When a Yandere Cannon Fodder Meets a Dark, Twisted Villain - Chapter 62

Half a tea-steeping later, at Wuyou Woods.

When Shi Yining, Shu Mo, and Yu Shang arrived, they saw several familiar figures gathered by a stone table in a clearing within the forest.

In the center stood a woman with a graceful silhouette, her long purple sleeves fluttering in the wind like an immortal; it was Qin Wu, the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect.

Standing opposite her, with hands clasped behind her back and an aura as deep as the ocean, was Shu Rong, the Sect Leader of the Yuehua Sect.

What surprised Shi Yining most was the person standing beside her master.

Clad in a light gray gown with a gentle temperament, it was her Martial Aunt, Shi Xian—who was also Mo’er’s maternal aunt.

Due to the long-standing grievances between the Xuanqing and Yuehua Sects, Shi Xian had not stepped past the gates of the Xuanqing Sect for many years, let alone met with Shu Rong here.

The current situation could only mean one thing: the enmity between the two sects might finally be beginning to dissolve.

A Joyous Reunion

Qin Wu had been discussing a renewed assault on the Demon Realm with Shu Rong when she sensed someone approaching. She looked up instinctively.

When she saw Shi Yining descending upon the clouds, she froze for a moment before her eyes erupted with uncontrollable joy.

“Ning’er!”

At that moment, everyone in Wuyou Woods was drawn by that joy-filled voice, looking up toward the sky in unison.

Shu Rong’s composure vanished the moment she saw that familiar figure on the clouds, a flicker of relief and joy surfacing from the depths of her heart. Though the invasion of the Demon Realm hadn’t been a complete success, the people they intended to save had returned safely.

“Master!” Shi Yining flew down from the clouds and rushed forward. Just as she was about to bow, she was caught and supported.

Qin Wu gazed at her disciple, repeating softly, “It’s good that you’re back… it’s good you’re back.”

Noticing that Shi Yining’s cultivation had surged, the pride in her eyes deepened. “Congratulations, Ning’er. After this ordeal, your strength has already caught up to mine.”

“Master…”

A warm current surged through Shi Yining’s heart, and her nose prickled with emotion. She had so much to say, but at this moment, words felt hollow.

Seeing the tears pooling in her disciple’s eyes, Qin Wu stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace. “Ning’er, don’t cry… we have finally reunited; we should be happy.”

Despite having faced death, Shi Yining couldn’t stop her tears when facing her master, who had always treated her with the tenderness of a mother.

In her past life, had it not been for her own recklessness and willful behavior which implicated the sect, her master would not have died in melancholy. In this life, when she was captured by the Demon Realm, her master had exhausted herself to save her.

“Master, I’m sorry…”

“You silly girl, why are you apologizing for no reason? Are you trying to act like a stranger with me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Since it’s not, then take back those apologies and never speak them again.”

Shi Yining nodded repeatedly.

Shadows of Possession

In the distance, Shu Mo watched the heartwarming embrace between master and disciple, her face devoid of any smile.

Rationally, she understood perfectly that Sect Leader Qin’s feelings for Ning’er were purely those of a mentor and that to Ning’er, she was a mother figure—her strongest pillar of support in the Xuanqing Sect.

Ning’er had suffered greatly and had finally reunited with her master; Shu Mo should feel happy for her, perhaps even grateful. In the years she had been absent or powerless, it was Sect Leader Qin who had provided Ning’er with sanctuary.

But… deep in her heart, a rising sense of possessiveness was slowly dragging her logic into an abyss.

She watched Ning’er show that defenseless, completely reliant smile to Sect Leader Qin; she watched Ning’er’s hand rest naturally on her master’s arm. Every tiny interaction felt like a needle pricking the softest part of her heart.

She didn’t want anyone else getting close to Ning’er.

This thought occupied her mind with a stubborn, almost primal obsession.

Ning’er should only belong to me… Her tenderness, her smiles, her reliance… they should all belong only to me.

The Roots of Enmity

Just as Shu Mo’s possessiveness threatened to manifest, Shu Rong walked slowly toward her.

“Mo’er…”

A cautious call barely managed to pull Shu Mo back to reality, and her dark emotions were pushed back down into her heart. Looking at the familiar face so close to her, Shu Mo lowered her eyes, her voice cold.

“Mother, is there something you need?”

The contradictions spanning between mother and daughter were not things time could easily erase. In her past life, if her mother hadn’t interfered, she and Ning’er wouldn’t have suffered so many misunderstandings.

Seeing Shu Mo’er’s obvious alienation, Shu Rong felt a pang of pain. By now, she had to admit she was wrong. She shouldn’t have projected the old grudges of the previous generation onto the youth.

In truth, there was no blood feud between the two sects; she had simply been too fixated on the past.

Years ago, when her sister Shi Xian was born, the Yuehua Sect was under siege by demon cultivators. Their mother, Shu Jing, chose to save the younger sister, sending her away through a secret passage with a guard.

At that time, Shu Rong faced an almost certain death. Had she not unexpectedly triggered a profound technique left by the founding ancestor to kill the invaders, the Yuehua Sect would have ceased to exist.

Once the sect was safe, her mother tried to contact the guard, but received no response. Because the sister was missing, the mother’s health deteriorated rapidly after the war.

Watching her mother cough up blood daily, Shu Rong began to resent her sister. To save her mother, she risked her life traveling to a Spirit-Sapped Land to find life-saving medicine. After recovering, her mother went into long-term seclusion to practice a powerful secret art.

Just when she thought things were improving, news of her sister came from the Xuanqing Sect.

She learned that her sister had been taken by the guard to a small town, where the guard died of injuries. Her sister was taken in by a mortal woman surnamed Shi and eventually joined the Xuanqing Sect.

Her mother wanted the sister back, even promising to name her the Young Sect Leader.

This made Shu Rong’s heart turn cold; between her and her sister, her mother always chose the sister. Fortunately, the sister refused.

Soon after, news came from the Xuanqing Sect that the sister’s cultivation had gone wrong, leading to internal demons. Though saved, her personality changed, and she forgot many things.

Upon hearing this, her mother immediately questioned Shu Rong, convinced she had plotted against her sister. From that moment on, Shu Rong was completely disappointed in her mother.

Later, her mother developed a heart demon and perished during her breakthrough to the Mahayana stage.

Shu Rong took over as Sect Leader and began planting confidants in the Xuanqing Sect to investigate her sister’s “accident.” Eventually, she discovered the truth: her sister, Shi Xian, had never suffered a cultivation deviation. It was a complete fabrication intended to stop their mother from harassing her further.

With existing competition over cultivation resources and this deception, the grudge between the two sects had only deepened.

Influenced by her mother since childhood, Shu Rong had also gradually developed a heart demon over time. However, unlike her mother, she attempted to exorcise it the moment she discovered it. Seeing that her efforts yielded little result, she simply converted that heart demon into a deep-seated hatred for the Xuanqing Sect.

It was only recently that she learned her sister’s actions back then were born of absolute necessity. Her mother, seduced by the heart demon and obsessed with practicing a powerful secret art, had met her sister in private, trying to force her to steal the Xuanqing Sect’s foundational treasure to increase the success rate of the ritual.

By doing so, their mother had effectively pushed her sister into a pit of fire.

Having been ignorant of these hidden details, Shu Rong had hated Shi Xian for hundreds of years. The moment this knot was unraveled, the hatred in her heart—transformed from the heart demon—completely dissipated.

She realized she had been profoundly wrong. Because of past grudges, she had embroiled Shu Mo in the conflict, causing her daughter to be unable to stay with her beloved in their previous life. She felt deep regret, and knowing that the past could not be changed, she could only do her best to make amends.

“Mo’er, everything before was Mother’s fault. I apologize to you. You may ask me for anything, I only beg that you do not hate me.”

Shu Mo raised her eyes, looking directly into the woman’s gaze. When she caught the look of profound remorse, she froze slightly. In her memory, her mother had always been forceful and dominant, never showing such a fragile side.

She knew her mother wasn’t lying, but the past was not something that could be smoothed over by a simple apology.

“The one Mother owes the most apology to is Ning’er. You gave me life and raised me, so I will not hate you. But there are things I must say: Ning’er is the love of my life. I will not allow anyone to hurt her—not even you. From now on, anyone who acts against her is my enemy.”

These words were an explicit warning.

Shu Rong’s spirit trembled. Suppressing her sorrow, she nodded in agreement. “I promise. From this day forward, I will not harm young friend Shi in the slightest.”

She turned her gaze toward the woman of immortal beauty standing nearby. At that moment, having heard Shu Mo’s words, Shi Yining was turning to look over. Meeting the Sect Leader’s eyes, she felt no hostility—only a gaze filled with guilt.

An Overdue Apology

Qin Wu took half a step forward, shielding her beloved disciple behind her. Her indifferent gaze swept past Shu Rong and landed on Shu Mo with a slight smile.

“It is good that young friend Mo has also returned safely.”

She could naturally sense the unfathomable aura emanating from Shu Mo, similar to her own disciple’s. Faintly guessing the truth, a look of realization appeared on her face. Shu Mo performed a junior’s salute to Qin Wu, her voice somewhat cool.

Then, Shu Rong finally stepped forward and gave Shi Yining a deep, formal bow.

“Young friend Shi, during the negotiations between our two sects recently, several long-standing misunderstandings were resolved. The past was my fault. I held much prejudice against you and acted impulsively, forcing you to take the Heart-Forgetting Pill and causing you much suffering. I apologize for my past actions.”

The forest grew even quieter after these words. Nearby, Shi Xian’s eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions; Qin Wu’s eyes were filled with relief.

Shi Yining looked at the elder who had once treated her with coldness and had indirectly caused so much turmoil. Seeing the guilt no longer hidden in her eyes, mixed emotions welled up in her heart.

The past injuries were real, but this late apology seemed precious in its own way. Having experienced two lifetimes, she understood Shu Rong’s character: a woman of high status and immense authority, proud and aloof. For a Sect Leader to speak such words showed great sincerity.

Shi Yining was no saint; she couldn’t entirely forget the grievances she had suffered. But as for hatred—she didn’t truly hate Shu Rong. After all, while the Yuehua Sect Leader had tried to separate her from Mo’er, she had never truly struck to kill. Otherwise, with Shu Rong’s power, there were many ways to make her disappear. Furthermore, in her past life, she had almost ruined Mo’er; in a way, the trials of this life were a repayment of karma.

A smile of realization appeared on Shi Yining’s face as she returned the bow solemnly.

“The past is gone. Senior need not dwell on it. To see the two sects settle their grievances brings joy to my heart as well.”

A Gift of Union

The tension in Shu Rong’s mind finally relaxed slightly. Looking at Shi Yining, her expression grew softer. She suddenly pulled an object from her sleeve.

It was a pair of jade pendants.

They were crimson throughout, each carved with a vivid phoenix spreading its wings as if to fly.

“These were carved from ten-thousand-year-old Red Spirit Jade. Originally, there was only one piece of jade, but when it was finished, the spiritual light was so intense that it split into two, becoming a pair.”

As she spoke, Shu Rong gathered a glow of spiritual energy in her palm, carrying the pendants through the air to hover before Shi Yining and Shu Mo.

“Paired items are most suitable as gifts for Dao companions.”

Red Spirit Jade was exceptionally rare, let alone a piece ten thousand years old. Shi Yining hesitated. “Sect Leader Shu, this is too precious. I…”

“Accept it,” Shu Rong said gently. “This is a token of my heart. I look forward to attending the Dao-Binding Ceremony for you and Mo’er soon.”

Hearing this, Shi Yining’s ears turned warm. She instinctively looked toward her beloved.

Shu Mo was already holding her half of the pendant. When their eyes met, Shu Mo’er’s gaze was filled with unmistakable affection. She nodded gently toward her, a silent promise understood by both.

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