The Female Lead Always Comes Around [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 20

Mo Shang watched Ning Shu’s expression with an uneasy feeling in his chest.

For some time now, no one in Yan Yue Palace had mentioned Li Xiao or the Tian Shu Sect in front of the Little Palace Master. Today, circumstances left him no choice but to come forward, but judging by Ning Shu’s reaction, she seemed almost eager for the righteous sect to attack, her eyes burning with a feverish desire for battle.

It wasn’t just him Tan Fan, usually the slowest to notice, had also seen the change. More than once, he had commented that the Little Palace Master was no longer the same as before.

Previously, despite her severe injuries, she had worried about them, forcing herself to prevent conflict with the righteous sect at all costs. Now, she seemed completely unconcerned with the lives of Yan Yue Palace’s tens of thousands of disciples. Her only focus was private revenge.

Even if she were to pursue revenge, they would still do everything in their power to protect her but her current demeanor reminded Mo Shang too much of the former Palace Master.

Mo Shang frowned. Ning Shu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why the long face? Do you think we’re going to lose?”

“No. It’s just… the Tian Shu Sect has been plotting for a long time. We need to prepare in advance,” Mo Shang replied, returning to his usual calm and courteous tone.

“I’ve assigned this matter to Wu Yin. Assist him if necessary, and make absolutely sure the safety of everyone in the palace young, old, men, women, children,” Ning Shu instructed.

“Understood…”

Mo Shang withdrew. Ning Shu wrapped herself in her fox cloak, her long fingers idly turning a porcelain cup as her eyes drifted far away, lost in thought.

Rong Xue handed her a small white porcelain bottle. “Take your medicine tonight and sleep early. If you can’t bear it, have Xiao Xiang come find me.”

Ning Shu accepted the bottle, smiling faintly. “Thank you, Rong Xue.”

Rong Xue looked at her with tender affection, producing a candied fruit from her sleeve. “Thank me? I’m the physician of Yan Yue Palace. Even if you weren’t the Little Palace Master, I’d still treat you diligently. The truth will eventually come out, they’ll find out. When do you plan to confess?”

“Not for now. The situation is too tense. I can’t let them be distracted because of me,” Ning Shu replied, taking the candy. She teased, “This candy… It’s the same one as last time, isn’t it?”

Rong Xue sighed, exasperated. “Eat it. I just ‘borrowed’ it from Aunt Li yesterday.”

Ning Shu laughed, popped the candy in her mouth, and turned toward her room.

“The beautiful ones go to sleep first. The ugly ones can sneak something else. I’m craving Osmanthus cake, Hibiscus crystal cake, and little rice dumplings in sweet wine.”

Rong Xue watched her thin back with a twinge of worry, though her voice remained light.

“Got it. You won’t starve.”

Ning Shu disappeared behind the bamboo grove. Rong Xue’s expression darkened. She retrieved an old, rare medical book from her master’s shelf, preparing to spend the night studying how to fully cure Ning Shu.

Later, Xiao Xiang brought in a meal, all of Ning Shu’s favorites.

“Today, Lord Wu Yin asked why you weren’t eating with them. I dodged the question, but he seemed unconvinced,” Xiao Xiang said.

Ning Shu, calm as ever, replied while eating, “Ignore him. Next time he asks, just say I find them annoying and don’t want to eat with them.”

Xiao Xiang hesitated. “That doesn’t seem right… Lord Wu Yin would be hurt.”

Ning Shu glanced at him teasingly. “Indeed. You’d blame me if your Lord Wu Yin got sad.”

Xiao Xiang blushed, muttering, “N-no, that’s not true…”

Ning Shu smiled silently and continued eating. Wu Yin, handsome, skilled, and charming, was the object of many young girls’ admiration in Yan Yue Palace; Xiao Xiang was just one of his many fans. Ning Shu wasn’t surprised at his reaction.

After finishing her meal, Ning Shu got up and looked out the window, noticing a figure among the bamboo, and her heart softened.

Since learning of her illness last month, Rong Xue had been tirelessly trying to help, now even staying outside to watch over her, fearing an accident tonight.

But Ning Shu’s condition couldn’t be solved with silver needles alone, which was why she hadn’t told Wu Yin and the others.

As dusk deepened, most candles in Yan Yue Palace were extinguished, and people fell into sweet dreams. But for Ning Shu, her torment had only just begun.

She was drenched in sweat, biting a clean handkerchief, veins bulging on her forehead, her neck and face flushed red.

The pain wasn’t the worst part it was the uncontrollable bloodlust within her.

She fought against the murderous urges deep in her soul. Sweat soaked her clothes, hair clung to her face, and she looked completely disheveled.

She thought she had endured a long time, but in reality, only two hours had passed.

The full moon hung high, brighter than any candle. Rong Xue, using the moonlight to read her medical book, couldn’t take her eyes off Ning Shu. She stared at one page for a long time, her attention entirely on Ning Shu.

She wished Ning Shu would call her name so she could ease her suffering, but Ning Shu remained silent.

The sword had missed Ning Shu’s heart by a hair, allowing her relatively quick recovery. But the true problem wasn’t the wound it was the poison on the blade: Shura.

Shura was a long-lost, forbidden poison, notorious for its cruelty and extinct for over a decade. Rong Xue had only heard about it from her master. Seeing Ning Shu’s symptoms firsthand, she could hardly believe such a poison had reemerged and from the famed Tian Shu Sect.

Her master had warned: survivors of Shura barely lived, and those who did became monsters.

First, the unbearable pain of “ten thousand ants gnawing the heart”;
Then, gradual loss of reason, turning violent and bloodthirsty;
Next, estrangement from family and madness at the slightest provocation;
Finally, complete derangement and death from exhaustion.

These four stages lasted anywhere from six months to three years. Without a proper cure, Ning Shu could live no more than three years.

Rong Xue cursed herself for not learning more from her master back then. A few extra lessons might have prevented this passive situation.

As she brooded, a muffled thump came from Ning Shu’s room. Rong Xue hurried over, dropping her book.

Ning Shu was on the floor, eyes bloodshot, face twisted in pain. Her fingers clawed the ground, tips already bleeding, yet she seemed impervious to the pain.

“Little Palace Master, stop!” Rong Xue rushed to lift her, but Ning Shu gripped her wrist, nails digging in. Rong Xue gasped in pain.

Ning Shu, losing all reason, released her only upon seeing Rong Xue wince. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Don’t stop me, I’ll hurt you.”

Rong Xue couldn’t ignore her. She inserted a silver needle into Ning Shu’s brow. The redness in her eyes faded slightly. Ning Shu looked down at Rong Xue’s bleeding arm, whispering apologetically, “I’m sorry.”