After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 8

Ling Aorui did not know that the magic artifact had already been stolen.
When Si Li stole the safety talisman, she didn’t realize she was about to make a huge mistake. By the time she understood, she had already been swept far away by the panicking crowd.
She struggled to look back and saw Ling Aorui standing alone before the giant python. Her sleeves were puffed full by the wind from her sword swings, yet even so, her figure looked incredibly small.
The safety talisman on her chest felt a little hot. She prayed inwardly that it wasn’t important to Senior Sister Ling. But she also knew very well, if a magic artifact like this isn’t important, then what is?
She suddenly stopped.
The disciples behind her were blocked and cursed at her, “Are you trying to get us killed?!” but she was completely unaware. She went against the flow of people, wanting to return the talisman to the other person. She couldn’t just run away like this.
But she overestimated her own courage.
She had only taken a few steps when she was exposed outside the crowd. Without the protection of her senior brothers’ formation, the giant python’s breath transmitted through the ground, making her whole body numb from the tremors.
From a distance, she saw the python. It was entirely snow-white, with a massive body and eyes larger than a person. It moved incredibly fast, almost like a phantom. If she didn’t dodge in time, she would definitely be swallowed instantly.
So scared, so scared. Her legs felt weak.
She wanted to save someone, but she simply couldn’t do it.
So she was just going to watch Senior Sister Ling die?
Si Li’s tears couldn’t help but fall. She deeply regretted her impulsiveness. Why, why was it such a coincidence? The summer hunts in previous years were always fine, so why did they encounter a ferocious beast this particular year? She truly hadn’t thought of killing anyone; she couldn’t bear such severe consequences.
Senior Sister Ling hadn’t spoken up for her, but that wasn’t a crime punishable by death. Besides, she had misjudged her. If Senior Sister Ling truly didn’t care about the junior disciples, why would she stay behind alone to fight the ferocious beast?
She couldn’t let Senior Sister Ling come to harm!
With courage from who knows where, she rushed towards the figure who was already exhausted, swaying, and about to be swallowed by the large snake. She finally managed, at the last possible moment, to stand in front of her.
The talisman paper shattered, and the large snake fell.
The safety talisman exerted its maximum effect, saving them both. Si Li stood there for a long time, her limbs trembling uncontrollably and her lips quivering. She couldn’t care less about her discomposure; she only knew she had succeeded. She had protected Senior Sister!
“Senior Sister, look, we won…”
She turned around, trembling, only to see her Senior Sister, who had just escaped disaster and should have been beaming with joy, slumped on the ground. Her eyes were tightly shut, and several horrifying streaks of blood were flowing down from her eye sockets.
“Senior Sister! Senior Sister!!!”
Ling Aorui’s blindness came very suddenly, yet not entirely so.
When she discovered her safety talisman was missing, she felt a moment of panic, but then she quickly felt a sense of release. This must be what they call fate, she thought. Even if she had done everything she could, thinking things couldn’t get any worse, accidents would still happen.
She just hadn’t expected that she would actually survive.
So, is this also fate?
She didn’t know. She couldn’t see anything anymore. She heard the sounds of many people running over – some cursing angrily, some expressing concern, some sobbing. No one had expected this summer hunt to be so tragic. Having experienced such a life-or-death moment, some timid disciples had already broken down.
What’s there to break down about? Ling Aorui thought. Even she, the person directly involved, hadn’t broken down.
With everyone’s flustered cooperation, they finally returned to the Heavenly Sword Sect at the fastest possible speed. Sect Master Mo Tao had already received the news and was waiting at the foot of the mountain with medical cultivators.
The medical cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect were quite skilled. The most experienced among them was Hall Master Shu Xi. However, after examining Ling Aorui, her expression remained tense. All the disciples gathered behind her, anxiously awaiting a definite answer.
“There’s a limit to what I can do. I’m afraid, Senior Brother, you’ll still have to invite someone from the Hall of Medicinal Herbs,” Shu Xi said, her words not sounding overly grave, but Mo Tao knew that if it weren’t serious, she wouldn’t have said that.
The medical skills of the Hall of Medicinal Herbs were the highest in the entire immortal realm. Once a medical cultivator said they needed to invite them, it meant the injury was no small matter.
Has my disciple been injured to this extent?
Mo Tao felt a pang of heartache. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have insisted on her going, even if it meant going against the will of heaven.
The two exchanged a look. Shu Xi said, “I’ll take her back first. Please go quickly and return soon. Time is pressing.”
Mo Tao naturally agreed and flew off towards the Hall of Medicinal Herbs.
Ling Aorui heard their words, and her already despairing heart turned to cold ash. If even Martial Aunt Shu can’t save me, then there’s basically no hope. This talk of inviting the Hall of Medicinal Herbs is just a way to avoid saying it’s hopeless.
She almost had the urge to tell them not to waste their efforts.
Anyway, this is fate. Heaven wants me to be blind; how can mortals change that? It’s just that after this, I’ll never be able to wield a sword or hunt demons again. I can only stay in my small courtyard forever, growing old alone.
What meaning is there in such a life?
Hall Master Shu Xi dismissed the other disciples, telling them to go back and rest first. She took Ling Aorui back to her residence and used spiritual spring water to wash away the residual venom from her eyeballs. But for the burns beneath the venom, she was helpless.
Now, all she could do was wait.
Should she say something? But what could she say? That everything will be alright? That it’s okay, there’s still hope?
Even she herself felt it sounded hollow and powerless.
The girl was a prodigy among the younger generation of disciples. She had gone blind because of such a small accident. What awaited her now was endless suffering. She might never be able to hold a sword again, never be able to go out. Decades of past glory, wiped clean in an instant.
How could she possibly offer any comfort?
“Martial Aunt…” It was Ling Aorui who spoke first.
Shu Xi quickly asked in a gentle voice, “What is it?”
“Qi Qing…” She paused. “Has Qi Qing returned?”
Shu Xi asked, “Who are you talking about?”
Ling Aorui didn’t answer. After a long moment, she said, “My eyes… they can’t be cured, can they? Martial Aunt Shu, you must know the outcome. Don’t hide it from me, just tell me directly.”
Shu Xi said carefully, “Aorui, it’s not a hopeless situation yet. Don’t be afraid. Your Master has already gone to invite the Hall of Medicinal Herbs. Their medical skills are top-notch in the field; perhaps they’ll have a good solution.”
Ling Aorui was about to speak when she suddenly heard a commotion outside, as if someone was arguing with a young attendant. She frowned and tried to look, but only saw pitch darkness.
She hadn’t yet adjusted to her blindness.
Shu Xi noticed her disappointment and quickly went out, calling, “Who is causing trouble outside?”
Before her voice had faded, a young disciple rushed in. Upon seeing Shu Xi, she knelt and pleaded, “Martial Aunt Shu, please forgive me! I have something I want to say to Senior Sister Ling. I hope you can grant my request.”
“She was just injured; this is a critical time! Is there anything that can’t wait until she’s better?” Shu Xi said angrily. “Seeing as this is your first offense, I won’t make things difficult for you. Leave quickly!”
“Disciple… Disciple cannot obey!” The young disciple was surprisingly stubborn and dashed past her. Shu Xi tried to stop her but couldn’t. Looking at the disciple’s determination, even if Shu Xi had drawn her sword, the girl would have charged forward recklessly.
She chased after her and saw the disciple kneeling before the bed, crying tearfully, “Senior Sister Ling, it’s all my fault! I’m the one who harmed you! I stole your safety talisman, and that’s why your eyes were injured! Hit me, curse me, even kill me, it’s all fine! I really didn’t expect such serious consequences! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m willing to be your servant, do anything! If you can’t see, I’ll be your eyes from now on!”
This person was precisely Si Li.
Each word was from the heart, her voice choked with sobs so anguished they were like tears of blood.
She didn’t dare hope for forgiveness, but she had no intention of escaping responsibility. What was done, was done. She would bear the consequences of her actions.
But when she looked up—
“Get out!” Ling Aorui’s face was as white as paper, and tears of blood streamed from her eyes again. Though it was only one word, it struck like a heavy blow.
Si Li had never seen the other person so distraught. Even in the most dangerous and agonizing moments, Senior Sister Ling had always been so calm, so beautiful. But now, she had uttered such an incredibly harsh curse, directed at her, the culprit who had caused her blindness.
She remained frozen in place until the young attendant pulled her away.
The door was slammed shut, the impact sounding like a great bell. She knelt outside the door for a long time but received not a shred of pity.
…
An hour later, Mo Tao rushed back with people from the Hall of Medicinal Herbs. The visitor examined Ling Aorui for a long time, then silently shook his head.
The expressions on everyone’s faces instantly became quite colorful.
Present at this moment were the Sect Master, Hall Master Shu Xi, and the head disciples of each peak. They were all current pillars of the sect and future leaders. They had rushed over so quickly partly out of curiosity about Ling Aorui’s renowned strength, and partly out of respect for Sect Master Mo.
Upon hearing that Ling Aorui’s eyes couldn’t be saved, several people inwardly clapped their hands in glee, glancing at Mo Tao to see his expression.
She was his most prized disciple. Now that she was blind, a new situation would emerge in the competition between the peaks. If their own disciples rose to prominence, their say and influence would also increase.
Mo Tao’s brow was tightly furrowed. He knew full well how many people were waiting to see him become a laughingstock. But the current priority wasn’t power struggles. Even if he had to search the highest heavens and deepest underworld, he would cure his disciple’s eyes!
But despite saying that, he truly didn’t know who in this world possessed medical skills superior to the Hall of Medicinal Herbs.
Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard a young attendant report that Immortal Lord Minghuai had arrived.
Mo Tao’s heart leaped with joy. This was truly a pillow appearing just when he was sleepy.
Who would have thought that Immortal Lord Minghuai, who hadn’t entered the mortal world for many years, would actually grace his birthday banquet? The Immortal Lord’s identity was a mystery, and his cultivation was profound. His appearance here might just be Aorui’s fortuitous opportunity, perhaps he had come to save her.
“Quickly, invite him in!” He flicked his robes and strode outwards.
And Ling Aorui, on the bed, couldn’t help but sit up upon hearing this news. Qi Qing is back. This time, I must find a chance to talk to her properly.