Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

The next morning, the group gathered downstairs, ready to continue their journey. Qu Weiyin pulled Chang Siyu aside and spoke to him privately.

“What? You’re staying here?” Chang Siyu exclaimed. “But Junior Shishu Qu, you have important matters to attend to. Let me stay and assist you.”

“There’s no need,” Qu Weiyin said, shaking her head. “Just escort them to Xumi Manor. It’s a long journey, so don’t delay.”

Chang Siyu started to protest again, but one look from Qu Weiyin silenced him. He reluctantly agreed.

As they left the town, Luo Jinxiao couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.

Lu Fanzhi, feeling refreshed and in good spirits, hummed a light tune, oblivious to Luo Jinxiao’s anxiety. Meanwhile, Luo Ning had been quietly watching her sister for some time. Sensing something was amiss, she gently approached and asked, “Sister, what’s wrong?”

“Could you be… worried about Junior Shishu Qu?” Luo Ning asked, her sharp eyes catching the way Luo Jinxiao kept glancing back toward the town.

“Of course not! With her cultivation, why would I be worried?” Luo Jinxiao shot back, tossing her head defiantly, though her voice lacked conviction. She chewed on her fingernail. “It’s just… Junior Shishu wasn’t feeling well last night…”

Luo Ning nodded slowly. “Oh.”

“And she has such a quick temper,” Luo Jinxiao added, switching to another fingernail.

“Oh,” Luo Ning repeated, nodding again.

“What if she loses control and… slaughters the entire town?” Luo Jinxiao whispered, her brow furrowed with worry.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Junior Shishu Qu isn’t a demon! Even if she’s a bit…intense… she would never kill innocent people. Don’t insult her like that,” Lu Fanzhi interjected, her expression serious.

Luo Jinxiao raised an eyebrow at her. “Sorry.”

She walked in silence for a while longer, her heart still heavy with worry. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She threw her hair back over her shoulder and patted Luo Ning’s back. “I’m going back to check on her. If Chang Siyu asks, tell him I went to find Junior Shishu Qu.”

“Okay,” Luo Ning whispered back. “Sister, let me come with you.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry.” Luo Jinxiao gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and vanished.

“Hey, where’s Jinxiao?” Lu Fanzhi asked, glancing around in surprise, her cheeks still puffed with a mouthful of steamed bun.

By the time she spoke, Luo Jinxiao had already landed back in town, choosing a deserted alleyway. She sheathed her sword and broke into a run towards the inn. Unlike the day before, the street was teeming with people dressed in strange attire, mostly dark robes and swords strapped to their backs.

Her own bright blue robes stood out among them.

Ignoring the curious stares, Luo Jinxiao strode into the inn, nearly colliding with the innkeeper. He stopped short, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Honored guest, I thought you had left. What brings you back?” he asked.

“Oh, I’m looking for someone,” Luo Jinxiao replied with a friendly smile.

“The beautiful young lady? She’s still in her room. Please, right this way.” The innkeeper gestured for her to follow him. As she passed by, he added in a low voice, “If you’re staying, whatever you do, do not leave your room tonight. No matter what you hear.”

Luo Jinxiao paused for a moment, then continued up the stairs. She knocked softly on Qu Weiyin’s door.

The door flew open, and Qu Weiyin glared at her. “I told you to leave! What are you doing back here?”

Luo Jinxiao had been expecting this reaction. “I’m worried about the townspeople,” she said softly. “And two heads are better than one, right, Junior Shishu? Now, let me in.”

Qu Weiyin stared at her for a long moment, then sighed and stepped aside.

“Who are all those people downstairs?” Luo Jinxiao asked, peering out the window.

“Qingyan Palace disciples. They arrived as soon as you left. They said they sensed a strong demonic presence here and decided to stay and help,” Qu Weiyin replied, taking a sip of tea.

The Qingyan Palace. Luo Jinxiao had heard of them. They were an ancient and respected sect, known for their strict rules. However, they were located in a remote region, so their disciples were rarely seen in these parts.

“So…we don’t have to do anything?” Luo Jinxiao asked.

“Unless something unexpected happens, no,” Qu Weiyin replied.

The two waited until late at night. Luo Jinxiao sat idly in the room, watching Qu Weiyin meditate on the bed. A faint golden light shimmered around the room, with a barrier over the window preventing anyone from seeing inside.

Growing increasingly bored, Luo Jinxiao walked to the window to observe. The disciples from Qingyan Palace were busy, coming and going from the inn. A crowd of townspeople had gathered, each holding a torch, illuminating the street with flickering light.

Then, a procession of torches snaked its way out of town, disappearing into the darkness like a luminous serpent. Luo Jinxiao turned to say something to Qu Weiyin, but stopped short.

“Junior Shishu, I hear crying,” she whispered, pressing her ear against the wall.

A faint, muffled sobbing traveled through the wood, echoing in the small space. Only a cultivator’s sharp ears could have picked it up. Qu Weiyin opened her eyes, her spiritual energy receding, and joined Luo Jinxiao at the wall.

“It’s coming from downstairs,” she said.

They exchanged a look. Luo Jinxiao opened the door, and they crept down the stairs, following the sound of crying. It led them past the kitchen and into a small courtyard behind the inn. A small shed stood in the corner, its door secured with a flimsy wooden latch.

Luo Jinxiao stepped forward and opened the door, and a young girl immediately fell out. Her face was tear-streaked, and her fingers were raw and bleeding, showing signs of a prolonged struggle.

“Xiu’er?” Luo Jinxiao frowned. It was the girl from the day before, looking even more distraught than before.

Xiu’er looked up, her eyes widening as she recognized Luo Jinxiao. She scrambled to her feet and bowed deeply, then turned and ran towards the gate, her hair flying behind her. She moved with a desperate urgency, as if something terrible was about to happen.

“Should we stop her?” Luo Jinxiao asked, feeling awkward after receiving the sudden bow, scratching her head as she stood still.

“Follow her,” Qu Weiyin said, already striding after the fleeing girl.

They chased after Xiu’er through the deserted streets and out of town, following the rough mountain path into the forest. The darkness was almost absolute, the path treacherous with hidden roots and loose stones.

Qu Weiyin muttered something under her breath, and a ball of fire blossomed above their heads, illuminating the path. Xiu’er glanced back at them, her tear-filled eyes glinting in the firelight.

She didn’t slow down. Luo Jinxiao, thoroughly confused, had no choice but to follow. Soon, they heard shouting ahead. The firelight revealed a clearing halfway up the mountain, torches blazing like miniature suns. The air crackled with a palpable demonic energy.

So there is a demon here, Luo Jinxiao thought, her heart pounding. But what does Xiu’er have to do with it?

Xiu’er stumbled towards the commotion, pushing past people with surprising strength. She slipped through the crowd and into the center of the clearing. Several Qingyan Palace disciples were surrounding a massive tree, their palms glowing as they channeled their spiritual energy, forming a shimmering barrier around it.

Screaming, Xiu’er rushed toward the tree, only to be burned by the surrounding energy, throwing her back.

The disciples gasped and dropped their hands, the barrier dissipating. Xiu’er, seemingly oblivious to the pain, scrambled to her feet and stood protectively in front of the tree.

The forest was silent, the air heavy with anticipation. The massive tree stood unnaturally still. Xiu’er faced the group, her tear-stained face a mask of defiance.

Luo Jinxiao shot a surprised glance at Qu Weiyin, who was watching the scene with a grave expression.

“Xiu’er! What are you doing here?!” The innkeeper burst from the crowd, rushing towards the girl and trying to pull her away. But Xiu’er resisted with unexpected ferocity, even biting the innkeeper’s arm. He yelped in pain and stumbled back.

“She’s possessed again! It’s the tree! It’s behind all of this! Please, Masters, help us! Save our town!” The innkeeper cried, falling to his knees before the Qingyan Palace disciples. The other townspeople followed suit, until the entire clearing was a sea of bowing figures.

“Please, rise, there’s no need for such formalities. It is our duty to vanquish evil,” one of the disciples said, stepping forward to help the innkeeper up.

The innkeeper bowed gratefully, then turned back to Xiu’er, trying to drag her away. She struggled desperately, her muffled cries echoing through the clearing, her hair falling over her face, making her look heartbreakingly vulnerable.

“Such a good girl. What did she do to deserve this?” an old woman lamented, stepping forward to help restrain Xiu’er. One girl was no match for so many adults. Soon, she was pulled away from the tree.

Luo Jinxiao watched the scene unfold, her frown deepening. She wanted to help Xiu’er, but she didn’t understand what was going on.

With Xiu’er restrained, the Qingyan Palace disciples prepared to resume their attack on the tree. Xiu’er let out a heart-wrenching shriek.

As if awakened by her cry, the massive tree suddenly shuddered violently. Its branches whipped through the air like tentacles, stirring up a powerful gust of wind that sent leaves and dust swirling, forcing the crowd back.

“A tree demon! It’s a tree demon!” Panic erupted. People screamed and scrambled back, several tumbling to the ground in their haste.

Luo Jinxiao instinctively shielded Qu Weiyin as the already towering tree seemed to stretch even higher, its branches blotting out the moon, casting ominous shadows across the clearing. A grotesque, vaguely humanoid face began to form in the rustling leaves.

The Qingyan Palace disciples moved swiftly, forming a circle around the tree. Glowing blue symbols materialized in the air, forming a barrier that crackled with energy as it slammed into the tree. The tree demon shrieked, its voice a tortured wail.

Xiu’er, her voice hoarse from screaming, struggled against the people holding her back, her eyes fixed on the tree demon. Her cries were filled with such raw anguish that it sent chills down Luo Jinxiao’s spine.

Seeing she couldn’t break through the array, Xiu’er suddenly turned and ran toward Luo Jinxiao. She fell to her knees, bowing her head to the ground repeatedly. The uneven ground was covered with stones, and soon blood began to flow, staining the area.

She couldn’t speak, couldn’t explain. All she could do was plead with her eyes. Luo Jinxiao tried to pull her up, but she wouldn’t budge. She turned to Qu Weiyin for help.

But Qu Weiyin was already walking towards the tree demon, her hand reaching for the Crescent Star Sword that had materialized beside her.

“Junior Shishu, what are you doing?” Luo Jinxiao cried, grabbing her arm.

Qu Weiyin looked at her, her expression unreadable. “Do you trust me?” she asked after a moment.

Luo Jinxiao didn’t answer.

Qu Weiyin’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “It doesn’t matter. Just…don’t interfere.”

“Of course I trust you. Whatever you need to do, I’ll help,” Luo Jinxiao said. Without waiting for Qu Weiyin’s response, she pressed down on her sword-wielding hand, smiling brightly amid the chaos.

“This little thing doesn’t need your intervention. Whatever needs to be done, I’ll handle it.”

Her smile was genuine, her emotions sincere. Qu Weiyin looked into her eyes for a moment before saying, “Hold off those people and save the tree demon.”