Chapter 171: Miss Guijiao Reappears, A Final Farewell
When Luo Xue projected her true appearance, Concubine Min’s expression didn’t change.
She didn’t even glance at the projection, just stared intently at Luo Xue.
After a moment, Concubine Min slowly said,
“Many people know her. This doesn’t prove anything.”
Luo Xue’s heart sank, a headache coming on.
What was going on?
This “Luo Xue”… was known by many people?
So, this person who appeared out of nowhere… was running around using her face?
Luo Xue hadn’t anticipated this. She had thought only a few people knew “Luo Xue.”
What should she do now?
Although Concubine Min seemed a bit… unhinged, it was because of her excessive concern and worry for Dugu Xue, her daughter.
But Luo Xue’s current identity was that of an unknown person, claiming to be sent by “Luo Xue,” which was very suspicious.
Concubine Min had lived in the imperial palace for a long time, but before entering the palace, she had also survived in the chaotic southern barbarian lands. She wouldn’t trust Luo Xue so easily like the naive Dugu Xue.
Seeing Luo Xue’s hesitation, Concubine Min’s eyes narrowed, and a technique formed in her hand, reaching towards Luo Xue.
“Little girl, reveal your true face…”
Concubine Min’s gaze was firm. No one could use her daughter.
“Mother Concubine, don’t…”
Before Dugu Xue could stop her, Concubine Min’s technique hit Luo Xue.
It wasn’t an offensive technique, but a restrictive one, forcibly stopping Luo Xue’s spiritual power circulation.
Even weakened, a Nascent Soul cultivator could easily suppress a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator like Luo Xue.
Luo Xue tried to resist, but her spiritual power was completely unusable.
The effects of the Thousand Faces Cultivation Art were fading, her true appearance gradually revealed.
Luo Xue didn’t know what she would look like after the disguise was undone.
Would it be her original appearance, or the appearance of Princess Xue?
But either way…
It would be troublesome.
“What should I do…”
In her panic, Luo Xue saw Xue Ling beside her.
A puppet with Soul Transformation strength, although it looked human, it wasn’t sentient and only followed its master’s commands.
Dugu Xue definitely didn’t have time to give any commands, she hadn’t even realized what was happening.
If that was the case… there was only one option left.
At this critical moment, Luo Xue slowly closed her eyes, and at the same time, a spark of life appeared in Xue Ling’s eyes.
Controlling a puppet with her soul, success!
Dugu Xue’s command to Xue Ling was to trust Luo Xue, which meant that theoretically, as long as Luo Xue knew puppetry, she could control Xue Ling.
Luo Xue hadn’t considered this before. She could see that Xue Ling was Dugu Xue’s good friend and didn’t want to take her away.
But now… with no other choice, Luo Xue could only take this risk, and thankfully, she succeeded.
Her soul struggled to control this Soul Transformation puppet, even her body could barely withstand it, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.
If she continued for much longer, Luo Xue’s soul might collapse.
Controlling a Soul Transformation puppet at peak Foundation Establishment was too much of a strain.
But fortunately, what Luo Xue had to do was simple: just stop Concubine Min.
Just as the restriction was about to reveal Luo Xue’s true face, Xue Ling’s powerful spiritual power erupted, forcibly breaking Concubine Min’s technique.
“What!”
Concubine Min looked at Xue Ling in shock, then at her daughter, Dugu Xue.
Seeing Dugu Xue’s confused expression, she realized that Xue Ling’s intervention wasn’t Dugu Xue’s command.
Then…
Concubine Min looked up at Luo Xue.
Before her was a thin, ghostly girl, her face pale and sickly.
Luo Xue couldn’t help it. Her Thousand Faces Cultivation Art had mostly faded, and it was impossible to maintain the maid disguise, so she could only temporarily use Senior Sister Li’s classic look.
Luo Xue silently apologized to Senior Sister Li for using her face again, then looked at Concubine Min and said seriously,
“Imperial Concubine, let me explain…”
“There’s no need.”
Concubine Min waved her hand.
“Hmm?”
Luo Xue was stunned. Again?
So unreasonable?
“I… believe you.”
A complicated expression appeared on Concubine Min’s face as she looked at Luo Xue.
“Huh?”
Luo Xue was stunned again.
What was going on? She hadn’t even started making up… or rather, explaining…
“Luo Xue… is she well?” Concubine Min stared at Luo Xue, but unlike her earlier scrutiny, her gaze now carried an uncontainable emotion. “Did she send you to take me away?”
“…”
Luo Xue was silent for a moment, surprised by Concubine Min’s sudden change in attitude.
Unable to understand Concubine Min’s thoughts, she remained silent to avoid any mistakes.
Dugu Xue was still looking at Xue Ling, wondering why she had suddenly acted. Could it be that she had gained sentience?
But she had never heard of an ancient puppet gaining sentience…
“It was just a misunderstanding, I apologize.”
Concubine Min, thinking that Luo Xue was angry and silent because of what happened earlier, stood up, supporting herself against the bed, and bowed deeply to Luo Xue.
Luo Xue was surprised. An imperial concubine’s status was so high that even imprisoned in the Cold Palace, she didn’t have to bow to anyone except the Empress and the Immortal Emperor, let alone such a deep bow.
This showed that Concubine Min was truly apologizing to Luo Xue.
But why?
“Imperial Concubine, please rise,” seeing Concubine Min’s unsteady steps, Luo Xue quickly went over to help her up. “I’m just curious, why did you suddenly believe me…”
“…You don’t know?”
Now it was Concubine Min’s turn to be stunned. She stared at Luo Xue’s face and reached out to touch it.
“This face…”
“…Hmm?”
Luo Xue frowned slightly.
What was wrong with this face?
“It seems you really don’t know.” Concubine Min suddenly smiled. “You must be the owner of this face. When I first met Luo Xue, she looked exactly like you do now.”
“…Huh?”
Luo Xue’s mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but no words came out.
She couldn’t even count how many times she had been stunned today.
She suddenly realized something terrifying.
“Many people know Luo Xue, but not many have seen her like this, so… I believe you.” Concubine Min’s eyes flickered with reminiscence and sorrow. “Little girl, can you tell me your name?”
Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, glanced at Dugu Xue, then said,
“My name is Li Guijiao. You can call me Guijiao, Your Ladyship.”
Luo Xue was now 80% sure that this so-called “Luo Xue” was probably her dearest Senior Sister Li Guijiao…
If it was just her appearance, Luo Xue might still think there were other possibilities.
But if she also used the ghostly girl appearance… honestly, the remaining 20% was just Luo Xue being cautious.
After all, the ghostly girl was Senior Sister Li’s signature look. Luo Xue had only used it frequently in the post-apocalyptic world because she wouldn’t encounter Senior Sister Li there.
However, Luo Xue didn’t mind Senior Sister Li using her appearance.
After all, she had done the same…
“What a strange name,” Concubine Min’s face paled slightly. Her weakened body, coupled with not having used any techniques for a long time, made her feel tired. “Did Luo Xue send you to take me away? Or…”
Concubine Min looked at Dugu Xue, and Luo Xue also looked over.
Dugu Xue was still confused.
She didn’t understand why her mother and Big Sister Luo were fighting just now, and now they had suddenly reconciled.
Big Sister Luo also seemed to be hiding her identity, changing her name and appearance…
How strange.
Confused, Dugu Xue just blinked innocently and shrank back slightly under their gazes.
“Mother Concubine, you talk…”
“If you’re here to take me away, then forget it.” A bitter smile appeared on Concubine Min’s lips. “This is my own choice, I don’t blame anyone.”
“May I ask… what’s your relationship with… Luo Xue?”
Luo Xue couldn’t help her curiosity and asked.
Dugu Xue also perked up her ears, wanting to know what kind of relationship Big Sister Luo, who didn’t even know herself, had with this person.
“There’s nothing to hide,” Concubine Min said softly, “She’s my… savior. But it seems she wasn’t trying to save me, she just mistook me for someone else.”
“…”
Luo Xue looked at Concubine Min’s snow-white hair and suddenly realized something.
“Anyway, don’t worry about me.” Concubine Min smiled sadly, reached out, and rubbed Dugu Xue’s hair. “If you can… take her away from this bottomless vortex. That’s all I wish for. As for the price…”
Concubine Min took out a small, snow-white dagger from somewhere and handed it to Luo Xue.
“This is my natal spiritual artifact. It’s useless to me now, useless to the imperial family… Take it, it won’t be a burden.”
“This…”
Luo Xue looked at the snow-white dagger, hesitating whether to take it.
She hadn’t intended to take Dugu Xue away. The “Princess Xue’s” disappearance had already caused chaos in the imperial palace. With Dugu Xue present, things could be stabilized.
If Luo Xue also took Dugu Xue away, she would truly be missing…
At that time, the entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty… would be her enemy.
Luo Xue looked up at Dugu Xue.
Dugu Xue also looked up slightly, staring at Luo Xue with a somewhat dazed expression.
And when their eyes met, a smile involuntarily appeared on Dugu Xue’s lips.
“Little Dugu, do you want to leave with me?” Luo Xue asked softly. “After this, I’m afraid… it will be difficult to return to the imperial palace.”
Dugu Xue’s expression froze, and she looked at her mother, a hint of sadness and reluctance in her eyes.
But after a moment, Dugu Xue’s gaze turned firm.
“I do.” Dugu Xue replied seriously, looking directly into Luo Xue’s eyes. “Not because of Mother Concubine, not because of you, but because… I want to.”
Dugu Xue wasn’t naive. She knew her father loved her, but this love only brought her pain and restrictions.
Before her death, Dugu Xue didn’t want to have any regrets.
She could be Mother Concubine’s Xue’er, Big Sister Luo’s Little Dugu, and her own Dugu Xue, but she didn’t want to be Princess Xue, the little princess of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
Concubine Min looked at her daughter, a hint of reluctance in her eyes, but also a flicker of relief.
Staying in the imperial palace, this bottomless vortex, would only harm Xue’er.
Both the Immortal Emperor and the Empress were chess players.
And Concubine Min and Princess Xue were just pawns on their board.
The fate of a pawn was never in its own hands.
Even if there was temporary favor, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t be abandoned.
“In that case, I’ll go with you.”
A faint smile appeared on Luo Xue’s pale face. She reached out and took Concubine Min’s natal spiritual artifact, also taking on Dugu Xue’s responsibility.
The moment she held the snow-white dagger, a bone-chilling coldness permeated Luo Xue’s body.
But this coldness wasn’t harmful, but rather comforting. Luo Xue could feel her soul being cleansed.
Not only that, but Luo Xue could also feel the emotions of the spiritual artifact in her hand, a faint sadness.
“What’s its name?”
Luo Xue asked.
Unlike magical artifacts, all spiritual artifacts had artifact spirits, which could grow through nurturing and even fight independently to a certain extent.
Concubine Min’s natal spiritual artifact was probably around eighth-grade. Normally, artifacts of this level could only be used by Nascent Soul cultivators and above, but spiritual artifacts were different.
They would adjust themselves to their master’s cultivation level, lowering the requirements for use and maximizing the master’s combat power.
An eighth-grade spiritual artifact could even be used by those at the Ascension Realm, or even Tribulation Immortal and above.
“It’s called Snow Blade,” Concubine Min said slowly. “I’m entrusting it, and her… to you, Miss Guijiao.”
Concubine Min took Luo Xue’s hand, then placed Dugu Xue’s small hand in hers and patted it gently.
Dugu Xue, as if realizing something, blushed and turned her head away shyly.
Luo Xue raised an eyebrow, feeling that this scene was a bit strange…
Was this really entrusting her daughter to her care?
Why did it feel a bit like…
“And, one last thing,” Concubine Min lowered her eyelids, her voice weakening, “Please give Luo Xue a message for me.”
“Tell her… Min’er won’t be returning.”
Leave a Reply