Chapter 43: The Destined-to-be-Abandoned Good-for-Nothing (End) p1
The soil flew, quickly cleared by a spell, forming a neat pit. A mountain spring was channeled into it, and a few spirit stones were scattered as a formation. Soon, a clear, steaming hot spring appeared before Su Mingxiu.
As this world followed the path of cultivation, she didn’t need sleep and could devote all her time to cultivating. Therefore, she hadn’t had the chance to test if her insomnia was still a problem.
But she and Gui Mian still had a long time together—
The countdown timer that had always been visible after completing a mission disappeared along with the system’s extraction. This meant that as long as she wished, their time in this world could be extended indefinitely.
Now, tempered by the celestial lightning, Su Mingxiu’s body possessed the strength of an Earth Immortal, making her the most powerful being in the nine continents. The lightning not only healed her hidden injuries but also cured her heart demon problem from the Great Ascension stage.
With infinite time ahead and sufficient strength, she could now afford to indulge a little. Su Mingxiu actually enjoyed soaking in hot springs, feeling comfortable, relaxed, and carefree.
Her sleeve fell, dropping an ordinary seed into the water.
The seed sprouted in the water, growing jade-green leaves and a slender stem.
After an unknown amount of time…
Another presence appeared beside her, causing ripples on the calm surface of the spring. Amidst the swirling white mist, Su Mingxiu’s eyelashes fluttered. When she opened her eyes, she saw the person who had slipped into the water beside her.
In the mist, a beautiful white lotus landed on the other person’s shoulder, shamelessly trying to peek between them.
Gui Mian’s red clothes, soaked in water, clung to her wrist, deepening in color. She pushed the white lotus off her shoulder, smelling its faint fragrance. Suddenly, she remembered the sea of flowers she had annihilated on Mount Lingyu.
She didn’t pluck the lotus. After taking a sniff, she let it go and wrapped her arms around Su Mingxiu’s neck.
“Done chatting?”
Su Mingxiu let her hug her, her gaze sweeping over the spring. At some point, white lotuses had bloomed, filling half of the spring.
But even more striking was a black lotus blooming silently behind Gui Mian.
Its ink-black petals and bright red pistil looked dangerous, eerie, and alluring, drawing one’s gaze and holding it captive.
Su Mingxiu wrapped one arm around Gui Mian, her other hand reaching out to touch the black lotus.
The person in her arms, her long, black hair spread out in the water, intertwined with Su Mingxiu’s hair. But instead of separating them, Su Mingxiu even stirred the tangled strands with her fingers, smiling as they became even more entwined.
“Yes,” Gui Mian leaned against her shoulder and replied softly. “It’s truly not a good thing.”
This system, it kept saying she was the protagonist, that it would force her to follow a predetermined fate.
According to it, the Celestial Emperor was the most powerful being in this world, free and unrestrained. But did they truly have freedom?
They couldn’t even pursue their own beloved and even resorted to killing her and Chaos’s descendant in anger…
As the child of Chaos, who would face countless assassinations upon entering the celestial realm, Gui Mian looked down on that position and the person sitting there.
She found it pointless.
Thinking of this, she hugged Su Mingxiu even tighter. Their bodies, submerged in the water, pressed against each other, their breaths mingling and amplifying each other’s presence.
“Will Master stay with me here forever?”
“Yes.”
As Su Mingxiu leaned towards the black lotus, her fingertips about to pluck it and tuck it into Gui Mian’s hair, they both sensed another presence approaching.
The warm mist still lingered in the air, but the intimacy was abruptly interrupted.
Su Mingxiu extended her divine sense and was surprised to see a familiar face.
The person who had stumbled upon them was someone she knew.
As she sensed the newcomer, Gui Mian also saw their appearance clearly. She had originally thought that if it was a mortal, she would simply wave her sleeve and send them away with a spell. But…
It was actually an acquaintance from the Sword Sect.
Remembering the future that the “system” had revealed, Gui Mian pondered for a moment and, to Su Mingxiu’s surprise, got out of the water first. Her spiritual energy evaporated the water droplets on her body. She said, “I’ll go take a look.”
Su Mingxiu responded casually. Seeing a few strands of Gui Mian’s hair still tangled with hers, she reached out to untangle them with a spell. But Gui Mian was faster. She swiftly cut off the tangled strands and hid them in her palm, a mischievous smile appearing on her face: “These are mine now.”
Childish.
Su Mingxiu sighed inwardly but let her have her way, watching as Gui Mian disappeared from sight.
Qiongying had been led into this deep mountain while chasing a demon.
Ever since the strange incident in the northern border, where the thunder tribulation had ultimately led to the ascension of the Demon Lord and one of her generals from the eastern abyss, the originally formidable demon army had become leaderless. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the four major sects launched their demon-slaying operation, targeting the demons with precision.
Qiongying was the deputy general of this operation.
She was chasing a blood demon, but somehow, she strayed into a complex formation. Not only could she no longer sense the demon’s aura, but the formation itself also puzzled her.
It wasn’t unfamiliar, but the way this formation was set up looked very much like the Sword Sect’s style.
But…
All the Sword Sect disciples were out fighting demons, why would they be here?
Confused, Qiongying walked deeper into the formation and found a simple courtyard. Out of courtesy, she stopped cautiously at the gate, bowed, and announced her sect and name, briefly explaining her purpose.
“This humble one is Qiongying, a disciple of the Sword Sect. I have no intention of disturbing your cultivation, Senior. I stumbled upon this place while chasing a blood demon—”
Creak. The door opened.
The person standing behind the door slowly adjusted their clothes, tucking their long hair behind their ear. An exceptionally handsome face appeared before Qiongying’s eyes.
The person outside the door was stunned for two seconds, then exclaimed in surprise: “Junior Sister Gui Mian?!”
Decades ago, when she learned that Gui Mian and Elder Lingyu had disappeared while training outside, she was the one who had gone to the eastern border most frequently.
Unfortunately, the two places were too far apart. The only two missions Qiongying had that were related to the eastern border only reached its edge.
Naturally, she didn’t know about the new young Lord of the Demon Realm, nor did she know what kind of influential figure her junior sister had become. She also didn’t know that the strange thunder tribulation in the northern border a few days ago was this junior sister’s doing.
Qiongying still remembered how Elder Lingyu had entered seclusion for a long time because of Gui Mian. Now, seeing Gui Mian, confirming that her aura was still as familiar as before, and not some kind of illusion created by a mountain spirit, Qiongying walked towards her, her voice filled with concern: “Where have you been all these years?”
“Have you been staying here all this time? Do you know how worried the fellow disciples of the Sword Sect, and your master, Elder Lingyu, have been—”
Her words were cut off again.
Qiongying saw a very familiar figure appear from behind the corner of a small house.
Grey ink-stained robes, a cold and aloof face, and that unfathomable aura of power. Who else could it be but their Sword Sect’s Jade Elder?
Qiongying felt her mind short-circuit.
She couldn’t understand what was going on in front of her.
Gui Mian, however, calmly invited her in for tea. After Qiongying entered the house, Gui Mian casually made up a lie, saying that she had been rescued by someone in the eastern border back then, but she had lost her memories and had been cultivating for a long time, waiting for her master to find her.
This flimsy lie, however, made Qiongying believe it without a doubt.
She didn’t even put down the teacup in her hand and asked hurriedly: “Why didn’t you return to the Sword Sect?” This righteous new generation eldest disciple looked at the Jade Elder worriedly. “When we learned that you had left Mount Lingyu, Master, the Sect Master, thought you didn’t want the Sword Sect to be involved in the conflict and decided to go to the demon army alone to kill the Demon Lord.”
“We haven’t heard from you for so long, the sect is very worried about your safety.”
Hmm.
Hearing these trusting words again, Su Mingxiu felt a surge of complex emotions. But it didn’t show on her face. She only replied calmly: “The Demon Lord has indeed been dealt with, there’s no need to worry.”
If that person, after being taken to the celestial realm by the golden Heavenly Ladder, could still return in one piece, then it would be a miracle.
She wondered what the Celestial Emperor, who was so intent on persecuting Gui Mian and had been staring at the Heavenly Ladder, must have felt when they saw two demon heads ascending.
“As expected of Elder Lingyu, always putting the sect first! I admire you greatly!”
Qiongying put down her cup and righteously steered the conversation back, asking if there was anything she could help Su Mingxiu and Gui Mian with, and mentioning that she would report their contributions to the sect as soon as possible.
Gui Mian, sensing her unwavering righteousness, couldn’t help but remember that in the system’s arrangement, her original path was to lead the demon army and attack the Sword Sect—
The one who would come out to fight her back then… was Qiongying.
Out of consideration for their past friendship, she would spare her senior sister’s life. But the injuries would leave a lasting impact on Qiongying, making her unable to compete for the position of Sect Master. She would then be betrayed by Changqi and Changsheng and die prematurely.
Gui Mian narrowed her eyes and unconsciously moved her hand hidden in her sleeve.
Inside the house, within a floating formation…
Crackling sparks erupted, electrocuting the unsuspecting system. The system thought numbly, What the hell was the reason this time?
It had said everything it needed to say, what had it done to provoke these two again?
…
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