Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

Qu Weiyin pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes darting away.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart ached with a mixture of anger and distress. Qu Weiyin’s internal energy was in turmoil, her meridians under attack from the demonic energy, yet she had endured the pain in silence until now.

“Let go.” Taking advantage of Luo Jinxiao’s surprise, Qu Weiyin pulled her hand free. She stood up and turned away. “It’s just some demonic energy. I can handle it.”

“But you could barely even summon your sword earlier.” Luo Jinxiao’s eyes filled with emotion, her chest tightening as a wave of frustration surged through her.

Anger flickered inside her, though she wasn’t sure if it stemmed from Qu Weiyin’s recklessness or her relentless efforts to spare Luo Jinxiao from worry.

When Qu Weiyin turned back, she saw two clear tears slide down Luo Jinxiao’s cheeks. The small droplets hit the floor with a sound that seemed to reverberate in Qu Weiyin’s heart.

Qu Weiyin’s delicate brows furrowed as she sighed in resignation.

“I’m really fine.” Qu Weiyin shook her head and slowly approached Luo Jinxiao. When she noticed the redness in her eyes, a faint smile almost tugged at her lips.

Softening her tone, she made an effort to sound gentle. “I already carry demonic energy within me; it’s nothing new. Besides, that man’s evil technique feeds on spiritual roots—it can’t be expelled, only absorbed. My cultivation is strong enough to handle it, but yours isn’t.”

“Enough of this childishness. Go and rest. We have important matters to attend to tomorrow.” Qu Weiyin reached for Luo Jinxiao’s arm, but Luo Jinxiao caught her wrist instead.

Qu Weiyin froze, looking up at her in surprise.

“Junior Shishu, let me heal you,” Luo Jinxiao said, sniffing back her tears.

“There’s no need—” Before Qu Weiyin could finish, Luo Jinxiao pulled her back towards the bed. Qu Weiyin stumbled, barely managing to brace herself with her hands to avoid falling onto her back.

“Luo Jinxiao!” she exclaimed, her brow furrowed in disapproval.

“Well, you’re not strong enough to stop me right now,” Luo Jinxiao retorted, a hint of petulance in her voice.

Qu Weiyin glared at her and raised her hand threateningly, as if to strike. Luo Jinxiao didn’t even flinch, instead leaning closer.

“Go ahead and hit me, Junior Shishu. I’m not leaving until I see you healed.”

Qu Weiyin stared at her for a long moment, her hand gradually lowering. Her gaze softened, the usual sharpness gone—perhaps a result of her weakened state.

She even reached out and gently wiped away a stray tear that had rolled down Luo Jinxiao’s chin.

“You’re too old to be crying like this,” Qu Weiyin chided softly.

Then, as if realizing the weight of her own words, she let out a wry chuckle. “You’re just a teenager, aren’t you? Still so young.”

Luo Jinxiao lifted her skirt and quietly sat at the edge of the bed. As she channeled her spiritual energy into Qu Weiyin, working to mend her damaged meridians, a comfortable silence settled over them. Qu Weiyin’s brow furrowed in concentration, her hands clenched into fists as she endured the pain.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart ached, wishing there was more she could do to ease her suffering.

Qu Weiyin’s thin undergarments clung to her skin, damp with sweat, while beads of perspiration trickled down her smooth skin like raindrops. Even in her pain, her beauty remained striking.

As Luo Jinxiao healed her, her gaze softened, tracing the contours of Qu Weiyin’s face, momentarily lost in her presence.

Suddenly, Qu Weiyin broke the silence with a series of coughs. Her body went limp, slumping back against the bed. Luo Jinxiao reacted instinctively, reaching out to catch her and pull her back up.

Qu Weiyin gasped, her head falling onto Luo Jinxiao’s shoulder.

The feeling of Qu Weiyin’s warm, soft weight against her made Luo Jinxiao freeze. She swallowed hard before carefully supporting Qu Weiyin, one arm around her shoulders, slowly laying her down on the bed.

Qu Weiyin’s face was pale as paper. She turned over and fell into a deep sleep, or perhaps unconsciousness. Thankfully, the chaotic demonic energy within her had settled, and her meridians were stabilizing.

Luo Jinxiao channeled a bit more spiritual energy into her, then let out a long breath. She stood up, deciding to fetch some water to wipe away Qu Weiyin’s sweat.

She asked the innkeeper for a bucket of hot water and carried it upstairs. Dipping a cloth into the water, she carefully wiped away the remnants of sweat from Qu Weiyin’s skin—from her cheeks to her slender neck, down to her arms, which were concealed by her robe.

Though she could have accomplished this with a simple spell, Luo Jinxiao felt this method was more sincere.

Qu Weiyin had an enviable figure, even lying down like this, her curves were evident beneath the smooth, white undergarment of her robe.

As Luo Jinxiao wiped her down, a blush crept up her cheeks. She froze, pressing the damp cloth against her own face, This is wrong, this is wrong, she thought, chiding herself. How could I harbor such improper thoughts about my Junior Shishu?

Qu Weiyin had just saved her life, and here she was, behaving so shamelessly. It was unbecoming of a righteous cultivator.

Ashamed, Luo Jinxiao stopped wiping Qu Weiyin’s body. She tossed the cloth into the bucket and with a flick of her finger, cast a drying spell. Averting her gaze, she pulled the blanket over Qu Weiyin and sat down beside the bed, staring blankly.

Qu Weiyin seemed caught in a nightmare, muttering in her sleep, her hand reaching out from under the covers.

“Junior Shishu?” Luo Jinxiao whispered, taking her hand.

Qu Weiyin, of course, didn’t respond, but having something to hold seemed to calm her. She clutched Luo Jinxiao’s hand to her chest and drifted back into a peaceful sleep.

A wave of tenderness washed over Luo Jinxiao’s heart. She knelt beside the bed, resting her chin on the edge as her eyes lingered on Qu Weiyin’s sleeping face.

The bloodthirsty Demon Lord from the rumors lay before her, completely unguarded.

“Junior Shishu, I shouldn’t have gotten angry with you. You were only trying to protect me,” Luo Jinxiao murmured, giving Qu Weiyin’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“As long as I’m here, I won’t let you fall to the demonic path again,” she vowed softly.

The soft morning light filtered through the window, rousing Qu Weiyin from her sleep.

She blinked, trying to raise her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light, but found she couldn’t lift her arm.

Switching hands, she finally managed to sit up. But the sight that greeted her made her hand go limp, nearly sending her tumbling back onto the bed.

“Luo Jinxiao,” she hissed through gritted teeth.

Luo Jinxiao slept soundly, her hand clutching tightly onto Qu Weiyin’s, pulling it closer to her chest.

“LUO JINXIAO!” Qu Weiyin raised her voice angrily, finally waking her. Luo Jinxiao shot up in bed, blinking sleepily.

“Let go,” Qu Weiyin demanded, struggling to stay calm.

Luo Jinxiao finally registered the situation. She quickly released Qu Weiyin’s hand, hiding her own behind her back, her eyes still clouded with sleep.

Qu Weiyin pulled her hand back, surprised by its warmth. She threw back the covers, climbed out of bed, and slipped on her outer robe. As she circulated her energy, checking her meridians, she felt a surge of relief. Thanks to Luo Jinxiao, her injuries were almost completely healed. Aside from a lingering weakness, she felt fine.

“You slept like this all night?” Qu Weiyin asked, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks.

Luo Jinxiao, now fully awake, nodded. She tried to stand up, but her legs, numb from kneeling all night, refused to cooperate. Instead of rising gracefully, she stumbled and fell to the floor.

Qu Weiyin’s expression softened slightly. She shook her head, using her golden spiritual energy to help Luo Jinxiao up.

“You should rest. I have some matters to attend to.”

With that, she strode towards the door. As she pulled it open, she came face to face with Tang Lan’er, who was returning from downstairs.

The two stood facing each other in the doorway. Tang Lan’er, holding a roast chicken, peered into the room. The chicken leg fell from her hand as she gaped, pointing inside and then at Qu Weiyin. “Did you… sleep like this last night?”

Qu Weiyin’s gaze was icy as she met her eyes. “Yes. What of it?”

“N-nothing, nothing!” Tang Lan’er shook her head vehemently, breaking into a cold sweat. She had thought this woman didn’t seem intimidating before, but now, after just one sentence, her heart was pounding in her chest.

“Then get out of the way,” Qu Weiyin said, her expression unchanged, but her entire being radiated an aura that screamed, Do not approach.

Tang Lan’er jumped back, just as Luo Jinxiao, her legs finally able to support her weight, called out, “Junior Shishu, where are you going?”

Qu Weiyin’s gaze softened instantly. She turned back to Luo Jinxiao, her voice still calm, but her eyes had lost their icy edge, becoming much gentler. “You’re tired. Rest a while longer. I have some urgent matters to attend to, but I’ll be back soon.”

Tang Lan’er gaped at them, her gaze darting between Qu Weiyin and the room. She mumbled a quick goodbye, her face as red as a cherry, and fled down the hallway.

Qu Weiyin watched her go for a moment before turning back. In a flash of light, she vanished from the doorway.

Luo Jinxiao flopped back onto the bed, groaning. Her face burned with shame, the heat spreading all the way down to her neck. Of all the times to make a fool of herself in front of Qu Weiyin, it had to be then.

She buried her face in her hands, pounding her fists against the bed in frustration.

By noon, disciples from the Wuhui Sect arrived in the town and began the task of eliminating the remaining demonic presence. Luo Jinxiao offered her assistance, but with fewer demonic creatures active during the day, she soon found herself with nothing to do. She wandered through the town, her mind elsewhere.

Qu Weiyin had disappeared, her whereabouts unknown. Luo Jinxiao couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease. She worried about Qu Weiyin’s injuries and the lingering demonic energy within her, afraid that something might happen.

As she strolled along the riverbank, lost in thought, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She whirled around, her hand instinctively reaching for her sword.

Standing before her, a wide grin plastered across her face, was Lu Fanzhi.

“What are you doing here?” Luo Jinxiao breathed a sigh of relief, letting her hand fall from her sword.

“We heard you and Junior Shishu Qu had defeated the demons and rescued our fellow disciples. Luo Ning and I came as soon as we could. She’s probably out patrolling right now. I got bored, so I snuck out to find you.” Lu Fanzhi gave Luo Jinxiao a playful punch on the shoulder, pulling her along the riverbank.

“Yan Ying didn’t come?” Luo Jinxiao asked.

“Why are you so concerned about her lately? She’s been acting strange these days, not even arguing with Luo Ning. It’s weird.” Lu Fanzhi shook her head.

Luo Jinxiao hummed in response. She couldn’t deny that Yan Ying’s behavior had been odd.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Lu Fanzhi said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What’s going on between you and Junior Shishu Qu?”

Luo Jinxiao tensed, forcing a casual smile. “What do you mean?”

“I just ran into that pretty girl from before. She asked me about your relationship with Junior Shishu Qu. I told her you were fellow disciples under the same master, but she didn’t believe me. She said she saw you two sleeping in the same bed.”

“Don’t try to hide it from me. The inn is huge, you have your own room. Why were you in Junior Shishu’s room?”

Luo Jinxiao’s face flushed bright red. She clapped a hand over Lu Fanzhi’s mouth. “Don’t talk nonsense! Junior Shishu was injured. I was in her room to heal her. Don’t go spreading rumors!”

Lu Fanzhi pulled Luo Jinxiao’s hand away. “Then why were you so exhausted last night?”