After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 5

Yu Yan hadn’t expected someone to arrive so soon. She had publicly claimed to be in seclusion for a hundred years. This identity was fabricated; she had no family or sect members. Who would seek her out at this time?
She made a gesture, and the scene outside her door appeared before her.
Knocking at the door was a young female cultivator, probably only in her twenties, the prime of her youth. Her skin was as smooth as fine cream, her figure as graceful as a jade branch. Her thick, dark hair was combed back and styled into two slightly drooping buns. Her eyes held a kind expression. While not a peerless beauty, she possessed an ethereal grace and jade-like features, pretty as a picture.
Yu Yan had initially planned to take out her anger on this person. But unexpectedly, the other person was modest and polite. After knocking once, she didn’t hurry her again, just standing obediently outside the door, looking straight ahead, her gaze so innocent it was disarming.
Most of her anger dissipated.
Is this my love trial? She looks rather boring.
Yu Yan thought with resignation. Anyway, the Celestial Emperor’s punishment can’t be taken back. I might as well accept it and try interacting with this female cultivator.
Just as she was preparing to go through the motions, she suddenly saw several threads of light clinging to the other person out of the corner of her eye. These threads represented karma, and the red one was the most striking and distinct.
This person had died once and had only recently returned to life.
The cause of death was unknown, but the resentful energy was extremely heavy. It didn’t seem like a peaceful death. It might have been suicide. But at such a young age, what reason would she have to give up on life?
There were also two other threads, one gold and one transparent. She had never seen these two colors before and didn’t know what they represented.
Interesting.
Yu Yan decided to take back her earlier thought. This young female cultivator wasn’t boring at all. On the contrary, there was no one more interesting in the world.
She cleared her throat and said to the outside, “Coming.”
Qi Qing had already prepared herself for no response and was spacing out from boredom. Suddenly, she heard the golden bell on the door chime. She was startled for a moment and thought she was hearing things.
Did someone speak just now, or was it my imagination?
She quickly straightened her clothes, rubbed her face, and put on a standard, practiced smile. Even though the person opening the door probably wasn’t the Immortal Lord herself, she still had to maintain basic etiquette, lest others think her ill-mannered.
Speaking of etiquette, her heart skipped a beat. She had been so focused on rushing here these past few days that she’d forgotten to buy a meeting gift. Although she had the jade slip, that was for the Immortal Lord, not for a gatekeeper. If someone helped her pass on a message or run an errand, she would feel bad if she didn’t offer them something.
Qi Qing rummaged through her storage pouch. Inside were only a few loose spirit stones. The protective talismans and Golden Scale Wings she had brought when she left had already been used. She really couldn’t find anything suitable as a gift.
She looked around and saw some cute little flowers by a rock. She casually picked a few. Before she had time to arrange them, she heard the cave door open. In her haste, without even getting a clear look at the person, she thrust the flowers forward.
When she looked up, she was stunned.
It wasn’t for any other reason than that the person before her was breathtakingly beautiful. This kind of beauty was hard to describe in words and couldn’t be categorized. If one had to define it, it was an ethereal aura.
An ethereal aura is hard to describe. It’s not about facial features or temperament. It’s like how everyone says “as beautiful as a heavenly fairy.” In reality, no one has ever seen a heavenly fairy; it’s just a vague ideal in one’s mind, and anything falling short doesn’t qualify.
But this feeling was made real in this person. Beautiful, just too beautiful. So beautiful that Qi Qing didn’t even realize she was staring blankly. It wasn’t until the other person accepted the flowers, thanked her, and called out to her when she didn’t respond, that she snapped out of her daze.
“Ah… um…” Qi Qing’s tongue felt tied. She didn’t even know what she wanted to say. She stammered for a long time before finally remembering the purpose of her visit.
She hastily took out the jade slip and handed it over. “This is for… for Immortal Lord Minghuai.”
After handing it over, she began to regret it. I should have wiped it cleaner. I was so nervous just now; what if I got sweat on it? Wouldn’t she find it disgusting?
She quickly peeked with her peripheral vision. Seeing that the other person didn’t show any displeasure, she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
The other person took the jade slip, directly broke the wax seal, pulled out the silk cloth inside, and began to read.
What was written on it?
Qi Qing was no longer curious. She only knew that since the person before her dared to open the seal directly, she must be Immortal Lord Minghuai herself.
Her earlier awe now had a basis. No wonder she was so beautiful; it turned out to be Immortal Lord Minghuai. There was very little information about her passed down through the ages, but any mention of her always included high praise for her appearance. To receive such affirmation from so many people, her reputation was surely not undeserved.
She was truly fortunate beyond measure to be able to meet such a reclusive, powerful figure.
But… why would the Immortal Lord answer the door herself?
She secretly peeked behind the other person. The inside of the immortal cave was pitch black. She could faintly hear the sound of dripping water. A gust of wind brought with it a strong, musty odor. Although many immortal caves used for seclusion weren’t in the best condition, this place was exceptionally bad.
It feels like living in there would give you eczema.
Just as she wanted to get a clearer look, she heard the rustle of silk cloth. Qi Qing immediately refocused, looking down demurely, and waited for the other person to reply.
“Since you’re curious, go in and take a look,” Immortal Lord Minghuai said with a hint of a smile, then turned and went inside before Qi Qing could react.
How could Qi Qing dare to step into an Immortal Lord’s cave? But since she had accepted the task, she had to see it through. Regardless of whether the other party replied or not, she had to get a clear answer before leaving.
Gritting her teeth, she braced herself and stepped inside.
…
Meanwhile, after Ling Aorui returned to the dormitories, she tried knocking on Qi Qing’s door for a long while without success. Other disciples poked their heads out to look. By mid-morning, most disciples were at their morning lessons; only a few who had taken leave remained in the dormitories.
“Senior Sister Ling? What brings you here?” The disciple came out limping, intending to see who was making such a racket. When he saw it was Ling Aorui, his expression immediately changed to one of pleasant surprise.
Ling Aorui didn’t bother to answer, only asking, “Have you seen Qi Qing?”
“Qi Qing?” The disciple, unaware of last night’s commotion, scratched his head and said, “At this time, she should be at morning lessons, right?”
Ling Aorui saw he knew nothing, so she said no more and flew off towards the Mooring Platform.
Naturally, she found nothing there either.
Qi Qing was gone.
Actually, the other person’s intention to avoid her was very clear, and Ling Aorui realized it too. She just didn’t understand why the other person wouldn’t even give her a chance to meet. Never mind that they were fellow sect members; even complete strangers wouldn’t be so cold.
For a moment, she even thought of finding out where the other person had gone and using an escape art to chase after her and demand an explanation. But she immediately dismissed the idea. The Dao teaches inaction and letting go of obsessions. If she remained obstinately attached, she would fall into the demonic path.I
She calmed herself and flew towards Surging Wave Peak, where her master resided.
Her master was the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Mo Tao, also known as Immortal Lord Yu He. He was over a thousand years old this year, and his cultivation was close to the Great Ascension realm. He was one of the most prominent figures in the entire cultivation world. Cultivators of his age had either already ascended or died of old age.
He was the only one who had lived to become a living fossil.
Therefore, he was exceptionally knowledgeable and had many solutions.
Going to him was Ling Aorui’s last resort.
After hearing her out, Mo Tao said gravely, “If even Junior Sister Qing Shan has no solution, then this matter is indeed difficult…”
Ling Aorui nodded. “That disciple named Qi Qing might know something. I wanted to ask her in person, but she keeps avoiding me.”
“Qi Qing… Qi Qing…” Mo Tao repeated the name twice, then suddenly said, “Is she the girl who was rescued during the beast calamity that year?”
“Yes. Her entire village died; she was the only survivor.”
“I’ve investigated her; there should be no problem with her identity,” Mo Tao said. “If you’re truly worried, then take more protective gear, especially for your eyes.”
“Master, you mean I should still go?”
“Junior Sister Qing Shan is right. If this matter truly involves heavenly secrets, then even if you try everything to avoid it, you can’t. You might even incur a more severe backlash. Only by facing it boldly is there a chance to break through the situation.”
Mo Tao spoke earnestly and with deep meaning, so Ling Aorui couldn’t say anything more. Seeing she still looked troubled, Mo Tao took out a protective talisman and gave it to her for protection.
Mo Tao’s protective talisman was different from those made by ordinary disciples. He had crafted it personally, infusing it with his own spiritual energy. Even against a Spirit Transformation realm demonic beast, it could ensure she remained unharmed.
To put it extremely, it was almost a magic artifact.
Ling Aorui thanked her master, feeling slightly more at ease.
The next day, it was time to depart for the Summer Hunt.
The young disciples going down the mountain for the first time were extremely nervous yet incredibly excited. They gathered around their favorite seniors, trying hard to become familiar faces. The older cultivators were also eager, trying every means to show off, so they could bask in admiring gazes for the rest of the year.
Ling Aorui won the championship every year and was really in no mood to compete for such empty fame. Moreover, with matters weighing on her mind, she simply went into the ship’s cabin first.
The disciples who had just been crowding around her instantly fell silent. Then someone cautiously asked, “Did someone anger Senior Sister Ling?”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned to the disciple who had been closest to Ling Aorui just moments before. That disciple’s name was Si Li. Sensing their suspicion, she said anxiously, “Why are you looking at me? I didn’t do anything!”
“Why such a big reaction? I bet it was you!”
“Don’t you slander me! She left for no reason!”
“Senior Sister Ling has always been kind-hearted and beautiful, and she cares for her juniors. She wouldn’t just give someone the cold shoulder for no reason! If you angered her, just admit it. To be frank, no one would blame you. But treating us all like fools is too much!”
The two sides started arguing. Si Li was quite eloquent, but she couldn’t withstand the verbal assault from so many people and gradually lost ground.
When the others saw she had stopped talking, they assumed she was in the wrong and criticized her further. Even a few friends who usually got along well with her turned against her; no one spoke up for her.
Si Li had a fiery temper. Being slandered like this, her anger reached its peak. But she also knew the disparity in numbers was too great; arguing further was useless.
In fact, this matter stemmed from a misunderstanding and could have been resolved.
But the very person who could clarify things for her was unwilling to step forward.
The other person was clearly sitting in the immortal ship just a foot away from her. She didn’t believe Ling Aorui couldn’t hear them. If she heard and still said nothing, then it wasn’t aloofness and transcendence, but cold indifference and heartlessness. She simply didn’t care about an ordinary disciple like her.
And in the end, this matter had nothing to do with her. They had merely transferred their anger about Ling Aorui’s abrupt departure onto her.
Why should she take the blame for someone else?
Si Li had been a loyal admirer of Ling Aorui; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been standing so close. Just a quarter of an hour ago, she was still praising Ling Aorui, talking about how strong and beautiful she was. Who knew that in this turn of events, not only did Ling Aorui not speak up for her, but she had even brought trouble upon her.
Normally, an argument was just an argument. But the Summer Hunt was about to begin. Being isolated now meant she couldn’t team up with others and would have to act alone. In the worst-case scenario, she could die.
Si Li was both frightened and furious, trembling with anger.
Hatred burned away her reason. She appeared calm, but a plan had already formed in her mind. She was determined to reclaim the affection she had misplaced.