Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 16

Medicinal Cultivator’s Dormitory.

Qin Wangyue toyed with the Soul-Devouring Pearl in her hand, her eyes brimming with awe.

After absorbing the souls of Pei Hui and five others, the pearl’s color had intensified, now glowing like a luminous gem even in broad daylight.

“It’s already this radiant after absorbing only a hundred souls,” she murmured, “what will it look like when it’s filled with a thousand?”

Qin Wangyue caressed the pearl, utterly captivated.

Yet beneath her elation, a sliver of unease lingered.

During the council meeting the previous night, Qin Wangyue had sat behind Yu Shiyan. When she saw Gu Jin channel magical power into the jade pendant, revealing the final moments seen through Pei Hui’s dying eyes, her heart nearly stopped.

Fortunately, her meticulous nature had served her well. The location where she killed Pei Hui and the others remained unknown, the poisonous smoke she used had been provided by someone else, and even the Soul-Devouring Pearl was an artifact from the Demonic Sect.

With her face unrecorded, Qin Wangyue remained temporarily safe.

After carefully storing the Soul-Devouring Pearl in a box hidden deep within her bedside cabinet, she sat on the edge of her bed, drew a talisman paper, and formed a hand seal.

The talisman paper fluttered to life without wind, emitting a flash of light, and a figure materialized in Qin Wangyue’s room.

The figure, a projection of light, extended only from the thighs upward. She wore a long red dress, her black hair cascading loosely around her shoulders, and her eyes held a bewitching smile as she gazed at Qin Wangyue.

It was Holy Maiden Snake Ji.

“Did everything go smoothly?” Snake Ji asked, crossing her arms and toying with her long black hair. “Was the poison smoke effective?”

Qin Wangyue’s expression relaxed as she looked at the woman before her. “Indeed, it worked perfectly. They all died instantly.”

Snake Ji floated casually around the room, then settled into one of the chairs.

Leaning her head against her hand, she asked Qin Wangyue, “If everything went so well, why are you contacting me? Didn’t we agree to only communicate when absolutely necessary?”

Qin Wangyue sighed softly. “Though they’re all dead, the trouble isn’t over.”

“Oh? Explain.”

“I didn’t anticipate the Little Princess possessing such a valuable magical artifact. Now the Lingxiao Sect knows the Demonic Sect killed her. You should be careful.”

“Heh.”

Snake Ji chuckled, her eyes turning venomous. “Qin Wangyue, you’ve finished your task, and now you want us to clean up your mess?”

“That’s not fair,” Qin Wangyue retorted. “We’re all disciples of the Demonic Sect. We should help each other.”

“What a fine example of mutual assistance,” Snake Lady remarked, her gaze fixed on Qin Wangyue. “You killed someone you disliked, created a massive problem, and now expect us to clean up your mess? Is this your idea of mutual assistance?”

“It was indeed my mistake,” Qin Wangyue admitted, her voice soft. “I never anticipated the Royal Family being so generous, casually gifting such a precious magical artifact to a mere child.” She gazed at Snake Lady with a wistful expression. “Snake Lady, you and Xuan Ying must help me this time. If I’m captured and interrogated, I might accidentally reveal your involvement.”

Snake Lady didn’t even bother to feign amusement, her cold gaze piercing Qin Wangyue like a venomous serpent’s. “Are you threatening us?”

Qin Wangyue shook her head, her gentle features unchanged. “How could I? I’m merely concerned. If they use soul-searching techniques on me, nothing will remain hidden. I don’t care about my own worthless life, but what about you?”

Snake Lady stared at Qin Wangyue for a long moment before scoffing. “Qin Wangyue, you truly wear a deceptive mask. Who would have guessed you were the one who told us about Shang Qianye’s feelings for her Master? Otherwise, I would never have thought to use the love gu against her.”

Qin Wangyue’s expression remained indifferent, seemingly unfazed by the Snake Lady’s words. She even took the time to straighten her robes.

“Fine, fine,” the Snake Lady said lazily. “Since we’re both members of the Demonic Sect, we should help each other.”

She turned to Qin Wangyue. “I’ll do this for you, but in return, you must help me.”

Qin Wangyue looked at her. “How do you want me to help you?”

The Snake Lady twirled a strand of her black hair around her finger. “Shang Qianye’s love gu has been maturing for over half a month now. It should be ready soon. Once she dies, Luo Jiu, who carries the Life-Bound Gu, will be severely injured, leaving her too weak to maintain the Heavenly Dao Brake’s barrier.”

“I want you to seize the opportunity and kill Shang Qianye.”

The Snake Lady chuckled. “This shouldn’t be too difficult for you, right?”

Qin Wangyue pondered for a moment before nodding. “Indeed, it’s not difficult. I’ll find a chance to poison her and notify you beforehand.”

The Snake Lady smiled gleefully. “Then I’ll await your good news.”

The talisman vanished, along with the Snake Lady’s image. Qin Wangyue stared at the spot where the Snake Lady had been sitting, her expression unreadable. She rose and walked over to the chair, examining it closely for a long time. Finally, she summoned a disciple and ordered her to burn the chair.

By the time Shang Qianye finished her work, dusk had already fallen.

Ever since learning that a disciple of the Demonic Sect had killed Pei Hui, Gu Jin had expanded the search area, extending it dozens of miles outward. The primary focus was on locating suspicious strangers.

Shang Qianye didn’t need to descend the mountain herself. The advantages of being a Talisman Cultivator were fully evident in this moment. She simply scattered talismans into the sky, and carried by the wind, they transformed into streaks of spiritual light, each probing a different area.

After a full day of searching, no significant leads had emerged. Noticing the late hour, Shang Qianye decided to continue the search tomorrow.

Tonight, she would have to obediently follow Luo Jiu’s instructions and visit her room after dark.

She probably has something important to tell me, Shang Qianye thought.

Before leaving, Shang Qianye grabbed the chestnut pastries she had prepared earlier. Still warm from the oven, they had been delivered by one of her talismans. It was the perfect opportunity to drop them off for Luo Jiu.

“Senior Sister Shang!”

Just as Shang Qianye emerged from the Talisman Cultivator’s office, a flicker in her peripheral vision caught a figure soaring toward her on a sword, stopping directly overhead.

Gu Yunqing leaped down from her sword and said to Shang Qianye, “Senior Sister, are you finished with your work? Would you like to have dinner together? The dining hall has prepared a special feast today to reward everyone for their hard work. Come with me!”

The disciples had been working tirelessly for days. Gu Jin had instructed the kitchen to prepare extra-delicious dishes, and Gu Yunqing, upon hearing this, immediately rushed to find Shang Qianye, eager to drag her along.

“You go ahead and eat. I won’t be joining you,” Shang Qianye replied with a gentle smile. “Master has summoned me for an urgent matter today. I need to hurry over.”

“Junior Aunt’s affairs aren’t that pressing,” Gu Yunqing insisted, sidling closer and looping her arm through Shang Qianye’s. She winked mischievously. “I have something special to show you today, Senior Sister!”