After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 13

The figure in her dream first scolded her harshly, asking why she hadn’t listened to their words. They had told her she would encounter a snake demon, told her she would go blind. Now look, everything had come true, one by one. She was truly a hopeless case.

It was the first time Ling Aorui had ever been spoken to like this. She couldn’t help but grit her teeth and retort, “I already asked Immortal Qing Shan, and I also asked Master. They all told me not to defy the ways of heaven. Was I supposed to ignore my elders’ advice and stubbornly do as I pleased?”

“Fool! It’s easy for them to talk since it doesn’t concern them directly. Since it wasn’t them in trouble, of course, they could say it so lightly. Don’t think you’re an exception just because you’re exceptionally talented. Guess how quickly they’ll forget about you once they discover you can’t be cured?”

Ling Aorui felt a chill in her heart at their words, and her spirit sank. It’s true. No matter the reason, I’m the one who’s blind now, I’m the one suffering the bitter consequences. Why couldn’t I have thought more about it back then, taken some responsibility for myself?

In the future, will I really be abandoned?

She hardly dared to imagine that outcome. But she wasn’t foolish; she knew the dream figure’s words weren’t empty. People were only valued when they had worth. If I were an outer sect disciple with ordinary talent, would Master still regard me so highly? Would others still admire me so much?

But it was too late for regrets.

“Alright, this isn’t hopeless yet. Remember that young disciple named Qi Qing? Go find her, and do everything in your power to treat her well. Only she can be your cure.”

How could that be?

This was Ling Aorui’s first reaction. So many esteemed immortals and powerful figures had declared her condition incurable; how could an unknown outer sect disciple possibly heal her?

The figure in the dream was silent for a moment, then said, “I don’t understand it either, but that’s how it is. Perhaps she possesses some secret, unrevealed knowledge, or some magic artifact. In any case, this has been verified. Qi Qing can indeed do it.”

With those words, the dream ended.

Ling Aorui, drenched in sweat, sat up in her bed.

She didn’t want to believe that Qi Qing was that fated opportunity. But what the figure in her dream had said last time had already come true. If she missed this chance again, wouldn’t she truly be foolish beyond saving?

But how should she ask? Qi Qing didn’t even want to see her.

The two of them had no real connection, and she had no standing to ask for anything from Qi Qing. Yet, to give up the only possibility like this, she felt unwilling.

Would Qi Qing agree?

She probably would. Even if Qi Qing disliked her intensely, she was still of the righteous path; she wouldn’t just watch someone die without helping. At the very least, they were fellow sect members. Even for the sake of their sect, Qi Qing wouldn’t be so cold and heartless.

But when she thought of Qi Qing’s cold demeanor towards her, she felt a little uncomfortable again. It wasn’t that she was afraid of Qi Qing’s coldness; she just felt that for someone of her status to condescend and beg an outer sect disciple who disliked her would not only be demeaning but also seem like she was bullying her with her position.

If Qi Qing refused, her pride would never allow her to keep pestering her relentlessly.

Besides, it wasn’t even certain if the other girl could actually cure her.

After making many excuses for herself, Ling Aorui leaned back against her pillow and sighed deeply.

Do I even have the luxury to worry about my pride right now?

Since she went blind, Master had found so many people to examine her, but none had been effective. Even the Hall of Herbs, which represented the pinnacle of medical cultivation, said she couldn’t be cured. Frankly, in her situation, seeking conventional medical treatment was no longer realistic; she could only pin her hopes on unorthodox, perhaps even demonic, methods.

But how could such unorthodox methods be easy to find?

Everything is subject to fate and opportunity. If her eyes were truly ruined by the heavenly way, then heaven would certainly not allow her to recover so easily. If she only acted according to her own wishes, the result would be just as inevitable as her blindness had been.

After pondering for a long while, she called in her attendant and asked them to invite Immortal Qing Shan.

Before long, Immortal Qing Shan, Su Miaoyin, arrived.

She had been apprehensive the whole way, afraid that Ling Aorui was going to hold her accountable. Although Ling Aorui’s status was lower than hers, logically, Su Miaoyin felt she was somewhat in the wrong. Previously, when Ling Aorui had sought her out, she had advised her to submit to the will of heaven. While that advice wasn’t wrong in itself, it had, after all, directly led to Ling Aorui’s blindness. If only I had thought more about it then and stopped her from going out?

Would all this have been avoided then?

Finally, she resolved that no matter if Ling Aorui demanded compensation or anything else, she would agree. It was simply because she felt she had been in the wrong and had not fulfilled her duty as an elder.

Soon, she arrived.

When she reached the door, she found herself somewhat hesitant to enter.

It was Ling Aorui who heard her footsteps and asked softly, “Is Immortal Qing Shan here?”

Su Miaoyin sighed and stepped inside.

The two faced each other in silence for a long moment. Seeing Ling Aorui’s unfocused eyes, Su Miaoyin felt a pang of sorrow. Although Ling Aorui was not her disciple, she and Mo Tao (Ling Aorui’s master) were from the same lineage and shared a deep bond. Witnessing his disciple suffer such a calamity, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of shared vulnerability.

“Aorui, if you must blame someone, blame me. It’s all your Martial Aunt’s fault,” Su Miaoyin said sincerely. “Whatever you ask, your Martial Aunt is willing to grant it. Even if it means defying the heavens.”

Ling Aorui shook her head. “Immortal Lady, you speak too gravely. This isn’t your fault; I was the one who decided to go. I just never imagined the dream would be so accurate, down to the smallest details.”

The more Ling Aorui spoke this way, the guiltier Su Miaoyin felt.

This child is such a good person, how could she encounter such misfortune and end up like this? She doesn’t even have any disciples of her own; how will she manage in the days to come?

Thinking of this, she felt tears welling up.

“…Martial Aunt, you don’t need to grieve for me,” Ling Aorui said, hearing the soft sound of Su Miaoyin wiping away tears. She continued gently, “Things are already like this; it’s the will of heaven. Even if I had avoided it this time, I wouldn’t have been able to escape it through some other means.”

“Aorui, I’m not sad for you; I’m sad for our Heavenly Sword Sect. Without you, what will become of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s future? How can its teachings be passed on? How can it flourish? Are we to rely on those fools who do nothing but chase fame and profit, and fight ruthlessly all day?”

Su Miaoyin sighed. Outwardly, the Heavenly Sword Sect still appeared to be the greatest sect under heaven. But without a true successor to carry on its legacy, it would decline sooner or later. Although she herself had a few disciples, in her opinion, all those fools combined were not as outstanding as Ling Aorui, much less capable of shouldering the sect’s future.

Such a precious talent, and her eyes were ruined.

This was truly a case of heaven being jealous of outstanding talent.

Ling Aorui didn’t refute her; Su Miaoyin was speaking the truth. She interacted with those other disciples the most in daily life and best understood their shallowness. Why was it me who went blind, and not them?

The moment this thought emerged, a chill ran down her spine.

No, how could I curse my fellow sect members? They might be a bit foolish, but they harbor no ill intent towards me. Yet, subconsciously, I actually felt they were inferior.

Although this thought was fleeting, if it persisted, it would sooner or later tarnish her Dao heart. Becoming a demon would not be far off then.

She bit her lip, in extreme anguish. Why would heaven make me blind and then also try to corrupt my Dao heart? Blindness is, after all, only a physical impairment, but becoming a demon is a true fall from grace. I absolutely do not want to stand against the righteous path. If that day ever truly comes, I would rather die.

Finally, she slowly spoke, “Immortal Lady, I have a favor to ask of you.”

…

Meanwhile, Qi Qing was still unaware of the impending trouble. She had just woken up and was about to open her eyes to check the time when she felt her arm go numb. She tried to pull it free but couldn’t move it at all.

Looking down, she saw a head resting on her arm.

The sudden shock almost made her scream. When she saw clearly, she realized it was Yu Yan lying in her embrace.

Phew, thank goodness.

No, wait a minute.

…Yu Yan?!

No, last night we clearly slept in separate beds. Why did I wake up with us lying together? Did I sleepwalk in the middle of the night and get into the wrong bed?

She immediately sat up to check and found that it wasn’t she who had gone to the wrong bed, but Yu Yan. The other girl was squeezed onto the edge of her bed, covered by only a corner of the blanket. Fortunately, it was summer, so she wouldn’t catch a cold.

Qi Qing shifted, wanting to cover Yu Yan more. However, Yu Yan was lying firmly on the blanket. Qi Qing could only carefully pull out the part of the blanket from under herself, bit by bit, and then drape it over Yu Yan.

This isn’t right. I have to get up.

Otherwise, this will be hard to explain.

Just as she was about to get out of bed, someone tugged at the corner of her clothes. She looked back and saw Yu Yan, eyes hazy with sleep, lying on her stomach on the bed and gazing blankly at her. Because Qi Qing was looking down from a higher position, she had an unobstructed view of the alluring sight.

Qi Qing immediately felt her mind go blank and quickly averted her gaze.

“…Where are you going?”

Her voice, a little hoarse, was devastatingly captivating.

“T-to… to morning class.” Qi Qing’s tongue tripped over itself again. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had thought that after all these days together, she had built up some immunity to Yu Yan’s beauty.

Apparently, not at all.

Suppression often leads to a stronger outburst. She desperately tried to control her impulses, staring at the white wall to calm herself. It’s fine. If I don’t look, I won’t feel anything.

But just as she stood up to leave, Yu Yan hugged her arm and mumbled drowsily, “What morning class? Our sect doesn’t have morning classes. As your master, I order you… stay with me…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she drifted off to sleep again.