The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: “The Date for the Grand Wedding Has Already Been Set.”

Xin Qishu let out a low hum. “If you think he won’t, then why did you bring me back here?”

“I left a wisp of divine sense on the mountain. The moment He Huaqing makes a move to leave, I will kill you,” Ye Yi said slowly. “Perhaps He Huaqing has also split a wisp of his divine sense to follow us; he might be watching us right now.”

He forced a smile, the faint red handprint on his smooth cheek looking distorted. “What do you think he’ll think?”

He continued to himself, “He’ll think you’re being unreasonable.”

“Slapping people at the drop of a hat—will he still love you?” Ye Yi said with feigned concern.

Ye Yi stood very close, his bright black eyes incessantly scanning Xin Qishu’s face, the emotions within them obscure. His warm breath fanned slowly against the side of Xin Qishu’s face.

Ye Yi was handsome with a high bridge to his nose. Though his usual conduct was somewhat irreverent, he generally maintained an image of uprightness. This was the first time Xin Qishu had seen him like this—with narrow eyes hiding a surge of dark emotions.

Sensing something, Xin Qishu felt a surge of irritable panic. He feigned coldness: “What does it have to do with you?”

A look of disappointment crossed Ye Yi’s face. Xin Qishu turned his head away, refusing to look at him further. The Li family estate came into view, and a wisp of gray smoke rose slowly from the depths of the mansion.

“What is it?” Ye Yi followed his gaze, but saw nothing.

In a moment of intuition, Xin Qishu suddenly knew: that smoke was lit by Li Mu to warn him. Something must have happened to Li Mu’s corpse. Xin Qishu ran toward the direction of the smoke.

Ye Yi’s heart felt heavy and sour. Not knowing what to do, he suppressed his emotions and followed, his voice returning to its usual tone: “If I don’t see the Glazed Lamp in a moment, prepare to be taken back to Fayu Temple by me.”

“Don’t count on He Huaqing to save you. I’ve already sent a message to a nearby Elder, asking him to take He Huaqing back to Fayu Temple first.”

Pausing, he added: “Actually, if you just tell me what happened, I can let you go.”

“I know you don’t have the ability to steal the Glazed Lamp; you were just caught up in it.”

Ye Yi believed that the matter of the Glazed Lamp was ultimately He Huaqing’s doing, and Xin Qishu had merely been pushed forward as a scapegoat. He was certain Xin Qishu was lying to him just now—lying to him for He Huaqing’s sake.

Ye Yi felt miserable. Logic told him he shouldn’t continue to drive a wedge between Xin Qishu and He Huaqing, but emotionally, he couldn’t control himself.

“Heh…” Xin Qishu only let out a low sound from his nose. Ye Yi noticed what Xin Qishu was focused on and wanted to say more, but the two had already run into the courtyard they had visited that day. A ghost was floating in the empty yard.

The gray-toned spirit flickered in the air, wearing tattered Taoist robes. His face was diamond-shaped, the corners of his eyes drooping slightly, and his black eyes stared emptily ahead.

It was the Taoist from Qingfeng Temple.

“Why haven’t you entered reincarnation?” Xin Qishu frowned. He noticed that the room holding Li Mu’s corpse was emitting a faint golden light.

The Taoist had returned to the Li Mansion tonight to exhaust his cultivation to hide the corpse so Li Mu wouldn’t find it.

“This humble Taoist promised Young Master Li; I must do my best.”

“But you’re already dead. I don’t believe this is the only promise you’ve failed to keep in this life,” Xin Qishu said.

“Sigh, indeed. I once promised my Master to cultivate diligently and repair the temple… but those things are impossible now. Young Master Li’s matter is different. To be able to facilitate a legendary romance—even if I am just a minor character in the story—brings me great satisfaction!”

“Since you are already dead, you should know that Li Mu doesn’t consider this a ‘legendary romance’ at all. You’re not even among the living anymore, why are you still obsessed with these… worldly rumors?”

“Sigh, sigh! I know how to perform rituals, but I’m not much of a fighter.” The Taoist ghost sighed deeply, looking troubled. “Since you’ve come tonight, this legendary romance truly cannot be completed. Little friend, don’t be nervous; I won’t fight you.”

“I’m just doing my part. My cultivation is too shallow; I will dissipate into smoke soon anyway. I won’t be in your way.”

He wasn’t lying. The golden light grew dimmer, and the ghost’s body became more transparent. The sky began to lighten.

It was a cloudy day. A grayish-blue sky hung overhead. As the last glimmer of golden light vanished, the Taoist ghost smiled gently and bowed to the two of them. “I shall leave you to it.”

The ghost disappeared completely.

The Taoist ghost’s mindset inexplicably reminded him of Fei Jia. This was the first time Xin Qishu had thought of him since their last separation.

The image of Fei Jia claiming to act for his own good was vivid in his mind. Xin Qishu walked up the steps in silence. As he reached out to push the door, Ye Yi extended a hand to block his chest.

“It’s not too late to regret this.”

With a click, Xin Qishu pushed the door open directly.

In just a few days, the room had been completely transformed. The floor was clean, the furniture had been carefully dusted, and the bedding looked fresh.

Everything was brand new, as if someone still lived here regularly.

Behind the brightly colored bed curtains in the inner room, the healthy-looking young master lay flat on the bed, his eyes closed in a joyful smile. It looked as if he were merely asleep and might wake up at any moment to continue his life.

Ye Yi stepped forward, his hand hovering over the corpse. With a faint sound, small flames sprouted from the body’s undergarments. This fire was unique; it spread only across the corpse, not even scorching the bedsheets beneath it.

A pungent smell gradually filled the room, and the temperature rose. Xin Qishu covered his nose, watching the flames silently.

The firelight illuminated both their faces.

Both remained silent.

As the corpse burned to ashes, beads of sweat rolled down Xin Qishu’s forehead, sliding quickly down the contours of his face and dripping from his chin into his collar. His skin was snow-white; the sweat flowing over it only highlighted its smooth texture.

His small face was covered in moisture, and his coral-red eyes were half-lidded. Xin Qishu turned and walked out of the room, standing in the corridor to gaze at the sky.

Ye Yi followed unhurriedly behind him. “Xin Qishu, where is the Glazed Lamp?”

A few cool breezes blew through; it was about to rain.

Ye Yi walked slowly to his side, looking at the sky with him. He chuckled, “You didn’t hide it in the sky, did you?”

“I’ve changed my mind. Taking you back to Fayu Temple is too much trouble. I might as well just kill you here. Xin Qishu, do you think you’ll survive the day?”

Li Mu’s figure before his eyes was gradually becoming transparent. Xin Qishu retracted the tree’s spiritual energy and asked instead: “Earlier, you asked if the Mirror of the Sea of Sins made me remember anything.”

“Oh?”

“Actually, it did.”

Ye Yi’s expression suddenly changed. A dagger had been thrust into his back, piercing his chest, only inches away from his heart.

If Xin Qishu pushed it just a bit further…

“I remembered this dagger. Ye Yi, tell me, will you survive the day?” Xin Qishu stood with his hands behind his back, looking forward.

His eyes gradually turned brown. Against his snow-white face, the light red of his lips was particularly alluring. Xin Qishu turned his head slightly, his round brown eyes staring at the man beside him without emotion.

Behind Ye Yi, a section of the blade remained outside.

“You want to kill me?!” Ye Yi had only wanted to bicker with Xin Qishu; he hadn’t truly intended to harm him. He hadn’t expected Xin Qishu to be serious. The psychological shock outweighed the physical pain and the fear of death.

He tried to circulate his spiritual energy to pull out the dagger.

Xin Qishu said in a low voice, “No.” Since the latter half of the night, his mood had been low, and he was barely maintaining enough composure to converse.

“Have the Elder leave. Don’t waste your effort; this dagger is controlled only by my spiritual energy. Once He Huaqing and I leave here safely, I will recall the dagger.”

Ye Yi grit his teeth. “How can I trust that you’ll recall it instead of killing me?”

“At this moment, you might want to consider believing that I’ve never killed anyone—because if that’s true, I won’t easily take a life.”

Ye Yi was speechless.

“Hahahaha! Wouldn’t it be a shame if Young Hero Ye died!” A shrill female voice rang out from above them.

Xin Qishu was startled and quickly manipulated the dagger to withdraw. He locked eyes with Ye Yi, who blinked to signal that he knew the identity of the newcomer and would find a chance to escape.

The wound on Ye Yi’s back healed rapidly.

Xin Qishu hid the dagger in a corner. He walked into the courtyard and looked up at the roof, his voice icy: “Qing Qianqian?”

The woman on the eaves wore a plain white pleated skirt, her green gauze overshirt fluttering in the wind. Qing Qianqian smiled and touched her red lips, saying coquettishly, “Why is Little Brother Qishu so cold today? You used to call me ‘Sister.'”

“Is it because I stopped you from killing Young Hero Ye? Don’t be so short-sighted, Brother. Wouldn’t it be better to have him serve our Xuerong Palace?”

“Didn’t Fei Jia tell you? I’m not returning to the Demon Abyss. Your affairs have nothing to do with me.” Xin Qishu did not cut his connection with the dagger, remaining on high alert. “How did you find this place?”

Qing Qianqian clearly hadn’t expected Xin Qishu to bring this up. For some reason, she hesitated and frowned. “Are you serious?”

A wisp of black smoke drifted onto the roof, and Fei Jia slowly appeared, standing silently beside Qing Qianqian. His back was straight, hands behind him, his expression unreadable against the light.

Something had changed.

Qing Qianqian lowered her head humbly and stepped back. Fei Jia stood in the center of the roof, his aura powerful. Even from several meters away, Xin Qishu could smell the scent of blood on him.

While Xin Qishu was surprised, a figure rushed out from under the eaves. Just as he was about to fly out of the Li Mansion, he was intercepted by five demons who appeared suddenly.

With a flick of her finger, Qing Qianqian conjured a black arrow that pierced through Ye Yi’s chest.

Ye Yi let out a cry and barely managed to land decently.

Many demons gradually manifested in the sky above the Li Mansion, silently surrounding the estate, leaving no gap for escape.

Qing Qianqian’s black arrow was condensed from demonic energy. The moment it pierced him, the demonic energy began to spread. Ye Yi was now feeling the pain of erosion.

“You’ll all die a horrible death!” Ye Yi shouted angrily.

When he had flown out of the courtyard just now, he had seen the mourning hall filled with severed limbs and heads of people who had died with their eyes wide open. Likely the entire Li Mansion had…

Qing Qianqian raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, “You mean those mortals? They’re dead. A mortal’s life is but a hundred years; we just gave them a helping hand.”

Only then did Xin Qishu realize that the funeral music had stopped at some point. As the cool breeze passed, he felt a chill in his heart.

This was the fundamental reason he didn’t fit in at Xuerong Palace: he respected life and did not kill the innocent. Perhaps he was naturally sensitive, but he didn’t understand how Qing Qianqian and the others could ignore a person’s existence and end a life so casually.

Before Xin Qishu could check on Ye Yi, Ye Yi was taken away by several demons. Xin Qishu tried to give chase but was blocked by others.

Qing Qianqian laughed loudly. “Don’t worry, Brother. I don’t mind the trouble; I certainly won’t take his life here.”

“My style is to take them back and torture them… slowly.”

Xin Qishu looked up and stared at Fei Jia.

After a long silence, Fei Jia finally spoke: “Young Palace Master, stop playing around outside.”

“You…! I made it very clear last time—” Xin Qishu glared at him.

“The Palace Master’s cultivation has deviated into madness; I’m afraid he doesn’t have much time left.” Fei Jia paused and transmitted his voice directly into Xin Qishu’s ear, “Your situation is unique. If Xin Sha dies, the secret realm of the Blood Demon Ring will be unable to absorb you.”

Xin Qishu went silent instantly. Fei Jia had made it very clear—this was his last chance.

Fei Jia said in a low voice, “Qishu, Xuerong Palace is your home.”

But, but, must I trade my marriage for it? Xin Qishu felt like he couldn’t breathe. Although he had had a conflict with He Huaqing and had decided to delay the deepening of the marriage contract, he hadn’t given up on the relationship. He was still moved by He Huaqing.

Xin Qishu asked himself—he couldn’t do it.

Blood flowed beneath his skin, yet he also craved power… His dark red eyes lowered, then snapped up in shock at Fei Jia’s next words.

“The date for the grand wedding has already been set. It’s not with Xu Qiyao—it’s with me,” Fei Jia spoke slowly but firmly.

“I have passed the test. The next Palace Master of Xuerong Palace will be me. Qishu, look at me.”

“Fei Jia, did you not listen to a single word I said—” A shout infused with spiritual power echoed through the clouds. Dozens of demons to the southeast were sent flying, and He Huaqing entered everyone’s sight.

Huaqing stood in front of Xin Qishu. The tassel on his scabbard flashed as his cold, long sword pointed directly at Fei Jia. His eyes were piercing: “You treat human life with such disregard—you will face retribution!”

Qing Qianqian laughed and repeated her earlier words.

“None of you are leaving here unscathed today!”

Huaqing sent out a sword-light. The eaves collapsed instantly. After a cloud of dust settled, Fei Jia and the others stood suspended in the air.

Fei Jia smiled gloomily. “He Huaqing, what do you know? Xin Sha is dying. I am taking Xin Qishu back to the Demon Abyss. Do not stand in my way.”

Huaqing’s figure stiffened.