“I was obsessively driven to make everyone revolve around me, as if only then could I truly feel my own existence and grasp a tiny, fragile sense of security.”
“When I first entered the sect, I was the youngest junior sister. I had read countless storybooks, and the little junior sisters in them were always everyone's favorite, carefree, getting whatever they wanted.”
At this point, Liu Qingqing exhaled softly, a trace of dazed relief in her eyes.
“Master favored me, and my senior brothers protected me in everything. No matter how willful I was or how much trouble I caused, they always stood by my side.”
“Over time, I developed an unrealistic illusion—as if no matter what I did or how much I acted out, someone would always clean up my mess, and I would never be abandoned.”
“I began to test their limits time and again, acting out willfully, yet they always tolerated me, always favored me.”
As her voice faded, a faint curve tugged at the corners of her lips. She slowly turned her head to look at Jiang Lu, a layer of dazed melancholy lingering in her eyes.
“But since coming here, when I fall asleep these past few days, fragmented scenes keep appearing in my dreams. Those images seem to be from my past life, and they all suggest that I belong here, and that everything I have now has nothing to do with me.”
She paused here, her fingertips unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes as confusion welled in her eyes.
“Junior Sister Lu, do you think these people—including us—are actually real?”
Hearing this, Jiang Lu wondered if these were indeed memories of her past life. However, she definitely couldn't say too much. What if Liu Qingqing remembered something?
“Senior Sister Liu, do you feel like there's a barrier between you and everyone else? Like everyone is just a paper cutout in your eyes—without thoughts, without life, and without meaning?”
Although Jiang Lu didn't know what she was trying to do, her college roommate in her past life had been a psychology blogger. Having heard and seen so much, she had a rough idea of how to handle this kind of situation.
She hesitated for a moment and nodded.
“Senior Sister Liu, it's because you haven't integrated yourself with everyone. You treat everyone as characters in a storybook. Whether they are people from the cultivation world or the mortal realm, to you, they are all like a reflection of the moon in the water.”
“Now that we've come to the mortal realm for training, what we've seen and heard over the past few days has brought out your truest inner self. Senior Sister Liu, perhaps you can listen to your true inner thoughts, try to trust, and sincerely open your heart to everyone.”
Having said this, Jiang Lu saw her fall silent, the flames reflecting in her eyes. Jiang Lu deactivated the array and said no more.
With a sigh, she went back to eating the roast chicken in her hand.
If things went as they said, and it was all just for the Heaven's Pride Board, then Liu Qingqing would eventually wear away their goodwill and end up with nothing.
But if she went through this training, turned over a new leaf, and used her talent and luck to make a name for herself on the Heaven's Pride Board, she wouldn't have a bad life in the future with her status as a direct disciple.
But a person's nature is the hardest to change.
After finishing her food, she looked at the dying fire and closed her eyes to begin meditating.
“Clip-clop—”
“Clip-clop—”
“Clip-clop—”
The rapid sound of horse hooves quickly approached them.
Jiang Lu opened her eyes and stood up, only to see two women riding a single horse, galloping urgently toward them.
Just a few meters away from them, they fell from the horse's back, rolling to the side and fainting on the ground.
The horse ran forward a few more steps, stopping among their horses. Seemingly catching the fragrance of the fresh grass, it squeezed right in and ate the remaining fresh grass.
The others were startled awake by the commotion, jumping to their feet and staring at the two.
Jiang Lu jogged over. Seeing the disheveled pair, she noted that they didn't look like they were being pursued.
She and Liu Qingqing helped them up, leaning them against a tree trunk, and fed them some water.
Jiang Lu sent a wisp of light spiritual energy through their minds, and the two slowly opened their eyes.
Looking at the people surrounding them, they wondered in a daze if they had already left the mortal world and arrived in the immortal realm.
Otherwise, why would they see fairies?
“Where is this?”
The younger-looking woman rubbed her brow and asked.
“This is the Jingzhou region. What happened to you two? You just fell off your horse. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“The Jingzhou region? We aren't dead?”
She muttered to herself, then tried to stand up, only to feel a sharp pain shooting through her entire body.
“Of course you aren't dead. You're alive and well. Did something happen to you?”
Jiang Lu's voice was filled with concern.
The two saw that they didn't look like bad people.
If bad people looked like this, they would accept their fate. Bearing the intense pain, she said in a low voice,
“News of the Emperor's passing has arrived, and Jingzhou is in chaos. On top of that, word came from the imperial city that the Grand Princess has ascended the throne as the empress regnant. The various vassal kings are joining forces, preparing to rebel under the guise of purging the court of evil.”
Jiang Lu was somewhat startled to hear this. So fast?
“Take these two pills first. They will help with your injuries.”
Lu Lingfeng handed them two pills, which were clearly freshly made.
No wonder he had disappeared for a while earlier; it turned out he had gone to gather herbs. Jiang Lu didn't find it strange. In the Jiangwu Domain, almost everyone knew a bit of alchemy and medicine-making.
He was indeed the Second Senior Brother of the Liuyun Sect—upright and never one to ignore those in need.
After taking them, whether it was psychological or not, the two seemed to feel much better.
Jiang Lu continued to ask, “Then why are you two here?”
Hearing this, the two exchanged a look, a trace of loneliness appearing in their eyes, before they spoke.
“We are daughters of a merchant from Jingzhou. My name is Mu Wanxin, and this is my younger sister, Mu Wanqing. When Prince Qi rebelled, he raided the homes of all the merchants in the city who refused to cooperate, and our family was no exception.”
“Our family was once favored by the Grand Princess. Our parents found an opportunity to help us escape, and we are currently heading to the imperial city to seek her protection. My sister and I have been highly educated since childhood and have some reputation in the city. Now that the Empress has ascended the throne, we naturally wish to follow her.”
Jiang Lu admired them, seeing that their intentions were pure and their gazes firm.
A golden light flashed in her eyes as she read their countenances. After a moment of thought, she walked a short distance away, picked up a piece of charcoal, and began writing on a piece of paper.
“I have some history with the Grand Princess. Once you reach the imperial city, give this letter and token to the people at the Grand Princess's Manor. They will know what to do.”
She handed the letter to them along with a change of clothes. After changing, the two took a deep look at the group and tightly clutched the letter. If they ever had the chance, they would surely repay their benefactors.
They tidied up the messy belongings on the horse, and under the watchful eyes of the group, they set off toward the imperial city.
The two of them carried great fortune, and their countenances showed hints of becoming high-ranking ministers or generals. Forging a good connection now and letting them meet the Empress early might bring the chaotic times to a swifter end.
Jiang Lu recalled the secret conversation between the two in the manor back then. She hoped the Grand Princess had made early preparations so that the chaotic era would not truly erupt.
Rate on N.U.
