Chapter 22: Rebirth Countdown 3 Part 2

“Master!” Lu Mingyi called out, feeling the words were overly harsh. “It’s not that exaggerated. As long as you believe me, that’s enough.”

The last traces of resentment from their earlier argument over Ji Xuyun vanished completely.

Warmth seeped back into her chilled heart. Hurriedly, Lu Mingyi asked Jiang Liuzhao, “Master, when you mentioned ‘assistance’ earlier, does that mean there’s news on another spy in the sect?”

“Another spy…” Jiang Liuzhao’s eyes narrowed again as she slowly turned the ring on her finger.

This topic was exceptionally heavy.

Because when all the clues piled up, the pool of suspects for this spy had narrowed dramatically.

First, someone of high status in Taiqing Sect, able to cover for Ji Xuyun’s identity and release the Black Flood Dragon. Second, someone close to the Sect Leader—able to learn of her divination results and… kill her violently today, which required close, immediate access.

Combining those conditions, only two candidates remained in all of Taiqing Sect.

—Jiang Liuzhao and Ming Xuan.

Lu Mingyi felt a massive stone pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Jiang Liuzhao absolutely couldn’t be connected to the Demon Sect. Did that mean Ming Xuan…?

But Ji Xuyun had lurked in Taiqing Sect for sixty years as a spy. What in this world was impossible…?

“Don’t think about it anymore.”

Suddenly, Jiang Liuzhao spoke coldly, cutting off Lu Mingyi’s thoughts.

Lu Mingyi jolted in alarm. “Master, this concerns the Demon Sect and is so urgent—how can I just ignore it!”

“Lu Mingyi.” In a rare moment, Jiang Liuzhao softened her voice. “You’ve likely considered many possibilities already. But don’t overlook this: everything happening right now is connected to you.”

“Eh?” Lu Mingyi blinked.

Pointed out by Jiang Liuzhao, she realized her deductions had missed this key link.

“Whatever the Demon Sect’s goal, they’re clearly trying to drag you into the storm. With danger brewing, stay in Lingxiao Pavilion. I’ll set up formations and restrictions—at least, you’ll be safe here.”

After speaking, Jiang Liuzhao seemed to hesitate, but she still rose and approached Lu Mingyi, smoothing the collar of her sect robes.

“Master…” Lu Mingyi blinked, gazing at the woman before her. With her aura of authority restrained, her clear, gentle demeanor melted away the lingering chill clinging to Lu Mingyi’s body.

“But about those voices you heard—is there any pattern to them?”

In the quiet atmosphere, Jiang Liuzhao asked again.

The sudden mention roused Lu Mingyi’s spirits. She thought for a moment before answering honestly, “No pattern.”

The voices appeared abruptly and were disjointed, much like the “inner voices” described in those storybooks.

Jiang Liuzhao asked again, “Besides Ji Xuyun, whose voice else have you heard?”

Faced with this question, Lu Mingyi fell silent for a moment.

That voice had indeed been troubling her nonstop, but she still hesitated over whether to tell Jiang Liuzhao everything.

After all, neither Shen Mingzheng’s nor Xiao Yuxie’s inner voices had anything to do with the Demon Sect. And Jiang Liuzhao’s own words were even more baffling.

After weighing her options for a moment, Lu Mingyi thought that dealing with the Demon Sect should come first right now. The matter of these inner voices could wait until after that was resolved.

So, she lifted her gaze to meet Jiang Liuzhao’s and replied, “No one else’s.”

Jiang Liuzhao gave Lu Mingyi a deep look, then nodded. “Then stay here in Lingxiao Pavilion and rest. Don’t go anywhere outside it. I need to go handle the sect leader’s affairs.”

“Yes.” Lu Mingyi nodded, then hurriedly asked, “Master, what about today when A’Zheng and Senior Sister suddenly showed up…”

“I didn’t place any restrictions on them, after all—they’re the young mistresses of two major families.” As Jiang Liuzhao spoke, she rose and headed for the door. “Besides, knowing your personality, you’d probably get restless even with Yingxue here to keep you company.”

Lu Mingyi’s face heated up a little, mingled with some guilt.

Jiang Liuzhao was being so considerate of her, yet she’d just concealed the truth in her answer.

If I told her everything about the inner voices, could it actually help Master?

Maybe if I explain it clearly, Master can tell me what those vague words mean.

With that thought, Lu Mingyi quickly stood as well, wanting to call out to Jiang Liuzhao, who had already stepped out.

Just then, the voice rang out again:

【With things having come to this point, everything is truly sliding toward the worst direction. For the peace of the world, I should eliminate Lu Mingyi.】

Lu Mingyi’s footsteps halted abruptly.

But her motion to push open the door didn’t stop in time. Her hands shoved forward, and a blast of gale-force wind and snow blew straight into her face through the open doorway.

The bone-chilling cold and the fresh wave of pain surging through her body snapped Lu Mingyi back to her senses. Shivering, she slammed the door shut.

Her slightly emaciated back pressed against the door, Lu Mingyi swallowed hard. Her lungs filled with icy air, freezing her nearly senseless.

The first thought that flashed through her mind was:

How could Master possibly harbor killing intent toward me?

Lu Mingyi blinked frantically, wondering if she was dreaming. But the door pressed painfully against her back, reminding her that this was no dream.

Then she wondered if this voice had finally revealed its insidious true face.

These words laced with “killing intent” were far more severe than anything she’d heard before.

Was this voice throwing out a few ‘inner voice’ red herrings first, just to make me believe them completely—then stir up conflict between me and those around me?

Lu Mingyi felt split in two.

One half denied the voice outright, while the other was already pondering why Jiang Liuzhao would suddenly say such a thing—and what to do next.

What to do?

This is life-or-death. The misunderstanding is already bigger than the heavens themselves. Better to just go ask her directly!

Lu Mingyi agreed wholeheartedly with that line of thinking. She spun around and shoved the door open again—only to get another faceful of wind and snow.

A full-blown blizzard now raged atop Sword Peak. The wind was so fierce that even channeling her spiritual power for protection, Lu Mingyi still felt like she might get blown away. Not to mention the snow, which had half-frozen into ice pellets that stung her face.

Lu Mingyi: “…”

Master’s feelings for the sect leader really are something heaven and earth could bear witness to. This wind is scraping my face raw.

“Lu—Lu Senior Sister!”

Amid the wall of white, another figure struggled just like her.

Qi Yinxue practically threw herself over. Still only at the Qi Induction into Body stage, she had no spiritual power to shield herself. Her face was frozen bright red, and Lu Mingyi quickly steadied her, enveloping her with her own meager spiritual energy.

As the cold eased a bit, Qi Yinxue gasped for breath and clutched Lu Mingyi’s hand tightly. “Lu Senior Sister, this is bad! So—so many people are gathered at the base of Sword Peak, demanding that Master deal with you!”

Lu Mingyi: “…?”

Lu Mingyi truly couldn’t imagine her already miserable situation sinking any lower.

Just as she’d thought earlier, Sheng Ye was the sect leader of Taiqing Sect. Even bedridden with illness, she wouldn’t just drop dead out of nowhere.

Moreover, anyone with eyes who saw Sheng Ye’s corpse—and the ferocious expression frozen on her face—would conclude she’d died by foul play.

And coincidentally, only two people had been present at her death: Jiang Liuzhao and Lu Mingyi.

With Jiang Liuzhao there, a sneak attack was impossible. So a rumor that sounded credible yet utterly absurd began to spread—

The poor Sect Leader Sheng had divined that Lu Mingyi was the Child of Prophecy colluding with the Demon Sect to throw the world into chaos. Lu Mingyi must have held a grudge and, the moment she saw Sect Leader Sheng, jinxed her to death!

Back in her bedroom, seated in a chair as Qi Yinxue repeated the rumor to her, Lu Mingyi didn’t even know what expression to make.

She thought: If I could really jinx anyone I wanted dead, how would the Demon Sect still be around?

“Anyway, tons of people are gathered at the base of Sword Peak now… arguing.” Qi Yinxue seemed spooked by the commotion herself, speaking even more slowly than usual. “They’re all demanding Master give them an explanation. They want her to put you on trial, Lu Senior Sister.”

“Is Master there?” Lu Mingyi’s brows furrowed tightly at the thought of those people harassing Jiang Liuzhao.

Qi Yinxue shook her head vigorously. “N-no, Master’s busy handling the sect leader’s funeral arrangements.”

The sect leader just died, and rumors about me being the Child of Prophecy are already spreading? No need to guess—this has to be the Demon Sect’s doing!

Thank goodness Master was there. At least she can vouch for my innocence.

No matter the source of that inner voice laced with killing intent, Lu Mingyi believed Jiang Liuzhao wouldn’t lie to the world about something like this.

“Let them trial me if they want.” Lu Mingyi exhaled, pouring herself a cup of hot tea and handing another to Qi Yinxue. “Once I’m in the Enforcement Hall, I’ll make sure they learn what to say and what not to say!”

Qi Yinxue nodded and took a quick sip to warm up. The sweet tea slid down her throat, and her eyes widened. “Wow, Lu Senior Sister, this tea is so good…”

“Of course!” Lu Mingyi grinned. “I’m a pro at brewing tea!”

Qi Yinxue laughed along with her.

Seeing her like this, Lu Mingyi asked curiously, “The whole sect thinks I’m this ominous Child of Prophecy now—suspecting me of colluding with the Demon Sect and jinxing the sect leader to death. Aren’t you scared of me?”

“N-no, I don’t think you’re… a bad person, Lu Senior Sister.” To Lu Mingyi’s surprise, Qi Yinxue shook her head without hesitation.

Lu Mingyi chuckled in disbelief. “Why not?”

“Lu Senior Sister, the first time I met you, you smiled at me and called me your little junior sister. Your eyes don’t lie…” Qi Yinxue’s slow speech and earnest expression on her delicate face made the words carry real weight.

Lu Mingyi didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

She thought, Qi Yinxue really is as pure and kindhearted as Master’s inner voice said. She’s this certain of someone’s character just because of a smile?