The Frost Beneath Her Veil - Chapter 16

At the bottom of the nineteenth level of the Gamo Heart Tower, the deep sea and lightning were warded off by a paper umbrella held casually by Fu Qing. The Chishuang Sword, in its umbrella form, emitted a faint warmth.

The Spirit-Sunder Nails pinning Yin Jiuruo to the tower’s central pillar grew tighter due to Fu Qing’s spiritual power, and dark red blood flowed continuously from the girl’s wrists.

Clear moonlight spilled down from the top of the tower. Yin Jiuruo waited for a long time, but she heard no answer from Fu Qing.

Just as she thought there would be no reply, a different kind of moonlight flowed through Fu Qing’s clear eyes. She sighed softly:

“Yes, we knew each other before.”

Perhaps because the woman answered so simply, Yin Jiuruo felt no surprise, only a sense of “so that’s how it is,” like dust finally settling.

“Xiao Jiu, how did you find out?”

“I…” For some reason, Yin Jiuruo hid the matter of the painting—where she was a prisoner and Fu Qing was the moon in the sky—and told a small lie. “I occasionally heard the disciples chatting, saying that before you achieved immortality, you had a ‘white moonlight’ lover.”

“I see,” Fu Qing’s eyes cast down, her raven-black eyelashes blinking gently.

“Master, if I may be so bold, who was your ‘white moonlight’?”

Yin Jiuruo knew she shouldn’t repeat the sect’s idle gossip to Fu Qing. The woman was the high-and-mighty Daoist Sovereign, detached from the world, possessing neither the appearance of the red dust nor that of the common masses.

But she hoped she could be that one tiny exception. She didn’t need much. Just a little.

However, regardless of her robes being fully shed and only her ink-black hair veiling her body, Fu Qing gently embraced Yin Jiuruo, their touch creating warmth.

“This Sovereign searched for you for a long time.”

This statement was like a sigh, an echo of regret. It seemed to answer Yin Jiuruo’s question, yet in truth, it explained nothing.

“Master, they also say you killed your wife to prove your path and attain the Way of Emotionless,” Yin Jiuruo impulsively grabbed Fu Qing’s slender, white wrist, deciding to ask everything at once.

But she had forgotten that the steel chains still bound her hands and feet, making it impossible to move an inch. Such a struggle immediately caused blood to flow from her thin wrists.

Fu Qing kissed away the bloodstains on Yin Jiuruo’s wrist and leaned gently into Yin Jiuruo’s embrace, murmuring the word “silly” almost imperceptibly.

“Master,” Yin Jiuruo called softly.

A shimmering light flickered in the woman’s eyes. Her snowy curves drew near, and her vermilion lips, red as blood, opened slightly. She asked tenderly:

“Does Xiao Jiu believe it?” “I only believe in Master.”

Daunted by the sincerity in Yin Jiuruo’s eyes, Fu Qing instinctively looked away. “If the past events were true, Xiao Jiu, what would you do?”

The faint, sweet fragrance from the woman’s body invaded her senses. Yin Jiuruo’s voice couldn’t help but turn hoarse. “I do not ask about the past; I only seek the future.”

“The future… the future shall certainly,” Fu Qing’s eyes were hollow, her voice resolute, “grant you what you seek.”

Yin Jiuruo gradually lost track of the words that followed. As their souls mingled in intimate union, the woman’s breath, fragrant as orchids, entangled her completely.

The wounds in her palms pierced by the Spirit-Sunder Nails did not heal. When Fu Qing kissed them, she intentionally applied more pressure, drawing a cry of pain from Yin Jiuruo that was underscored by a tingling numbness.

The rustling sounds of sweeping drifted down from the upper levels of the Heart Tower, and the figure of a small horned sprite drew near.

Yin Jiuruo finally snapped out of the absurd tryst, catching a glimpse of Fu Qing’s consistently pure and holy appearance.

“Master, we… it’s not good if we are discovered like this.”

Fu Qing smiled slightly, wiped the dust from the corner of Yin Jiuruo’s clothes, and took out a set of new robes to change her into.

Looking at the seven pure black Spirit-Sunder Nails hidden beneath the girl’s fair skin, a dark glint flashed in Fu Qing’s eyes. She whispered:

“This Sovereign must leave first. Wait patiently; in a few days, I will bring you back to Hexue Peak.”

As the words fell, the white-robed silhouette faded away, and the shadow of the little sprite holding a candlestick approached.

“Little Master, I’ve brought you some celestial fruits and spiritual tea.”

To Yin Jiuruo’s surprise, this little sprite addressed her as “Little Master,” just as the crane boys did.

“Who are you?”

“I am a little sprite the Venerable One saved during her travels. There is a settlement for spirits and minor demons at the foot of the Jixing Mountains. Since I was bored, I came to the Canglan Sect to find a position.”

“You mean my Master specially built a place for you to stay?” A ripple stirred in Yin Jiuruo’s heart; she had always known of Fu Qing’s universal love and mercy. “But don’t sprites have their own tribes, living carefree and wealthy lives?”

“Little Master might not know, I am a half-blood born of a human and a sprite. I was ostracized by my tribe and had nowhere to go but to wander until I met the Venerable One.”

Yin Jiuruo opened her mouth, already imagining the sprite’s past life of displacement. She nodded and smiled like a sigh:

“Fortunately, you met her.”

It was as if she herself were a small animal picked up and brought home by Fu Qing after becoming homeless.

The horned sprite replied with a smile, “If Little Master is ever bored in the future, I am here anytime.”

“I’ll be able to leave soon; I won’t be bored.”

Hearing this, the sprite seemed to show a hint of pity but said nothing. He simply picked up a spoon and carefully fed Yin Jiuruo water. Three times a day, he never missed a single session.

Knowing that Yin Jiuruo could not move her hands or feet, he found ways to buy games like Double Six, chess, and cards, accompanying her through one day after another.

The Spirit-Sunder Nails began to rust inside Yin Jiuruo’s body. Her bones, struck daily by lightning, became as fragile as old parchment, making creaking and snapping sounds. Every time footsteps echoed in the Heart Tower, Yin Jiuruo’s pitch-black, lusterless eyes would light up, then slowly fade.

Her only comfort was the Double Fish jade pendant, but it was tucked against her chest. With her hands bound, she couldn’t even look at it.

The little sprite stayed by her side. She constantly asked him about how Fu Qing had saved them during her travels. Again and again, she never tired of it.

Time flew by. Staying in the dark deep sea all day, she gradually became accustomed to it—eating at set times and practicing hard—but she never saw Fu Qing again.

One day, the tide in the Gamo Heart Tower receded. A blood-red gale lunged toward Yin Jiuruo. The little sprite screamed to wake her, but it was to no avail.

With a clack, the Chishuang Sword interposed itself before Yin Jiuruo, blocking the fatal blow.

“Ma… Master,” Yin Jiuruo murmured. Years of imprisonment had left her incredibly weak. Just as her lips began to curve upward, she saw another tall figure fly out.

“Fu Qing… Daoist Sovereign Changfan, be careful! Wait for me to form a pincer movement and catch this spy!”

Yin Jiuruo saw Shen Cangli block the path in front of Fu Qing. The two coordinated perfectly; one could tell they shared a profound understanding.

“Cangli, be careful. Do not get hurt,” Fu Qing held her sword in one hand, her expression frosty and full of murderous intent.

The sect elders also arrived just in time to assist. “The Venerable One and the Young Master have waited in the Heart Tower for many days, and finally lured this traitor into acting. The years of planning were not in vain.”

Several elders raised a spiritual array. Wait… had Fu Qing and that Young Master been observing from the bottom of the Heart Tower all this time? And the traitor’s target was me?

Yin Jiuruo’s mind was in a whirl. Then what was the point of my imprisonment here? An ornament? A decoy?

The traitor’s cultivation was not high, but the magical treasure in her hand was extremely powerful, forcing the Young Master of the Ruyi Sect to dodge repeatedly. Fu Qing stood high above, riding the light, looking down like a god.

The traitor rushed in front of Yin Jiuruo, revealing… Gouyu’s face.

“Fu Qing, you really went to great lengths to prevent me from finding her,” Gouyu’s eyes turned deep purple, surrounded by demonic energy. “You truly are heartless to the extreme. Ten years in the Gamo Heart Tower—are you not afraid she’d be broken into a useless wreck?”

Fu Qing glanced indifferently at the frail Yin Jiuruo and said coldly:

“This Sovereign will naturally keep her safe.”

“Safe? This is what you call safe?” Gouyu saw the seven Spirit-Sunder Nails almost fused with Yin Jiuruo’s body. She sneered and drew her sword toward Yin Jiuruo. “Today, even if it costs me my life, I will take her—”

Gouyu’s voice stopped abruptly. An elder’s array pressed down, causing her soul to disperse.

The array also affected Yin Jiuruo. Her already precarious soul became even more fragile, nearly dissipating. Fu Qing had been standing by, but seeing the lingering look of adoration in Yin Jiuruo’s eyes as she looked at her, she thought, It is not time yet. She fluttered down and caught Yin Jiuruo.

When Fu Qing held her, Yin Jiuruo was close to fainting. She didn’t know if Gouyu had intended to kill her at the end or do something else.

Linyue Residence

Outside the carved window, the world was a vast expanse of white snow. After Yin Jiuruo woke from her severe injuries, she stared at it blankly for a long time. She hadn’t seen such a sight in many years.

Such a free and happy sight.

The chains on her hands and feet had been removed, but the Spirit-Sunder Nails in her palms, wrists, ankles, and brow had not been taken out. Consequently, her movement was still hindered. She could only hear people coming and going outside, seemingly decocting medicine for her.

There were no candles lit in the room. It was dark, making her feel timid and breaking into a cold sweat. Ten years in the Gamo Heart Tower had actually made her start to fear the dark.

Confusion, darkness, and fear were intertwined in her heart.

She heard them say that Gouyu was a puppet of the demonic energy from the Outer Lands, lurking in the sect to sow discord. She had intentionally disguised herself as Yin Jiuruo to steal treasures and kill fellow disciples.

“Junior Sister Jiuruo was locked under the Heart Tower for so long; I’m afraid her entire cultivation is ruined.”

“Thanks to the help of the Ruyi Sect’s Young Master, the spy was caught so quickly.”

“Yes, the Venerable One is also very grateful to her and gave her many gifts. The two even agreed to travel to the North Sea together, a match made in heaven.”

“Everyone is looking forward to the wedding of the Venerable One and the Young Master to have some wedding wine.”

As the idle chatter of the disciples faded, the door was pushed open. A clear, sweet, and soft fragrance enveloped Yin Jiuruo comfortably.

In the darkness, Fu Qing’s gaze fixed on a red mark on Yin Jiuruo’s collarbone. She raised her hand and gently brushed over the wound. Both of them shuddered simultaneously. Fu Qing tenderly lingered on the girl’s eyes, nose, and lips.

Her spiritual energy slowly traveled between the scarred heart meridians. As her lips were ground until they bled, Yin Jiuruo couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

“Do not move. This Sovereign is healing you,” Fu Qing leaned down softly, her voice full of breathless sighs.

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