Transmigrated Into A Waste Who Married The Villain. Chapter 27: Gratitude

The library was nestled among the mountains, surrounded by serene nature, with dappled shadows cast by the trees. The sunlight filtered through the wooden windows, creating swirling patterns upon the tiled floor. Inside was refreshingly cool, contrasting sharply with the heat outside.

Luo Jinxiao often visited this place and knew it was usually empty, which heightened her anxiety. She tightened her grip on the sword’s hilt, preparing herself.

She turned once, then twice, delving deeper into the library, where the light diminished further. The soft glow of a few embedded night pearls in the walls provided the only illumination, casting an ethereal light on the aged books and scrolls that filled the wooden cubbyholes. Some were ancient, the bamboo slips half-decayed, emitting a scent of rotting wood.

In the shadows up ahead stood a figure, tall and slender, unmistakable as not being Elder He. Luo Jinxiao raised an eyebrow and was about to turn around when a gust of wind brushed her cheek, and the figure was suddenly in front of her, blocking her path.

“Elder Qu,” Luo Jinxiao took a cautious step back, her gaze alert.

As suspected, it was indeed a trap. Knowing her keen interest in the Pure Yang vein, they had used Elder He’s name to lure her here. Such cunning and shamelessness!

Qu Chengzhou smiled benevolently, his right hand behind his back. “Luo Jinxiao, we meet again.”

Luo Jinxiao forced a smile in response. “If Elder Qu wishes to see me, then just say so. There’s no need to invoke Elder He’s name to summon me here. I can’t help but wonder at your motives for going to such lengths.”

“It’s merely an excuse; there’s no need to take it to heart,” Qu Chengzhou waved his hand dismissively. “After all, you’re very curious about your celestial vein, and I’m just here to answer your questions.”

“I’m all ears,” Luo Jinxiao replied with a smile, discreetly tightening her hold on her sword.

“You’ve become a disciple of Elder Liu, has he ever explained to you what the Pure Yang vein is?”

“No, he hasn’t elaborated,” Luo Jinxiao shook her head.

“Taking a strand of the Pure Yang or Pure Yin celestial vein can significantly boost one’s cultivation. Two strands are even more potent, up to the point of draining one’s soul. This is a forbidden technique, yet it is incredibly effective, especially after reaching the Transformation Stage, where the effects become even more pronounced,” Qu Chengzhou explained slowly, his deep-set eyes obscured by his eyelids, instilling a chill in those he looked upon.

Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but widen her eyes. Qu Chengzhou suddenly smiled brightly, “You need not fear; I have no intention of doing anything to you. If I did, you could hide anywhere, but it would make no difference.”

That statement sent a shiver down Luo Jinxiao’s spine, her back feeling icy cold.

“The Elder specifically called me here just to answer if I have any doubts?” she maintained her smile, but her body tensed up, contemplating her chances of escaping if things turned hostile.

A Golden Elixir stage cultivator against a Crossing Tribulation stage one—after considering, she felt her odds were slim.

Running would be far more prudent.

“The Elder has noticed that you have been quite close to Master Uncle Qu lately,” Qu Chengzhou continued.

“Elder, you jest. Master Uncle Qu is as unyielding as autumn frost and as pure as jade; I can only admire her from a distance,” Luo Jinxiao replied awkwardly.

“Master Uncle Qu has had a peculiar temperament since childhood. We, her elders, have worked hard to guide her so that she wouldn’t stray from the right path. If you choose to associate with her, you must exercise caution,” Qu Chengzhou seemed to lament, shaking his head slightly.

As he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward. Luo Jinxiao instinctively took a step back, feeling a gust of wind rush in behind her, carrying an obvious pressure from a skilled cultivator.

Luo Jinxiao thought to herself that this was bad; she prepared to summon the divine sword to escape. Just then, another figure burst through the wall, charging in with such force that it sent several large sandalwood racks crashing down. Dust swirled into the air, filling the room with choking smoke.

Coughing a few times, Luo Jinxiao barely managed to dodge the falling bookshelf, while Qu Chengzhou was nearly struck as well. He scowled, raising his hand, and the shelf above him shattered instantaneously, crumbling into dust.

Bamboo slips rained down to the floor, a burst of golden light flickering as they landed, instantly turning to ash. Simultaneously, the oppressive aura that had surrounded them disappeared completely.

A figure in red appeared in front of her, inadvertently grabbing her hand and pulling her safely behind her. In the other hand, she wielded the blazing Moonlight Star Sword, flames roaring fiercely, matching her own fierce and passionate spirit.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively covered her chest, biting her lip as she gazed at the silhouette before her. The woman’s figure was graceful and elegant, but as her black hair billowed like a storm, she radiated an ice-cold demeanor, an innate authority about her.

The flames from her sword spread outwards, igniting everything around and casting heavy shadows, yet they did not instill fear.

Because she was standing right behind her.

“Master Uncle Qu?” Qu Chengzhou’s expression darkened, his tone filled with anger.

“It’s me. What about it?” Qu Weiyin met his gaze, lacking visible emotion, yet her countenance clearly conveyed a rage akin to wanting to end things swiftly.

“Master Uncle Qu…” Luo Jinxiao began to speak, but Qu Weiyin interrupted her.

“Be quiet,” Qu Weiyin commanded, ignoring Luo Jinxiao completely. She swung her fiery sword towards Qu Chengzhou, who adeptly dodged the attack.

“How dare you barge into the library like this!” Qu Chengzhou bellowed. With a fierce glare, he unleashed a powerful aura that nearly buckled Qu Weiyin’s knees.

“I warned you,” Qu Weiyin gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand tall. The Moonlight Star Sword in her hand erupted with streaks of fiery light, shooting like meteors toward Qu Chengzhou.

He raised his hand to block them, slowly shaking his head with a look of pity. “Weiyin, you’re still so impulsive. With a temperament like yours, you’re bound to come to harm in the future.”

Qu Weiyin hated his hypocritical demeanor. Unable to contain her rage any longer, she shouted and pushed Luo Jinxiao aside.

“Regardless, I will protect this girl at all costs. Even if I can’t kill you, I won’t let you touch her,” Qu Weiyin declared, her eyes narrowing in contempt, exuding a hint of malevolence.

“Get away!” Qu Weiyin said this to Luo Jinxiao, and in that instant, blinding golden light filled the entire library, illuminating the once-quiet space, while everything within sight began to crumble. The shelves split in two, and cracks appeared even in the walls.

Qu Chengzhou hurriedly channeled his spiritual energy to stop Qu Weiyin. Watching from a safe distance, Luo Jinxiao seized the opportunity to whisper a low incantation, firing a bolt of dark light that forced Elder Qu back several steps.

At that moment, a deafening roar echoed around them, and dust filled the air. The entire library began to collapse, with flames leaping up to engulf the area, reducing countless books to ashes in an instant.

“Qu Weiyin!” Elder Qu’s voice, hoarse from anger, echoed amidst the flames. A bolt of lightning streaked through the swirling smoke, and Qu Weiyin suddenly smirked, appearing quite pleased. She then dashed toward Luo Jinxiao, grabbing her arm, and together they vanished into the thick smoke.

As Luo Jinxiao opened her eyes again, she found herself standing beside Qu Weiyin at the edge of a cliff. She landed abruptly, almost losing her footing, instinctively gripping onto the upright figure next to her.

That body stiffened momentarily before quickly withdrawing, steadying her with a supportive hand.

“Are you alright?” Qu Weiyin asked, gazing at Luo Jinxiao. The fierce glint in her eyes had not fully faded, but after the heart-pounding escape, she still appeared ethereal in her flowing red attire, not a speck of ash upon her.

In contrast, Luo Jinxiao was far less graceful.

Not only was she covered in soot, her clothes had several burn holes, and her hair was a wild mess. Qu Weiyin frowned at her appearance and raised her hand to chant a spell. Immediately, Luo Jinxiao felt as though she had just stepped out of a refreshing bath, her body feeling revitalized.

“Master Uncle, you learned it?” Luo Jinxiao’s face lit up with surprise.

Qu Weiyin nodded. “I thought it would be useful for you, so I decided to give it a try.”

Then, she turned serious, saying, “Why did you run off alone? Are you trying to throw your life away? I told you to keep your distance from him, yet you treat my words as if they don’t matter. If I hadn’t come to rescue you, given your cultivation level, what were you planning to do?”

Luo Jinxiao had never seen Qu Weiyin unleash such a series of interrogative remarks before, leaving her momentarily speechless.

“He sent someone to relay a message, saying that Elder He wanted to discuss matters regarding the celestial veins with me. I thought it might really be urgent, so I went to check…” Luo Jinxiao’s voice trailed off, becoming softer with each word.

“That old fool is always so self-righteous, speaking nonsense. How could you be so foolish…” Qu Weiyin started, but abruptly cut herself off, perhaps realizing she was being too harsh.

Luo Jinxiao didn’t take offense; instead, she felt a warmth blooming inside her, as well as a twinge of guilt. Judging by Qu Weiyin’s earlier anger, it was evident that she genuinely cared.

Qu Chengzhou and the others beside him possessed formidable strength, but with her Golden Elixir cultivation and the divine sword, she felt she had some chance of escaping.

However, Qu Weiyin didn’t know that, in the eyes of outsiders, even if she weren’t considered worthless, Luo Jinxiao was still just at the Foundation Establishment stage, which was why Qu Weiyin was so concerned.

What surprised Luo Jinxiao even more was Qu Weiyin’s decisive action—charging in and unleashing a blaze of fire and lightning that obliterated the library. This was something Luo Jinxiao had never expected.

“But Master Uncle, it’s not even time for class yet. How did you know I was there?” Luo Jinxiao suddenly remembered and looked up at the sun.

In her mind, if it was time for the lecture and she hadn’t returned yet, it would likely mean trouble. Thus, asking Qu Weiyin for help seemed perfectly timed. However, only half a stick of incense had passed—how had Qu Weiyin arrived so quickly?

At Luo Jinxiao’s words, the stern expression on Qu Weiyin’s face shifted to a hint of embarrassment.

“Today, Elder He is in seclusion and asked me to substitute for his class. I came early, but when I didn’t see you, I asked Lu Fanzhi,” Qu Weiyin explained.

“She told me that Elder He was looking for you to go to the library, which made me suspicious,” Qu Weiyin noted.

“So you came to rescue me?” Luo Jinxiao asked, her eyes lighting up with joy. It turned out that Qu Weiyin had come of her own accord to save her, not because she had pleaded for help.

That fact was enough to overshadow her earlier fear.

“It was just a coincidence,” Qu Weiyin replied, frowning as she regarded Luo Jinxiao coldly.

Luo Jinxiao nearly laughed out loud at this; how could such an incident be merely a coincidence? Had she simply been itching for something to do prior to her morning class and decided to blow up the library as a side note?

“The time has come; let’s head back to class,” Qu Weiyin said, her expression unyielding as she turned to leave.

“Wait, Master Uncle!” Luo Jinxiao hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed the sleeve of Qu Weiyin’s robe, but was met with a fierce glare and quickly released it.

“What do you want? Speak quickly,” Qu Weiyin commanded, her gaze briefly lingering on the wrinkled sleeve before she continued.

“Thank you for saving me, Master Uncle,” Luo Jinxiao replied sincerely, bowing deeply in respect.

She straightened up, meeting Qu Weiyin’s gaze with her own, her sleeve cascading down like falling petals. Her expression was serious and respectful, devoid of any laughter, an earnest and calm demeanor reflected in her clear black and white eyes.

Qu Weiyin’s heart fluttered slightly. She lowered her gaze and said, “In class, I am your teacher, and it is only natural to protect my students. There is no need for such formalities.”

Having heard these words from her multiple times, Luo Jinxiao recognized the contradiction between Qu Weiyin’s words and her heart. She shook her head and continued, “Before I came, I had Lu Fanzhi ask for assistance from you. I promised that if you were willing to save me, I would offer anything in return.”

“Though I did not ask for help, a word given is worth a thousand gold; your word is your bond,” Luo Jinxiao emphasized carefully, each word clear and sincere.

“Anything?” Qu Weiyin’s eyes glimmered faintly as she raised her phoenix-like gaze to meet Luo Jinxiao’s.