The Female Lead Always Comes Around [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 18

Li Xiao drew her sword, her expression cold and unfeeling. “Righteous and evil can never coexist. Killing you would be no wrong at all.”

With that, she turned and left. Ning Shu’s heart broke, and she collapsed to the ground.

Wu Yin reacted first. He threw aside his teacup and leapt forward, catching Ning Shu in his arms. He sealed several key acupoints on her body to stop the relentless flow of bl00d.

Mo Shang quickly produced a Recollection Pill for Ning Shu and examined her injuries. Shaking his head at Wu Yin, he said, “This wound has struck the heart meridian. My shallow knowledge won’t suffice. We need our senior sister to step in.”

Tan Fan had once been slightly impressed by Li Xiao’s skill, but seeing her harm Ning Shu, he flew into a rage, sword in hand.

Li Zhou, of course, was ready in advance. Before Tan Fan could reach her, Tian Shu disciples surrounded him, fully alert.

Chi Ji protected Tan Fan, wary of his impulsiveness, eyes coldly fixed on Li Zhou as his long sword peeked out from its sheath.

Ning Shu writhed in pain, but the ache in her chest was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. Lying in Wu Yin’s arms, she turned her head to look at the proud, imperious Li Xiao. Tears slid down her cheeks, snaking into her hairline.

Mo Shang, usually calm, could not help his anger. He waved his fan to push aside the Tian Shu disciples in front of him. “Leader Li, what do you mean by this?”

Li Zhou looked down from his height, dismissing Mo Shang entirely. “It was only a sparring match. Your Yan Yue Palace disciples attacked first; I only acted in self-defense.”

“Was such excessive force necessary for a sparring match?” Mo Shang clenched his fan, trying to control his temper.

“On the arena, swords and knives show no mercy. Injuries happen. That’s what your Little Palace Master said why deny it now?”

Tan Fan’s anger flared, his ponytail whipping as his short sword flashed toward Li Zhou.

“If this were an honest fight, the Little Palace Master might not even be your daughter’s match. You preyed on her while she was vulnerable and still dare call yourselves the foremost righteous sect? I spit on you!”

Tan Fan, weaker in martial skill, was blocked by Li Xiao before he reached Li Zhou. Her moves were sharp and precise. Chi Ji, fearing Tan Fan would take a loss, quickly dealt with the opponents restraining him before assisting him. Together, they managed to hold Li Xiao at bay, reaching a temporary stalemate.

Wu Yin looked at Ning Shu, whose eyes were losing focus. His expression was icy as frost. Mist began to rise around the arena, spreading outward.

Ning Shu clutched Wu Yin’s sleeve, straining to speak. “Don’t get into a fight with them.”

Since Li Xiao dared to act so openly against her, the righteous sect had likely already planned how to deal with Yan Yue Palace. Fighting now would only play into their hands.

With their strength, retreating unscathed was possible but if a full fight broke out, they would lose. Their master was in seclusion; no one would come to help.

As Ning Shu panicked, the bl00d she had barely stopped started flowing again. Wu Yin quickly said, “Don’t worry. We’ll follow your lead.”

The mist dispersed rapidly. Wu Yin turned to the triumphant-looking Li Zhou, voice stern: “The Little Palace Master orders: no conflicts with any sect present.”

Tan Fan and Chi Ji immediately lowered their weapons, stepping back to Wu Yin and Ning Shu’s side.

Wu Yin carried Ning Shu toward the exit, the four guards and Yan Yue Palace disciples clearing a path. Some sects had wanted to intervene in the chaos, but none dared risk it, fearing death by sword.

Li Zhou wanted to stop them, but Li Xiao quickly stepped in, pleading, “Father, you promised me!”

Li Zhou glanced at her, smiling ambiguously, then waved his disciples away.

Li Xiao, seeing Ning Shu lying quietly in Wu Yin’s arms, could not resist stepping down from the arena.

Ning Shu lifted her eyes to meet hers. Pale lips trembled as she whispered weakly: “An evil like me deserves execution, but congratulations you’ve done it. In my hometown, there’s a saying: ‘Those who betray true hearts must swallow ten thousand needles.’ I hope you sleep well every night.”

As Ning Shu spoke, a system notification sounded in Li Xiao’s mind:

[Target’s favorability +50. Congratulations, host you’ve made great progress!]

Li Xiao had just stabbed her, yet her favorability increased. Clearly, something was wrong with her head.

Watching Ning Shu pass out, Li Xiao’s palm bled from gripping her sword too tightly, but there was nothing she could do but watch.

Ning Shu was taken back to Yan Yue Palace. Mo Shang, risking punishment, called their senior sister out of seclusion.

Rong Xue kicked open the stone door, exhaustion in her face, her gaze sharp enough to kill.

“You better give me a reasonable explanation, or I’ll let you sit with our master for a game of chess!”

Mo Shang shivered, stammering, “The Little Palace Master is critically injured. Only you can save her.”

Rong Xue frowned. “Little Palace Master?”

“Recently, the Palace Master took on a disciple and named her as the heir,” Mo Shang added, trying to convince her. “Eighteen years old, as beautiful as a celestial being.”

Rong Xue’s eyes brightened. “Really?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you. Once you see her, you’ll know she’s even more beautiful than I describe.”

“You should’ve said so earlier. If we delay treatment, the little beauty could die!” Rong Xue dashed off, Mo Shang only seeing the hem of her robe.

Upon seeing Ning Shu, Rong Xue smiled. Finally, her useless junior had done something right.

“Move aside. Standing around won’t bring her back.”

Tan Fan stepped back reluctantly. “Sister Rong Xue, the Little Palace Master isn’t dead yet.”

“Talk too much! Go drink some hot water. I’m going to remove her clothes do you want to stay and watch?”

Chi Ji pulled Tan Fan away, Wu Yin stepped back.

Rong Xue checked Ning Shu’s forehead and retrieved a roll of silver needles from her bag.

Ning Shu’s nightmare tormented her. In it, Li Xiao repeatedly stabbed her, each time deeper, as if trying to carve out her heart.

“It hurts… it hurts…”

Hearing her murmurs, Rong Xue softened her hands, “It doesn’t hurt. Almost done.”

“Why? Why…”

Tears slipped from Ning Shu’s eyes. Rong Xue paused, then gently wiped them away.

“This doesn’t seem like a sparring injury… more like heartbreak,” she murmured, noticing bite marks on Ning Shu’s neck. Exhausted from three months of seclusion, Rong Xue leaned against the bed and dozed.

Ning Shu clutched anything she could to stay grounded, trapped in the whirlpool of her nightmare.

Suddenly, Rong Xue’s hand was grasped tightly, waking her instantly.

“I wasn’t stopping you… why so much force?”

She removed the last needle. A red mark appeared between Ning Shu’s brows, identical to Yue Tang’s.

“No wonder the Palace Master chose you as heir you have the same yin bones as him.”

Ning Shu slowly opened her eyes, seeing an unfamiliar face. “Who are you?”

Recognizing the person as an ally, she didn’t feel afraid.

Rong Xue smiled seductively, leaning closer, her chest shifting slightly.

“This is a long story, but I just saved you from death. Consider me your lifesaver. If you wish, you could repay me… in kind.”

Ning Shu: “….” Forget it she closed her eyes again and drifted into a deep sleep.

Once satisfied that Ning Shu slept soundly, Rong Xue withdrew her hand and left. She lit calming incense, enough to ensure Ning Shu wouldn’t wake until morning.

By midnight, Yan Yue Palace was silent, only occasional bird calls piercing the darkness before being swallowed by the night.

The bedroom door quietly opened. Someone stepped to Ning Shu’s bedside, their slender, fair hand trembling as it brushed her face.