Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

At that moment, the masked woman who had been standing silently stepped forward. Luo Jinxiao quickly extended her arm, barring her way. “You’re not still thinking of capturing the demon, are you? You saw it yourself, she wasn’t the one harming people.”

The veiled woman hesitated, a look of reluctance in her eyes.

“But if Senior Brother were here, he would never allow a demon to roam free,” she said, shaking her head.

“That’s so unreasonable! You can’t condemn someone just because they were born a demon! Look how close they are. It’s obvious the demon has treated the girl well, a thousand times better than those townspeople.”

“That may be so…” The woman hesitated, but she didn’t raise her hand to attack.

After a while, she gritted her teeth and turned to Luo Jinxiao, saying, “My Senior Brother will return soon. He despises evil and will never let any demon escape. There will be another conflict. You should tell them to leave. The world is vast; there must be a place where they can coexist.”

Luo Jinxiao’s face lit up. “Thank you,” she said with a grateful nod.

“May I ask your name, fellow cultivator? To possess such high cultivation at such a young age is truly admirable,” the woman asked.

“Luo Jinxiao,” she replied.

“Chi Yi,” the woman smiled.

“Enough,” Qu Weiyin interjected coldly. “We might not have time.”

She strode towards the tree demon, her voice softening as she spoke to her in a low tone. The tree demon’s eyes filled with gratitude as she looked down at Xiu’er, who was nestled in her arms.

“She’s still human. If she leaves with you like this, I’m afraid…” Qu Weiyin’s expression turned troubled. Xiu’er seemed to understand, tightening her grip on the tree demon.

She shook her head vehemently, refusing to let go.

“You don’t understand. They don’t treat Xiu’er well. She was born deaf and mute. Her father, while he cares for her in his own way, often resorts to beatings. As if that wasn’t enough, a few days ago, he promised her hand in marriage. Xiu’er doesn’t want to marry that man. If I leave, she will truly be alone,” the tree demon explained, her voice, unlike a demon’s, was gentle and melodious.

“Besides, humans despise demons. After what transpired today, if she returns, her fate is sealed.” The tree demon’s voice was filled with sincerity, her emerald eyes shimmering with tears.

Qu Weiyin seemed moved. True to her decisive nature, she nodded. Grabbing the tree demon with one hand and Xiu’er with the other, she turned to Luo Jinxiao. “Are you coming or not? Do you plan on chatting all night?”

Luo Jinxiao stuck out her tongue playfully and hurried after them. Chi Yi waved goodbye, a wistful smile on her face.

“You certainly warm up to strangers quickly,” Qu Weiyin said with a snort.

The scenery around them distorted and shifted. The mountaintop vanished, and in a blink, they found themselves standing amidst a vast field of waist-high, emerald green wheat. The wind rippled through the stalks, creating the illusion of a swaying ocean.

The tree demon gently took Xiu’er’s trembling hand in hers, her eyes filled with warmth. She bowed deeply to Qu Weiyin and Luo Jinxiao.

“We are eternally grateful for your kindness. Please accept this small token of our appreciation.” She opened her palm, revealing a sparkling, emerald green crystal, as clear as a teardrop.

“A gift from the heavens, bestowed upon a tree demon upon attaining human form. It can heal any wound, even bring back the dead.”

Qu Weiyin glanced at it dismissively. “I have no need for it. You take it,” she said, nodding towards Luo Jinxiao.

The tree demon smiled and handed the crystal to Luo Jinxiao, her emerald hair flowing behind her. “Then, we’ll be on our way. Xiu’er.”

She spoke the girl’s name softly and then leaned down, their foreheads touching. They closed their eyes in unison, seemingly communicating without words.

“She says thank you,” the tree demon said with a smile.

Hand in hand, they walked away, their figures growing smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the endless waves of wheat. The sight of the demon and the girl together was strangely harmonious, a testament to the unusual bond they shared.

Luo Jinxiao watched them go, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “How beautiful,” she murmured.

Qu Weiyin scoffed, her voice cold. “What’s so beautiful about it? Ahead of them lies hardship. This is their choice, and they must face the consequences themselves.”

Luo Jinxiao glanced at Qu Weiyin, puzzled. Despite not having lived long herself, Qu Weiyin always spoke with a kind of melancholy that seemed to transcend life and death.

“I’m surprised, though,” Qu Weiyin continued, “that you would defy the natural order with me.” She was used to freedom, living by her own rules. Moral codes and societal norms meant nothing to her. It never occurred to her that Luo Jinxiao might share her disregard for such things.

Luo Jinxiao scratched her head sheepishly. It was true that this entire situation went against everything she’d been taught. In her past life, she had been raised on righteous principles, expected to be as rigid and inflexible as everyone else.

But seeing the undeniable bond between the tree demon and Xiu’er, the blatant prejudice they faced, made all those righteous principles feel utterly meaningless.

Qu Weiyin looked up at the sky. The moon had faded, and the outlines of the wheat field were becoming clearer.

“We’ve lingered long enough. Let’s go.” As she spoke, the Crescent Star Sword materialized before her.

The events at Pingxi Town felt like an interlude, a strange dream. They flew south on their swords, barely stopping to rest, finally arriving at the Xumi Manor two days later.

The scenery changed dramatically during their journey. Lakes and rivers became more frequent, their winding paths flowing into the vast Sea of Exiles. As they descended, they could see the endless expanse of the sea stretching out before them. It was Luo Jinxiao’s first time witnessing such a sight, and she couldn’t contain her excitement, chattering incessantly.

Qu Weiyin almost snapped, having muttered the word “noisy” under her breath countless times. If Luo Jinxiao didn’t stop soon, she was going to throw her off her sword.

By the time they arrived at the Xumi Manor, only a handful of guests remained. Most had arrived earlier. Two young boys dressed in light blue robes, tasked with guarding the entrance, were dozing off.

Qu Weiyin landed gracefully, a gust of wind stirring the boys awake. They looked up groggily, their eyes widening as they recognized her. Leaping to their feet, they scrambled to stand at attention before her.

“Honored Immortal, may I see your invitation?” One of the boys asked, his face practically glowing with admiration. Luo Jinxiao frowned, instinctively pushing Qu Weiyin slightly behind her. “We are from the Wuhui Sect,” she announced.

“The Wuhui Sect? Then this must be… Immortal Qu Weiyin?” The boy pushed past Luo Jinxiao, his eyes sparkling with awe.

Qu Weiyin took half a step back, nodding curtly.

“This way, Immortal. We have prepared accommodations for you.” The boy straightened his robes and bowed, leading the way without sparing Luo Jinxiao a single glance.

Qu Weiyin followed him for a few steps, then glanced back at Luo Jinxiao, who was watching with an exasperated expression. A hint of amusement flickered across Qu Weiyin’s face, making her delicate features even more striking. Luo Jinxiao found herself momentarily captivated.

By the time she snapped out of her daze, Qu Weiyin was gone. In her place stood the other boy, his face impassive. He handed her a wooden plaque. “Honored Immortal, these are your room. Follow this path, and you’ll find them.”

Luo Jinxiao, though annoyed, could only accept her fate. The Xumi Manor was far larger than the Wuhui Sect, with numerous guest rooms. As she walked, she saw disciples from various sects exchanging greetings and sparring, creating a lively atmosphere.

She recognized several sects by name, sects that were renowned even in her past life. There was the Shengsi Sect, comprised entirely of men, each radiating an aura of brooding intensity. Then there was the Tianji Pavilion, a sect of women, a flurry of colorful robes and playful banter, drawing shy glances from the men of the Shengsi Sect.

Luo Jinxiao didn’t dare stare for too long. The women of Tianji Pavilion, while beautiful, were known for their ruthlessness in combat. They showed no mercy, aiming for their opponents’ faces with a ferocity that made Luo Jinxiao shudder.

She had the misfortune of encountering them in her past life as a young girl. The memory of being chased by a group of those women still sent chills down her spine.

The wooden plaque the boy had given her bore a number, and she quickly located the corresponding room. Unlike the Wuhui Sect, with its ubiquitous white jade carvings, the Xumi Manor resembled a tranquil mortal residence, with its charming bridges, flowing water, and elegant gardens.

As she pushed open the wooden door, a figure darted towards her, grabbing her hand excitedly. “Jinxiao, you’re finally here! I thought you might have provoked Junior Shishu Qu and met your end on some mountaintop.”

Luo Jinxiao’s breath hitched at the sight of Lu Fanzhi. “Almost did,” she admitted with a weary sigh.

Lu Fanzhi dragged her through the room, narrowly avoiding a porcelain vase that came hurtling towards them. Thankfully, Luo Jinxiao was agile enough to dodge, the vase shattering against the wall behind them.

“Wait, the four of us are sharing this room?” Luo Jinxiao asked, her voice laced with despair.

“Afraid so. There are too many guests, not enough rooms. We have to make do,” Lu Fanzhi replied with a shrug, stepping over the broken porcelain as if it were an everyday occurrence.

Unable to bear the sight of the shattered vase, Luo Jinxiao muttered a spell, restoring it to its former glory. However, before she could react, the other vase from the pair went flying, smashing into pieces at their feet.

“Are they always like this?” Luo Jinxiao whispered, wanting to both laugh and cry at the same time.

“You get used to it,” Lu Fanzhi said with a resigned sigh. “They were at it again just now, bickering about something. Your sister, despite her gentle appearance, has quite the temper. She starts throwing things whenever she’s angry. Yan Ying is no match for her. And this is after I cleaned up! You should have seen the state of this room earlier.”

The argument raged on for half a day. Unable to find a moment of peace, Luo Jinxiao retreated to the eaves, cultivating as the sun began to set and silence finally descended upon the room.

She tiptoed back inside, finding Luo Ning asleep on one side of the room, Yan Ying on the other, and Lu Fanzhi sandwiched between them, having thoughtfully laid out bedding for Luo Jinxiao.

“Thank you,” she whispered, slipping under the covers. Finally, she could get some rest.

But her sleep was short-lived. She was jolted awake moments later, a weight pressing down on her. Opening her eyes, she found Lu Fanzhi, sound asleep, her arm draped across Luo Jinxiao’s face, practically suffocating her.

Luo Jinxiao fought back the urge to shove her off, gently prying Lu Fanzhi’s arm away. But as soon as she freed her head, Lu Fanzhi’s leg found its way onto her, pinning her down.

“Lu Fanzhi!” Luo Jinxiao hissed through gritted teeth.

Lu Fanzhi, lost in slumber, mumbled something about her mother and snuggled closer.

Luo Jinxiao suddenly missed Elder Liu’s peaceful courtyard more than ever.

She stared at the ceiling for a long moment before deciding she’d had enough. Throwing on her cloak, she gathered her bedding and slipped out of the room.

She had no idea where she was going. Finding an inn at this hour seemed impossible. She wandered aimlessly along the moonlit paths until a sight stopped her in her tracks, her heart leaping with joy.

In a window ahead, a single oil lamp flickered, casting a warm glow on the figure of a woman. She was leaning against the window sill, her graceful silhouette unmistakable. It was Qu Weiyin.

Exhaustion tugged at Luo Jinxiao’s eyelids. She practically skipped towards the window, rising on tiptoe to peek inside. “Junior Shishu…” she called softly, a hopeful smile on her face.

Qu Weiyin’s head snapped up, her clear eyes reflecting the flickering lamplight. She stared at Luo Jinxiao in silence, a flicker of confusion crossing her features.

“Junior Shishu,” Luo Jinxiao continued, mustering her most charming smile, “do you think… maybe… I could sleep here with you?”

Qu Weiyin’s face flushed red. She choked, her brow furrowing as she broke into a coughing fit.