The Frost Beneath Her Veil - Chapter 30.1

The heavy snow of the Canglan Sect was vast and boundless. As the disciple’s voice fell, neither of the two people before him reacted. He had no choice but to choose his words carefully and repeat himself.

“The girl with the beast ears named A-Yin says that our Canglan Sect is detaining her fiancée, a childhood sweetheart with whom she shares deep and solemn feelings.”

However, just as he finished, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Fu Qing’s hair was like silk, and she didn’t seem to be listening seriously. The woman’s gaze was distant and detached, landing on Yin Jiuruo like a butterfly resting on a flame tree.

“That girl named A-Yin says her fiancée is in our Canglan Sect? Xiao Jiu,” Fu Qing’s eyes darkened, but her tone carried a ghostly hint of a smile, “Tell me is she here, or is she not?”

The sharp, invisible pressure caused cold sweat to pour down the disciple’s back. He instinctively followed Fu Qing’s gaze toward Yin Jiuruo. He had only heard of this junior sister’s fame: personally chosen as a disciple by the Sovereign, the grand apprenticeship ceremony, ten years of imprisonment under the Gamo Heart Tower, and her death at her own wedding… In the sect’s records, Yin Jiuruo’s sigh-worthy life occupied only a thin page.

They all thought Yin Jiuruo was rebellious, even sinister and fierce; otherwise, the Sect Leader wouldn’t have insisted on calling her a “wretch.” But now, the girl’s face was deathly pale, her skin almost transparent—so clean and frail that she seemed easily stained and easily broken.

Seeing that Yin Jiuruo didn’t speak, Fu Qing’s fingertips pressed until they were white. She fought to mend the hidden pain in her heart, saying in a deep voice that sounded as calm as the wind and moon:

“Go tell this Miss A-Yin that the Canglan Sect does not have her fiancée…”

“Master, you might have forgotten, but I am A-Yin’s blind date. We were childhood sweethearts,” Yin Jiuruo followed with a ghostly smile. “She must be worried, having been unable to find me for so long.”

Beneath the canopy of ancient trees, frozen snow drifted down. The disciple shuddered; this was the first time he had ever seen someone dare to defy the Sovereign. The Sect Leader, the elders, the members of other sects—everyone followed the Sovereign’s words without a shred of protest.

“Venerable One, what should be done…” He didn’t know whom to listen to and regretted being the messenger. He should have let a senior brother do it.

“Surely Master wouldn’t block a disciple’s chance at a good marriage,” Yin Jiuruo said, unscrupulously wheeling her chair forward, preparing to go straight to the mountain gate via the great transport array.

The disciples who had come out to watch the commotion at the gate saw them and began to gossip again.

“What is the situation? The Sovereign has Young Master Shen, and our risen-from-the-dead Junior Sister Jiuruo has a beautiful childhood sweetheart—and a fiancée at that?”

“What a messy four-way relationship. If it were me, I’d definitely choose the Sovereign,” one disciple whispered, only to be met with disdain from others.

Fu Qing’s pale, soft pinky finger trembled again. She stepped forward and gripped the wheelchair. “Xiao Jiu, your body is not fit for seeing outsiders.”

The woman stood tall, looking down at her. The biting wind silently tangled their long hair together.

“A-Yin is not an outsider to me.”

The woman narrowed her phoenix eyes, a dangerous aura radiating from her. The smile on her lips grew more pronounced. “Once your body is better, I will accompany you. You can see whoever you want then.”

Sensing that Fu Qing wanted to forcibly take her back, Yin Jiuruo gave a contemptuous smile: “Fu Qing, there are so many people here. Do you lack the self-awareness of a Sovereign to uphold etiquette?”

Fu Qing’s lashes lowered, her features covered in frost. “Xiao Jiu, this Sovereign does not need to care about others.”

Indeed, Fu Qing had summoned her soul and bound her with the soul chains without ever caring if she was willing. To Fu Qing, she was just a “wretch” to be used again—an disobedient puppet. Who knew if this was just another game designed to make her despair? What was real, and what was fake? Could she even tell anymore?

Just as Fu Qing was about to take Yin Jiuruo away, a voice rang out across almost the entire Canglan Sect.

“The Canglan Sect is kidnapping a married woman, leaving a lonely widow and her child to wander for half a lifetime with nowhere to turn! It is utterly heartless and appalling—!”

A-Yin used a special sonic talisman from Qingqiu. The sound rolled out in waves, startling the spiritual birds on the peaks. The voice grew louder and louder, and the disciples were shocked by the person’s cultivation. With no other choice, Fu Qing had to bring Yin Jiuruo to the mountain gate.

The gate was at the foot of Jixing Mountain. The scenery here was completely different: spring flowers were in bloom, and the mountains were warm and lush. A-Yin, dressed in a charming and beautiful red outfit, stood in this spring scene. Her features were lively and cunning—arrogant, yet not annoying.

She saw Fu Qing pushing Yin Jiuruo, stopping beneath the elegant plaque of the Canglan Sect. She looked at the portrait given by the Three Kings, then recalled the person she had talked to in the mist for less than two minutes. She finally confirmed that this was the Yin Jiuruo she was looking for.

Without hesitation, A-Yin stepped forward with a radiant smile. “Jiuruo! I’m your Sister A-Yin. I’ve specifically come to take you home.”

A disciple nearby muttered to himself, surprised to learn Yin Jiuruo had such a beautiful “sister.”

“Jiuruo, if you want to come back to Qingqiu with me, that’s fine too. I’ll take you to fun places for dates.” She boldly took Yin Jiuruo’s hand. “My mount, A-Bao, is super fluffy. He’s very comfortable to sit on.”

Fu Qing’s snowy robes fluttered in the spring breeze. She looked coldly at where their hands were joined, her voice deceptively calm. “Miss A-Yin, Xiao Jiu is my… Dao companion. You cannot take her away.”

“Daoist Sovereign Changfan, I’ve heard of you. Born with sword bones, extraordinary talent. Since you’ve mastered the Way of Emotionless, why haven’t you ascended?” A-Yin laughed unscrupulously. “Is there still something in the mortal world worth lingering for?”

“There are unfinished matters,” Fu Qing replied calmly. “There is no rush to ascend.”

“The whole world knows the Sovereign has done great deeds in slaying demons for the sake of righteousness,” A-Yin emphasized the word “demon” and said with a grin, “I remember you’ve always had an engagement with Shen Cangli of the Ruyi Sect. Why are you trying to steal my fiancée now?”

In a short time, Yin Jiuruo had gone from A-Yin’s blind date to her fiancée. The disciples at the gate were utterly confused. Fu Qing stood in front of Yin Jiuruo, ignoring A-Yin’s questions, and asked plainly:

“Since when was Xiao Jiu your fiancée?”

The woman was calm and composed, one hand resting on Yin Jiuruo’s shoulder as if everything were under control.

“That’s where you’re mistaken, Sovereign,” A-Yin rummaged through her storage bag and pulled out a stack of bamboo documents. “Jiuruo and I have a formal engagement by the command of parents and the words of matchmakers. These are valid proofs stamped with the Seal of Heaven and Earth.”

The bamboo documents carried a corrosive spiritual power familiar to Yin Jiuruo; it seemed the Three Kings had given them to A-Yin. The warm moisture around Fu Qing condensed into frost, clinging to her white robes like shimmering light.

Seeing that everyone present was dazed, A-Yin continued her onslaught. “Venerable One, even if you are my Jiuruo’s master, that is… only a master. A master cannot stop a disciple from marrying or going on dates. Delaying a disciple’s life events is never good.”

She waved her hand, summoning her mount—a griffin. The fluffy, massive creature crouched obediently, its white fur swaying in the wind. “Ahem. Since the Sovereign has no objections, I’ll take Jiuruo and leave.”

A-Yin boldly tried to take Yin Jiuruo’s hand again, her heart pounding with nerves. This Daoist Sovereign looked celestial and holy, but her unspoken authority was terrifying. Most importantly, A-Yin couldn’t see through her cultivation.

Just before she touched Yin Jiuruo again, a powerful yet gentle spiritual force pushed her hand away. Fu Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she spoke with a facade of gentleness:

“Xiao Jiu’s health is currently unsuitable for long travel. It is better for her to stay at the Canglan Sect. Once she has recovered, this Sovereign will personally take her home. What do you think, Miss A-Yin?”

A-Yin clutched her hand. Fu Qing hadn’t hurt her, but she had been pushed away effortlessly. She was the most talented daughter of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan of Qingqiu, having reached the rank of High Immortal in just three thousand years. To her, this “Sovereign”—no matter how prestigious—was just a human cultivator. Yet this “human” had made it impossible for her to even get close to Yin Jiuruo.

“Venerable One, why would I trouble you to take my fiancée home? I can take her home myself.”

“Xiao Jiu and I have already wed,” Fu Qing gripped Yin Jiuruo’s shoulder so tightly it almost left a red mark.

“The Sovereign truly cares for her disciple,” A-Yin emphasized their master-disciple relationship. “How about we both take a step back?”

Fu Qing took out a cloak to cover Yin Jiuruo. “What do you mean by taking a step back?”

“My blind date dinner with Jiuruo was interrupted. Could the Sovereign be so kind as to let me have a date with Jiuruo here in the Canglan Sect?”

Fu Qing stared at A-Yin in silence. Yin Jiuruo coughed lightly. “Master, since A-Yin and I have parental orders, it is only right that we have a meal together at Linyue Residence, isn’t it?”

“Exactly! Sovereign, you interrupted our date that day; aren’t you going to offer any compensation?” A-Yin said righteously.

“Xiao Jiu,” Fu Qing looked down at her, her eyes shimmering with tenderness. “Do you wish to dine with her so much?”

“Mhm,” Yin Jiuruo stared back at her.

“In Linyue Residence, then.”

Unexpectedly, Fu Qing allowed the disciples to open the gates and welcome A-Yin. The Fox clan of Qingqiu was on good terms with the Canglan Sect; she couldn’t ruin that for personal reasons.

“A-Bao, follow me!” A-Yin happily followed behind the cold Fu Qing. The griffin also seemed very happy, turning into a small white ball and hopping onto Yin Jiuruo’s shoulder.

“A-Bao rarely gets this close to anyone,” A-Yin chatted as they headed to Hexue Peak. “It must be that your life-beast is very attractive to him.”

“Life-beast,” Yin Jiuruo laughed at the jump in topics. “But I don’t have one.”

“Tsk tsk, you’re still young. You’ll have one when you grow up,” A-Yin smiled mysteriously. “Except for the God Race, every being in the Six Realms has a life-beast. Don’t worry.”

“Why doesn’t the God Race have them?” Yin Jiuruo asked curiously.

Fu Qing saw this exchange and clenched her hand. A-Yin glanced at the gloomy Fu Qing and continued with a bright smile: “Because the God Race values detachment and heartless universal love. They don’t need the companionship of a life-beast. If you ask me, they’re all hypocrites. How can you understand emotion without feeling it? And if you don’t understand it, how can you speak of being ’emotionless’?”

The disciple leading the way said indignantly, “Not so. Being emotionless does not mean not understanding emotion, but having a love for all things that appears as though there is no emotion. Miss A-Yin needs more contemplation.”

A-Yin rolled her eyes. She knew the “rotten nature” of the God Race all too well.

They reached the plum forest of Hexue Peak. Fu Qing led A-Yin to the courtyard of Linyue Residence, using her spiritual energy to block the wind and snow.

“Miss A-Yin, please wait here. This Sovereign will cook personally.”

“No need to trouble you, Sovereign. I’ve been practicing my cooking lately; let me cook for Jiuruo.”

Fu Qing brushed the snow from her sleeves. “You are a guest from afar. There is no custom that requires a guest to cook.”

With that, the woman prepared to push Yin Jiuruo into the room, but was interrupted by A-Yin.

“Venerable One, you go cook. Jiuruo and I will just catch up. This is the Canglan Sect; you don’t need to worry about me taking her away, do you?”

The girl in red stared intently at Fu Qing.

“Naturally. You two may admire the snow in the courtyard; I will have the crane boy serve tea.” Fu Qing’s gaze was calm, but her grip on the wheelchair tightened, her fingertips turning white as she refused to let go for a long time.

“Daoist Sovereign,” A-Yin tilted her head and asked, “Aren’t you leaving yet?”

Finally, Fu Qing released her hold and slowly departed, her slender, graceful silhouette radiating a thousand charms even in retreat.

“This Master of yours is quite interesting,” A-Yin said with a seductive smirk. “Met me for the first time and rushed off to cook for me, as if eating a bite of my cooking would end the world.”

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