Luo Jinxiao was dead.
When the dazzling fireball crashed toward her, Luo Jinxiao fully realized the truth behind the legends: Qu Weiyin, the demon lord, was indeed ruthless and unmatched.
This epic battle between immortals and demons, which shook the nine regions and four seas, began with grandeur and ended in rivers of blood.
Lying on the fragrant, soft grass, Luo Jinxiao felt little fear—only a deep sense of unwillingness.
As a young successor entrusted with her family’s hopes, she had devoted over a decade to her cultivation. Just as she was acknowledged as a genius and accepted into the prestigious Wuhui Sect, she inadvertently found herself on a battlefield, facing Qu Weiyin directly.
The demon lord, surrounded by attackers, fell before her in a bloody, fierce state, reminiscent of a blooming hibiscus. Amidst layers of light and shadow that seemed to emerge from nowhere, she collapsed barefoot, her skirt failing to conceal her slender, flawless ankles.
Slowly, she lifted her head to meet Luo Jinxiao’s gaze. The hideous scar on her face appeared to burn, yet her eyes shone with fierce resolution, making her stunningly beautiful still.
This was the last scene Luo Jinxiao witnessed in her lifetime.
Bathed in the soft glow of a rosy chamber, with small xylophone windows and red paper fruits scattered across the sill, the atmosphere exuded a sense of exquisite festivity.
“Hiss…” Luo Jinxiao inhaled sharply, struggling to open her heavy eyelids. She blinked, feeling disoriented.
Could it be that she wasn’t dead? That shouldn’t be possible.
As she opened her eyes to gaze at the gauzy canopy above her, she slowly turned her head. The bed beneath her was soft and fragrant, and everywhere she looked, vibrant red hues radiated an atmosphere of joy.
Where was this?
Luo Jinxiao propped herself up on the bed and cautiously surveyed her surroundings. It was peaceful, but when her gaze fell upon the figure beside her, she suddenly jolted back, nearly toppling off the edge of the bed.
Next to her lay a person-more precisely, a stunning beauty.
The beauty seemed disturbed by Luo Jinxiao’s movements, murmuring softly and furrowing her brows, clearly uneasy.
Luo Jinxiao steadied herself, took a deep breath, and pressed her hand against her chest, forcing herself to calm down. No matter where she was, at least for now, she was safe.
“Don’t panic, don’t panic…” Luo Jinxiao silently repeated, leaning closer to the beauty in an attempt to get a clearer look at her face.
The beauty was indeed breathtaking, with glossy red lips, skin as smooth as jade, and neatly arranged dark hair adorned with hairpins and delicate flower ornaments. Dressed in a red gown, she looked every bit like a bride.
Luo Jinxiao instinctively looked down at herself, and an icy chill ran down her spine. She was also dressed in red. Given the situation, could it be… a wedding?
Luo Jinxiao raised her hand and slapped herself, the sudden pain causing her eyes to twitch. It appeared she was not dreaming; but if this wasn’t a dream, how could a virtuous woman, raised in the principles of chastity and simplicity, find herself married-especially to another woman?
The beauty seemed stirred once more; she moved slightly, her delicate hand clutching Luo Jinxiao’s clothes tightly, as if in distress. Her expression grew even more pained, as though she were suffering some torment.
Despite her shock, Luo Jinxiao recalled the moral lessons her parents had instilled in her. She reached out to touch the beauty’s forehead, finding her skin hot to the touch, as if she were battling a chill.
However, before Luo Jinxiao could take any action, the beauty painfully edged closer to her, her hands roving aimlessly. A wave of goosebumps rose on Luo Jinxiao’s skin, and her face flushed as she instinctively stepped back.
Amidst her embarrassment, she sensed that something was amiss. The beauty’s flushed complexion and tightly clenched fists did not resemble someone merely suffering from illness; it was more akin to someone afflicted by a seductive poison.
This seductive poison was a particularly cruel curse against women. Those who were afflicted and did not engage in intimate relations would suffer extreme pain and could possibly perish, making it a deeply insidious and lethal trap. Throughout her years of cultivation, Luo Jinxiao had read numerous medical texts, often expressing her outrage and vehemently condemning this curse whenever she encountered it.
Fortunately, a remedy had been discovered and widely disseminated a few years ago, leading to a gradual decrease in the use of this poison.
With that thought in mind, Luo Jinxiao hastily rolled up her sleeves and began to remove the beauty’s clothing. She worked quickly, deftly loosening the tightly wrapped garments until only a thin layer of gauze remained on the beauty.
“Oh, beautiful one, I mean no harm. Just bear with me; it’ll be like a cleansing bath, so don’t hold it against me…” she silently repeated in her mind.
The beauty had an exquisite figure, with straight shoulders and graceful curves. Luo Jinxiao felt the cool air against her skin as the beauty pressed closer.
The burning heat radiating from the beauty’s body pressed tightly against Luo Jinxiao’s arm, creating a sense of discomfort, but she didn’t halt her movements. Once there were no more garments to obstruct her, she began to silently chant the incantation for the remedy.
A deep silence enveloped the room.
Luo Jinxiao’s eyes widened in shock as she looked down at herself, her mind going blank for a moment.
Where was her celestial vein? The spiritual energy that once filled her body had seemingly vanished, leaving her feeling completely empty inside.
For a cultivator, losing one’s celestial vein rendered them as useless as a common person-without any means to defend themselves. This realization plunged Luo Jinxiao into a state of pure panic. She reached to touch her body; the sensation was familiar and intact.
Could it be that internal injuries had caused her to lose her spiritual vein? How could she resolve this?
Before Luo Jinxiao could formulate a coherent explanation, the beauty began to stir again, her discomfort seemingly intensifying. She bit her lip hard, her luscious red lips drawing blood in tiny, dot-like specks.
Luo Jinxiao, momentarily distracted, hadn’t realized she had been ensnared. She felt smooth, hot arms encircle her waist, accompanied by soft, labored breaths. Having never encountered such a situation before, her face began to flush.
“Oh, beautiful one, just bear with me for a moment. Though I can’t use my spiritual techniques, there is still a way to relieve this seductive poison,” Luo Jinxiao muttered, pressing down on the beauty’s soft shoulders and forcefully pushing her back onto the bed. Then, she swung her long legs over and straddled the beauty’s waist.
The beauty’s delicate waist had never experienced such treatment; she let out a soft grunt, slightly furrowing her brow in her semi-conscious state.
Luo Jinxiao felt no remorse about this; she was solely focused on her next actions. Raising her hand, she struck the beauty across the face, producing a sharp sound. The beauty winced in pain, her eyes suddenly snapping open.
At first, her gaze was dazed and bewildered, but then a flicker of terror crossed her face. Once she recognized Luo Jinxiao, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
“It’s you…” she murmured, her eyes widening as she raised her hands and launched an attack toward Luo Jinxiao’s vital points. Luo Jinxiao was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
“Let’s talk this out! I’m here to help you break the curse!” Luo Jinxiao exclaimed in a panic.
Luo Jinxiao abruptly stepped back in a panic, unintentionally tearing open the beauty’s clothing in the process. The beauty felt a chill on her skin and, consumed by shame and anger, became even more furious. With a fierce cry of “You’re asking for death!” she lunged toward Luo Jinxiao’s vital points.
Luo Jinxiao was bewildered by the intensity of the beauty’s hostility, but fortunately, the beauty was weakened from the curse and couldn’t muster much strength. Seizing the opportunity, Luo Jinxiao raised her hand and struck her again.
The beauty’s movements suddenly halted, as if she let out a sigh before collapsing forward, falling directly into Luo Jinxiao’s embrace.
As the warmth of the beauty’s body pressed against her skin, Luo Jinxiao felt somewhat dazed. Her face flushed slightly as she carefully held the beauty close. Without hesitation, she swiftly cut her palm, allowing a drop of blood to escape.
The bright red blood dripped into the beauty’s mouth, enhancing her already enchanting features. Luo Jinxiao found herself momentarily captivated, sensing something strangely familiar about the way the beauty looked when she had awakened, though she couldn’t quite recall who it was.
The beauty murmured softly, rolling the remaining blood from the corner of her mouth and smacking her lips in satisfaction, losing all her previous ferocity as if the blood were exceptionally sweet.
Gradually, the heat radiating from her body subsided, and her complexion returned to normal. Only then did Luo Jinxiao let out a sigh of relief and begin to reposition the beauty back to her earlier state, redressing her in the garments.
The seductive poison that had harmed so many women was surprisingly simple to remedy: in that crucial moment when they regained their senses, all that was needed was a single drop of blood from another person. Yet, for thousands of years, many women afflicted by the curse had been unwilling to offer it willingly.
The beauty now bore a distinct handprint on her face, blissfully asleep. Only then did Luo Jinxiao find the time to ponder her own situation.
She leaped off the bed, intending to step out and uncover the truth. To her surprise, upon reaching the door, she found it locked from the outside.
“Which family locks up their bride on her wedding day…” Luo Jinxiao mumbled, leaning her head out of the window. Before she could get a clear view of the outside scenery, she heard a rush of wind as a figure suddenly appeared before her.
“Miss Luo, please hurry and consummate your marriage; do not miss the auspicious time.”
The person was bowing, yet there was no sign of humility in their demeanor.
“Who are you, and why am I here?” Luo Jinxiao frowned and asked through the window.
The person stared at Luo Jinxiao as if she were a fool, then replied, “Miss Luo, do not play tricks. You were born without a celestial vein and therefore cannot cultivate. Elder Qu has arranged for you to marry Qu Weiyin; this is considered a favor to you. If anything goes wrong, neither you nor the Luo family will be able to bear the consequences.”
Luo Jinxiao stared blankly at the person’s face, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head.
She must be dreaming. How could she, a once-in-a-millennium genius, be born without a celestial vein? And then, marrying Qu Weiyin-the demoness who had killed her?
The person threw her a disdainful glance before slamming the window shut. A faint golden light flashed, and Luo Jinxiao knew that a seal had been placed; she could not get out.
But everything felt too real. Luo Jinxiao suddenly turned around, and the beauty was still quietly lying on the bed. Now she finally understood why she felt that the beauty was familiar.
This was the very demon lord who had killed her!
But now her face bore none of the hideous scars, and her pupils were not the pale color unique to someone who had fallen into demonic transformation. Thus, when Luo Jinxiao had opened her eyes, everything seemed familiar, but she had not been able to recognize her.
Luo Jinxiao cautiously approached the bed, her chaotic mind desperately recalling the stories she had heard about Qu Weiyin during her years of cultivation.
Two thousand years ago, Qu Weiyin was one of the most outstanding disciples of the Wuhui Sect. The head of the Qu family, her father, had died in an accident, and she was supposed to inherit his position. However, due to her young age, her uncle usurped the patriarch’s power.
Her uncle, Qu Chengzhou, an elder of the Wuhui Sect, had subjected her to oppression and torment. He had schemed to poison her with the seductive curse, forcing her to marry a waste without a celestial vein. Unable to bear it, Qu Weiyin fell into madness on her wedding night, draining the life from the waste who lay beside her and turning her into a dried corpse.
From that moment on, a ruthless demoness emerged in the martial world, slaughtering various sects and spilling rivers of blood, instilling fear across the six realms.
Now, was she in the past, two thousand years ago, as the waste who was destined to be drained of life in that legendary tale?
Another wave of dizziness hit Luo Jinxiao, but she managed to steady herself. The urgent thing to do now was to leave this place. If Qu Weiyin woke up, she would be in grave danger!
She certainly did not want to be killed by the same person twice.
However, just as Luo Jinxiao prepared to turn and flee, the bed trembled slightly, and Qu Weiyin opened her eyes. Her glass-like orbs flickered, quickly regaining clarity, while her exposed delicate wrist slowly propped her up.
Luo Jinxiao thought to herself, This is not good! and froze in place.
Qu Weiyin was truly stunning. Even with the dangerous murderous intent filling her gaze, she captivated those around her.
“It’s really you,” she suddenly let out a soft laugh, a blend of surprise and fatigue in her tone. She gently tilted her head, glancing around as if cherishing something.
Then, Qu Weiyin abruptly raised her hand, a faint glow gathering in her palm, crystal clear and radiant. At the same time, her originally dark eyes gradually lost their color, creating a haunting contrast with her blood-red lips, making her even more enchanting.
Luo Jinxiao felt her entire body stiffen. She knew she was about to face death again, and this time it felt far more terrifying than before.
In a frantic attempt to think, just as the situation grew critical, an idea suddenly struck her. Without a moment’s hesitation, she leaped onto the bed and seized Qu Weiyin’s wrist with urgency.
Qu Weiyin was taken aback by her audacity, momentarily stunned, and halted her movements.
Luo Jinxiao, blushing and stammering, said, “D-don’t kill me. I’ll take responsibility for you!”
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