otherwise, you know the consequences.” Wanqi Yanjing suppressed her fury, striking the adjacent ice wall with her palm. Not only did ice shards spray everywhere, but a fresh pool of blood seeped from her arm once again.

Jiang Yiqing felt a phantom pain just watching her.

While draping the fox fur over her shoulders, she asked tentatively, “Aren’t you going to treat your wounds?”

“Shut up.”

“…” Fine, she doesn’t trust me at all, Jiang Yiqing thought gloomily. She really hadn’t done anything; as for how things had turned out this way, she wanted to know just as much as anyone.

Wanqi Yanjing walked forward a few steps. Seeing that Jiang Yiqing hadn’t moved, she added, “Follow me.”

Jiang Yiqing was utterly speechless. What, is this a kidnapping now? She knew the Empress wanted to deal with her, and only a fool would obey so submissively. However, deciding not to hold a grudge against an injured person, she followed after a moment of hesitation.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the cave transitioned from freezing cold to scorching heat. Jiang Yiqing returned the fox fur to her spatial storage and looked at the pools of flowing lava on the ground in shock.

“Where exactly is this place? Why did you bring me here?” she finally voiced the question she had been holding.

Wanqi Yanjing didn’t answer her, simply continuing forward.

“If you don’t tell me, I’m not moving another inch.” Jiang Yiqing checked her balance; she had enough points to buy a teleportation spell from the mall. She could leave whenever she wanted.

“…” Wanqi Yanjing glanced at her and said, “This is the Demon Den I was brought to when I was six years old. After I annihilated the cult, this became a secret location. Although it is a demon’s lair, the spiritual energy here is more potent than elsewhere; it can help me recover my strength.”

Jiang Yiqing hadn’t expected her to give such a detailed explanation this time. She asked uncertainly, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll use this information against you?”

“It matters not. Jiang Yiqing, this is also your last chance. If you can escape from here, perhaps I truly can do nothing to you. But if you cannot, from this day forward, you shall be my—plaything.”

“Here we go again.” Jiang Yiqing laughed in spite of herself. “I wanted to say this earlier: Wanqi Yanjing, your persistent designs on me are the very reason for your failure. This is clearly an ill-fated bond; why won’t you let it end? It’s better for both of us.”

“…” Wanqi Yanjing continued walking.

Jiang Yiqing also turned a bit more serious. Since the Empress had put it that way, she wanted to see what secrets this cavern held.

She noticed fragments of Fire Opal on the cave walls—rarities that would be impossible to find in the modern world. She couldn’t help but collect a few.

Passing the lava pools, Jiang Yiqing noticed that Wanqi Yanjing’s complexion looked a bit healthier. It seemed the fire-attribute spiritual energy, being of the same origin as hers, was providing ample nourishment.

They arrived at a golden palace. Its design was identical to the Qintai Hall in the Imperial Palace of the Kingdom of Qin.

“This place?…” Jiang Yiqing stopped in her tracks, hesitating. It felt as though she had been transported back to the Kingdom of Qin.

“What, are you afraid?” Wanqi Yanjing was the first to ascend the white marble steps. With her hands behind her back, she looked back at Jiang Yiqing with a mocking sneer.

“The one thing I, Jiang Yiqing, do not lack is courage.” Jiang Yiqing huffed. Even though she knew it was a provocation, she couldn’t help but snap back.

She followed her up. For a moment, it felt as though countless images were flashing before her eyes, but she shook her head, suppressing the internal repulsion.

Wanqi Yanjing reached the palace doors and pushed them open with a single palm. Instantly, an air of extreme decay and desolation wafted out. Unfamiliar people and snippets of dialogue flashed before Jiang Yiqing again, as if she were witnessing their past experiences in this place.

Wanqi Yanjing glanced back at her without a word and walked inside. Driven by some strange impulse, Jiang Yiqing also stepped into that eerie place.

She saw Wanqi Yanjing’s figure blur forward, seating herself in a grand chair at the far end. The interior of the hall was pitch black; only the faint beams of light from the doorway revealed that the room was filled with tables and prayer mats. Papers were scattered across the tables.

Jiang Yiqing picked up a sheet from a nearby table. The ink was faded, but she could vaguely make out words like “Spirit Cult” and “Cult Infant.”

She picked up a nearby book. It was filled with various nonsensical doctrines of the Spirit Cult—it had a very “evil cult” feel to it. However, the children kidnapped back then likely lacked the discernment to see through it; they were probably brainwashed into believing the Spirit Cult held the ultimate truth.

She looked at the walls, which were covered in old bloodstained handprints. It seemed the Spirit Cult used harsh measures against children who refused to obey.

Recalling that Wanqi Yanjing said she was brought here at age six, it wasn’t hard to realize the cultists had intended to brainwash the infants to turn them into their pawns. Wanqi Yanjing had stayed in this place for a year before destroying the cult and leading the surviving children to safety.

Thinking of the cult made Jiang Yiqing feel uneasy. She stepped forward and asked, “Didn’t you wipe out the Spirit Cult back then? Why come back here?”

She saw Wanqi Yanjing open a black box on the table beside her. Inside was a vermilion pill shrouded in a terrifying black miasma.

Jiang Yiqing saw a notification appear: “Fragment of the Nine Heavens Blazing Phoenix Pill (Demonic) x10.”

A bad premonition gripped her mind.

“Wiped out? That cult is difficult to uproot; even the immortals in the heavens could do nothing but banish them to these Nine Lands. Who would have thought they would target the Kingdom of Qin? Back then, my father listened to the State Preceptor’s slanders and sent me into this demon den. He believed that by suffering for the people, I could extend the prosperity of the Qin Kingdom and that by surviving a life-and-death ordeal, my cultivation would reach new heights. Truly an ignorant man. He had no idea what I encountered here.”

“You didn’t… fall for their trap, did you?” Jiang Yiqing asked.

Wanqi Yanjing had never spoken of this past to anyone, but at this moment, she suddenly felt the urge to talk, and Jiang Yiqing became that confidante.

“The cult’s intention was to instill its will into the hearts of young children so that when they grew up, they would naturally act according to the cult’s wishes. The more capable the child, the wider their influence—that is why they targeted me.”

“But you didn’t become a demoness,” Jiang Yiqing noted. “Not only that, you destroyed them and became the ‘Lady of Brilliance’ worshipped by all nations.”

“Hahaha.” Wanqi Yanjing laughed, but the sound was chillingly cold. “The world only praises the victor. Tell me, Jiang Yiqing, do you really think it was that simple?”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Yiqing could see that the pill in her hand was no ordinary thing; it seemed entwined with an extraordinary demonic nature, yet it also contained immense power.

“During that year in the den, I was repeatedly attacked by them using ‘Bone-Eating Parasites.’ Those other children all lost their sanity. Only I, clinging to my last shred of pride, struggled in a way more hideous than anyone could imagine to remain conscious and survive.”

Wanqi Yanjing made no effort to hide the scars on her body. As Jiang Yiqing suspected, those were self-inflicted wounds from when she was six—likely fueled by her hatred for her father.

“But they discovered me. They tried to force me to spit out my Phoenix Core, wanting to kill me once and for all.” Wanqi Yanjing said with a faint smile, “However, a Phoenix is a creature that finds life within death. Even if they anticipated it, they could do nothing to me. At that time, I forced out half of my Phoenix Core, unleashing a terrifying power that killed the Great Priest of the Spirit Cult. The rest fled in terror.”

“Is that half of the Phoenix Core in your hand?”

“Yes, you are indeed clever,” Wanqi Yanjing said. “Until now, I have only used half of my Phoenix power, because the other half was forced out when I was six. But given the current situation, my only choice is to swallow this pill.”

“That pill has been demonized; you can’t eat it,” Jiang Yiqing urged. “Wanqi Yanjing, you have been proud your whole life. Do you really want to see your illustrious reputation destroyed in an instant?”

“Host, I’ve detected it,” the system suddenly spoke to Jiang Yiqing. “The Bone-Linking Lustrous Jade was suppressing the souls of the Spirit Cult. Due to that impact, the seal is now broken. It won’t be long before the Spirit Cult returns to the world.”

“?” Jiang Yiqing looked at Wanqi Yanjing in shock.

Right before her eyes, Wanqi Yanjing slowly fed the pill into her mouth, a trace of wicked playfulness in her eyes as she spoke: “Jiang Yiqing, I gave you a chance. It was you who chose to follow me. Very well… now, there is no turning back.”