After Rebirth, the Heroine is Consumed by Overwhelming Regret Chapter 24

It was a classic case of enemies crossing paths.

Qi Qing truly hadn’t expected her to show up here. Wasn’t she blind and had trouble getting around? With such a huge incident throwing the entire sect into chaos, how had she managed to find her way here in the dark?
To find her? Unlikely. It was probably an accident.

Still, knowing it was Ling Aorui, Qi Qing felt a little more at ease.
If it had been someone else, they might have burst in without a second thought. But Ling Aorui wouldn’t. She was rather old-fashioned and treated even her sworn enemies with courtesy.
What happened to Mo Tao was his own doing; it wasn’t Qi Qing’s fault. Ling Aorui would never confuse right and wrong or misplace her anger. As long as they talked things through, she wouldn’t do anything to make things awkward.

So, she cleared her throat and said, “It’s me.”

The voices outside went quiet for a moment. Before Ling Aorui could speak, Si Li sneered, “So it’s you! You betrayed the sect, angered your master until she fainted, and you still dare to stay in the Heavenly Sword Sect? What are you scheming in there? Probably some petty thievery! Open up and confess your crimes!”

Qi Qing wasn’t familiar with this Si Li and couldn’t be bothered to argue. She simply said, “I’m injured and need to rest. Senior Sister Ling, please take your companion and leave for now.”
She paused, then added, “I won’t steal anything, rest assured.”

Seeing herself ignored, Si Li seethed with anger. Ling Aorui placed a hand on her shoulder to restrain her, then asked with concern, “Are your injuries serious? Do you need my help?”

“Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need. My business here is done. I’ll leave after I rest.”

She hadn’t expected that her words, meant to create distance, would hit Ling Aorui’s sore spot. Ling Aorui had come specifically to find her. Hearing Qi Qing say she would leave soon, Ling Aorui grew anxious.
The person in her dream had said Qi Qing was her fated one, her only salvation. If Qi Qing left, what would she do?

In her panic, she blurted out, “You can’t leave!”

Qi Qing had thought a few words would suffice, but Ling Aorui was surprisingly talkative and now even trying to dictate her movements. She sneered inwardly but didn’t reply.

Her silence made Ling Aorui even more anxious. Si Li, seeing her break out in a sweat, quickly tried to persuade her, “Senior Sister Ling, let a traitor like her go. What’s there to regret? If I were you, I’d be glad to see her leave. Do you know what people are saying about you? If she hadn’t deliberately seduced you, how would you have gotten caught up in all those rumors…”

Before Si Li could finish, Ling Aorui bypassed her and fumbled her way towards the door. Startled, Si Li hurried to support her, but Ling Aorui brushed her arm away.
Si Li’s arm was scratched by her nails, and she instinctively stepped back.
Still, afraid Ling Aorui might fall, Si Li stood a short distance behind, ready to help.

Then, Ling Aorui knocked lightly on the door and said urgently, “Junior Sister Qi, please listen to me. There have been many misunderstandings between us. It’s alright if you resent my master, or even me. But you really don’t need to give up on yourself. The Heavenly Sword Sect isn’t an unforgiving place. As long as you’re here, I’ll protect you, even if it costs me my life. I won’t let you suffer any injustice.”

Her words were sincere, almost desperate. If it had been the Qi Qing of her past life, she might have been moved to tears. But now, Qi Qing wished Ling Aorui would just shut up.
Seriously, were they even close?
Suddenly showing up and spouting such sentimental nonsense could only mean one of two things: either she was trying to force the door open, or she had some other ulterior motive. Neither seemed good.

But she couldn’t leave just yet. Yu Yan’s condition hadn’t improved, and it was uncertain if she would recover. She couldn’t just put up a sound-dampening talisman and ignore them either. That Si Li was a maniac; if she broke down the door and let the night air in, Yu Yan’s condition would surely worsen.
So, she could only lie there and endure the verbal harassment.

“Junior Sister Qi Qing, you have to believe me. I’m truly sincere towards you, with no ill intentions. If you want to be the Sect Master, I’ll gladly give up the position…”

Hearing her words grow increasingly absurd, the patience Qi Qing had maintained for days finally snapped.
Qi Qing actually had a good temper. As long as it wasn’t a matter of principle, she could usually let things slide. When Skinny Monkey provoked her, Su Miaoyin brushed her off, and Ling Aorui harassed her, she hadn’t considered retaliating.
It was Yu Yan who couldn’t stand by and had always stood up for her.
But when she discovered they had targeted Yu Yan, she couldn’t hold back any longer and had unleashed her fury. That wave of killing intent still simmered within her, ready to erupt at any provocation.

“Ling Aorui, are you insane? Coming here in the middle of the night to spout this nonsense instead of sleeping? Who wants to be Sect Master? Who needs your protection? Are you trying to lure me out with some trick, or are you just plain stupid?”
“What ‘misunderstandings’ are there between us? Was your master slaughtering my entire family a misunderstanding? Is your endless pestering a misunderstanding? Are you and your master both out of your minds? Why would I want to stay in such a rotten sect?”
“I’m begging you, just go away! You’re incredibly annoying. So annoying! Don’t ever show your face to me again, and I don’t want to hear another word from you, alright?”

She had bottled up these words for so long. Now, given the chance, she let them all out in a satisfying rush. The agitation even caused her to break into a light sweat.
In truth, the light sweat was just an outward sign of her inner fire flaring up. It was like how cursing loudly when encountering a ghost could stir one’s Samadhi True Fire, making it burn brighter like a bellows. Her outburst not only made her feel better but also coincidentally roused the true fire within her. This true fire was far more potent than ordinary fire techniques and managed to dispel much of the chill from Yu Yan’s body.

Yu Yan slowly stirred awake, her beautiful eyes fluttering open.
She didn’t know what was happening, nor had she heard the argument. The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself nestled in Qi Qing’s arms. They were both unclothed, their lower bodies pressed close.
Qi Qing was propped up slightly, her smooth shoulders bare.
Tilting her head up slightly, her gaze landed right on Qi Qing’s soft chest.
A faint, pleasant scent drifted from Qi Qing, and a wave of heat instantly washed over Yu Yan. She lightly licked her lips, her gaze involuntarily shifting away.
But the image from moments ago lingered in her mind. She felt a mix of guilt and shyness, wanting to force herself to forget yet reluctant to do so.
Then again, she thought, they were already pressed so close. Even if she had seen something, it was an accident, perfectly excusable.
…Wait, why were they pressed together like this?
Could it be that Qi Qing had sacrificed herself for dual cultivation to save her?
She checked herself; her body felt no different. Nothing seemed to have happened between them. Qi Qing had probably just held her close, using her body heat to warm her.
It was all her fault. She had expended too much energy undoing the Nine Dragons Glazed Lock and then forcibly reversed time, leading to a karmic backlash that chilled her to the bone. But if she hadn’t, Qi Qing would have been branded a criminal and might have spent her life in prison.

As she frowned in thought, her ear brushed against Qi Qing’s hair, and she let out a soft gasp.
The sound startled even herself. Perhaps from being frozen for so long, her voice had changed, sounding unusually soft and alluring.
Her voice drew Qi Qing’s attention. Qi Qing looked down and saw that Yu Yan had been woken by her shouting. Her furious expression instantly softened into apology.
Forgetting their awkward, unclothed state, her first concern was Yu Yan’s well-being. “You’re awake? How are you feeling? What happened just now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No, my ear just brushed against you…” Yu Yan explained, then added, “I’m still a little cold. Could you get my clothes for me?”

Only then did Qi Qing realize how inappropriate their position was. Blushing, she quickly turned, fetched Yu Yan’s clothes, then grabbed her own and moved to the other side to dress.

The rustling sounds of dressing reached Ling Aorui’s ears. Since losing her sight, her hearing had become exceptionally sharp. Now, hearing the sounds and the earlier suggestive dialogue from inside, her expression turned incredibly grim.
Qi Qing… who was she with in there?
And what were they doing?
She hardly dared to think about it, yet the answer seemed obvious.
She clenched her fists. Suddenly, she desperately wanted to ask that person from her dream: Wasn’t Qi Qing her fated one? Why would she be with someone else, doing… that?
What was she supposed to do then?

Ling Aorui wasn’t sure if she truly liked Qi Qing. Perhaps a little. She had also firmly believed that if the words of the dream figure were true, she and Qi Qing would eventually overcome all obstacles to be together.
But what was happening now clearly told her otherwise.
The person behind the door wasn’t her. The person in the bed wasn’t her. Qi Qing had eagerly been with someone else, and it was her arrival that had interrupted their intimate moment, earning her that harsh scolding.
She had thought Qi Qing’s hatred was directed at her Master, and at most, the senior disciples involved back then, having nothing to do with her. After tonight, Qi Qing had achieved her revenge. And by using the Limitless Soaring Dragon Sword, Ling Aorui had shown her own ambition to contend for the Sect Master position.
Ling Aorui had even been prepared to cede the position to her. She didn’t care for fame or power; she would pay any price just to make Qi Qing stay.
But Qi Qing despised her, and despised the Heavenly Sword Sect.
She stood by the door, feeling she had no face to wait any longer, no more words to say. The outcome was already clear: Qi Qing wouldn’t spare her a glance.
So be it.
Even without her sight, she still had a future.
Yet, a part of her heart suddenly ached. It was the first time she had felt such a stirring, the first time she had felt an emotional connection with someone. And just like that, it was gone. Perhaps they would never meet again, never have a future.

Ling Aorui took a step back, turning to leave. Si Li quickly came to support her. Seeing her so dejected, Si Li’s heart ached for her.
“Senior Sister, don’t listen to her nonsense. You’re wonderful, truly. So many people admire you. She has no taste. There are countless others a hundred, a thousand times better than her. Please don’t let this get you down.”

Ling Aorui didn’t reply, allowing Si Li to guide her out of the courtyard.
But they had only taken a few steps when a voice suddenly echoed in her mind: “Useless! You’re utterly useless! I might as well do it myself!”
Ling Aorui froze. Si Li asked her what was wrong. “Didn’t you hear that voice?” Ling Aorui asked.
“No? What voice?”
Ling Aorui thought she must have imagined it and continued walking. But after only a few more steps, her gait stiffened. Her body felt like it was no longer under her control. Then, a power deep within her soul began to swell, threatening to break free and seize control of her spiritual core.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Qi Qing and Yu Yan had finished dressing and were ready to leave. Although Qi Qing still had questions, this wasn’t the place to talk; it was best to leave quickly.
When she opened the door, Ling Aorui and Si Li had already reached the courtyard gate.
Supporting Yu Yan, she descended the steps, wondering which exit to use. She didn’t know if the sect had sealed the exits, but even if they had, it wouldn’t last long. With so many powerful cultivators still present, the Heavenly Sword Sect couldn’t stop them if they decided to leave.
They had only taken a few steps when Yu Yan suddenly stopped. Qi Qing looked up at her. Yu Yan’s brow was furrowed, and she was staring warily at Ling Aorui up ahead.
Ling Aorui’s aura had changed.
Yu Yan sensed a ghostly energy, and along with it, demonic energy. For both to be present simultaneously, there was only one explanation: some kind of ghost-demon had possessed Ling Aorui.
“Be careful.”

Qi Qing looked up, puzzled. Ling Aorui had turned around. Her features were the same, but her expression felt… odd. She was staring at Qi Qing with a strangely tender gaze.
It was as if… she could see.
Though they were quite far apart, Qi Qing could clearly see her own reflection in Ling Aorui’s eyes. The reflection was bloodied, haunted by countless ghosts—just like her desperate, tragic state before her death in her past life.
For some reason, Qi Qing felt an intense fear, and a profound revulsion. The feeling churned up from deep within her, like uncovering an ancient coffin to reveal a corpse teeming with maggots.
Before she could react, the figure spoke.
“Qingqing, I’ve come for you.”