Please, Don’t Die - Chapter 59

In the confined space, silence reigned.

He Qingsheng couldn’t recall the heartbeat frequency of an ordinary person, but she felt that Ying Qujie was acting strangely.

Her hands slid soundlessly up his spine to his neck, and Ying Qujie seemed to tremble slightly.

She probed him with her killing intent but found no injuries.

He really was unharmed.

He Qingsheng focused on checking Ying Qujie’s meridians and cultivation, unaware that her actions had made their embrace far more intimate than intended. Similarly, she missed the fleeting shadow that passed through the man’s eyes.

“What’s this?” A red bracelet had appeared out of nowhere on her wrist. Earlier, her hairpin and beads had been in place, but there had been no adornments on her arm.

He Qingsheng naturally withdrew from the embrace and took a step back, but the space behind her was limited. She stumbled and fell back onto the divan. Ying Qujie swiftly caught her, his palm scorching hot through the thin silk. Once she steadied herself, he withdrew his hand with utmost propriety.

“This is Soul-Anchoring Jade. It nourishes the soul and protects this body from the erosion of yin and baleful energy, extending its lifespan.”

He Qingsheng nodded. Soul-Anchoring Jade was common, but red Soul-Anchoring Jade took some effort to find. She lowered her gaze and twisted the bracelet. The hollowed-out red jade clinked melodiously against the dark core within.

“And what’s inside this?”

Ying Qujie paused, then answered frankly, “Lunar Incense, moonlight condensed into cold mist, used to restrain the movement of souls.”

He Qingsheng looked up directly at Ying Qujie, her expression patient as she waited for an explanation. Ying Qujie smiled faintly. “It’s been a while. You’ve grown much more curious.”

At some point, a string of beaded ornaments had appeared in his hand. He leaned in and deftly fastened it around her neck, his movements so practiced it seemed rehearsed.

“This body is made from Endless Autumn Lotus Root. Since your soul is newly inhabiting it, you’ll need some external aids to facilitate the fusion. The Soul-Anchoring Jade, Lunar Incense, and even this beaded necklace, they’re all small trinkets beneficial to your spirit. If you don’t like them, I can change the designs.”

He Qingsheng pinched the beaded necklace. The style resembled the Scarlet Blossom Aura she had once picked out at a shop in the capital. Replicating the design of such a spiritually rich item, far surpassing ordinary trinkets, must have taken some effort.

After examining the necklace, her attention returned to the bracelet. The matching red accessories accentuated the ancient, mysterious aura of her green robes, creating an eerie yet captivating beauty. It wasn’t that she disliked it,

It was mainly because she realized the bracelet wouldn’t come off.

And if the bracelet wouldn’t come off, her soul couldn’t leave this body.

“How do I take this off?”

“Huh?” Ying Qujie looked momentarily surprised, as if her question had just reminded him. He hesitated. “I added a small spell to prevent loss back when my skills were still lacking. If you force it now, you might damage it. The materials aren’t hard to find, but remaking it would take some time.”

He Qingsheng studied Ying Qujie’s expression, whether it was feigned distress or not, she couldn’t tell. Considering that despite his rapid advancement to the peak of Nascent Soul cultivation, he lacked long-term accumulation, gathering spirit stones and treasures in any sect couldn’t have been easy. A faint sense of guilt and reproach welled up in her.

Just as she was about to say it wasn’t necessary to remove it, several spells flashed and vanished into her surroundings.

Ying Qujie’s eyes brightened with sudden inspiration. Confidently, he declared, “I’ve added the Heart-Summoning Art. If you call for me, I’ll appear by your side. So, if you ever want to take it off, just summon me.”

He Qingsheng: ?

Something’s not right here.

“Alright.” Ying Qujie gently smoothed her hair back, his voice tender. “Anything else you’re curious about?”

His fingers brushed past the tip of her ear, sending a ticklish sensation through He Qingsheng. She averted her gaze, thoughtfully rubbing her wrist. “So, does that mean I could take a bite now and it’d be crispy?”

The intimate atmosphere vanished in an instant as Ying Qujie burst into laughter.

He Qingsheng shot him a glare.

Ying Qujie mimed zipping his lips, though amusement still danced in his eyes.

Watching him laugh, He Qingsheng felt as if a feather were lightly teasing her heart, making her restless. She abruptly stood up and strode stiffly toward the exit.

“The storage realm is fragile; we can’t stay long. Someone’s outside, I’ll go check.”

…

“Oh heavens, so much blood!”

“That’s Junior Brother’s sword.”

“Where is he? Where did he go?”

…

The moment she stepped out of the spiritual realm, it felt like hundreds of people were chanting in her ears. The last time she’d heard such noise was in a modern-day elementary school classroom with fifty-four students.

Now, there were only five people in front of her. He Qingsheng rubbed her temples.

“Hey-”

The moment she spoke, swords were instantly pointed at her in unison.

At least the world had gone quiet.

“Who are you?” the leading man demanded, his brows furrowed.

He Qingsheng glanced at their attire, white robes with wide sleeves, sapphire-blue sashes draped over one shoulder and trailing down the arm, intertwined with crimson silk belts at the waist.

This style… The name “Wenxin Sect” surfaced in her mind.

Centuries had passed, and the world had changed. The disciples of Wenxin Sect were all new faces now. Time had shifted, and circumstances had altered. He Qingsheng sighed inwardly: I still think Fuliu’s plain white uniforms aren’t as stylish as Wenxin Sect’s.

A longsword suddenly pressed eagerly against her feet, and He Qingsheng could practically see the word “fawning” written all over it.

“T-this is Junior Brother’s sword… Has it changed owners?” A girl with twin buns noticed this too, her voice trembling. “Did you kill Junior Brother and steal his treasures?”

The five sword-wielders froze, their expressions shifting to grief, mixed with caution and wariness.

Though young, Wenxin Sect’s disciples were among the elite of their generation.

Instead of explaining when they attacked, He Qingsheng casually picked up the sword and engaged them in a spar.

She had vaguely sensed her strength returning earlier. Since demonic energy couldn’t precisely gauge cultivation levels, and she had just acquired a new body, she decided to test her skills with these conveniently delivered sparring partners.

She rarely used swords, and her technique had indeed grown rusty over time. Fortunately, Ying Qujie’s sword was as obedient as its master. After a few moves, handling these junior disciples became effortless.

“That bracelet on her wrist looks like Junior Brother’s too!” the twin-bunned girl cried in anguish, swinging her sword wildly, her form completely falling apart in panic.

He Qingsheng acknowledged the girl’s sincere camaraderie but dismissed her eyesight and abysmal swordsmanship. With a simple thrust and flick, she knocked the weapon aside and swiftly restrained the girl.

He Qingsheng teased, “The old man who teaches swordplay in Wenxin Sect must deduct points from your exams every year, huh?”

The girl’s face flushed crimson. She stammered, “Y-you-” but couldn’t get another word out. Then, with the air of someone facing martyrdom, she shouted to the others, “Senior brothers and sisters, tell Master for me, I should’ve studied harder! Don’t worry about me, just run! This demoness is bad news, waaah!”

The leading man wore an expression of grief and indignation, while another girl clenched the hilt of her sword. The remaining two men gave He Qingsheng the impression that they were about to shout things like, “I won’t leave!” or “We can’t leave you alone!”

But Ying Qujie appeared just in time to prevent this farce from unfolding.

“Shengsheng? Senior brothers and sisters?”

He Qingsheng glanced at him. Earlier, he had been watching the spectacle from behind, but now he feigned surprise at his sudden appearance with remarkable naturalness.

After some thought, she concluded that Physician Ying’s appearance and demeanor were indeed highly deceptive.

“Junior brother!”

“Junior brother.”

“Junior brother, it’s good that you’re alright!”

He Qingsheng released the girl she was holding. Ying Qujie walked to her side and placed a delicate little pastry in her hand.

“Try it.”

“Not bad, you’ve all joined the Wenxin Sect.”

Their focuses were different, but after speaking simultaneously, they responded to each other with uncanny harmony.

The five people standing to the side stared at this scene in stunned silence.

“Ah, so you know each other,” the leading man sighed in relief.

The others also relaxed instantly, except for the girl who had just been taken hostage.

Hugging her sword, she snorted, her cheeks puffed up in anger like a little pufferfish.

He Qingsheng slowly nibbled on the pastry, though “eating” wasn’t quite accurate. She merely savored the flavor through the Taiyin fragrance. To outsiders, the pastry in her hand remained untouched before being returned to Ying Qujie.

Ying Qujie took it back and, while explaining the situation to the others, leisurely ate the pastry himself.

He Qingsheng listened quietly beside him.

The senior brother at the head was named You Dai. The second and third in rank were a pair of twins, Yuan Qing and Yuan Bai. “Yuan” was the surname of a prominent family from the Guguang Wall. The previous generation of Yuan descendants were likely now peak masters of the Wenxin Sect. The fourth was a girl named Xia Er’an, at the mid-stage of the Great Ascension Realm, the highest cultivation level among them. The youngest, a girl with twin buns in her hair, was named Chunyu Qianqiu, of the Chunyu clan, a distinguished family from the Yingxian Wall on the sea.

At the mention of “Chunyu,” He Qingsheng’s expression softened considerably. The vast, magnificent seas always nurtured free-spirited and straightforward children.

You Dai bowed to He Qingsheng and said, “Earlier, we didn’t know you were acquainted with Junior Brother Ying. We were rude, please forgive us.”

“No harm done. It’s a case of ‘no discord, no concord,'” He Qingsheng replied with a kind smile. “From now on, you can call me Heqing, ‘He’ as in crane, ‘Qing’ as in the color of the sky.”

Xia Er’an pushed You Dai aside and clasped her fists. “Miss Heqing, your skills are impressive. Might I ask for some pointers?”

“Hey, Xiaxia, you-” You Dai tried to intervene but was promptly shoved aside by Chunyu Qianqiu.

“Senior brother, step aside.”

Chunyu Qianqiu flashed a perfect eight-tooth smile. “The way out of this secret realm is far more dangerous than the way in. Besides guarding against the spiritual beasts and strange creatures of the realm, we also have to watch out for underhanded people from other sects. Sister Heqing is highly skilled, wouldn’t it be better if she taught us a few moves to be prepared?”

He Qingsheng raised a hand to stop Ying Qujie from intervening and resisted the urge to pat Chunyu Qianqiu’s head before agreeing to her request.

True to her reputation as the most diligent and highest-level cultivator among them, Xia Er’an practically lunged forward the moment the words were spoken, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she bumped Chunyu Qianqiu aside.

Chunyu Qianqiu looked aggrieved but, knowing Xia Er’an all too well, could only resign herself to her martial-obsessed senior sister’s antics. He Qingsheng nearly burst out laughing at the sight.

She spread out her killing intent, there were no anomalies within a hundred miles ahead. Giving a few pointers to these junior disciples wouldn’t take much effort.

The five disciples lined up to spar one by one, with He Qingsheng deftly dismantling each of their sword techniques while patiently pointing out their shortcomings. By the end of the session, she found herself somewhat exhilarated.

The five retreated to the side, deeply contemplative of their newfound insights, while the longsword tugged at He Qingsheng, pulling her back to Ying Qujie’s side.

“Your sword is quite interesting.”

“Mhm, it doesn’t have a name yet. Do you want it?”

“Huh?” He Qingsheng promptly handed it to Ying Qujie. “This sword’s spirit is only half-awakened, you can’t just give it away like that.”

At her words, the sword sulkily burrowed into Ying Qujie’s arms, only to be yanked out by He Qingsheng. “Tch, I just praised you, and now you’re acting foolish.”

“The blade is sharp. My delicate little Physician Ying here has tender skin, he can’t handle your clinginess.”

A faint smile lingered on Ying Qujie’s lips as he asked softly, “You seem quite skilled with this sword, though.”

“Not really. My master and senior brothers excel in swordsmanship, so they always forced me to spar with them using a spear. I just got used to taking hits, that’s all.”

Watching the spirited woman before him, another piece of the puzzle in Ying Qujie’s heart quietly fell into place.

In the mortal realm, what had she experienced? He didn’t know. Her motives for doing things? He didn’t know. Why she resisted his involvement? He didn’t understand…

It wasn’t until the day she vanished that he suddenly realized, he hadn’t truly known her.

Like flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon cast upon water, she had always been just out of reach.

Amid the rumors and gossip of the Twelve Walls, though they might differ from the truth, he had caught glimpses of her once-vibrant, unrestrained self through those fragments. It was as if, in doing so, he could understand her just a little more.

In all these years apart, this had been his only solace.

Now, the person before him was familiar and full of life, generously sharing pieces of her past.

Ying Qujie’s eyes darkened slightly as he silently recited the incantation in his heart a thousand times over.

Nearby, all of this was observed by Chunyu Qianqiu, who bit her lower lip in frustration.

After watching from the shadows for so long, she finally seized the moment to approach He Qingsheng and deliver a sharp warning: “Don’t think just because you’ve easily won over my senior brothers and sisters that everything’s settled.”

“I know there’s something off about you. I’ll be watching you closely, don’t even think about causing trouble!”