After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 12

He was so scared he slumped to the ground. When he looked up again, Qi Qing had already sheathed her sword.
Her movements were clean and decisive. The sword slid into its sheath with a soft clang, and as the tassels on her disciple uniform swayed, she exuded an indescribable, effortless grace. Everyone stared, stunned. They had practiced the sword for many years themselves, yet they couldn’t perform such a beautiful sheathing motion.
More importantly, she had actually defeated Skinny Monkey.
Although Skinny Monkey had a poor character, his cultivation level was genuine. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to act so tyrannically in the outer sect. Countless people had been bullied by him, and most had swallowed their anger and endured it.
They had originally thought Qi Qing would also back down.
But not only did she not back down, she even achieved such a stunning victory. Although this spar was mostly about swordsmanship and not cultivation level, defeating a stronger opponent with such basic sword techniques was simply unbelievable.
And she had won so beautifully, so satisfyingly.
Amidst the crowd’s gasps of admiration, a stone suddenly flew over their heads and hit the back of Skinny Monkey’s head.
Someone shouted, “Serves you right, scumbag!”
This single stone set off a chain reaction. People have a herd mentality, and seeing the usually arrogant Skinny Monkey deflated, those he had bullied grew bold and threw more stones. Even though some missed, they had vented their frustration.
Skinny Monkey was hit a few times and turned around fiercely, trying to find who threw them.
But with so many people, how could he find them?
“I won. According to our agreement, you have to call me…” Qi Qing, afraid he would start trouble with others and delay matters here, quickly reminded him it was time to fulfill his promise.
But the word “Grandma” was really a bit hard for her to say. She paused, not finishing her sentence. To others, however, it seemed like she was deliberately drawing it out to humiliate him.
This was truly satisfying for the crowd, and they began to jeer, urging him to hurry up and say it.
Skinny Monkey glared fiercely at the crowd, but sitting on the ground, he lacked his usual imposing air. He wanted to go back on his word, but how could he? Many people in the crowd wanted to see him humiliated. If he lost and then acted like a sore loser, he would lose all standing. Even his own followers wouldn’t respect him.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed out “Grandma” from between them.
Qi Qing was so close to him, yet she could barely hear it. The people in the crowd heard even less. Immediately, someone voiced their dissatisfaction. Qi Qing also felt he was being too half-hearted, but she didn’t want to drag it on, so she prepared to leave the stage.
But just as she took a step, she heard Yu Yan say, “That’s not what was agreed, is it? Who said you could say it sitting down?”
Yu Yan had been standing at the back of the crowd, rather inconspicuous. But when she spoke, she immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Oh, right! What about the kneeling that was agreed upon?
Although Skinny Monkey was sitting on the ground, creating the visual illusion of a lower position, sitting and kneeling were completely different. He was clearly just trying to get away with it.
As for Skinny Monkey, uttering “Grandma” had already been his limit. Making him do it again would be doubly shameful. But he was in the wrong and had lost. Being stubborn now would look bad. So, he signaled his followers with his eyes. They were all sharp and immediately understood, starting to clamor while pretending to be reasonable.
“Come on, that’s enough. What’s the difference if he’s kneeling or sitting?”
“Yeah! That last move almost cut his nose off. He hasn’t even asked you for an apology, and now you’re picking on him?”
“We’re all fellow disciples. There’s no need to be so relentless, right?”
Skinny Monkey also quickly chimed in, “Junior Sister Qi, I was blind just now and didn’t recognize your skill. Look, my legs are still weak from fright. How about we let it go? This way, we’ve gotten to know each other through this fight. In the future, if you ever need anything from your Brother Skinny Monkey, just ask!”
He sounded very sincere, making it difficult for others to refuse.
“You were the one who insisted on fighting. Now that you’ve lost, you won’t own up to it,” Yu Yan said. “If you had won, would you accept Qi Qing just sitting on the ground and mumbling a few words to get away with it? If you say you would, and dare to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, then we can accept it too. How about that? We’re giving you a chance. Aren’t we being very magnanimous?”
Her words directly mirrored Skinny Monkey’s earlier shameless remark, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Even if he had a silver tongue, he couldn’t say anything in response.
Besides, he didn’t dare swear such an oath.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Skinny Monkey pushed himself up and then reluctantly knelt. His legs weren’t really weak; he had just said so and couldn’t contradict himself now. He knew Yu Yan was difficult to deal with. If he didn’t satisfy her, she might find another reason to make him do it again.
“Grandma Qi Qing, please accept this little brother’s bow!”
His voice was loud and clear, holding nothing back.
The crowd below immediately burst into laughter. Those he had bullied laughed with particular glee. Skinny Monkey, once seemingly invincible in their eyes, had now fallen from his pedestal and become a laughingstock.
It was truly instant karma! So satisfying!
Hearing him call her that made Qi Qing shiver with discomfort. She quickly turned and left.
Anyway, I’ve vented my anger, and the matter is resolved. Let it end here. Although I didn’t intend to be so overbearing, seeing my bully kneel and receiving the admiring gazes from the crowd… that feeling is still incredibly satisfying.
After leaving the crowd and meeting up with Yu Yan, the two exchanged a smile and began to walk away slowly. The crowd’s gazes remained fixed on her retreating figure, unwilling to look away for a long time.
At that moment, Qi Qing was their hero.
After they had walked quite a distance, Yu Yan asked, “Are you happy?”
Qi Qing smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“Don’t go back to live there anymore,” Yu Yan said. “Pack your things and come to my place. It’ll save you from them causing more trouble.” After a pause, she added, “Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to discuss it with you before.”
“It’s okay.” Qi Qing had been a little scared at first, but she also understood that being lenient would achieve nothing; they would only push their luck. If she had enough power herself, she would have done the same.
Thinking of this, she said, “Thank you.”
“No need. I wanted to help,” Yu Yan said, looking up at the sky. Then she suddenly added, “Oh, right. There’s something I want to ask you.”
Qi Qing nodded, signaling for her to go ahead.
“Have you… ever been in a relationship before?”
Yu Yan’s voice was very soft, tinged with a shyness that was almost excessively innocent. Qi Qing hadn’t expected such a question. She hesitated for a moment before replying, “I guess you could say I have.”
“Then you’re more experienced than me…” Yu Yan continued, “If I want to pursue someone, what should I do? Should I be really good to her, or give her lots of gifts?”
For a moment, Qi Qing didn’t know how to react. On one hand, Yu Yan’s words reminded her of her past self in her previous life, who had desperately tried to be good to Ling Aorui, only to end up with such a result. On the other hand, a subtle sadness welled up inside her. She didn’t know if she was sad because Yu Yan had someone she liked, or for some other reason.
She just felt very lonely.
She couldn’t stay in the Heavenly Sword Sect much longer. Yu Yan would eventually find a new partner. When that happened, where would she go? This unfamiliar world was vast, large enough to contain the Three Thousand Great Daos, yet it also felt so small, with no place left for her.
But, she wanted Yu Yan to be happy.
Yu Yan had helped her so much; she couldn’t be ungrateful.
Pushing aside the last vestiges of her hidden sadness, she composed herself and said earnestly, “I think if two people truly love each other, they don’t need to try so hard. Gifts can buy gratitude, but not love.”
These were her heartfelt words, a final understanding bought with her life. In truth, by now, she no longer stubbornly obsessed over whether Ling Aorui’s past words were merely perfunctory. Ling Aorui hadn’t been wrong about one thing: gratitude is not love.
True love should be a mutual journey.
Not one person taking ninety-nine steps while the other can’t even be bothered to take that final step. Such a relationship, even if forced, would eventually fall apart for other reasons.
“Is that so?” Yu Yan said, as if a thought had struck her. “But what’s a bit troubling is that being good to someone you like is an instinct. Just like with you—I can’t help but want to protect you.”
With that, Yu Yan walked ahead, leaving Qi Qing standing there. Qi Qing’s mind was blank for a good while before she realized Yu Yan was teasing her.
Instantly, her face began to burn.
Yu Yan had been like this when they first met. Although she’d been more reserved lately, at any unguarded moment, she’d start saying things that could easily be misunderstood again.
Qi Qing gave a helpless smile. Is this how straight girls flirt?
Meanwhile, Ling Aorui suddenly jolted awake, drenched in a cold sweat.
The person from her dreams had appeared again. They told her that her eyes were not incurable, but if she wanted them healed, she had to take the initiative to get close to Qi Qing.
That person was the one who could help cure her eyes.