Transmigrated as the Villainous Love Rival of the Abusive Novel's Heroine [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Concealment

“I have had the honor of hearing Senior Qing mention the matter of the Heavenly Gate, but I am merely at the Golden Core stage; I fear there is little I can do.”

Upon leaving the Lingtian Secret Realm, Yun Qianxue had suppressed her cultivation to the early Golden Core stage.

“No, no, no.”

Long Qin extended a finger and wagged it. She rose, leaned close to Yun Qianxue, and whispered, “There is no need for such modesty. I know your secret.”

Yun Qianxue’s heart skipped a beat as a sharp pain pierced her soul. Her long-absent sense of dread triggered the Heavenly Dao Curse, causing the chains to tighten ruthlessly into the flesh of her spirit.

“What secret could I possibly have?” She let out a light chuckle.

Yun Qianxue refused to admit anything; she wasn’t so foolish as to let a single sentence from Long Qin startle her into a confession.

She looked up at the other woman, her eyes clear and earnest. “Why don’t you tell me what it is, then?”

This appearance of sincerity and openness earned Long Qin’s admiration.

As expected of the one who could influence that madwoman Yin Shaoqing; she liked this strength of character!

“I won’t beat around the bush any longer.” Long Qin sat back in her seat and said casually, “I know you can enter the Vast Sea Secret Realm, and I know you can retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew from within.”

The Vast Sea Secret Realm was far more difficult to enter than the Lingtian Secret Realm, though its interior was very safe.

The danger lay in the Vast Sea itself. Within the eye of the Vast Sea, chaotic astral winds and purple-gold lightning raged, and shards of shattered void and spatial rifts appeared without warning.

Once one strayed into them, they would be torn to powder; even the soul would not be spared.

Only a thousand years ago did the last Rogue Immortal risk death to enter. Using his immortal body as a boat and his soul as a message, he sent out news of the Heaven-Soaking Dew.

This left a sliver of hope for this vast cultivation world.

“My Demon Race has been secluded for a thousand years because the Heavenly Gate is closed. Countless demons have died because they could not break through the Wuwei stage, dying with resentment and unable to rest in peace. Now that I know someone can retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew, as their King, I naturally had to come and see for myself.”

Long Qin’s gaze grew piercing, carrying a majestic pressure. The faint sound of dragon roars echoed in the air as she spoke softly: “I hope that for the sake of the greater good, and for the sake of all living beings, you will retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew to help Yin Shaoqing open the Heavenly Gate.”

In the past, before entering the cultivation world—when Yun Qianxue was still a mortal struggling every day just for a meal—she had particularly despised people like this. People who stood on high ground, full of talk about “righteousness,” demanding others sacrifice everything to save the masses.

Hypocritical, false, and utterly selfish.

She loathed and even looked down on such people, whether they were high officials or mere neighbors.

The solitary Yun Qianxue had been brave then; she feared nothing and would bluntly state her dislike for such people. She would resist, choosing death over submitting to these hollow words of fake righteousness.

But now…

Frost and wind had bent her proud bones; cold rain had dampened her fire. The sharp edges of her youth had been ground smooth.

She had become tactful and patient.

Disliking something was one thing, but if she were forced to do it, she would either reject it so perfectly that no one could argue, or she would extract the maximum benefit from it, gaining both fame and fortune.

Just as now, Yun Qianxue let out a low laugh, neither angry nor annoyed.

Instead, she calmly looked up at Long Qin and asked gently, “Then what about the Heaven-Dividing Ruler held by the Immortal Sects?”

She peeled the last lotus seed, placed it in the bowl, and used a handkerchief to carefully wipe the bitter juice from her fingertips. She continued: “After I left with Senior Qing, news of my fall into the demonic path probably spread everywhere, didn’t it?”

“The righteous Immortal Sects will not tolerate a traitor taking the Heaven-Dividing Ruler.”

“You needn’t worry about that.” Long Qin straightened her back, radiating an aura of stern justice. “My Demon Race will give everything we have to exchange for the Ruler with the Immortal Sects. This Heavenly Gate must be opened.”

“And then?” Yun Qianxue arched an eyebrow, a spark of anger rising in her heart.

“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” Long Qin spread her hands.

She frowned, enduring the internal pain of her “sacrifice” as she said, “My Demon Race is giving up so much just to open the Heavenly Gate and save the world. Furthermore, the one who eventually opens the Gate will be your Senior Qing.”

“The glory and the good name will fall upon Yin Shaoqing. What are you still hesitating for?”

Dissatisfaction flickered in Long Qin’s eyes. She tapped the tabletop with her finger, displeased. “Surely you don’t… refuse to make a sacrifice for the person you love?”

Yun Qianxue was so angry she laughed.

With a wave of her hand, the full bowl of lotus seeds was knocked to the ground. Her apricot-shaped eyes brimmed with coldness.

Even her usually soft and gentle voice carried sharp thorns that drew blood upon contact. She sneered, “Am I sacrificing for Senior Qing, or for your Demon Race?”

“Do you take me for a fool? You know better than I do whose head that ‘good name’ will ultimately fall upon.”

“Calculating at every turn… do you even deserve to be Senior Qing’s friend?”

Yun Qianxue’s gaze was full of suspicion. How could such a base person be friends with Yin Shaoqing?

Senior Qing was so straightforward and open, without a trace of deviousness or malice.

“Tsk, you actually figured it out.” Long Qin was thick-skinned enough to admit it without hesitation.

It was her Demon Race that righteously handed the precious Heaven-Locking Chain to the Demon Venerable Yin Shaoqing; it was her Demon Race that spent their entire clan’s strength to trade for the Heaven-Dividing Ruler; and it was her Demon Race that risked the world’s scorn to cooperate with the notoriously evil Demon Venerable just to open the Gate.

By all logic and reason, after the Heavenly Gate opened, the greatest hero would be the Demon Race.

“See? Aren’t our elders clever?” Long Qin chuckled.

Yun Qianxue was momentarily stunned by her sudden change of face. It seemed she had overlooked something.

“Since you care so much about your Senior Qing, I’ll tell you a little secret of hers.” Long Qin suddenly winked playfully, transforming back into a seemingly cute young girl.

“Did you know that in all the world, only Yin Shaoqing can control the four divine artifacts? The Heavenly Gate can only be opened by her.”

“Unfortunately, she’s a total blockhead. She has no desires or hankerings; she doesn’t want to become an immortal, let alone open the Gate.”

Long Qin shrugged and tilted her head. “That’s why she won’t tell you how to get to the Vast Sea or how to retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew.”

“She actually wants to live a plain, ordinary life with you.”

Hearing this, Yun Qianxue’s suspicious heart settled.

This woman was still sinister and ugly; she could even voice such a base attempt to drive a wedge between them.

But she had to admit that Long Qin had achieved her goal. Yun Qianxue truly did want to retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew.

Not for the “greater good,” but for Yin Shaoqing’s reputation.

Yin Shaoqing was not inherently evil; why should she be branded a villain by the masses?

Furthermore, there were so many unknown variables in the future. Public opinion is fickle and hearts are treacherous. It was highly likely that people would find ways to force them to collect the artifacts and open the Gate anyway.

At that time, even if the “righteousness” fell on Yin Shaoqing, it would be tainted.

This was not what Yun Qianxue wanted to see.

Moreover, her father and Senior Brother Pan were both eyeing the Heaven-Soaking Dew like tigers stalking prey. Her father was the Sect Leader of Wanyang, wielding the power of an entire sect.

And Pan Yang had the support of the Heavenly Dao. She and Yin Shaoqing might not be able to win against them.

It was better to retrieve the Heaven-Soaking Dew before everyone else and give it to Yin Shaoqing.

“So, are you going or not?” Long Qin asked, but her tone was full of certainty.

Yun Qianxue raised her hand in a spell gesture, cleaning up the broken bowl shards and lotus seeds scattered on the floor.

Her fingertips touched a handkerchief that had been washed until it lost its peach blossom scent. She lowered her eyes and said, “In a few days, I will go to the Vast Sea.”

After a long silence, she looked up, folded the handkerchief neatly, and said coldly: “I hope you will cooperate with me.”

Cooperate with her—to keep it a secret from Yin Shaoqing.

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