After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 19

Ling Aorui was stunned for a moment, then a wave of pleasant surprise washed over her.
She hurriedly invited Qi Qing in, served tea, and in her nervousness, even knocked over a cup. Qi Qing watched coolly, feeling that Ling Aorui’s attentiveness was excessive and probably not a good sign.
Her feeling was not wrong.
Ling Aorui mistakenly believed that Qi Qing had come to heal her eyes.
Only a few hours had passed since Immortal Lord Qing Shan’s departure. Because he had left with a confident “I’ll go take care of it,” it was easy for Ling Aorui to conclude that he had likely already convinced Qi Qing.
Therefore, Qi Qing’s current visit must be to provide treatment.
These past few days, she had deeply felt the inconvenience of her blindness and, even more, feared being despised by her sect. She dreamed of having her eyes healed.
Just a short while ago, those powerful cultivators had declared her condition hopeless, and she had been utterly desperate. Who knew that things would take an unexpected turn for the better? In less than an hour, good news had seemingly arrived. Although she didn’t know what Immortal Lord Qing Shan had said to Qi Qing, it seemed the matter was finally going to be resolved.
How could she not be extremely excited?
The joy of her impending recovery filled her heart, making it almost impossible for her to sit still.
Qi Qing observed Ling Aorui fidgeting restlessly, her behavior unusually agitated. Qi Qing truly didn’t know what the other person was thinking, but she hadn’t come to guess her intentions. She held her teacup, rubbing it for a moment, and finally spoke, “About what happened before, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” Ling Aorui said immediately. Whatever mistakes Qi Qing had made in the past didn’t matter now. The fact that she was willing to help treat her was like being given a new life. Even if it meant sacrificing everything, Ling Aorui would do so willingly.
Qi Qing hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly. So, is my apology over? Can I leave now?
She hesitated, about to stand up, but the system immediately intervened. “No, no, no! You’ve only exchanged one sentence. That barely counts as a conversation. How can this be considered complete? Say a few more things. At least clarify what you’re apologizing for, right?”
Qi Qing had no choice but to sit down again. She added dryly, “When you came to the dormitory supervisor looking for me before, I was already asleep. The next day, I woke up late and took a shortcut to the Mooring Platform, making you wait for nothing. I’m sorry.”
Ling Aorui immediately replied, “It’s alright. It was my fault for being too presumptuous. I knew you were so busy, yet I still troubled you. After I had that dream, I couldn’t eat or sleep properly. I did almost everything I could to prevent it, but due to a strange twist of fate, I still couldn’t avoid it. Maybe… maybe I’ll never get better…”
By saying this, she subtly steered the conversation towards her treatment. She hoped that no matter what Qi Qing said next, it would be related to her condition. Perhaps Qi Qing would even tell her not to worry, that it was alright, that there was still a way.
But Qi Qing remained silent for a long time.
Ling Aorui’s hope slowly dwindled. She tried to read Qi Qing’s expression, searching for any emotion that could be an answer, but there was none. Qi Qing just sat there, silently. Is this a tacit agreement, or is she considering the terms of an exchange?
Ling Aorui had never felt so tormented. She felt as if countless thorns were pricking her body.
Why isn’t she speaking? Why?
She wished she could grab Qi Qing’s shoulders and urge her to give an answer, but she didn’t dare act rashly. This was the most critical moment. What if she angered Qi Qing?
She didn’t know that Qi Qing was already extremely annoyed. It was only because of the system’s watchful eye that she refrained from directly mocking her.
Ling Aorui’s nearly pathetic confession might have evoked sympathy from others, but in Qi Qing’s eyes, it was the very source of all her suffering in her previous life. If it weren’t for Ling Aorui’s endless playing the victim, Qi Qing wouldn’t have been moved by compassion and exchanged her own life for the other’s recovery.
Yes, blindness was pitiful, but Qi Qing hadn’t caused it.
Constantly talking about one’s own misery was sometimes another form of emotional blackmail. Because I’m weak, everyone must pity me. Because I’m miserable, no one can hurt me anymore.
The more Qi Qing thought about it, the more disgusted she felt. She simply said, “I’ve said what I needed to. I should go.”
After speaking, she ignored the system’s shouts and walked directly out the door.
“Junior Sister Qi Qing!” Ling Aorui hadn’t expected it to end just like that. Wasn’t she going to treat my eyes? Did I say something I shouldn’t have and offend her?
If Qi Qing left, wouldn’t Ling Aorui lose her chance forever?
Ling Aorui couldn’t dwell on it and hurriedly chased after her. However, she hadn’t yet recovered enough to move freely. Caught off guard, she tripped and fell, but managed to grab the hem of Qi Qing’s skirt.
Qi Qing felt a tug and quickly stopped to look back. She saw the usually proud and aloof Ling Aorui sprawled on the ground, one hand gripping her skirt hem tightly, looking as if she would never let her go.
“What are you doing?!” Being in the same room with her was already Qi Qing’s limit. Now, being stopped like this, her last bit of patience crumbled. Angry and scared, she tried to kick Ling Aorui away.
But Ling Aorui wouldn’t let go, her face even paler than before. “Junior Sister Qi Qing, I beg you, please…”
“Are you crazy! Let go!” Qi Qing couldn’t break free, so she thought of cutting her skirt to escape. But she didn’t have her sword with her. Looking around, she saw Ling Aorui’s Demon-Slaying Sword hanging nearby. With no time to consider other options, she drew it.
The sword fell; the skirt tore.
Only then did she regain her freedom.
Ling Aorui naturally couldn’t catch up. Her strength gave out, and she fell heavily to the ground. Qi Qing felt a slight sense of relief, but the image from moments ago lingered in her mind, like a malevolent ghost from the underworld, relentlessly pursuing her.
She finally couldn’t suppress her nausea and started retching by the flower bushes.
And this scene was witnessed by Yu Yan, who was waiting outside.
Yu Yan had lost interest in admiring the flowers. She had originally planned to return and wait for their meeting to end, but she felt a little uneasy, so she stood waiting by the flowerbed closest to the main house. Before long, Qi Qing ran out, looking distraught, a piece of her skirt missing, and retching uncontrollably.
Behind her, Ling Aorui lay on the ground where she had fallen, still clutching the torn piece of Qi Qing’s skirt.
This scene needed no further explanation; the truth was practically self-evident.
Yu Yan felt a tightness in her chest. An incredibly strong sense of self-blame and rage surged within her. If I had followed them just now, would this not have happened?
She rushed over to check Qi Qing’s condition. After learning she wasn’t seriously hurt, she turned back, lifted Ling Aorui into the air, and demanded, “What did you do?!”
Ling Aorui hadn’t even sensed her approach and momentarily forgot to struggle. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said, “Who are you? Put me down.”
“Insolent!” Seeing that Ling Aorui showed no remorse and even seemed to intend to continue harassing Qi Qing, Yu Yan drew her sword. It was only when someone rushed out from the front hall and stopped her that the person exclaimed anxiously, “Immortal Lord Minghuai, what are you doing?!”
This person was, of course, Mo Tao.
Yu Yan was so angry she laughed. “I’d like to ask, what was your fine disciple up to? In broad daylight, she dares to take liberties with someone! If I hadn’t arrived in time, what else might she have done? Does she think everyone is blind?”
Her use of the word “blind” was not actually aimed at Ling Aorui’s condition, but it sounded like she was mocking her disability. Mo Tao’s expression changed instantly, and he said sternly, “Immortal Lord Minghuai, you must speak with evidence! So many people are here. Do you think you can just make baseless accusations?”
Yu Yan hadn’t expected that even at this point, this master and disciple would still cover for each other. She pointed to the piece of fabric in Ling Aorui’s hand, then helped the pale-faced Qi Qing up, and said coldly, “What is this? And what is that? How exactly did Qi Qing offend you all to be tormented like this? Do you really think she has no one backing her?”
At this moment, Qi Qing had just finished retching, her eyes still unfocused.
And the missing piece of her skirt was clutched in Ling Aorui’s hand.
This was irrefutable proof. Many onlookers were watching the commotion and looked on with disapproval—they hadn’t expected that this head disciple, whom Sect Master Mo had described as “noble in character and possessing an enlightened sword heart,” was actually such a despicable and shameless person.
This was happening with them present. If no one had been nearby, who knew what shocking and outrageous things she might have done.
Mo Tao was speechless, his face instantly flushing red with anger. In front of so many people, he couldn’t very well bend the rules for personal reasons any longer. So, he gritted his teeth and slapped Ling Aorui across the face.
“Wicked disciple, kneel down at once!”