Help, I’m Being Forced to Marry a Frail and Sickly Immortal Doctor! 2

Chapter 2: A Sword’s Startling Appearance

She considered her relationship with Yin Buran to be merely average…

Three days north of Linjiang City lay the endlessly rushing Qushui River.

White egrets skimmed lightly over the water’s surface, and between the crashing waves, a continuous chain of distant mountains could be vaguely seen.

Ning Ruoque held half a meat bun in her hands, waiting for the ferry at the docks with Yan Lingge.

Yan Lingge was the young girl she had saved earlier.

The two had grown more familiar with each other along the way, and Ning Ruoque had learned quite a bit from her.

For instance, it was now the eighth year of the Zaihe era, a full hundred years since her own demise. Also, on the other side of the Qushui River was the Upper Realm, guarded by the immortal sect, Brightlight Pavilion.

It was rumored that Brightlight Pavilion held a Grand Immortal Selection once every twenty years, and all those with the right affinity could enter.

When Yan Lingge mentioned the latter, her eyes curved in a rare smile, her expression filled with yearning.

Ning Ruoque finished her meat bun in a few bites and asked casually, “So you want to enter an immortal sect and seek the Great Dao?”

Her tone was ordinary, without a hint of scorn or surprise.

After all, the world was a crucible. It was not easy for the weak human race to survive, so it was perfectly normal to want to defy fate and change one’s destiny.

However, entering an immortal sect in the Upper Realm was not so easy. Both fortune and talent were indispensable.

Yan Lingge was stunned for a moment, and her once sparkling eyes dimmed again.

“Senior, they all say I’m a jinx. This trip will probably be for nothing,” she said, lowering her head and clutching the hem of her clothes.

On this short journey alone, the two of them had encountered two wolves and a sparrow demon, and it was all thanks to Ning Ruoque that she had escaped unharmed.

“I’ve attracted monsters since I was a child. The living corpse that day was only chasing me, and also—”

Before she could finish, Ning Ruoque narrowed her eyes and stuffed a bun into Yan Lingge’s mouth, cutting off the rest of her words.

She wasn’t good at comforting people, but she couldn’t stand to see the young girl crying and wallowing in self-pity.

So she leaned closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “You’re actually a promising seedling for cultivation. Perhaps that’s why you attract the attention of monsters.”

Yan Lingge stared blankly, the meat bun still in her mouth, her face a picture of confusion.

Seeing this, Ning Ruoque stuffed another bun into Yan Lingge’s hand.

This was her last meat bun, and she was actually quite reluctant to give it away.

She patted Yan Lingge’s shoulder reassuringly. “If you’re lucky enough to meet a medical cultivator who can take a look at you, perhaps this constitution of yours can be improved.”

These words finally brought some comfort to Yan Lingge.

She finished the bun in a few bites and quickly waved to the boatman on the opposite bank.

Once the two were on the boat, Ning Ruoque found a place to sit by herself, contemplating how to detour to Shuozhou to find a friend after this escort mission was over.

The rolling waves crashed against the boat, causing it to rock incessantly.

Mortals could only see the distant mountains, ethereal and shrouded in mist, but it was rumored that this place was the mountain gate of Brightlight Pavilion, the watershed between the mortal and upper realms.

Yan Lingge gazed into the distance for a while before asking again in a low voice, “I heard that Brightlight Pavilion has a Sword Division that specifically teaches sword techniques. Senior, do you think I’m suited to learn the sword?”

A lazy voice came from within the boat’s cabin. “It’s never too late to learn the sword.”

A sudden river wind blew, carrying the salty, fishy smell of silt.

Ning Ruoque frowned, suddenly standing up to stare at the water’s surface, her tone still unhurried. “As long as you hone yourself to be sharp enough, your sword will be sharp.”

The moment her voice fell, the boat lurched as if it had been hit by something, shaking violently.

Yan Lingge immediately lost her balance and was about to fall into the river when Ning Ruoque swiftly pulled her back.

Just as she regained her footing, the boat suddenly sank a little, as if something was clinging to its hull.

Yan Lingge looked back in alarm and saw a shadow leap out of the water, attacking the boatwoman at the oar with incredible speed.

But a flash of black robes was faster, like a whistling, cold wind.

Before the boatwoman could even figure out what was happening, Ning Ruoque had already snatched the oar and swung it fiercely at the shadow.

With a loud thud, the oar snapped in two.

The shadow was knocked into the water, but it quickly climbed back up the side of the boat, revealing a pale, wrinkled human face.

It was undoubtedly a living corpse.

But this was no ordinary living corpse!

Its movements were agile and flexible, without a hint of stiffness. It was about to leap into the boat again.

Ning Ruoque knew her own strength. When this strike failed, she immediately understood.

“Be careful!” Yan Lingge’s panicked cry came from behind her.

In the few seconds she had been thinking, the living corpse had already leaped out of the water, its sharp black nails about to reach Ning Ruoque’s face.

Ning Ruoque didn’t even try to dodge, and no one saw her move.

Only the broken oar, a step ahead of the claws, pierced into the living corpse’s neck.

The monster’s eyes widened, and it let out a gurgling sound. Within a few breaths, it fell, completely still.

“H-how is it this thing again?” The boatwoman hid far away, her voice trembling.

Ning Ruoque frowned slightly. “Again?”

Living corpses were a type of fiend that attached themselves to corpses, so they were most often found in yin and malevolent places like mass graves.

They were fierce and bloodthirsty by nature, but not difficult for cultivators to deal with.

The territories of immortal sects were often patrolled by cultivators. It shouldn’t have appeared here, no matter how one thought about it.

Seeing Ning Ruoque’s confusion, the boatwoman hesitantly wrung the hem of her clothes and explained, “The city has been plagued by living corpses recently. Many families have suffered.”

As she spoke, a thin layer of mist rose over the river, and the clear sound of a bronze bell could be heard.

Everyone followed the sound and saw a woman in blue robes skimming across the water, ripples spreading from the light taps of her feet.

The boatwoman instantly lowered her head in fear, not daring to say another word.

In the blink of an eye, the woman landed steadily on the boat’s railing, bowing to everyone with a gentle smile.

“Everyone, my sincerest apologies.”

After speaking, she flicked her wide sleeves, and a gentle breeze seemed to stir.

The living corpse on the deck instantly turned to dust, swept into the river by the wind, not even leaving a stain behind.

The blue-robed woman said in a gentle voice, “The Grand Immortal Selection is approaching, but the Pavilion Master is unwell. Coupled with the numerous affairs within the pavilion, we were momentarily negligent, allowing such a demonic creature to wreak havoc.”

Her explanation was reasonable, and combined with her immortal-like demeanor, it was hard not to be convinced.

The woman first looked at Yan Lingge and introduced herself politely, “My name is Xu Chuo. I am the head disciple of Brightlight Pavilion’s inner sect. Junior Sister must be here to participate in the Grand Immortal Selection, correct?”

Although it was their first meeting, her affectionate tone made it seem as if she already considered the girl her own junior sister.

Yan Lingge did not hide her surprise. She nodded, then quickly hid behind Ning Ruoque.

Ning Ruoque: “…”

She took a step back, subtly avoiding Yan Lingge’s outstretched hand.

She said casually, “This living corpse is unusual. Has fellow Daoist taken note of it?”

Xu Chuo’s gaze lingered on Ning Ruoque’s face for a moment, and then her smile deepened.

“Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist. To express my gratitude, please, you must rest at the pavilion for a night.”

Her words were very polite, but Ning Ruoque couldn’t help but feel that her tone was somewhat unnatural.

For no reason, a bad premonition rose in her heart—

It was a sign of bad luck!

A sword cultivator’s intuition had always been sharp, and Ning Ruoque’s was even more so.

Her disguise technique was a secret art of her sect. With Xu Chuo’s level of cultivation, it was impossible for her to see through it. The problem must lie elsewhere.

Without much thought, Ning Ruoque decisively refused, “There’s no need. I was only hired to escort her here. I’ll be leaving shortly.”

Such an excuse was clearly not enough to make Xu Chuo give up.

“Fellow Daoist, it’s getting dark. Instead of traveling weary and dust-covered, why not rest well with hot water and a soft bed?” she said, her expression unchanged and her voice gentle. “Besides, Junior Sister has just arrived. Can you bear to leave her all alone?”

Ning Ruoque remained silent. The other party’s enthusiastic attitude only made her more vigilant. Moreover, that last sentence carried a faint hint of a threat.

The atmosphere on the small boat grew a little tense. Yan Lingge huddled in the middle, carefully observing the expressions of the two.

One smiled with gentle elegance, while the other lowered her eyes in thought for a moment before finally, and helplessly, cupping her fists.

“Then I shall impose for one night.”

The other party’s intentions were unclear. It was better to be cautious.

Xu Chuo smiled and made a “please” gesture, saying cordially, “Fellow Daoist, please follow me. Be careful not to get lost.”

In an instant, the clouds and mist behind her dispersed, scattering a faint spiritual light. Stone steps wound their way up the cliff, and the faint outlines of pavilions and towers could be seen.

The Upper Realm, which countless people yearned for, slowly unfurled a corner of its scroll-like beauty.

***

Brightlight Pavilion was built against the mountainside. Pavilions and towers were connected by covered bridges, and there was no shortage of cascading waterfalls, flowing springs, green bamboo, and plum blossoms.

Walking through it truly felt like being in an immortal realm.

Ning Ruoque still hadn’t let down her guard. While listening to Xu Chuo introduce the various sights, she kept her hands behind her back and looked around.

As they approached a garden, however, they were stopped.

A cultivator holding a sword bowed to Xu Chuo. “Senior Sister, the guest is inside admiring the plum blossoms.”

Xu Chuo turned back without hesitation, her face apologetic. “Let’s take another path. We shouldn’t disturb the esteemed guest.”

Yan Lingge, of course, had no objections. She followed Ning Ruoque closely, not daring to look around on the way.

Ning Ruoque, on the other hand, had been listless the entire time and was also starving.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. What kind of person puts on such airs, blocking a road just to admire some flowers?

It sounded just like an arrogant young mistress.

Xu Chuo chose a new path, crossing a covered bridge that hung halfway up the mountain, above the garden.

She pointed to the plum grove and pavilions below the bridge. “The white plums here are the best. Unfortunately, it’s not convenient today. I’ll bring you here another day.”

Xu Chuo walked in front, while Ning Ruoque glanced outside casually.

It was the peak of the white plum blossom season. The trees were covered in what looked like thin ice and piled snow, and even the fragrance carried a hint of chill. Fallen petals chased the gurgling stream downward, finally coming to rest in front of a pavilion.

A biting wind blew, parting the gauze curtains on all four sides of the pavilion and revealing a white figure.

The person in the pavilion was wearing a warm, thick fox-fur cape, and a guqin was placed before her knees.

Not only was her posture elegant, but her silvery-white hair was neatly tied up, not a single strand disturbed by the wind. One could tell at a glance that she was used to being pampered.

Because the person’s head was lowered, Ning Ruoque couldn’t see her face clearly, but she felt a sense of familiarity.

The guqin looked familiar, the hand holding the cup looked familiar, and even the tiny glimpse of her side profile was so familiar that it made her mutter to herself.

She felt like she had seen her somewhere before.

She dismissed it as a trick of the mind, but after walking a few more steps, she turned back and leaned over the railing to get a better look.

For some reason, she just had to see clearly.

Who would have thought that this time, she would be unlucky? The wind-blocking curtains had been lifted, and the person in the pavilion looked up, meeting Ning Ruoque’s gaze.

They were a pair of eyes so cold they held no emotion, like a frozen river in the dead of winter. Yet, the corners of her eyes tilted up slightly, adding a touch of spring charm.

As she raised her eyes, the flying snow of plum blossoms seemed to pause for a moment, as if captivated.

Ning Ruoque froze on the spot, her heartbeat seeming to stop.

She forgot to breathe.

When Yan Lingge turned around, she found someone staring blankly at the scene below the bridge.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, what are you looking at?”

The question startled Ning Ruoque back to her senses, and she immediately blurted out, “Nothing!”

Yan Lingge: “…”

Ning Ruoque let go of the railing as if she had been electrocuted and retreated several steps in one breath, almost pressing herself against the mountain wall.

The usually relaxed and carefree sword cultivator now had her lips pressed together, like a startled cat with all its fur standing on end.

Talk about bad luck. It really came when you least expected it.

How could she run into an old acquaintance here!

The commotion behind them caught Xu Chuo’s attention.

Seeing Ning Ruoque’s flustered state, she said with an amused smile, “The one below is the Immortal Doctor from Azurefall Creek.”

“The venerable one’s medical skills are exquisite. Countless cultivators seek her aid.”

After saying that, she winked playfully. “Of course, the venerable one’s appearance is also top-notch. As bright as the autumn river’s moon, as gentle as a pear blossom reflected in water.”

“It’s one thing to sneak a peek, but don’t fall off.”

Xu Chuo didn’t give her time to react and continued to lead the way after speaking.

Ning Ruoque didn’t refute the teasing. She pinched her earlobe, forcing her thoughts back on track.

She could never mistake that face. The person admiring the flowers in the pavilion was the one from her memories—

Yin Buran.

Before the Demon God Calamity erupted, Ning Ruoque had met this person a few times and had even worked with her for a period.

She considered her relationship with Yin Buran to be merely average. Given the other’s gentle yet distant nature, she probably wouldn’t make a fuss even if she saw through her disguise.

Therefore, this unexpected encounter wasn’t too much to worry about.

But why was Yin Buran here?

“Fellow Daoist? Are you listening?”

A soft voice brought Ning Ruoque back to her senses. She looked up and saw a small, elegant courtyard before her.

Xu Chuo then instructed, “The Grand Immortal Selection begins in two days. You can stay here for a few nights for now. If you need anything, you can find me at the Green Bamboo Residence.”

After saying that, she left in a hurry, seemingly having other matters to attend to.

The sky was already dark by now. The setting sun was like the yolk of a duck egg, sinking heavily into the mountain range and splashing out countless rosy clouds.

Yan Lingge hesitantly approached and called out in a small voice, “Senior, then we—”

Ning Ruoque cut her off directly, “I’m leaving tonight.”

Before Yan Lingge could react, she added another sentence, “There are many immortal sects in the world. You could actually go to a better one.”

She looked up at the spire of a distant tower, the tallest structure in Brightlight Pavilion.

At this moment, the tower was shrouded in the blood-red sunset, making it difficult to see clearly.

Coupled with Xu Chuo’s attitude and the frequent demonic calamities in Linjiang City, it made her skin crawl.

Ning Ruoque suspected something was amiss with Brightlight Pavilion, but she had no proof and could only try her best to persuade Yan Lingge.

But the young girl lowered her head. “I… I…”

She was so flustered that her face turned pale, and her voice grew softer and softer, never finishing her sentence.

Ning Ruoque sighed softly. As expected, the other party had a reason for insisting on coming to Brightlight Pavilion.

“Get some rest first. Tell me your decision tonight. If you insist on staying, I won’t stop you. If you want to leave, I’ll pick a better one for you.”

The two of them were just strangers who had met by chance, each with their own needs. This was the most she could do.

Yan Lingge bowed gratefully. “Senior, if I hadn’t met you, I don’t know what I would have done…”

Ning Ruoque didn’t like hearing such things and quickly said, “Alright, go and rest.”

After finally persuading Yan Lingge to leave, she let out a long sigh of relief and turned back to her own room.

The room was not large, but it was fully furnished with everything from furniture to bedding, all in a uniform style. The shadows of the various pieces of furniture overlapped, making the room seem a bit dim.

Ning Ruoque walked to the window to light a lamp. The flame licked the wick, blooming into a warm candlelight.

The surroundings were so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Now that Ning Ruoque was alone, she could properly sort through the recent events.

Putting Yan Lingge’s matter aside for now, she pressed her temples with a headache. For some reason, she recalled the scent of white plum blossoms carried by the gentle breeze on the covered bridge.

It was cool and slightly sweet, just like the scent she was smelling now.

Ning Ruoque suddenly froze, sniffing the air suspiciously.

Wait, now?

The moment she realized something was wrong, Ning Ruoque’s mind snapped back into focus.

She was wide awake now.