Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

When Luo Jinxiao opened her eyes again, she found herself in the familiar, peaceful courtyard. A lantern hung by the entrance, its soft glow cutting through the eerie atmosphere. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, feeling a thin layer of sweat clinging to her skin.

“Master, what was that just now?” she quickly asked.

Elder Liu’s face remained grim. “I don’t know. Fortunately, I heard about the recent disturbances in the sect and went to fetch you. Otherwise, there would have been trouble.”

“Many within the sect can no longer be trusted. I was just discussing with Elder He. If there are any more disappearances, we’ll have no choice but to temporarily dismiss the disciples.”

Dismiss? Luo Jinxiao’s heart sank. The situation had already escalated to such a dire point.

“However, that is only a last resort.” Elder Liu let out a long sigh. The recent turmoil had aged his youthful face considerably.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Luo Jinxiao stepped forward and asked.

“That thing meant you harm. These next few days, stay within the Wuhui Sect. Don’t go anywhere, and you’ll be thankful for it.” Elder Liu shook his head, tapping Luo Jinxiao’s head with his fan before stepping into his room.

Luo Jinxiao, puzzled, followed him and asked, “Why would it want to harm me?”

“Why do you have so many questions?” Elder Liu scolded, his beard bristling with anger. “Your spiritual roots are unique, different from others. Consider yourself fortunate that you haven’t been captured and used for alchemy. Stop overthinking things.”

“I’m overwhelmed with tasks and can’t always be around you. It’s not necessarily safe to stay among the other disciples either. I called you here today to give you this.” Elder Liu retrieved a miniature pouch from a cabinet and tossed it to Luo Jinxiao. “If you encounter that thing again, open this. It will help you.”

Luo Jinxiao understood. No wonder Qu Weiyin had sought her out so suddenly a few days ago. It was because of this.

Yin spiritual roots are beneficial for cultivation, but Master said I’m dangerous. It seems highly likely that those missing disciples had their spiritual energy drained.

The Wuhui Sect was keeping this secret. They must be afraid of causing widespread panic.

Luo Jinxiao felt a warmth in her heart. At least someone had been protecting her before she even realized the danger. But she also felt a sense of frustration. Not only could she not protect others, but they were going to such lengths to protect her.

“Thank you, Master,” Luo Jinxiao murmured.

“Go on. I’ll escort you back. I still have urgent matters to attend to.” Elder Liu sighed, looking tired. He grabbed Luo Jinxiao’s hand, his grip surprisingly strong, making her wince. Another wave of dizziness, and she found herself standing in front of the disciples’ dormitory. Light spilled from the windows, accompanied by the sound of women’s laughter.

Elder Liu had already vanished. A female disciple dressed in white, stationed by the entrance, approached Luo Jinxiao. “Junior Sister, it’s late. You should head inside,” she said gently.

Luo Jinxiao quickly thanked her and entered the dormitory. The senior disciples were tasked with keeping watch. It was a chilly autumn night; they were working hard, standing guard outside all night.

Luo Jinxiao’s bed was beside Lu Fanzhi’s. After exchanging a few words with her, she lay down, her gaze drawn to the clear stone. She picked it up, turning it over and over in her hand.

Only when the last disciple, her robes damp with dew, returned and extinguished the lights did Luo Jinxiao place the stone beside her pillow and close her eyes.

She slept until midnight. A gust of wind rattled the window, creaking eerily. The air was thick and heavy with moisture, making her head throb.

Someone in the dormitory had been mumbling in their sleep. But their voice was abruptly cut off, plunging the room into an unsettling silence.

A soft, indistinct whisper arose again from an unknown source. Even in her dream, Luo Jinxiao sensed it wasn’t a human sound. Unease crept over her, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. Though her eyes remained closed, she was now wide awake.

She could practically hear her own pulse pounding in her ears. The suffocating, sticky sensation drew closer, sending chills down her spine.

A surge of anger coursed through her. What is this thing that keeps relentlessly pursuing me? She extended her spiritual sense, tracking the approaching presence.

I don’t care if I can defeat it or not. I’ll fight first and ask questions later.

Just then, another sound came from beyond the door, shattering the silence. Luo Jinxiao’s ears twitched. She rolled over and leaped to her feet, grabbing her divine sword. With a swift motion, she slashed at the source of the encroaching energy. The thick air before her seemed to part and then coalesce, but there was nothing there.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart sank as a nightmarish sensation swept over her, paralyzing her body. She stood frozen, unable to move a muscle. The loss of control was terrifying. This isn’t good. She fought against it, biting down on her lip until the sharp taste of blood filled her mouth.

The sharp pain jolted her back to awareness. She opened her eyes to find herself staring at the intricately carved beams of the room’s ceiling. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She was still lying on her bed, as if she had never moved.

She had never encountered anything so bizarre. Luo Jinxiao summoned her divine sword once more, dragging the blade across her arm. Blood welled up, accompanied by a searing pain. This time, she was certain she was awake.

The suffocating sensation had completely enveloped her. Gritting her teeth, Luo Jinxiao unleashed her spiritual energy. A silvery-white light flooded the room, illuminating every detail. The sticky energy was pushed back, swirling around the edges of the radiant light. She scrambled off the bed, her divine sword held defensively before her.

A splintering crash echoed from beyond the door. At that moment, the door swung open. Luo Jinxiao’s hand trembled, nearly unleashing a deadly attack. But just as she reacted, a familiar figure rushed to her side, gripping her wrist.

“It’s me,” a calm voice said. Recognizing it, Luo Jinxiao relaxed, her tense body easing.

“Junior Shishu?” she whispered.

Qu Weiyin didn’t reply. From somewhere within her robes, she produced several yellow talismans. She muttered something under her breath, and the talismans flared with a faint light, flying to adhere themselves to the doorframe.

The suffocating, eerie sensation vanished in an instant. Tranquility returned, replaced by the chirping of insects outside.

Luo Jinxiao closed her eyes briefly, realizing her clothes were damp with sweat.

Qu Weiyin’s expression softened slightly. With a flick of her fingers, the candles in the room flared to life. Nearby, Lu Fanzhi mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over, undisturbed.

“It’s alright now,” Qu Weiyin said. Though her face remained composed, her heart pounded in her chest. When she had arrived moments ago, she had been met with an oppressive, deathly aura emanating from the room. For a terrifying moment, she thought she was too late.

Thankfully, she wasn’t. She exhaled silently.

Footsteps sounded as someone else rushed into the room. It was Chang Siyu and the white-clad senior sister from earlier. Both wore expressions of shock and fear. The senior sister, who had been on watch, looked particularly worse for wear. A bloody gash marred her fair face, and she was limping slightly.

Chang Siyu, as if suddenly realizing he had barged into the female disciples’ dormitory, quickly covered his eyes.

“Thank you, Junior Shishu Qu,” the senior sister said repeatedly.

“It’s nothing.” Qu Weiyin shook her head, her expression still grave. She handed the remaining talismans to Chang Siyu. “Take these with you when you’re on watch tonight. Elder Liu just made them. They might be of use if anything happens.”

Chang Siyu accepted them with a hurried nod. He opened his mouth to speak, but one look from Qu Weiyin made him swallow his words.

“Hurry up and get out,” Qu Weiyin said with a frown.

Chang Siyu scrambled back, practically tripping over his own feet as he rushed out the door. Qu Weiyin shifted her gaze to the white-clad senior sister. “These talismans will help, but they’re not a permanent solution. Don’t let your guard down. Do you understand?”

The senior sister nodded vigorously.

Only then did Qu Weiyin turn to Luo Jinxiao. Her gaze was calm and collected, betraying no hint of the worry she had felt moments ago. Her eyes swept over Luo Jinxiao, making her feel strangely exposed.

Luo Jinxiao suddenly wondered if her current messy appearance was a bit too casual.

“Fix your clothes. Come with me,” Qu Weiyin said, striding towards the door.

Luo Jinxiao quickly grabbed her outer robe from the nearby folding screen. She threw it on as she hurried after Qu Weiyin.

“Junior Shishu…” she began, only to be cut off.

“We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning to see if we can find the two missing disciples. You’re coming with me,” Qu Weiyin stated, her pace brisk and unwavering.

Luo Jinxiao opened her mouth to question, but once again, Qu Weiyin cut her off. “You will stay by my side at all times. I’m not bringing you along for assistance. I need to keep you within my sight so those filthy creatures don’t set their sights on you again.”

As she spoke, Qu Weiyin abruptly stopped, turning to face Luo Jinxiao so quickly that Luo Jinxiao nearly collided with her. She stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a collision.

“You must promise me this. Otherwise, stay here and wait for death.” Qu Weiyin’s brows were drawn together, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Despite her stern tone, her eyes held no real malice. It didn’t sound like an order so much as a plea.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart skipped a beat. The frustration she had felt earlier vanished. She nodded obediently.

So be it. It’s not so bad being protected by Junior Shishu like this, she thought, resigning herself to the situation.

“Elder Liu is occupied with other matters. I’m the only one who can watch over you,” Qu Weiyin added, as if afraid Luo Jinxiao might overthink things. With that, she summoned her Crescent Star Sword. The blade materialized in a flash of light, and with a graceful leap, she landed on it.

“Do I need to prepare anything?” Luo Jinxiao asked, drawing her own sword and rising into the air after Qu Weiyin.

“Qiongqi,” Qu Weiyin replied simply.

Luo Jinxiao patted her pouch, a bright smile spreading across her face. “She’s right here.”

“Good.” Qu Weiyin nodded, seeming pleased. A pang of disappointment struck Luo Jinxiao. As expected, I’m just dead weight. I’m not even as capable as Qiongqi.

They flew in silence for a while. The night was still dark, their robes damp with dew.

Under the faint light of dawn, the cliff appeared as a dark silhouette, with a small lit cabin standing out brightly.

Qu Weiyin landed and pushed open the door. Her robes trailed behind her, swirling around her ankles. She rummaged through the house for a moment before tossing a bundle of clothes at Luo Jinxiao.

“We left in a hurry earlier and didn’t bring anything,” she said, shaking out a rather worn-looking tunic. “We can’t reveal our identities. We’ll disguise ourselves as mortals.”

Luo Jinxiao nodded readily. But she couldn’t help but ask, “Junior Shishu, did you rush to save me earlier because you knew I was in danger?”

A flicker of hope sparked in her chest.

The tunic in Qu Weiyin’s hand slipped from her grasp. She paused for a beat before silently picking it up.

“I was just following orders. That thing just happened to target you, so I intervened.”