Transmigrated Into A Waste Who Married The Villain. Chapter 54: The Conspiracy Unfolds

Luo Jinxiao never expected Yan Ying to say this. Her expression immediately turned cold. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m being coerced and can only say this much,” Yan Ying hurriedly explained before trying to leave. Luo Jinxiao blocked her path, turning her body and spreading her arms wide.

“Explain what’s going on—who is scheming? I can’t just convey a vague statement to Master Uncle,” Luo Jinxiao insisted, her tone firm.

A flicker of fear crossed Yan Ying’s eyes as she looked down, falling silent.

“Is it Qu Chengzhou?” When Luo Jinxiao saw she wouldn’t answer, she made a guess on her own.

Yan Ying remained quiet, tacitly confirming it.

A surge of anger flared in Luo Jinxiao’s heart. How dare he? Qu Chengzhou had been relentlessly pursuing Qu Weiyin—his intentions were clearly malicious.

“Don’t ask any further; I have my own difficulties,” Yan Ying said with an impatient look, pushing Luo Jinxiao aside and striding away, her figure quickly disappearing. A piece of paper floated from her sleeve and fell to the ground.

Rubbing her sore shoulder where she had been pushed, Luo Jinxiao stepped forward to pick up the paper. She saw delicate sketches etched onto it, depicting various figures in bizarre poses.

The drawings seemed to portray a range of people—from the elderly to children. The one thing unifying them was the expression of sheer anguish on their faces, as if their very souls were being forcibly wrenched from them, a piercing pain reflected in their features.

Just looking at these sketches sent a chill down Luo Jinxiao’s spine. Suddenly, she remembered something; disregarding Luo Ning’s worried calls from behind her, she took off toward the library.

“Sister! It’s dangerous out there!” Luo Ning darted out of the room, her skirt lifted as she ran to catch up with Luo Jinxiao, who did not respond.

Luo Jinxiao distinctly recalled having seen a similar drawing in the library. However, she hadn’t examined it closely at the time, so she couldn’t remember exactly what it was.

A theory began forming in her mind, but she needed confirmation.

She quickly flipped through the ancient texts until she found the tome filled with long-lost sinister arts. There, prominently featured, was a drawing identical to the one on the paper, with ancient characters inscribed above stating: **Ming Formation Diagram**.

“Ming Formation Diagram?” Luo Jinxiao read the words aloud. Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. Startled, she quickly stood up, her sword at the ready.

“Luo Ning?” Luo Jinxiao exclaimed, lowering her weapon as she took in her sister’s presence. “What are you doing here? You should go back—it’s dangerous outside!”

“I—I was worried about you,” Luo Ning mumbled, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes. “I saw Yan Ying speaking to you, and when I saw you run off, I thought it would be better if I came along. Two of us are safer than one!”

Luo Jinxiao gave her a gentle pat on the head, feeling a mix of helplessness and tenderness. As she glanced back at the ancient text, her mind began to churn with thoughts.

Yan Ying had purposely warned her about Qu Chengzhou’s intentions toward Qu Weiyin and then given her this paper. Was she subtly hinting that Qu Chengzhou was practicing the Ming Formation Diagram?

The text mentioned that the Ming Formation was a sinister one, necessitating human sacrifices. Could it be that the recent disappearances in No Regrets Sect were the work of Qu Chengzhou?

He was the Grand Elder of No Regrets Sect. If he truly used these disciples to enhance his cultivation of the Ming Formation, it would be utterly immoral and unthinkable!

“We can’t stay out too long; let’s head back,” Luo Jinxiao said quickly as she closed the book and took Luo Ning by the arm, turning to leave the library.

However, just as they had walked partway down the corridor, Luo Jinxiao suddenly felt something was off. The previously clear air had turned thick and nauseating, tainted with a metallic scent. Alarmed, she thought to herself that something was wrong. Gripping Luo Ning’s arm tighter with her left hand, she gathered her spiritual energy, preparing to teleport them to safety.

Yet just before they would leave, a thought struck her. The surge of energy she was drawing began to fade.

“You go first,” Luo Jinxiao said quietly, then pushed Luo Ning forward.

Luo Ning was about to say something when Luo Jinxiao raised her hand to summon Wu Jue. The sword spun in the air for a moment before it forcefully lifted Luo Ning and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Jinxiao remained frozen in place but secretly wove her spiritual energy to protect her heart veins.

The cloying, metallic stench crept closer, rising from the ground and slowly enveloping her. Luo Jinxiao closed her eyes, reminding herself that riches come with peril—at most, she had but her life to lose.

A wave of dizziness washed over her, and before she knew it, her body weakened, and she lost consciousness.

The sound of dripping water echoed like distant raindrops, mingled with poignant sobbing that resonated in her ears, making her feel as if she were trapped in a hellish nightmare.

Luo Jinxiao managed to crack her eyes open just a slit, using her hearing to sense her surroundings.

It seemed she was in a cramped, suffocating prison. This prison was not dark; instead, it was filled with blinding white light that reminiscent of day, disorienting her.

The crying came from nearby. As Luo Jinxiao attempted to turn her head to see, she realized she was surrounded by an invisible barrier, rendering her suspended in midair, unable to move.

Straining to rotate her body slowly until she was facing downward, she then looked down to survey her surroundings from above.

Luo Jinxiao found herself in a grand hall. The ceiling was embedded with luminous pearls, bathing the space in bright light. At the highest point of the hall stood a gilded throne, resembling a royal seat.

She couldn’t tell whether her situation was fortunate or unfortunate. Neither was she alone; several disciples wearing the robes of No Regrets Sect were bound to the ground. A glance revealed that they were all the previously missing individuals.

Among them were others not included, likely having already encountered misfortune.

The door opened, and a tall man entered. His face was square and appeared dignified, but from the slant of his eyes, a sly glint shone through.

Luo Jinxiao found the man familiar but couldn’t recall when she had seen him.

The door opened again, and this time Qu Chengzhou came in. Luo Jinxiao could see his long beard hanging down to his waist from a distance, which made her feel nauseous.

“Have you caught her?” Qu Chengzhou inquired.

“Yes,” the man responded, gesturing in Luo Jinxiao’s direction. “She’s always surrounded by that Qu Weiyin. It’s been quite challenging to catch her silently.”

Feeling Qu Chengzhou’s gaze upon her, Luo Jinxiao quickly closed her eyes, her heart racing. She suddenly remembered who the man was—he was the masked figure who had struck her unconscious when she first woke up.

“I’ve been wanting to eliminate Qu Weiyin for a long time. She’s the reason I lost my position as the head of the family. Once I complete my cultivation, she will be the first to meet her end,” Qu Chengzhou said in a low voice filled with hatred, entirely lacking the sacred image he usually portrayed.

Luo Jinxiao’s brows furrowed as rage surged within her. She discreetly formed a spell with her fingers, murmuring her mental incantation.

Qu Chengzhou, not realizing she had awoken, continued, “Have you completed the tasks I assigned? Don’t let anything go wrong again. I lost my position as the family head; I won’t let you endanger the position of sect leader.”

“Elder Qu, rest assured,” the man said, raising his hand, and Luo Jinxiao felt her body slowly descending.

“But Elder, what will happen if the sect leader returns…”

“She has been up to South Dipper Peak for decades; by now, she’s probably nothing but ash. Don’t worry; I personally went to look, and there was no one there,” Qu Chengzhou said as he strode over to Luo Jinxiao.

“Linglong Bingxin—who knows if using her for cultivation will yield better results than that girl Qu Weiyin,” Qu Chengzhou remarked, squatting down beside her. His rough palm brushed against Luo Jinxiao’s forehead, sending chills down her spine.

In her previous life, Luo Jinxiao had lived for several decades and always believed that cultivators were virtuous beings who valued righteousness. She had never imagined encountering such scum.

Her stomach churned violently, feeling as if she could vomit at any moment; she longed to chop off his hand, which resembled a gnarled tree root.

The earlier sound of crying echoed again, a girl’s voice that Luo Jinxiao thought sounded familiar. After a moment of reflection, she remembered it belonged to the tall girl—the one who had faced her first during the new disciples’ competition.

So, she had also fallen victim to him—what a beast!

“How noisy,” Qu Chengzhou remarked indifferently. Suddenly, he reached out a hand, and before Luo Jinxiao could react, she heard a choking sound that resembled the gasps of someone at death’s door.

Cold sweat broke out in her palms, and an overwhelming fear almost made her sick.

In an instant, the girl’s cries ceased. Through her peripheral vision, Luo Jinxiao caught sight of where the girl had been lying—now only a lifeless corpse remained.

Qu Chengzhou raised his hand once more, and the corpse was suddenly reduced to dust, disappearing without a trace.

Death had occurred right beside her, wrapped in such casual disregard that it felt even more despairing than tearing anguish.

Luo Jinxiao gritted her teeth, breathing quietly as she clenched her fists. This was the first time she fervently hoped for Qu Weiyin’s arrival—not because she feared death, but because of the sorrow eating away at her heart.

Yet, in the end, she did not attempt to use the spirit stone she had kept on her person.

Qu Chengzhou was already beginning to perform a spell. Taking a deep breath, Luo Jinxiao opened her right hand, and suddenly the sound of wind rushed past her. A sword flew through the air, shattering the ceiling studded with luminous pearls, and swiftly tore apart the barrier that had bound Luo Jinxiao.

Finding a moment of opportunity, she leaped into action, grabbing Wu Jue. In one fluid motion, she swung it, sending a stream of silvery energy that knocked the unsuspecting Qu Chengzhou several paces back.

Qu Chengzhou was taken aback to see her escape, his surprise quickly spiraling into furious rage as his spiritual energy flared. At the same time, a cloud of darkness began to spread from behind him. Luo Jinxiao felt a wave of suffocation wash over her, and in her daze, she noticed blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

She realized that she was challenging an overwhelming force and couldn’t hold out much longer. She wanted to flee, but as she ran halfway, she was intercepted by the man once more.

A never-before-seen killing intent flashed through Luo Jinxiao’s eyes. She tightened her grip on Wu Jue, and a layer of blood-red mist suddenly clouded her vision.

When she shook her head to clear her sight, she was stunned to see that the man had coughed up blood and collapsed in shock.

Luo Jinxiao stared in awe, glancing down at the sword in her hand. At the tip, she could make out a faint trace of blood, which quickly seemed to absorb into the blade.

So it turned out that it was indeed Wu Jue that had struck the first blow.

Before she became aware of her killing intent, Luo Jinxiao had never realized how different this sword was from ordinary divine swords.

With no time to ponder further, she felt Qu Chengzhou’s spiritual energy pressing in behind her. Luo Jinxiao managed to block some of it, but she nearly knelt down as her internal energy shattered in an instant.

In desperation, she decided to act decisively. Channeling her spiritual power, she forced shards of ice to coalesce into a wall, placing Qu Chengzhou behind her. Drawing upon the technique Elder Liu had taught her, she overlapped her palms and slammed them against the ice wall, while simultaneously using it as a shield. The freezing winds surged forth, instantly wrapping Qu Chengzhou in a cold embrace.

Not daring to linger any longer, Luo Jinxiao rushed from the grand hall, stumbling as she made her escape.

“Block her! Don’t let her get away!” Qu Chengzhou’s voice boomed through the ice wall, muffled but filled with fury.

Suddenly, another figure appeared in her path. Dressed in a pale blue gown, wielding a long whip, it was none other than Yan Ying.

She looked at Luo Jinxiao in disbelief, her beautiful eyes wide open in shock.

The two women stood there, momentarily at a standstill, neither wanting to make the first move.

“You knew all along?” Luo Jinxiao managed to choke out through the pain in her heart, her teeth clenched. “Did you help him kill people?”

Yan Ying’s brows twisted together, and she remained silent, not offering a response.

Behind her, the sound of ice cracking echoed ominously, and Luo Jinxiao realized Qu Chengzhou was close on her heels.

“Quick, get out of here!” Yan Ying suddenly urged, seizing the collar of Luo Jinxiao’s robe and forcefully pushing her through a small door.

“Get out of here! Run as far away as you can!” Yan Ying said through gritted teeth. The door swung shut suddenly, and the last glimmer of light disappeared from view.