Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 41

The dense, throbbing pain caused beads of sweat to form on Shang Qianye’s forehead, but she dared not make a sound, fearing she would wake Luo Jiu, who was sleeping beside her.

Under the moonlight, the black thorn patterns on her wrist grew increasingly distinct, even beginning to develop crimson streaks. This had never happened before.

Shang Qianye narrowed her eyes, staring at the bl00d-red markings on her wrist as she sank into deep thought.

By the time dawn approached, the pain in her wrist had gradually subsided. Shang Qianye, having slept for less than four hours, awoke. When she raised her arm, the crimson streaks had vanished, but the black thorn patterns remained etched on her wrist.

Luo Jiu noticed the change upon waking as well. She gazed intently at the thorn patterns on Shang Qianye’s wrist, her expression darkening.

“Master?” Shang Qianye asked, her concern growing as she saw Luo Jiu’s intense scrutiny. “Is there something wrong with this? It started hurting yesterday after I woke up, and it only eased up this morning.”

“It started hurting last night?” Luo Jiu asked, lifting her delicate lashes to look at Shang Qianye. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shang Qianye smiled faintly, offering no reply.

Luo Jiu knew she had been too preoccupied yesterday to notice Shang Qianye’s minor aches and pains. It was a failure on her part as a master.

She reached out and gently stroked the black Thorn with her fingertip, asking softly, “How is it now? Does it still hurt?”

Shang Qianye shook her head, her gaze fixed on Luo Jiu’s earnest expression. The way those eyes focused intently on her wrist made Shang Qianye’s heart flutter, and she even felt a sudden urge to lean in and kiss her.

Completely oblivious to Shang Qianye’s thoughts, Luo Jiu continued to examine her wrist intently. She even tried to conceal the Thorn with a spell, but this time, it refused to be hidden.

Strange.

Luo Jiu frowned slightly. Why had the spell failed?

Was it because her spiritual energy had been depleted recently? Or could it be because Shang Qianye had come into contact with the Heavenly Dao Brake’s Barrier yesterday?

Luo Jiu recalled the sudden appearance of the Black Barrier and wondered if it was connected.

“Never mind,” she sighed.

Unable to figure it out, Luo Jiu looked up at Shang Qianye with resignation. “The spell isn’t working for now. I’ll study it later and see if I can find a way to conceal it. Just ignore it for the next few days. If it hurts, come find me.”

Luo Jiu released Shang Qianye’s hand and got up to wash and dress.

Shang Qianye leaned against the headboard, staring at her wrist. She examined it repeatedly, finding no discomfort beyond its sudden appearance. Throughout the day, she checked it several times but couldn’t detect anything unusual. The pain never returned, even after Luo Jiu came back.

Three days passed.

During those days, Luo Jiu applied medicine to Shang Qianye’s wrist daily and asked about its condition. Strangely, apart from the initial night of pain, the Thorn caused no further discomfort.

In fact, after getting used to it, the Thorn Bracelet began to seem rather stylish.

Quite cool.

After several days of rest, Shang Qianye walked without a limp, moving as smoothly as a normal person. Her injuries, except for a few deep cuts, had mostly healed, and she no longer needed to brew medicinal tonics daily.

This was an excellent sign.

Seeing her condition improve significantly, Luo Jiu stopped returning to the cave every few days. Sometimes, she would leave at dawn and not return until nightfall.

With nothing else to do, Shang Qianye took on a new task: reviewing the daily dungeon records.

At first, everything seemed ordinary. Then, Shang Qianye noticed an unfamiliar name appearing frequently: Wen Shuang.

“According to these records, Wen Shuang is the Medicinal Cultivator disciple responsible for treating the Snake Lady,” Shang Qianye said, calling Luo Jiu over to the stone table. She showed her the day’s dungeon records and pointed to Wen Shuang’s name. “Something about her seems odd.”

Luo Jiu’s head ached at the sight of the dense text. She cut straight to the point: “Why do you think she’s odd?”

Shang Qianye said, “Because her qualifications are unremarkable—she hasn’t even been in the sect for two years—yet she’s been treating the Snake Lady in the Dungeon since she arrived. It struck me as odd.”

Luo Jiu lowered her head again, studying the entries in the logbook.

Wen Shuang entered the Dungeon and communicated with the Snake Lady as follows:

Snake Lady: My dear sister, you’ve come again today. Do you miss me?

Wen Shuang: (Opens the medicine box without speaking.)

Snake Lady: You come every day, yet you never speak to me. Now that my wounds are nearly healed, shouldn’t you say a few words?

Wen Shuang: (Applies the ointment, ignoring her.)

Snake Lady: Hiss! You’re hurting me! Look, I’m bleeding! What if you ruin the skin I’ve worked so hard to heal?

Wen Shuang: (Frantically stops the bleeding, finally succeeding.)

Snake Lady: Aiya, my dear sister, you’re so kind. If I ever get out of here, I’ll definitely marry you!

As Luo Jiu read the entries, she realized Shang Qianye’s suspicions… might indeed warrant further investigation.

Deep within the dungeon, Wen Shuang stood at the entrance as usual. After the inspecting disciple verified her identity papers, she stepped into the frigid depths.

“Phew—”

Wen Shuang exhaled, her breath condensing into a white cloud.

The dungeon remained as cold as ever. If not for Qin Wangyue’s orders, she would never have ventured into such a place.

“We’re here,” the disciple leading the way announced. He stopped before the Snake Lady’s cell, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door. Turning to Wen Shuang, he said, “As always, I’ll be standing here to observe.”

Wen Shuang gripped her small medicine chest tightly and nodded solemnly.

Entering the cell, Wen Shuang saw the Snake Lady slumped in a corner of the dimly lit dungeon. Her injuries were healing rapidly, so unlike the previous days when mere confinement sufficed, iron chains now bound her wrists and ankles. The chains were embedded in the walls, leaving only a limited range of movement.

Hearing the sound of approach, the Snake Lady opened her eyes early. As Wen Shuang entered, she greeted her with a smile, “Sister, you’ve come to see me again?”

Wen Shuang’s fair cheeks flushed crimson. She was here to treat a prisoner, not to “see” her.

Though the woman called Snake Lady was breathtakingly beautiful, Wen Shuang knew she was as venomous as a viper. She mustn’t speak to her, lest she be bewitched and fall deeply in love.

Ignoring the Snake Lady, Wen Shuang knelt beside her and silently began to unfasten her robes.

“Undressing me the moment we meet?” The Snake Lady reached out, her slender, pale fingers tracing Wen Shuang’s cheek. Her icy touch, like a serpent’s tongue, made Wen Shuang glance at her in alarm.

The Snake Lady’s eyes curved into a smile as she studied Wen Shuang’s face. “You seem even more beautiful than yesterday, little sister.”

Wen Shuang’s cheeks flushed crimson again. She knew she was unremarkable, even plain. Her eyes were merely a bit larger, her skin a bit fairer. Senior Martial Brothers and Sisters might praise her for being sensible, but there was nothing truly special about her.

“N-nonsense…” Wen Shuang stammered, her voice strained. “D-don’t… don’t talk to me.”

Wen Shuang remembered Senior Sister Qin’s warning before she entered: Never speak to the Snake Lady. That woman will bewitch your mind.

“Aiya, you look even more adorable when you’re angry,” the Snake Lady chuckled, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she watched Wen Shuang’s discomfort.

Waaah!

Senior Sister, this woman talks too much! I can’t handle it anymore!

As the Snake Lady changed Wen Shuang’s bandages, Wen Shuang noticed the wound wasn’t healing well. Perhaps it was due to the God-Sealing Spike embedded in the Snake Lady’s body, which suppressed her spiritual energy, or perhaps the Dungeon’s frigid temperatures were hindering recovery. The wound continued to fester, and today it appeared inflamed again.

In short, the Snake Lady was at risk of dying at any moment.

Wen Shuang was deeply troubled. She couldn’t let the woman die in her care; she wouldn’t be able to explain it to Elder Yu Chang or Senior Sister Qin.

She cautiously glanced up at the Snake Lady, only to find the woman already staring at her. Their eyes met, and the Snake Lady smiled—a radiant, captivating smile. Wen Shuang, a simple village girl, had never experienced such bewitching beauty. Her face and neck flushed crimson, like a shrimp freshly plucked from a boiling pot.

“I… I…” Wen Shuang nervously reached out her hand. “Let me touch your forehead to check for a fever. Please… please don’t bite me.”

She was terrified the Snake Lady would bite her.

But when Wen Shuang’s hand approached, the Snake Lady didn’t bite at all. She merely lowered her gaze and allowed the young girl to touch her forehead.

A faint medicinal fragrance emanated from Wen Shuang, surprisingly pleasant in the cold dungeon air.

Seeing the Snake Lady obediently silent and still, Wen Shuang relaxed and moved closer. She meticulously observed the patient’s condition, using the traditional methods of inspection, auscultation, palpation, and inquiry, recording her findings in a small notebook she carried with her.

Wound suppurating and inflamed. Patient’s temperature elevated. Tongue coating thick and moist, likely due to excessive cold, hindering recovery.

Wen Shuang carefully noted these observations, then sighed helplessly.

As a physician, she naturally wished her patient could recover in a better environment. Yet she knew the Snake Lady was a prisoner captured by the Lingxiao Sect, and there was no chance of her being allowed to leave.

Torn between these conflicting concerns, Wen Shuang felt deeply troubled.

As Wen Shuang pondered how to adjust the treatment plan and medication, she suddenly felt a gaze piercing down from above. She looked up blankly and saw the Snake Lady staring at her.

The Snake Lady smiled, her lips curving into a sly grin, and suddenly leaned closer.

The chains rattled loudly, the harsh sound grating against the silence of the dungeon.

The disciple guarding the cell immediately gripped his sword hilt and barked, “What are you doing?! Sit back down!”

The Snake Lady, still smiling, glanced disdainfully at the unpleasant guard and reluctantly leaned back against the wall, her gaze fixed intently on Wen Shuang, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

After a moment of stunned silence, Wen Shuang frantically gathered her things and fled in disarray.

The guard quickly slammed the cell door shut, checked all the locks, and then left the dungeon. Only after they were gone did the Snake Lady lean against the wall, her expression gradually turning icy.

Meanwhile, Wen Shuang, clutching her medicine chest, stumbled out of the dungeon and hid in a corner, gasping for breath.

She pressed a hand to her flushed cheek, her face burning crimson.

Just now, that venomous woman had secretly… kissed her in the dungeon!