Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 44

As Xie Xisui finished speaking, she knelt on one knee in the sand. The person who had been about to fuse the sword with bl00d suddenly looked up at her.

The sword, which had been steadily poised above their palm a moment ago, now shifted slightly. Their wrist turned lightly, redirecting the blade along their own arm to avoid Xie Xisui’s hand.

The white cloth obscured their vision. The swirling sand, kicked up during their clashes, left a thin cut on the side of their face, with shallow streaks of bl00d seeping out.

Against the white cloth, the bl00d stood out vividly. Xie Xisui’s fingers, hanging loosely at her side, curled slightly.

“Master.”

Her voice unconsciously softened, even her tone grew lighter, but her words remained clear and firm, without the slightest hesitation.

A hissing sound came from behind. Xie Xisui’s sleeve billowed as she waved her hand, and five golden pillars crashed down from the sky, embedding themselves into the sand.

As the golden pillars shimmered, they formed a golden cage, trapping the snake illusion within.

“If you can distinguish the illusion, why were you still poisoned by it?”

Even though her eyes were covered, Xie Xisui could still feel the gaze upon her.

Lingxi’s cracked lips, dusted with sand, parted as she let out a sigh. Her chapped lips, stained with dried bl00d, trembled slightly. “Because the illusion was you.”

Her last words were swallowed by the wind and sand. Xie Xisui lifted her eyes to look at her, her gaze pausing for a moment, the light within flickering.

Xie Xisui tightened her grip around Lingxi’s palm, channeling a stream of immortal energy into her. The energy was warm yet forceful, coursing through her meridians and spreading through her body.

The heat melted into her bl00d, carrying a sharp, tearing sensation. Lingxi let out a muffled groan, clamping her lips shut, unable to utter another word.

The scorching force surged like tides against a shore, waves pushing out the lingering poison in Lingxi’s body—alternating between hot and cold.

“Pfft!”

With one final press of power from Xie Xisui, Lingxi convulsed. In just a few breaths, the black, corrupted bl00d gushed onto the sand, making a faint splattering sound.

Lingxi lowered her head slightly, using the sword embedded in the sand for support.

“Illusions are mere fabrications.”

Xie Xisui’s dark eyes rested on the exposed nape of Lingxi’s neck. The contours were sharp and clear. Her voice was quiet, carrying a trace of helplessness.

Lingxi hesitated, then wiped away the remaining bl00d. She looked up at her. The white cloth before her eyes, illuminated by the glow of the golden pillars, faintly outlined Xie Xisui’s silhouette. Her lips curled slightly.

Xie Xisui’s dark gaze collected her expression but remained silent.

The snake illusion, trapped within the cage, thrashed against the golden pillars, shrieking in pain. Each impact sent it recoiling from the force of the rebounding energy, further injuring itself.

Xie Xisui’s fingers gathered energy, directing it past Lingxi. A single drop of the tainted bl00d Lingxi had just expelled flew toward the trapped snake illusion.

The purplish-red dot between the snake’s eyes was immediately stained by the poisoned bl00d.

Lingxi had yet to grasp what was happening when a pained, guttural cry erupted from the illusion. The sound rippled through the sand, making the grains tremble.

Instinctively, Lingxi reached to remove the white cloth from her eyes. Just as her fingers brushed the fabric, a warm fingertip pressed against hers, making her freeze momentarily.

“Why are you taking it off? Was the illusion poison not enough for you?”

Lingxi felt the heat of her touch and, following her voice, slowly withdrew her hand.

They stood in the blistering desert, yet Xie Xisui’s presence beside Lingxi felt like a fleeting breeze, cooling her restless heart.

“Master, but I can’t see you.”

Lingxi’s dry lips, still wet from the black bl00d she had coughed up, darkened slightly as the stain deepened her lip color.

Xie Xisui’s gaze flickered over her lips. “Is that so? But just now, didn’t you see ‘me’ in the illusion?”

“You saw ‘me’ dressed in red? Reaching out to you?”

The figure in front of her lowered her head slightly, as if avoiding her gaze. Her fingers, gripping the sword hilt, turned inward subtly.

“Everything within the ‘Jinghong Scroll’—the one who holds the scroll can see it all.”

The moment her warm fingertips made contact, it was like a pebble dropping into still water, sending ripples outward. Her voice was light, but beneath the surface, a vortex had already formed.

A cool sensation covered Lingxi’s wounds, sealing the fine cuts left by the sand. Bl00d, which had been seeping out moments ago, ceased to flow and healed instantly.

A faint fragrance drifted past her nose. The warmth on her skin and the quiet voice in her ear—none of these could compare to the illusions she had just witnessed.

Xie Xisui took a half-step back, widening the distance between them. “Now, if given the choice, would you still be lost in illusions?”

“No matter what an illusion takes the form of, it is still just an illusion. Even if it mimics my appearance, it cannot change the fact that it is a counterfeit.”

“From childhood, I have taught you to protect yourself. And now, you let a fake hurt you.”

A buzzing sound filled Lingxi’s ears. After a pause, the voice in front of her spoke again, this time more subdued.

“With you like this, how can I be at ease letting you leave the mountain?”

Her voice was soft and calm, but as it entered Lingxi’s ears, it felt like a sigh, as if she could see the slight furrow in Xie Xisui’s brows.

Lingxi immediately bent forward in a deep bow. “Disciple was wrong, I made Master worry.”

“It was I—”

“I will not let you be harmed.”

The sudden statement silenced Lingxi, cutting off the words at her lips.

Lingxi looked up in a daze. Before her, the white cloth obscured everything, showing only a faint outline of Xie Xisui. Lingxi’s fingertips trembled slightly, a tingling sensation spreading to her heart.

As Xie Xisui’s words faded, the wind howled louder, engulfing them and making it impossible for Lingxi to tell direction.

For a moment, everything was silent. The feeling of floating overtook her, and even the sensation of sand beneath her feet vanished. The only thing surrounding her was a familiar, faint fragrance. The sword in her hand returned to its sheath with a crisp “clang.”

When she landed again, her feet touched a solid, smooth stone floor.

The heat dissipated, a cool breeze brushing against her face. Lingxi opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

“Elder, your room has been prepared. Everything you requested is inside.”

A respectful female voice echoed, followed by the sounds of several footsteps. Even the rustling of sleeves as people bowed became sharp and distinct in the darkness.

“Hm.”

Xie Xisui responded indifferently.

As someone moved to support Lingxi, she instinctively stepped back, intending to refuse. But before she could, a voice preempted her.

“You may all leave. There is no need for anyone to stay in the courtyard.”

“Yes, disciple takes their leave.”

The soft murmurs around her gradually faded, leaving only her and Xie Xisui. Lingxi, enveloped in darkness, could see nothing. Her fingers twitched slightly.

A smooth fingertip brushed against her wrist. “Come.”

“Yes.”

Lingxi followed Xie Xisui’s guidance. The wooden door creaked open. As she stepped over the threshold, she hesitated.

She looked at Xie Xisui. The white cloth blocked everything. Though they were so close, she could only make out a vague silhouette.

A gentle breeze stirred. Just as Lingxi reached to remove the cloth, a hand stopped her.

A fingertip trailed over the veins on her hand, slow and light, like the touch of delicate feathers against her skin.

“A minor punishment. Until the illusion poison is completely gone, you are not to remove the cloth.”