I'm Feng Aotian—And I’m Running Away from My Wedding - Chapter 17

The howling wind rushed past her ears.

Li Baiying couldn’t see the scene below, only aware that she was falling, falling endlessly.

Her shattered Golden Core crumbled inside her, yet she felt no pain, only a blazing fury and resentment.

Was Li Ruoruo truly the only spy? If she acted alone, how could she have obtained the supposedly confidential patrol schedule and collaborated with outsiders to annihilate hundreds of elite disciples?

Moreover, the Taichu Mountain was home to two other families, all united as one. Why had none of them shown up?

Too many doubts swirled in her mind. Li Baiying suddenly realized that while she had been immersed in cultivation, she had missed far too much of what was happening around her, so much so that she couldn’t even pinpoint the source of the trouble.

She was still falling.

Her racing thoughts had long overshadowed her fear of death.

She vaguely remembered her mother once saying that beneath the cliff behind their family’s estate lay a frigid pool.

“But don’t try jumping down, there’s no telling if it might be frozen solid.”

Her mother had joked lightly, using humor in place of a warning. Recalling the past, Li Baiying felt a pang in her heart, her sorrow deepening.

This was the first time she had entrusted her fate to the heavens.

Splash!

A massive spray of water erupted, followed by the bone-chilling torrent flooding her mouth and nose.

Li Baiying felt her body sinking uncontrollably. She tried to move her limbs, but the searing pain left her almost powerless to lift her arms.

“No, I can’t die here!”

Holding her breath, she kicked upward with all her might, but her body felt like a waterlogged sponge, heavy, limp, and utterly useless.

In that moment, she was like an ordinary mortal with no strength left, flailing upward purely on instinct.

Almost there, just a little more!

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a faint glimmer of light. Clutching at this last shred of hope, Li Baiying strained toward it.

Yet, her outstretched fingers caught not light, but a thin line and a hook.

Who would be fishing here? The thought barely formed before her body reached its limit, and she gulped down a mouthful of water.

Before losing consciousness, she still clung tightly to the fishhook, even as it pierced through her palm. Fortunately, she could feel her body being slowly pulled upward.

In her dazed state, she seemed to hear a soft sigh.

…

Cold.

When Li Baiying regained consciousness, her body felt strangely unfamiliar.

Just days ago, she had forged her Golden Core, but now it lay in shattered fragments, as if mocking her silently.

What enraged her even more was that the energy she had painstakingly cultivated was steadily dissipating. Her fractured meridians acted like an unblockable funnel, draining her refined inner strength bit by bit.

And she could do nothing but watch helplessly.

Ninth level of the Innate Realm, seventh level, third level… Ninth level of the Novice Realm, sixth level, fourth level…

She was like a bystander, coldly observing her own gradual decline into an ordinary mortal. It was as if everything she had experienced before was nothing but an illusion, and now, the dream had ended.

Her eyes snapped open abruptly. The pain in her meridians lingered, and the emptiness in her dantian confirmed that it hadn’t been a nightmare, it was reality.

The stone cave was dark, save for a torch flickering faintly a few feet away, casting a feeble glow that barely pierced the shadows.

She could barely make out the straw mat covering her body. Beside it sat a bowl of water and a small piece of dry rations.

At the sight of the water, her throat immediately felt parched. She hastily picked up the bowl and gulped it down in one go.

As for whether it was poisoned, she couldn’t be bothered to care. After all, she had already been afflicted with the Five Poisons Powder, which had completely dissipated her inner strength. One more poison wouldn’t make a difference.

Unexpectedly, the water was exceptionally sweet and warm, subtly dispelling the chill within her.

Li Baiying rested for a while, and once she regained a bit of strength, she leaned against the wall and slowly stood up.

The stone cave was long. Following the direction of the torchlight, she unexpectedly discovered her own bundle placed not far away. The contents inside were untouched, still packed full. At the same time, she spotted some familiar objects.

For instance, the horse-drawn carriage that Qin Yixiao had rented earlier was parked in the corner, with some medicinal herbs placed beside it.

Tap, tap, tap.

Her footsteps drowned out the sound of dripping water and the crackling of the burning flames.

Finally, she walked out of the cave.

Before her lay an endless cold pond, its waters dark and icy. White mist gathered above, exuding an air of mystery. On the damp soil by the shore, a set of fishing gear and a small bucket were placed, along with a faint trail of footprints.

Li Baiying looked up. The towering cliffs loomed majestically, but her view was obscured by a thick, dark haze, making it impossible to see what lay above.

Just like her current self, even when facing Li Ruoruo, whom she had once looked down upon, the gap between them was like that between clouds and mud, let alone seeking revenge with her own hands.

Letting out a bitter laugh, Li Baiying shook her head and staggered back until she lay down again on the straw mat.

She thought to herself that, aside from lying there, there was nothing else she could do.

She was utterly and completely useless.

Closing her eyes, her consciousness quickly sank into darkness. This time, it was her own choice.

She had a long dream.

In the dream, she was a child, surrounded by her family, all of whom had high hopes for her.

“With genes from both of us, Ying’er’s talent is bound to be exceptional.”

Li Anqing smiled and patted her head, gazing affectionately at her partner beside her. The atmosphere was warm and tender.

Li Baiying, still naive and unaware, clutched the book in her arms, not fully understanding what they meant by “talent.”

But she knew that the other young members of the clan respectfully addressed her as “young mistress.” Even the elders in charge of important matters would stop when they saw her and kindly ask if she had encountered any difficulties in her cultivation.

She was accustomed to smooth sailing. Everyone she met was eager to help her, and even her occasional willfulness was dismissed as youthful exuberance.

“In the future, the clan will be yours. The ancient texts in the library, the elixirs in the Dan Hall, and the resources on Taichu Mountain will all be under your control.”

When she was a little older, her mother told her this. “You still have plenty of time, so there’s no need to worry about these matters. I will take care of everything. For now, all you need to do is focus on your cultivation.”

And she did exactly that. She did not squander her innate Crimson Flame talent. On the contrary, through day after day of diligent practice, she had transformed into a standout among her peers. Even when facing opponents of higher cultivation levels, she could hold her own with her extensive theoretical knowledge and ability to adapt on the spot.

She had thought life would continue like this forever.

A damp sensation spread from the corners of her eyes, and Li Baiying felt waves of bitterness welling up in her chest, more agonizing than watching her inner strength fade away.

What she hated most was her current inability to even seek revenge.

That had once been the sole force driving her survival. Now, nothing remained.

She even thought drowning at the bottom of the lake might be preferable.

Suddenly, she felt something soft press against her face, a handkerchief gently wiping away the lingering tear stains.

Then, she sensed someone carefully lifting her body, and her lips touched the warmth of spring water.

No longer able to pretend sleep, she opened her eyes and looked at the young woman tending to her. Qin Yixiao’s expression held no discomforting pity or sympathy, only undisguised concern.